Dean's Message - December 11, 2023
Dear Members of the GSBS Community,
December is upon us, and with it comes colder weather, the end of the semester and the end of year holidays. The next admissions cycle for PhD applications is in progress, and the window for PhD applications has just closed. I am pleased to report that we have a record number of applications this year, an increase of 20% compared to last year. The popularity of our graduate programs reflects the quality of our faculty and students. Thanks to all of you who have helped with recruitment and I hope that you continue to do what you are doing, as our activities are clearly working. Applications for the new two-year Master’s Program in Biomedical Research have just opened on December 1, and we hope to reproduce the success of the PhD programs. Please spread the word.
As the year ends, I look back and review how much has happened in GSBS over the last 6 months. Although we have had many changes, our goal in the Dean’s office has been to ensure that students and faculty get the service and support that they need and deserve. I would like to express appreciation for Sara Abbott, Jan Schenden, Craig Keller, Laura Felch and Natasha Don, who do their best every day to ensure the successful running of the Dean’s office and by extension, the GSBS. Many of you know them from working with them on finances, grant applications, course registration, admissions and event planning. It is my pleasure to work with them as a team every day.
Mentoring of our students to enable them to fulfill their potential as scientists is a core value of GSBS. To enhance the mentoring skills of our faculty, GSBS will sponsor a training session with facilitators from the Center for Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) on March 26, 2024. Please expect a Qualtrics signup poll soon. Thanks to Chris Dulla for organizing this event and to the graduate programs and the University for also helping to support it. GSBS is also pleased to sponsor some upcoming speakers for Black History Month, organized by MicroDEI. The details will be forthcoming.
I would like to wish all of you a healthy, prosperous and happy holiday season.
Michael Chin, MD, PhD, Dean ad interim