October 24, 2022
CSB recruits Professor Qian Lin for systems neuroscience in a new city
We are pleased to welcome Qian Lin, who has joined us as Assistant Professor in CSB to work on systems neuroscience, at the intersection of computational biology and neurobiology. In her experiments, she observes neurons light up across the entire brain as zebrafish make decisions in order to…
October 24, 2022
Discoveries and Discussions at CSB Research Day
CSB held our Research Day for the first time in 2 years on September 22nd, 2022. Over 180 students, staff and faculty gathered at the Old Mill to hear the latest advances in research in the department. In his opening remarks, Graduate Associate Chair John Peever remarked how glad he was to see…
September 16, 2022
Compassion and Commitment earn Jade Zhang the 2022 Nyman Scholarship
Congratulations to New College student Jade Zhang, who has been awarded the Dr Leslie Paul Nyman scholarship. This award recognizes a plant biology student who has made a stellar impact through community service activities. Zhang excelled in our Molecular Plant Biology lab course CSB350, where…
August 26, 2022
Fresh perspectives from a CSB summer course overseas
Yutei Shi, freshly returned from his European research stay Yutei Shi (UC’23) is returning from an overseas summer course with a new perspective on what’s important to him in his studies and in his career in biology. The CSB397 Research Abroad course offers UofT students a chance for experiential…
August 7, 2022
Professor Chang’s Research Featured in The Atlantic
Dr Sarah Dungan was interviewed about her work in Professor Chang's lab on reconstructing ancestral rhodopsin in cetaceans. The story was published in the Atlantic as "What Did Ancient Whales See?" (external link).
August 2, 2022
Microscopic detectors of viscosity – Plotnikov lab collaboration reveals how cells measure fluid thickness and move faster despite resistance
Researchers at University of Toronto and Johns Hopkins University have identified a specific cellular structure that allows cells to sense fluid thickness. In their recent Nature Physics article, the group explains how cells respond to thickened fluids and details the effect of viscosity on cell…
July 7, 2022
CSB Graduate Wins Award for Best Plant Biology Paper of 2021
The 2021 Ragai Ibrahim Award for best student paper in plant biology was awarded to CSB graduate Dr Purva Karia by the Canadian Society for Plant Biology (CSPB). . Karia’s award-winning research in Prof Keiko Yoshioka’s lab identified key molecular changes responsible for regulating…
July 5, 2022
Dean Melanie Woodin elected as Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience
Congratulations to CSB Professor Melanie Woodin on her election as Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN). Prof Woodin has an outstanding track record of scientific productivity and achievements. Her team has spearheaded major advances in our understanding of mechanisms…
June 29, 2022
Whales evolved swiftly to become deep divers
Surprising details about the transition of early whales from living on shore to diving down to feast on deep-dwelling prey have been revealed by Dr Sarah Dungan and Professor Belinda Chang of EEB and CSB. Their pivotal result shows that early whales had visual systems adapted to deep diving, firmly…
June 23, 2022
Long-term Research at CSB supported by NSERC Discovery Grants 2022
Congratulations to five researchers at CSB who have earned Discovery Grants starting in 2022 from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). This program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals over five years rather than supporting a single short-term…