Undergraduate Courses/Research Opportunities
Introduction to Oncology (ONCOL 320)
Oncology 320 is a three unit lecture course offered
every Fall semester at University of Alberta through the
Department of Oncology. This course provides an
introduction to oncology with an emphasis on the
molecular and cellular biology of cancer. Specific
topics include the genetic basis of cancer, the control
of cell proliferation, metastasis, tumour immunology,
angiogenesis, cancer detection and cancer therapies.
The
prerequisite for the course is BIOCH 200.
Starting in 2011, the prerequisite for ONCOL 320 will be CELL 201 or BIOL 201.
Honors Research Projects
The Department of Oncology currently has no independent program for undergraduates. However, an undergraduate can carry out a 498 or 499 research project co-supervised by an Oncology faculty member, provided the primary supervisor is a faculty member in a University of Alberta undergraduate program (e.g., Biological Sciences). Interested students should contact potential supervisors before registering for the 498 or 499 course.
Summer Student Program
The Department of Oncology offers summer employment opportunities to registered undergraduate students or students who have completed their undergraduate program and have applied to graduate or medical school. These summer positions are not limited to University of Alberta students. Preference is generally given to students eligible for studentships from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR). or the Alberta Cancer Foundation(ACF). Interested students should contact potential supervisors at least 6 months prior to the summer term. Students accepted into the program present their accomplishments in a departmental seminar series during the last month of their research. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Research Day Poster session in early autumn.
2011 Summer Student Research Program Announcement
The 2011 Summer Student Research Program in the Department of Oncology is now drawing to a close. Over 28 Canadian and international undergraduate students carried out research projects either at the Cross Cancer Institute, or elsewhere on campus supervised by faculty from the Department of Oncology. 15 of these students received stipend awards:
Student |
Supervisor |
Studentship Award |
Isaiah Mwangi |
Dr. Michael Weinfeld |
AIHS |
Jonathan Penner |
Dr. Michael Weinfeld |
AIHS |
Dylan Breitkreutz |
Dr. Jack Tuszynski |
AIHS |
Stephanie Berendt |
Dr. Jack Tuszynski |
AIHS |
Shuai Li |
Dr. Roseline Godbout |
AIHS |
Amit Persad |
Dr. Roseline Godbout |
AIHS |
Tylor Nikel |
Dr. Roseline Godbout |
Alberta Cancer Foundation |
Lucy Ma |
Dr. Linda Pilarski |
AIHS |
Zetan Du |
Dr. Alan Underhill |
AIHS |
Cam Shillington |
Dr. John Mercer |
AIHS |
Sachin Rathee |
Dr. Yangxin Fu |
Alberta Cancer Foundation |
Riley Davidson |
Dr. Michael Hendzel |
Alberta Cancer Foundation |
Shivani Upadhyaya |
Dr. Gordon Chan |
Alberta Cancer Foundation |
Danny Huang |
Dr. Sujata Persad |
The J.R. Paine Prostate Cancer Endowment Summer Studentship Award |
Harry Moore |
Dr. Nawaid Usmani |
Alberta Cancer Foundation |
This year, as in previous years, the Department of Oncology hosted a seminar series in which summer students had the opportunity to present the results of their summer research. As usual, the series was well attended by members of the department including faculty, staff and students. From among the many excellent speakers, three students were selected to receive awards for their outstanding presentations:
• First place: Stone Li, University of Alberta, entering his third year in the Biological Sciences program ; Dr. Roseline Godbout (Experimental Oncology), supervisor
• Second place: Danny Huang, University of Alberta, entering his first year in the Biological Sciences program ; Dr. Sujata Persad (Pediatrics), supervisor
• Third place: Zetan Du, University of Alberta Medical School student; Dr. Alan Underhill(Experimental Oncology), Supervisor
Congratulations to all speakers, and many thanks for participating in the Department of Oncology Summer Research Program!