Mandatory Seminar Course

PSL1000H - Seminars in Physiology MSc
PSL2000H - Seminars in Physiology PhD

Course Director: Dr. Denise Belsham (MSB 3344C; d.belsham@utoronto.ca)

Introduction to Scientific Communication Requirement:

An introductory didactic lecture on Scientific Communication (a 2 hr session) at the Department of Physiology New Graduate Student Orientation will be mandatory for all new students. This seminar will be presented by Dr. Valerie Watt, title: “Scientific Communication: Presentations and Writing”. This will give practical advice on scientific writing styles and also how to present your work in public, whether as a poster or an oral presentation. Existing students are encouraged to attend this session, if possible, but it will not be a requirement to pass the course if you have registered in the Graduate Program prior to May 2010.

Seminar attendance requirement:

All Physiology graduate students are required to attend at least 8 seminars per academic year.  Each student is required to submit a “Seminar Course Attendance Record” after they attend an eligible seminar in the Department of Physiology, as a record of their attendance. Students should print this form before they attend the seminar, as copies will not be provided. The form must be submitted into the basket in the seminar room at the end of the seminar. Late forms will not be accepted.

Since this is an official U of T registered course for all Department of Physiology graduate students, each student MUST personally attend the seminar in full and never submit a form for another student.

Eligible Seminars:

Department of Physiology Seminar Series, Thursdays 4:00 pm in MSB

  • These seminars are held on a weekly basis and are Platform-based; students can attend any of these seminars for credit. These are announced in Physiolink.

Department of Physiology-sponsored Special Seminars

  • These seminars are held outside of the designated Thursday 4:00 pm seminar times, but are usually to host outside speakers that are here for other purposes. The Special Seminars that are eligible for the course will be indicated in the Physiolink announcement.

Department of Physiology Endowed Lectures – look for announcements in Physiolink

  • Archibald Byron Macallum Lectureship
  • Charles H. Best Lectureship and Award
  • John K. and Mary E. Davidson Lectureship Distinguished

Distinguished Lectureships in Specific Collaborative Programs associated with the Department of Physiology – see their websites for more information

NB – forms are required and will be collected at the end of the seminars as per above.

Scientific Presentation Requirement:

Each student in the course will be required to present their work at least once over their degree program. This requirement is in place to encourage Supervisors to send their Students to Scientific Meetings, whether National (even local meetings are often very informative, and obviously affordable for all) or International. It is important for every student to experience a scientific meeting during their career training to put their work into the proper perspective in their respective fields.

For PSL1000H - Seminars in Physiology MSc

International or National Scientific Meeting

  • Oral or poster presentation

Department of Physiology Research Grouping Meeting

  • Oral seminar presentation

For PSL2000H - Seminars in Physiology PhD

International or National Scientific Meeting

  • Oral presentation

Department of Physiology Research Grouping Meeting

  • Oral seminar presentation

Provide a copy of the official poster acceptance or oral talk invitation from the Meeting Organizers to the Graduate Program Administrator, Rosalie Pang (MSB 3217; Phone: 416-978-2601; Email: rosalie.pang@utoronto.ca). If you have not been able to attend a Scientific Meeting over your degree, you should arrange to present a seminar to your Departmental Platform Research Group with the Platform Leader (this may include an invited Oral Presentation at FIP). This should be planned well in advance of your potential defense date to be sure that you have fulfilled all course requirements. Your Seminar Course record will be checked before you are allowed to schedule a defense.