Since its launch in 2011, the PDF Travel Awards have helped many UBC PDFs attend conferences to present their work, enriching their PDF experience and helping anchor them within the academic world. Please read below to find out more about past award recipients.
|
Name |
Department, Faculty |
Conference - Date Attended |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter FY 2023/24 Q4: | |||
| Dr. Solveig Aamlid | Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute; Faculty of Science | ACerS Electronic Materials and Applications (EMA) 2024 – February 2024 | Denver, CO |
| Dr. Sara Cannon | Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries; Faculty of Science | World Fisheries Congress – March 2024 | Seattle, WA |
| Dr. Xiangjun Feng | Department of Asian Studies; Faculty of Arts | The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2024 Annual Conference - March 2024 | Seattle, WA |
| Dr. Tianyu Guo | Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Faculty of Applied Science | American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2024 Conference - March 2024 | New Orleans, LA |
| Dr. Haojun Huang | Department of Medical Genetics; Faculty of Medicine | 2024 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting | Toronto, ON |
| Dr. Lauar de Brito Monteiro | Department of Surgery; Faculty of Medicine | Keystone Symposia Immunometabolism: From Mechanisms to Pathways to Therapies – March 2024 | Killarney, Ireland |
| Dr. Andreas Novotny | Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries; Faculty of Science | ICES- PICES 7th International Zooplankton Production Symposium – March 2024 | Hobart, Australia |
| Quarter FY 2024/25 Q1: | |||
| Dr. Shannon Herrick | School of Kinesiology; Faculty of Education | North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) - June 2024 | New Orleans, LA |
| Dr. Courtneay Hopper | Department of Anthropology; Faculty of Arts | Society for American Archaeology - April 2024 | New Orleans, LA |
| Dr. Jane Komori | Department of History; Faculty of Arts | Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference - April 2024 | Seattle, WA |
| Dr. Ulrike Lühe | School of Public Policy and Global Affairs; Faculty of Arts | International Studies Association Annual Conference - April 2024 | San Francisco, CA |
| Dr. Amy Wotherspoon | Department of Forest Resources Management; Faculty of Forestry | International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress - June 2024 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Quarter FY 2024/25 Q2: | |||
| Dr. Katie Koralesky | Applied Animal Biology/Animal Welfare Program; Faculty of Land and Food Systems | 9th International Conference on the Welfare Assessment of Animals at Farm Level (WAFL) - September 2024 | Florence, Italy |
| Dr. Meng Li | Department of Applied Biology; Faculty of Land and Food Systems | 3rd International Wheat Congress - September 2024 | Brisbane, Australia |
| Dr. Yi Lu | Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Faculty of Applied Science | 38th Conference of the European Colloid & Interface Society (ECIS 2024) - September 2024 | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Quarter FY 2024/25 Q2: | |||
| Dr. Xin Sun | Department of Psychology; Faculty of Arts | Society for the Neurobiology of Language 16th Annual Meeting - October 2024 | Brisbane, Australia |
Quarter FY 23/24 Q4
Dr. Solveig Aamlid
ACerS Electronic Materials and Applications (EMA) 2024 – February 2024
I was invited to present my research from the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute at UBC under the supervision of Alannah Hallas and Joerg Rottler at the ACerS Electronic Materials and applications. My talk “Phase stability and short-range ordering of entropy stabilized oxides with the α-PbO2 structure” was part of the symposium about “Structure and Function in High-Entropy, Entropy-Stabilized, and Related Oxides”. The symposium ended with a panel discussion, where we discussed the upcoming topics and questions to be solved in our field. In this symposium, I found new contacts and was able to discuss my results and get advice from specialists in the field.
The conference overall was more applications focused than my daily work. Attending other symposia at the conference enabled me to consider and discuss potential applications for my materials. An interesting part of this conference was the plenary session called "Failure: The greatest teacher” where senior scientists explained failures in their scientific projects and careers, how they came about and how they could overcome them, and general fallacies and pitfalls to be aware of as an early career scientist.
Dr. Sara Cannon
World Fisheries Congress – March 2024
I attended the 9th World Fisheries Congress in Seattle, Washington from March 3-7. While there, I gave a talk titled, "Collaboration in Action: Partnerships with Indigenous Communities in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences" in the session "Indigenous people, stories, and local fisheries management." Attending this session was invaluable; in addition to garnering interest in the UBC course I presented about (FISH506i, which was designed collaboratively by a team of UBC-based researchers and partners from the Haida Nation), I met with Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists who are working collaboratively to advance fisheries stewardship across the globe. I also had extensive opportunities to network with scientists and academics to brainstorm organizing future opportunities for connection and to begin conversations about building networks of solidarity agross global contexts, for example such as a session I am helping to organize at the American Fisheries Society meeting in Honolulu this upcoming September. I met with the leadership of the American Fisheries Society for the first time in person which was important and helpful as I am stepping into a leadership role in the International Section of the society starting in August 2024. Finally, attending the conference was invaluable for building connections with others working in fisheries internationally so that I can learn more about how to support them during my tenure as the president of the International Section (August 2024-2025).
Dr. Xiangjun Feng
The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2024 Annual Conference - March 2024
This was my second time attending the American Psychosomatic Society's annual conference, the last being in Washington DC in 2019. As a postdoctoral fellow having received many awards, I had the chance to mentor graduate students at the conference. On Thursday night, I participated in a Round Table on funding applications. Mentoring is very important to me and this is why I want to share experience with future generations of researchers. I was able to discuss and give feedback to several young researchers. Also, I had the chance to discuss with several researchers from Canada and other countries. The conference allowed me to learn about the latest research in the field of psychosomatic sciences, a multidisciplinary field that includes public health, exercise science, health psychology, biology, and so on. Finally, I presented the results of my first study as a postdoctoral fellow with Pr Eli Puterman. An Unforgettable experience marking a great step in my academic career.
Dr. Tianyu Guo
American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2024 Conference - March 2024
Attending the ACS Spring 2024 was significantly enrich my postdoctoral experience and enhance my research at UBC.
- This conference is an exceptional platform for networking with leading experts in chemistry and especially my decision - Cellulose and Renewable Materials, which is crucial for establishing collaborative relationships in my area and gaining insights critical to my research.
- Exposure to the latest scientific advancements through talks and workshops will directly benefit my work at UBC, keeping it at the forefront of innovation.
- Presenting my research to a diverse audience is not only refine my project but also strengthen my communication skills, essential for academic success.
- The conference's focus on career development provided valuable perspectives on postdoctoral career paths, aligning with my professional growth objectives.
- This experience was also foster a sense of community within the broader chemistry field, resonating with UBC's mission of collaborative and pioneering research.
Overall, the ACS Spring 2024 is an indispensable opportunity that advanced my career and contributed significantly to the scientific community.
Dr. Haojun Huang
2024 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting – March 2024
I am grateful to have received the PDF Travel Award, which made my participation in the 2024 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Toronto possible. This event attracted medical genetics and genomics professionals from around the world to discuss emerging topics in using genetics and genomics to understand, prevent, treat, and cure diseases. At the meeting, I presented our research titled "Hereditary Breast Cancer: Implementation of a Tumour-First Genetic Testing and Parent-of-Origin-Aware Genomic Analysis-Directed Cascade Testing Approach". Our work focused on implementing a universal genetic testing pilot program for breast cancer patients and evaluating the feasibility of a newly developed approach in testing within families. The presentation was well-received and sparked multiple group conversations. I received valuable feedback from other attendees conducting similar pilot programs, which I plan to incorporate into my subsequent work. Aside from presenting research, the meeting offered various educational, networking and career development opportunities. I had the chance to learn about the latest studies outside my field and connect with researchers and healthcare providers from across North America. The speed mentorship events were particularly beneficial, giving me the chance to meet with senior professionals and receive insightful advice on career development.
Dr. Lauar de Brito Monteiro
Keystone Symposia Immunometabolism: From Mechanisms to Pathways to Therapies – March 2024
At the Keystone Symposia on Immunometabolism I had the opportunity to present my current ongoing work as a poster entitled “Purine metabolism blockade inhibits IL-1 release in inflammatory macrophages”. I also had the honour of chairing the session “Metabolite Signaling in the tumour microenvironment: friend and foe”, which hosted extremely well-known researchers and role models in the field. Additionally, the symposia allowed for reconnecting with old colleagues, making new connections, and getting new insights into the development of the field.
Dr. Andreas Novotny
ICES - PICES 7th International Zooplankton Production Symposium – March 2024
The 7th International Symposium on Zooplankton Production was filled with interesting talks and social events. This was the first in-person conference I have been able to attend since before the pandemic, and coming to this conference I very much felt like a new member of the scientific community. The week started with a brilliant workshop on new trait-based approaches to zooplankton science. Of special interest to me, as a molecular ecologist, was the session about novel methodological approaches, allowing me to get a feeling for other labs struggling with DNA metabarcoding. In this session, I also got the opportunity to present my current research project at UBC, a presentation that was met with a lot of interest and enthusiasm afterward. I used that momentum and organized a networking lunch to get all the DNA scientists together. On the last day, I also convened a session about zooplankton diets and got the chance to present work from my PhD for the first time. Despite feeling like a stranger when I arrived, I was able to make so many good connections and have expanded my address book with early career researchers, and several senior professors leading the field.
Quarter FY 24/25 Q1
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) - June 2024
Attending the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA's) annual conference in New Orleans was a furfilling, as well as exhausting, whirlwind. I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to present findings from my post-doctoral research at UBC as this work represents a departure from some of my previous work. Thankfully, my oral presentation entitled "More than physical: Multifarious potential and significance of physical activity from life-story interview with LGBTQ+ adults that experience disability" was well-received and encouraged lively discussions during the question-and-answer period, as well as after the session. In addition to the enthralling sessions and bustling poster sessions, I also had the opportunity to meet the rest of the EDI committee that I will be serving on for the next two years in-person.
Dr. Courtneay Hopper
Society for American Archaeology - April 2024
This was my first time attending the SAA's, one of the largest academic archaeological conferences with ~4000 attendees. With such a large number and variety of talks, I was able to attend a wide variety of sessions including ones on ethics, ancient diet reconstruction, as well as pedagogical development. These sessions were thought provoking and I plan to incorporate aspects into my research and teaching. Presenting my recent proteomic research, conducted at the UBC ADaPT facility, at such a well attended conference also allowed me to connect with a large number of local, national, and international peers while simultaneously gaining vital feedback from them. Participants in my invited session are also in the initial stages of compiling a journal special issue. I was also able to make important connections with researchers that have expanded my collaborative research network. I was also able to attend evening meet and greets where I was able to reconnect with colleagues at other institutions. Overall, although large conferences can be impersonal, I found this one to be a thought-provoking experience which will lead to future/new collaborations.
Dr. Jane Komori
Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference - April 2024
Funding from the UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Office supported me to engage in a number of events at the annual Association for Asian American Studies conference in Seattle, Washington. I presented an original paper on the history of Japanese Canadian worker organizing on a panel devoted to Marxist approaches to Asian American Studies. Through my panel, I was able to engage the work of junior and scholars in my field and build new professional connections. I also chaired a panel titled “Settler Colonialism in the Commemoration & Representation of Japanese American WWII Incarceration.” In doing so, I supported the work of current colleagues studying Japanese American history and also made new connections with community-based researchers and senior scholars working in the field. I also attended stimulating panels on the history of Asian indentured labour in the Americas, Asian exclusion legislation in Canada and the United States, and the relationship of settler colonialism and environmental conservation projects in the United States and the Pacific Islands. The conference afforded me a crucial opportunity to engage with junior and senior scholars with shared research interests, develop professional connections, and present the findings of my postdoctoral research.
Dr. Ulrike Lühe
International Studies Association Annual Conference - April 2024
I attended the International Studies Association annual conference in San Francisco from 2nd to 6th April 2024. At the conference I had the opportunity to participate in a early career mentorship program for women called Pay It Forward at which i not only had the opportunity to exchange with peers but also learn from senior scholars. This was an important networking opportunity as it allowed me to connect with scholars beyond my own sub-field of International Relations, namely transitional justice. I presented a paper entitled "Tracing the origins of an African transitional justice epistemic community: from research network to continental policymaking" for which I received important feedback that will help me get the paper published and generate visibility for my work. Lastly, I had the opportunity to exchange with several scholars on my work on "Archival landscapes of conflict and justice" which I had several opportunities to discuss and get feedback on. Notable was the absence of the topic of archives at the conference, which encourages me to work towards placing this important topic on the IR agenda. Lastly, the conference was a great opportunity to network with others interested in pedagogy in IR which is a topic I am increasingly interested in.
Dr. Amy Wotherspoon
International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress - June 2024
In June 2024 I had the privilege of attending the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress in Stockholm, themed "Forests and Society Towards 2050." This conference offered diverse presentations, insightful discussions, and lively networking opportunities.A highlight was the strong emphasis on forest policy and equity, and sessions on teaching forestry. It was inspiring to see many keynote speakers from the UBC, showcasing BC's strength in forest research. While navigating a large conference can sometimes be challenging, attending sessions outside my field provided an interesting and more broad perspective of international forestry to expand my knowledge beyond the Canadian context. A memorable part of the week was organizing a dinner for 'Friends of Silva21 at IUFRO' which allowed our group to connect with colleagues from Canada and elsewhere while enjoying Swedish cuisine. It was also very exciting to be exploring Stockholm for the first time! Looking ahead, I believe it will be beneficial to balance attending large international conferences with more regional ones for a comprehensive perspective in my field. The IUFRO World Congress was a rewarding experience, providing valuable insight and connections. I hope to participate in the next edition in another five years!
Quarter FY 24/25 Q2
9th International Conference on the Welfare Assessment of Animals at Farm Level (WAFL) - September 2024
I sincerely appreciate the support provided by the PDF Travel Award to attend this conference. The conference was attended by approximately 250 animal welfare scientists. I saw a number of individuals I had met at the previous conference in 2017, and met many others, including a social scientist and UBC Animal Welfare Program alumni, now working in the UK on farm animal welfare. As well, I met a researcher focusing on pig welfare in Saskatchewan, and we are now planning a panel presentation at the Humane Canada conference in Montreal next year (2025). My presentation at the conference went very well and was well received. While I presented on gene editing, an emerging biotechnology in animal agriculture, many others presented research on digital technologies and how they can be used to improve animal welfare. Thus, there was a shared interest among many conference participants about technology, how to develop it responsibly, and what it means for the future of animal welfare.
Dr. Meng Li
3rd International Wheat Congress - September 2024
UBC PDF Travel Award supported me to present my research on exploring genetic background of Canada Western Red Spring wheat cultivars and developing sustainable approaches to elevate wheat disease resistances. The 3rd International Wheat Congress was held in West Aurtralia which is one of the largest wheat-producing states and contributes significantly to the global wheat market. Thus, this prominent congress provided me a platform to connect research resources, outcomes and advancements with the global and regional expertises in the field of wheat breeding, genetics and agronomy, like CIMMTY and Australian Grain Technologies. Also, my reseach group has got to know the latest trends of wheat research and fostering collaborations.
Dr. Yi Lu
38th Conference of the European Colloid & Interface Society (ECIS 2024) - September 2024
I'm honored to receive the PDF Travel Awards and to attend the ECIS 2024 conference, which is an annual conference for the colloids community in Europe. This year, it has approximately 650 attendants, with 275 oral and 330 poster presentations. During this event, I delivered an oral presentation entitled "Colloidal investigation on nanochitin: Nanomechanics, colloidal interactions, and emulsion stabilizations". My talk summarized our group efforts in studying the colloidal properties of nanochitin, an interesting biomass nanomaterial, and how to accelerate sustainable development via fundamental understanding. The talk was fully attended with a lot of fruitful discussions. Later, I delivered two posters regarding the works on bicontinuous emulsion formation and under-liquid biofabrication, both of which received great comments from the attendees. This conference allows me to communicate with the colloidal scientist in Europe and gain their insights into studying biomass nanoparticles, which is especially meaningful for me to further develop the interdisciplinary studies between fundamental and practical science. Finally, I have had the chance to network with various people, exchanging ideas and creating collaboration opportunities. All of these would benefit my future career development in academics.
Quarter FY 24/25 Q3
Dr. Xin Sun
Society for the Neurobiology of Language 16th Annual Meeting - October 2024
I had a great experience at SNL 2024. This is especially because this year I serve as the society board member, program committee member, and student/postdoc representative. I mainly organized two trainee events for the trainees attending the conference. Both events were very successful -- we had a great turn-out rate and trainees rated very highly about their experience. Specifically, one event I organized is called 'lunch with a professor', in which I paired trainees with professors in the field to have lunch together. This created an opportunity to talk to professors that trainees want to build connection with and potentially work with. Professors also got a lot from the event as this is a great mentorship opportunity for them. Other than this, I also got the opportunity to present my work done at UBC. My work looks at the brain basis for word processing in bilingual children versus monolingual children. There were many researchers stop by my poster and I got to have very constructive conversations with them. The conference talks were of very high quality as well. Plus, I got to get connected with some of the researchers whose universities are hiring. Getting my name known to them potentially benefits my application and I hope I could move forward to a tenure track position soon.