A monthly newsletter from the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research, for and about graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. | | |
President's Celebration of Teaching, Research, and Service Excellence
Congratulations to the outstanding award recipients from FGSR:
-
Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Taneicha Littlejohn Robinson
-
Graduate Student Excellence Award: Sharmin Jahan Mim
-
Community Engagement Award: Whitney Blaisdell
-
Outstanding Graduate Supervision Award: Dr. Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng
These exceptional individuals showcase dedication and commitment to advancing graduate studies and research at UR. To learn more, click here.
| | |
Jan 16, 10-11:30am - How to become a 3MT Champion Information Session, ED114
Register here.
| | |
3MT Competition
Want to showcase your research and maybe win some money?
The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) is an internationally recognized competition for thesis-based graduate students to present their work and its wider impact in three minutes or less, in an accessible and compelling way with only one static slide.
The U of R winner will receive a $1,500 prize and progresses to the Western Regional Final. For more details, visit 3MT at the UofR.
Register here to compete by Jan 16, plus compete in the first heat in February for a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards.
| | | | | |
Startup 101 Bootcamp
During Winter Term, GATE is hosting the Startup 101 Bootcamp - offering a unique opportunity for students, faculty and staff interested in commercialization or startups. Held in Winter Term, this interdisciplinary, multi-day program is designed to immerse participants in the Saskatchewan startup ecosystem, help refine their ideas, build connections, and gain essential business skills. Interested? Apply here.
Not sure? Join an Information Session to learn more about the Startup 101 Bootcamp coming next term. Register here.
| | | What’s Happening This Month | |
| | |
GradNight
Dec 3, 4-6pm at Trifons in Lab Cafe
Join us in Celebrating the End of Term during GradNight. Enjoy nachos, cake and prizes from FGSR!
| | | |
| | |
Grad Study Break (Pizza Lunch)
Join FGSR and URGSA for a well-deserved break from the end-of-term crunch!
On Dec 12, 11:30-1 at noon, enjoy free pizza lunch with the Dean, Associate Deans, and URGSA team. Connect with other grad students in a relaxed setting and recharge with some delicious pizza. All graduate students are welcome!
Registration required. Register here.
| | | | | |
Thesis Thursdays
Graduate Writing Group
Dec 4 9:30-11:30 am Register here
Dec 4, 1:30pm- Will my thesis be ready to defend in Winter 2026? Register here.
| | | | | |
Digital Research Skills
Dec 3, 10am – Introduction to R for Data Visualization +
Visit DRS or register here.
| | | |
How to apply for graduation (virtual session)
Jan 8, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Register here.
| | |
Thesis submission deadlines:
- Winter term PhD thesis submission deadline: February 6, 2026
- Winter term Master's thesis submission deadline: February 13, 2026
Convocation deadlines:
- 2026 Spring (June) Convocation application deadline: January 31, 2026.
Contact: grad.defense@uregina.ca
| | | | |
Scholarships & Funding
As we wrap up the semester, this is a great time to prepare for several major award competitions coming early in the new year:
- MacKenzie King Open Scholarship (deadline Feb 1)
- Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor’s Scholarship and Indigenous Scholarship (deadline Feb 28).
- Saskatchewan Innovation and Excellence competition in late January. Please ensure your financial account is up-to-date so you can access the documents needed for this and the upcoming GAP competition.
- Undergraduate-focused awards: NSERC USRA, URGA, and the UR Excellence Entrance Award (Feb 28) for UR undergrads planning to pursue a master’s degree here. If you work with undergraduate students, please consider sharing these opportunities with them.
| | | | | |
SSHRC’s Storytellers Challenge
SSHRC-funded graduate students are invited to share your social sciences or humanities research for a chance to be among the Top 20 finalists ($3,000 each) and compete for the Final 5!
Show your creativity—submit a song, poem, infographic, essay, video, or audio clip.
🔗 Learn more: The Storytellers
🗓️ Deadline: Jan 20
| | | |
Bonus Opportunity: FGSR’s SSHRC Storytelling Competition
SSHRC-funded graduate students are invited to enter their same entry to the FGSR internal competition for a chance to win $1,000. Submit your entry by Jan 11 to grad.engagement@uregina.ca
| | | | | |
Grad Engagement Survey - provide your feedback and suggestions on how FGSR can better support you, your academic studies and your career moving forward here.
Enter to win 1 of 3 $100 gift certificates by completing the survey by Dec 21. Draw will be held on Dec 22 and winners notified by email.
| | |
| |
FGSR Office Hours - December
FGSR Office will be closed Dec 9 at noon.
FGSR Office will be open Dec 23, closing Dec 24 thru to Jan 1 for the Holiday Break.
We will be back open Jan 2, 2026 and welcoming everyone for the Winter Term!
Have a great break!
| | | | Joining a student group is a fun and powerful way to connect with others, share your passions, and make grad school more rewarding. | | |
INSPIRE has an exciting lineup of events to kick of the new year!
CV workshop with Dr. Gord Asmundson - Strengthen your CV and get expert guidance ahead of upcoming application cycles.
Jan 28, 2 - 4pm, RIC 209
Looking ahead, our Annual Research Symposium is coming Feb 25! This event will feature oral presentations, poster sessions, and several student awards, highlighting the outstanding research happening across our university. Stay tuned for more details - and start thinking about potential abstracts if you plan to present your work.
| |  | |
BIPOC meets regularly to build communities of support, solidarity and inclusion.
Want to get involved? Contact the at GRAD.BIPOC@uregina.ca for more information on their group.
| |
Important Dates in December
Dec 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Dec 25 - Christmas Day
| | | Celebrating Student Success | | | | | Successful PhD Dissertations | |
Easter Ndlovu (Biochemistry, supervised by Dr. Tanya Dahms)
Thesis: The role of cytoskeletal dynamics in regulating cell mechanical properties and C. albicans- and C. glabrata-host cell interactions that lead to oncogenic pathway activation and cancer progression
| | |
Yaren Koca, PhD
I’m a PhD candidate in the Experimental and Applied Psychology program under the supervision of Dr. Chris Oriet. I am from Türkiye where I also did my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I moved to Canada in 2019 to pursue grad school and have lived in Regina since.
Research Information:
I like learning how we remember the things that we see. Specifically, I study how our memories store facial identity so that we can recognize the people we know. On one hand, all faces look the same with two eyes at the top, a nose in the middle and a mouth at the bottom. On the other hand, one person’s face can look very different from one time we seem them to the next. In fact, every person’s face changes in ways that are unique to them like a fingerprint.
... read the full profile here.
| | | | |
|
Dr. Amy Richter
Postdoctoral Fellow
Congratulations to Dr. Amy Richter, recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Amy is a dedicated professional engineer and environmental advocate, currently contributing her expertise to the Ministry of Environment in Saskatchewan, where she works on advancing waste recycling initiatives. Amy also maintains a strong academic presence as a part-time postdoctoral researcher at the UR, where she continues to contribute to research that supports Canada's evolving waste management strategies and environmental practices.
... read more at ACAA or here.
| | Dr. Amy Richter, BASc'15, MASc'17, PhD'21 | | | | For more student success stories, visit our Student Success page here. | |
Share Your Story! We’d love to celebrate your achievements and hear how grad school has shaped your journey. Email us your story and a photo—we might feature you on our social media or in the GradDigest to inspire others! | | | |
| | |
2025 Canadian Career Symposium Wrap Up
Whether you attended or missed the sessions at the Canadian Career Virtual Symposium, hosted by the Graduate Professional Development Network (GPDN), happening October 21–23, here are the recordings and resources from some of the sessions.
| | | |
Thriving in Graduate School
Your Guide to Success, Balance, and Fulfillment
| | |
Graduate school is more than a degree—it’s a season of growth, challenge, and discovery. But it can also be demanding, with coursework, research, and life all competing for your time.
Connecting: Building Your Support Network in Graduate School (read the article here.)
| | | Questions or Concerns? Contact us! | | Stay connected! FOLLOW US on social media for the latest news, updates, & events - don’t miss a moment! | | |
Do you have an event that you would like FGSR to help promote?
Please email grad.engagement@uregina.ca by the 10th to be in the mid-month update email scheduled to be sent to graduate students on the 15th. Or by the 21st of the month to be included in the GradDigest scheduled to be sent to graduate students on the 1st business of day of the month.
| | | FGSR, University of Regina | Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport Floor 2A, Room 227 3737 Wascana Parkway | Regina, SK S4S 0A2 CA | | | | |
