Winners of the 2022 Department of Human Genetics Excellence and Best Publication Awards

The evaluation and selection for the Department of Human Genetics Excellence and Best Publication Awards was completed and announced on December 12th, 2022. Competition for these awards were high, making the work of the selection committee difficult. This year the Department awarded Excellence Awards to two (2) MSc students and six (6) PhD candidates, as well as one (1) Best MSc Publication Award and one (1) Best PhD Publication Award (all valued at $2,500 CAD).

Excellence awards are given annually, in recognition of extraordinary performance over the academic year. Both MSc and PhD students, registered full-time through the Department of Human Genetics, are eligible to apply. Additionally, the Best Publication Award recognizes a specific student who has submitted and published (within a given year) an outstanding contribution in the area of Human Genetics and its broader field. In no more than half a page they identify their publication, indicate their contribution and explain its scientific impact.

The Committee evaluated student contributions while enrolled in graduate studies in the Department of Human Genetics for 2022, including but not limited to, academic performance and contributions to academic activities. The Graduate Training Committee (GTC) would like to congratulate all applicants on their productivity during the past year. You have made many important contributions locally, nationally and internationally in the form of talks, posters and publications. Congratulations also to those of you who have been awarded scholarships during 2022. We wish you continued success in 2023!

Best MSc Publication Award

Ni, Anjie (MSc 3) – C. Ernst Laboratory

"Evidence That Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta Dopaminergic Neurons Are Selectively Vulnerable to Oxidative Stress Because They Are Highly Metabolically Active"

Best PhD Publication Award

Alenezi, Wejdan (PhD 8) – P. Tonin Laboratory

"The Genetic and Molecular Analyses of RAD51C and RAD51D Identifies Rare Variants Implicated in Hereditary Ovarian Cancer from a Genetically Unique Population"

Excellence Awards (Ranked by Degree & Alphabetically)

• Liu, Hanshi (MSc 2) – Y. Joly Laboratory
• Markarian, Nathan (MSc 2) – S. Vidal & L. Abrahamyan Laboratories
• Amin, Atia (PhD 4) – D. Langlais & M. Blanchette Laboratories
• Antonyan, Lilit (PhD 6) – C. Ernst Laboratory
• Desharnais, Lysanne (PhD 3) – L. Walsh & D. Quail Laboratories
• Legere, Elizabeth-Ann (PhD 4) – A. Ryan Laboratory
• Schmilovich, Zoe (PhD 4) – G. Rouleau & P. Dion Laboratories
• Yoshiji, Satoshi (PhD 4) – B. Richards Laboratory

Disclaimer: This information appeared originally in an internal Departmental e-mail and was adapted for SBMS news.