Friday, July 19, 2024

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• Increased funding available for Provost postdoctoral scholars
• Celebrating the spring's retirees
• Weekend musical interludes and other notes

Increased funding available for Provost postdoctoral scholars

A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA).

Launched in 2022, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) is proud to support the Provost’s Program for Black and Indigenous Scholars and the Provost’s Program for Interdisciplinary Scholars. These programs reflect the fact that University of Waterloo postdocs play a vital role in advancing the University's objectives of conducting transformative, interdisciplinary research and creating diverse and inclusive environments.  

The Provost’s postdoctoral scholar programs are top-tier funding opportunities that attract exceptional scholars across all disciplines. When the program was conceived, the Tri-Agency support for postdoctoral scholars included a very modest salary, and the University significantly exceeded these levels of support, to create a very competitive package for these emerging scholars.  

Recently, the Government of Canada announced a substantive increase in support for postdoctoral scholars funded by the Tri-Agencies.  The University of Waterloo applauds the recognition of the enormous value of postdoctoral scholars’ work in developing knowledge and advancing the Canadian (and global) economy. Recognizing that many of the scholars in the Provost’s programs may have qualified for Tri-Agency postdoctoral positions, GSPA is pleased to announce the salary for postdoctoral scholars in the Provost’s programs has increased to $70,000 per year, beginning on July 1, 2024.  

Stay tuned for the launch of applications for the next cohort of scholars in the Provost’s postdoctoral scholars programs, which will open in September 2024! We also look forward to announcing the incoming 2024 cohort in August.  

Celebrating the spring's retirees

A number of faculty and staff members have retired recently, and in all the hubbub of campus life this spring we might have missed announcing their well-deserved departures:

February 2024

• Mary Burden, who started working at Waterloo in June 1985, retired as IT and Client Services Manager in Environment Technology and Instructional Support;
• Randall Dicknoether, who began working the University in October 2015, retired as a Custodian in Plant Operations;
• Krunomir Dvorski, who started at Waterloo in January 1999, retired as Electronic Hardware Specialist in Science Technical Services;
• Laurie Hanley, who joined the University in December 1980, retired as Admissions Coordinator Team Lead in Registrar’s Office – Admissions;
• Gabrielle Huber, who started at Waterloo in October 1978, retired as Acquisitions Associate, Invoicing & Ledgers Department in the Library.

March 2024

• Adnan Dzinic, who began working at the University in January 2004, retired as Systems Integration Specialist in IST – Network Services;
• Lori Gamble, who joined Waterloo in October 2012, retired as Administrative Officer in the Office of the President;
• Dave Gawley, who started at the University in November 1999, retired as Technical Manager in the Computer Science Computing Facility (CSCF);
• Patricia Hrynchak, who began working at Waterloo in September 1987, retired as Regular Faculty in the School of Optometry & Vision Science;
• Terence Labach, who joined the University in September 2004, retired as Systems Integration Specialist in IST-Information Security Services;
• Gregory Newman, who started working at Waterloo in January 1993, retired as Groundsperson in Plant Operations;
• Ross Willard, who joined the University in July 1992, retired as Regular Faculty in Pure Mathematics; and
• Joanne Stewart, who began working at Waterloo in January 2012, retired as Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving in the Office of Advancement.

April 2024

• Cindy Futher, who started at the University in June 1987, retired as Research Ethics Advisor in the Office of Research – Ethics;
• Paul Kates, who began working at Waterloo in October 2003, retired as Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Liaison – Math in the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE);
• Connie Kovac, who started at the University in July 1976, retired as Library Associate in the Library;
• Ming Li, who began working at Waterloo in July 1989, retired as Regular Faculty in the Cheriton School of Computer Science;
• E. Paul Penner, who started at the University in June 1988, retired as Director of Operations in Conrad Grebel University College;
• Adairsh Ramlall, who began working at Waterloo in March 1991, retired as Library Assistant/Trainer, Reserves, Circulation in the Library;
• Marilyn Thompson, who started at the University in January 2014, retired as Special Advisor to the Provost on Organizational Strategy in the Office of the Provost.

May 2024

• Gwen Potter, who joined the University in October 2011, retired as Assistant to the School of Social Work in Renison University College;
• Janice Campbell, who started working at Waterloo in July 1980, retired as Administrative Assistant in the Chemistry department;
• Kerri-Lee Lewis, who began working at the University in March 2011, retired as Financial Aid Specialist, Part-Time OSAP & Bursaries, BSWD and UW Work Study in Student Awards and Financial Aid;
• Jayne Hayden, who started at Waterloo in January 1992 retired as Career Advisor - Graduate & Post-Graduate Career Education in the Centre for Career Development (CCD);
• Brenda Doyle, who joined the University in October 2008, retired as Accounting Manager at Renison University College;
• Michael Boehringer, who started working at Waterloo in August 1996, retired as Regular Faculty in Germanic and Slavic Studies;
• Anthony Endres, who began working at the University in September 1999, retired as Regular Faculty in Earth and Environmental Sciences;
• Ljubisa Bob Mihajlov, who started at Waterloo in November 2012, retired as Residence Attendance in Campus Housing;
• Jason Wong, who began working at the University in August 2005, retired as Food Services Assistant in Food Services;
• Kim St. Marie, who started at Waterloo in July 2004, retired as Payroll Assistant in Human Resources;
• Dorin Cuc, who joined the University in January 2005, retired as Custodian in Plant Operations;
• Damir Huseljic, who started at Waterloo in June 2011, retired as Residence Attendant in Campus Housing;
• Elisabeth D'Alessio, who began working at the University in September 1999, retired as Administrative Coordinator in Pure Mathematics;
• Maggie Heeney, who started at Waterloo in May 2012, retired as Continuing Lecturer at Renison University College; and
• Tracy Peressini, who began working at the University in September 2000, retired as Renison Faculty in Renison University College.

Congratulations all!

Weekend musical interludes and other notes

If music is your thing, consider two concerts taking place this weekend featuring University of Waterloo ensembles:

Wild Forces: University of Waterloo Choir: "Singing in a choir is beneficial in that it helps form social bonds, a valuable commodity in today’s often alienating world," says a note from the Music department. "The joy gained from singing is evident when you listen to the University Choir.  This term they are presenting songs by Pearsall, Walker, Gjeilo, Runestad, and Vasks. Directed by Liska Jetchick, this 60-voice choir is guaranteed to delight the audience with their wide range of musical pieces."

The concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church at 22 Water Street in Kitchener. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 general admission, and tickets are available at the door.

Instrumental Chamber Ensemble concert: "This concert is a highlight of every term," says the Music department. "Please join us for some beautiful classical music, performed by three different student groups playing a diverse range of instruments. Composers performed this term include Brahms, Haydn, and Dvorak. Chamber Ensembles are directed by Ben Bolt-Martin."

The concert takes place Sunday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Conrad Grebel University College chapel. Admission is free.

What else is going on?

The Shad Design Project Conference runs today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Conrad Grebel University College's Great Hall. This year's Shad Design Project theme is all about finding ways to help youth in Canada integrate affordable and reliable green energy sources into their everyday lives to create more sustainable communities.

The UW Zoology Club is flitting off to the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m.

The International and Canadian Student Network (ICSN) has organized a canoe trip for undergraduate students on the Grand River from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, July 20. Keep those lifejackets handy!

And Information Systems & Technology (IST) has published the latest in the Atlassian Blog Series today, entitled New Feature Alert: Assign and Transfer Page Ownership in Confluence!

Have a good weekend everyone.