The Faculty of Science ESC/HB Seminar Series invites the campus community to a presentation by Dr. Patrick Murphy (Department of Biology) entitled "Proteomics 101: How it can elevate your research in biology and biomedicine". Everyone is welcome. 

October 24, 2025, 12:30 pm

Duffy Science Centre, Room 204

Attention UPEI students, Pitch Battles application is now live!

See below for more details:

Eligibility, Time Commitment and Teammate Requests

•  The competition is open to all full-time UPEI or Holland College students
• The anticipated time commitment for participants is 6-8 hours over the November 5-15 period
• You may request one person you would like to be paired with (they must also be registered to participate separately). We will do our best to honour your request; however, priority will be given to creating interdisciplinary teams where possible
• Teams will be made up of 3-4 students  

Competition Format and Important Dates

• October 20: Registration open
• November 3: A networking event from 5:00-7:00 pm will be held to celebrate the end of the registration period for the competition, which officially closes at 7:00 pm
• November 5: Competition start date
• November 14: All teams will complete a qualifier pitch in 201 Robertson Library between 4:00 - 7:00 pm to a panel of three judges to try and secure their place in the final pitches and a shot at the prizes available. Pitches will be 3-5 minutes in length and feature a three-minute Q&A with the judges afterwards
• November 15: Final pitches take place in 242 McDougall Hall in front of a panel of three new judges. Pitches will be 3-5 minutes in length and feature a three-minute Q&A with the judges afterwards.

Registered students will find out who their teammates are and who their assigned mentor is on November 5 at 6:00 pm. The industry sector will be revealed on November 6 at 8:00 am. A participant info package will be sent to teams on the competition start date, outlining the grading rubric judges will use to evaluate pitches to help guide teams on what they should include in their pitch, along with other helpful information and resources to assist with the idea generation, business case building, and pitch creation processes. 

Prizes (Split evenly amongst team members)
1st place prize = $2,000
2nd place prize = $1,000
3rd place prize = $500
Audience Choice Award = $250
Breakthrough Award = $250

Register here.

Title of the Thesis “Peptide Mediated Macrophage Polarization for Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer”

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment, but emerging drug resistance and relapse of tumors highlight the need for combination therapies, such as immunotherapy, to improve chemotherapeutics efficacies and outcomes. Our research investigates the mechanism of action of synthetic macrocyclic host defense peptides and nanoparticles, in stimulating both naïve and tumor-associated macrophages, resulting in the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophage monoculture and in co-culture model with TNBC cells. Our findings indicate that mCA4 and its nanoparticles bind with toll-like receptors on macrophages, activating downstream signaling pathways in both naïve and IL-4-stimulated macrophages, which promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators by macrophages. When combined with the chemotherapeutic agents, peptide nanoparticles enhanced chemotherapeutics effectiveness, suggesting their role as an immuno-adjuvant in TNBC treatment.

October 28, 2025, 1:00 pm via Web Conference

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Come to the Bookstore during UPEI's Open House this Saturday. We will be open from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm so students and parents can stop by before or after their tours on campus. Make sure you follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest new items, contests and promotions. Shop online anytime at upei.ca/bookstore. 

Did you know that you can use Moodle for online AND in-person quizzes? The offline quiz Moodle activity can be used to turn your existing online Moodle question bank into a scan-to-grade test. This can save you time grading and give you statistic insight into results, letting you review how students achieved on individual questions. This session will demo and cover how to use this tool in your courses. This lunch and learn will take place in the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre located in the Robertson Library Annex (RL 230) on October 30 at 12:00 pm. 

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/QZyN5uuYNG

Registration is not required, but you will receive an event invitation. 

Join us and volunteer at UPEI's premier on-campus recruitment event, the Fall Open House, where prospective students, parents, and guardians have the opportunity to discover all the benefits of joining the Panther family and how their big futures start at UPEI. This year's Open House will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm across the UPEI Charlottetown Campus. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here. There are volunteer opportunities to help with prep on October 23 and 24 and many opportunities on the day of Open House, October 25, for staff, faculty, and current students. 

If you have any questions about volunteering at Open House, please contact Student Engagement Officer Inara Bhalesha at binara@upei.ca.
 

UPEI Procurement Services is currently taking bids on a 2019 used hoist fitness leg press.

Bids are being accepted in the University's e-tendering portal Bonfire until October 28, 2025 at 2:00 pm. This portal requires you to register by creating a username and password as your UPEI credentials are not connected to this system. When registering for the Bonfire portal, please put your name in the vendor's name and contact name fields. You can access the information about this opportunity at https://upei.bonfirehub.ca/portal/?tab=openOpportunities or upei.bonfirehub.ca tender number 25-1286.

If you require assistance, please email tenders@upei.ca

Join us on Friday, October 24 in FSDE 128A for our first SMCS Pizza Seminar of the semester! Our speaker will be Jeremy Heartz, Entrepreneurship Program Officer, from the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship. There will be pizza to follow. 

Abstract:

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship exists to provide students with the opportunity to learn, get support for, and collaborate with like-minded students who share a mutual interest in entrepreneurship. During this talk, you'll learn about the opportunities the Centre offers to empower students at whatever stage of entrepreneurship you're in. Whether that's exploring what entrepreneurship is for the first time, you're trying to launch your product, or you fall somewhere in between: there's something for everyone at the Catherine Callbeck Centre!

UPEI values their employees and recognizes the importance of programming such as "Take Our Kids to Work Day" whereby grade nine students join their parents at work as an opportunity to expose our youth to future job possibilities and to teach the value of education and the rewards of hard work.

To ensure the safety of all, the following criteria must be met before your child may be permitted to participate in the program at UPEI.

1. Permission from your supervisor
2. Appropriate precautionary measures are taken, and hazards have been considered or removed during the visit
3. Supervision of children is required at all times
4. Supervisors may require additional safety measures prior to such visits and may require written parental consent authorizing the site visit

Examples of high-risk safety areas include, but are not limited to:

1. Shops, mechanical rooms, confined spaces, food preparation areas
2. Any areas, indoors or out, containing power tools or machinery with exposed moving parts or rotating equipment
3. Areas with excessive noise, temperatures, inadequate ventilation, or potential for exposure to chemicals or hazardous biological material
4. University vehicles, heavy duty, or other motorized equipment
5. Any other high-risk areas such as rooftops, construction zones, etc.
6. Laboratories or specialized work areas that include chemicals, biological hazards, radioactive hazards, flammables, explosives, compressed gases, sharp objects, lasers, research animals, hazardous wastes, or other environmental hazards. Please refer to the UPEI Laboratory Safety Manual for specific laboratory visitor guidance.

Supervisors must email HSE@upei.ca prior to November 5, to notify that a child will be at the workplace and to include date, workplace location(s), and activity.

For any questions or concerns please contact your supervisor.

Title of the Thesis “Peptide Mediated Macrophage Polarization for Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer”

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment, but emerging drug resistance and relapse of tumors highlight the need for combination therapies, such as immunotherapy, to improve chemotherapeutics efficacies and outcomes. Our research investigates the mechanism of action of synthetic macrocyclic host defense peptides and nanoparticles, in stimulating both naïve and tumor-associated macrophages, resulting in the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophage monoculture and in co-culture model with TNBC cells. Our findings indicate that mCA4 and its nanoparticles bind with toll-like receptors on macrophages, activating downstream signaling pathways in both naïve and IL-4-stimulated macrophages, which promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators by macrophages. When combined with the chemotherapeutic agents, peptide nanoparticles enhanced chemotherapeutics effectiveness, suggesting their role as an immuno-adjuvant in TNBC treatment.

October 28, 2025, 1:00 pm via Web Conference

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Did you know that you can use Moodle for online AND in-person quizzes? The offline quiz Moodle activity can be used to turn your existing online Moodle question bank into a scan-to-grade test. This can save you time grading and give you statistic insight into results, letting you review how students achieved on individual questions. This session will demo and cover how to use this tool in your courses. This lunch and learn will take place in the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre located in the Robertson Library Annex (RL 230) on October 30 at 12:00 pm. 

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/QZyN5uuYNG

Registration is not required, but you will receive an event invitation. 

The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Tuesday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street. All are welcome.

During this gathering, we will discuss pages 22 (from 'Existence and Innocence') to 44 (to 'Nietzsche and Science') from Gilles Deleuze's book Nietzsche and Philosophy.

For more information about the group, read the article, UPEI Philosophy Reading Group underway for 2025–2026 academic year

If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca 

The PEI Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture is inviting applications under the Oyster Disease Adaptation and Mitigation Program to support efforts to address the impacts of newly discovered oyster diseases (MSX and Dermo) affecting PEI’s oyster industry.

The program seeks projects that:

●     Develop or test adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce disease risks

●     Support innovation, research, and development in oyster health and seed supply

●     Strengthen crisis response, biosecurity, and hatchery/nursery capacity.

Researchers are encouraged to consider partnerships with industry and community stakeholders to ensure direct benefits to PEI’s oyster sector.

Funding available:

●     Up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $50,000. Please note that the following costs are not eligible - indirect costs, and salaries and wages (including student salaries/stipends)

●     Projects may combine other public funding, but total public support cannot exceed 90% of total costs

●     Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all claims must be submitted by March 31, 2026.

For more information:

Program guidelines and the application form can be found here:

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/fisheries-tourism-sport-and-culture/oyster-disease-adaptation-and-mitigation-program

 To apply:

Internal UPEI approval is required prior to submission using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal.

You’re invited to the final session of a series of TLC Lunch and Learn sessions throughout the month of October; each focused on a Core Principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Grab your own lunch to join us online for engaging conversations and practical strategies to support inclusive teaching.

Session Lineup:

• Wednesday, October 22, 12 – 1 pm – Supporting Action and Expression
  • Discover strategies for allowing learners to demonstrate what they know in diverse and meaningful ways. Register here.

Each session will include a brief presentation, followed by interactive discussion and idea-sharing with colleagues across departments. You’ll leave with practical insights and tools you can apply in your own teaching. 

Join us and volunteer at UPEI's premier on-campus recruitment event, the Fall Open House, where prospective students, parents, and guardians have the opportunity to discover all the benefits of joining the Panther family and how their big futures start at UPEI. This year's Open House will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm across the UPEI Charlottetown Campus. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here. There are volunteer opportunities to help with prep on October 23 and 24 and many opportunities on the day of Open House, October 25, for staff, faculty, and current students. 

If you have any questions about volunteering at Open House, please contact Student Engagement Officer Inara Bhalesha at binara@upei.ca.
 

ITSS is hosting an informal, in-person session to give you an overview of the services ITSS provides the campus — followed by an open Q&A.

• Got Wi-Fi questions?
• Need help with software?
• Want cybersecurity tips?
• Just curious?

No jargon. No presentations (Well, maybe just a quick overview of the services that ITSS provides for the campus). Just real answers from real people.

October 22, 2025
AVC 201N
12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

Bring your questions — and let’s chat!

Join us on Friday, October 24 in FSDE 128A for our first SMCS Pizza Seminar of the semester! Our speaker will be Jeremy Heartz, Entrepreneurship Program Officer, from the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship. There will be pizza to follow. 

Abstract:

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship exists to provide students with the opportunity to learn, get support for, and collaborate with like-minded students who share a mutual interest in entrepreneurship. During this talk, you'll learn about the opportunities the Centre offers to empower students at whatever stage of entrepreneurship you're in. Whether that's exploring what entrepreneurship is for the first time, you're trying to launch your product, or you fall somewhere in between: there's something for everyone at the Catherine Callbeck Centre!

Based on feedback from the research community, the Release of Research Funds process has been updated. This updated mechanism allows researchers access to their full research funds before required compliance is approved, thereby reducing the restrictions at the start-up phase of research projects, including hiring of project team members. 

Please note that, under this new process: 

• When research funding is awarded, an account will be opened, and researchers will now receive immediate access to the full project funds. As always, these funds are NOT to be used for activities requiring compliance approval. 
• Already awarded research funds that have been fully or partially withheld under the previous release of funds process restrictions will now be released in full.  
• Either a compliance status update OR approval of all required compliance is required within three (3) months of the account opening/release of full funds. The compliance status update must be submitted in the UPEI Researcher Portal, using the 'Compliance Status Update’ event form. 

• If neither is completed, the corresponding account will be suspended until a status update or all compliance requirements are approved. 

• All required compliance must be approved at least six (6) months ahead of the corresponding project end date.  

• Adherence to the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy, in conjunction with the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, and all related institutional and Tri-Agency policies and procedures, is required at all phases of the research project. Not meeting any of the compliance requirements outlined above is Research Misconduct as defined by the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.  

For full details, please see section 5 of the “Sponsored Research and Research Contracts SOP”, available on the UPEI policy page. 

Please contact Stephanie Palmer, Research Compliance Coordinator, scpalmer@upei.ca with any questions.  

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (OCEPD) at UPEI is offering an exciting lineup of Certificates and courses to help you build skills, advance your career, and make an impact in your workplace.

UPEI Staff, Faculty, and Alumni save 15% on tuition!

Winter 2026 Offerings:

• Certificate in Project Management – Starting January 12, 2026
• Certificate in Collaborative Leadership – Starting January 14, 2026
• Certificate in Case Management – Starting January 28, 2026
• Certificate in Professional Communications – Starting February 9, 2026
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing – Starting February 10, 2026
• The Adult Learner – Course Design and Facilitation Workshop – Starting February 24, 2026

Learn more and register: upei.ca/professional-development 

Email: pdp@upei.ca

For this week’s Tea(ching) Break, we’re featuring a project on trauma-informed teaching for faculty. The article details a professional development workshop series designed to raise awareness and understanding of trauma-informed pedagogy, helping instructors create classroom environments that support students who have experienced trauma and fostering equitable learning opportunities. Developing a Trauma-Informed Pedagogy Workshop Series.