Women in Science News Archive

December 11, 2024 — 
Dr. ASM Zisanur Rahman, Julieta Novomisky Nechcoff, and Dr. Silvia T. Cardona have recently published their article, "Rationally designed pooled CRISPRi-seq uncovers an inhibitor of bacterial peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase" in Cell Reports. In this study, the team created a collection of bacterial mutants to help them understand how a new type of antimicrobial molecule, discovered with their artificial intelligence tools, stops bacteria from growing. Their research has now identified a unique combination of a compound and its bacterial target, opening up exciting possibilities for developing a new antibiotic. In this interview, we talk with Cardona, a professor and associate head graduate in the Department of Microbiology and an expert in antibiotic discovery to provide a deeper understanding of her research and recent work.

December 9, 2024 — 
Although sustainability seems to be the new trend, plastic pollution still remains a great threat to the environment and human health. Turns out those compostable coffee cups and food containers are rarely degraded even in standard composting conditions. The UM Prairie iGEM team strives to solve this problem and received the gold medal for the best new basic part award in the 2024 Grand Jamboree - the world expo of synthetic biology!

December 5, 2024 — 
"Shocked" is what Dr. Juliette Mammei felt when she first heard the news of being inducted into the Royal Society of Canada as she thought it was a long shot when she filled out the application. However, looking at her novel work with the Moller experiment and her dedication to improving equity, diversity and inclusion in physics, one can say that induction into the Royal Society of Canada was inevitable and well-deserving.

November 21, 2024 — 
At the Department of Biological Sciences, students have the opportunity to not only study living organisms but also learn skills such as data literacy and science communication that will serve them well in whatever career path they choose.

November 7, 2024 — 
NASA recently announced their selection of the “Probe” (1 billion USD) mission concept to be adopted in the next decade. Two missions (one for infrared light and another for X-ray light) were selected to compete next. The winning concept for probing the X-ray Universe is the “Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite” or AXIS, whose Principal Investigator (PI) is Dr. Chris Reynolds from the University of Maryland. Through rigorous competition for the next mission of the 2030’s, these proposals have the potential to answer burning questions in high-energy astrophysics, including understanding the mechanism and progenitors of supernova explosions that impact the chemical and dynamical evolution of galaxies and understanding our cosmic origins.

October 4, 2024 — 
Faculty of Science Award of Excellence for Support Staff recognizes support staff who have served their units with distinction by helping deliver on the commitment of the Faculty of Science to provide outstanding higher education and research.

September 27, 2024 — 
Dr. Sabine Kuss, associate professor and associate head (graduate) at the Department of Chemistry, recently received the Combination Merit Award 2023.

August 16, 2024 — 
Adam Clay, professor and associate head graduate at the mathematics department, tells us whatever degree you choose at the university will focus your training and skill sets in a way that opens doors and closes some for your future. "A degree in mathematics", he says, "closes the fewest doors and opens the most."

August 9, 2024 — 
This year, in July 2024, Shad Manitoba inspired young minds, showed them the potential of pursuing an education at UM and presented them with opportunities all around Manitoba.

July 25, 2024 — 
The Laboratory for Bioanalytics and Electrochemical Sensing at the University of Manitoba has developed a novel approach to detect an incurable disease in young infants in a non-invasive, inexpensive and efficient manner.