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MSc and PhD Programs by Semester

MSc in Integrative Biology 

New Graduate Student Orientation

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing
  • IBI0*6630, Scientific Communication (if starting in the fall semester, otherwise take this course during your first fall semester).
  • Provisional status - description

Department Contacts

  • Dr. Cortland Griswold - IB Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC): Science Complex 1474
    • Support, guidance and questions about graduate program
    • FAQs
    • GPC Office Hours: Tuesdays from 2:00 - 3:00pm during Fall 2025 semester.
  • Kate Artuso - IB Graduate Program Assistant: Science Complex 2483
    • Questions about graduate program
    • FAQs
  • Caitlin Brookbanks - Integrative Biology Administrative Officer: Science Complex 2482
    • GTA information
    • Payroll
  • Ryan Kenwell - IB Academic Services Assistant: Science Complex 2484
    • Office assignments
    • Keys
    • Room and projector bookings
    • Renting departmental vans
  • Stephanie Crowther - Assistant to the IB Chair:  Science Complex 2485
    • Booking a meeting with the chair
  • Dr. Amy Newman - Chair, Department of Integrative Biology:  Science Complex 2486


New Personnel Safety Training 

All new personnel are required to complete four online safety courses available through the EHS training site and everyone has the ability to self-register as soon as they have a central login and password.

The four mandatory modules are: 

  1. Laboratory Safety
  2. EHS BioSafety
  3. WHMIS
  4. EHS Worker Health and Safety Awareness

Animal Care Instruction

If you will utilize vertebrate animals in your research and/or will be working as a teaching assistant in a course involving vertebrate animals, you must complete the requirements stipulated in the Animal User Training Program. The program includes online modules and hands-on workshops. The online course is mandatory for all. Additional species- specific workshops may be required depending on the field of research and type of animal use. The training must be completed prior to commencement of your animal-based work. The online modules are offered at regular intervals throughout the year and registration is accepted online at the Animal Care Services (ACS).

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity for Graduate students (UNIV*7100) is a course that must be completed by the 20th class day.

GTA Assignment

  • Submit an application for GTA assignment
    • In most cases, your minimum stipend includes one full unit (140 hours) of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) per year. This will be indicated in your offer of admission.
    • Your application allows the department to determine your interests and suitability for particular courses.
    • Please keep in mind that there are many students in the department applying for GTAs each semester and it may not be possible to assign your your first (or only) choice. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to indicate several courses on your application. A document describing how the Department assigns GTAs to graduate students each semester is appended to this letter.
    • The majority of the GTA units offered by the Department are available in the Fall and Winter semesters, with more in Fall than Winter. There are very few available in the summer. Thus;
    • You are strongly advised to apply for a GTA unit in the first semester of each year in which you are entitled to one. Moreover, if you are not able to accept a GTA in Fall or Winter due to special circumstances (e.g. field work off campus), you must advise the Integrative Biology Administrative Assistant as soon as possible so that she can factor this into GTA planning.
    • In addition, if you will be on campus and are offered a GTA assignment for which you are qualified, the Department has met its obligation to provide you with GTA support in a particular year even if you decline the offer. Thus, if there are insufficient GTA units available for all applicants in the following semester (excluding summer), you may not receive one that year. In that case, compensation for the shortfall in your annual stipend for that year will be at your advisor's discretion.

Advisory Committee

Graduate Coursework

  • Select 1.5 credits of graduate coursework:
    • 1.0 in addition to IBIO*6630, Scientific Communication (see above) in consultation with AC

Progress Reports

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Thesis Proposal

  • Write Thesis Proposal --> end product from IBIO*6630

Advisory Committee Appointment

  •  Advisory Committee Appointment and Degree Program Form must be completed by the 20th class day of your 2nd semester. The forms must be filled out, reviewed and approved by you, the Graduate Program Assistant, your Advisor and your Co-advisor (if applicable), Graduate Program Coordinator, and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Submitting the Advisory Committee Appointment GryphForm will AUTOMATICALLY generate the Degree Program Form; please do not submit this separately. Failure to submit will result in a block on registration for the upcoming semester.
  • If you want to have an non-University of Guelph faculty member on your advisory committee and/or as a co-advisor, your advisor will have to fill in an Graduate Faculty Nomination form, and submit it together with a recent CV to the Graduate Program Assistant. This will then be evaluated by the Graduate Studies Committee, the CBS Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and finally approved by the Board of Governors at the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
  • Schedule your 1st advisory committee meeting: review your thesis proposal and have the advisory committee members approve.
  • Provisional students:

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

 Complete a Graduate Student Progress Report for Semester 2

Research Proposal and Qualifying Exam Preparation

Prepare your thesis proposal and have Advisory Committee members sign PhD Research Proposal Form and Qualifying Examination Request Form.

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Complete a Graduate Student Progress Report for Semester 3

MSc to PhD Transfer

  1. The student must have a good quality undergraduate degree (normally B+ to A) in an unofficial transcript. 
  2. The student must have completed at least 1.0 graduate level course credits (two 0.5 credit graduate courses), plus a Seminar or equivalent course, recognized for credit at the University of Guelph, with at least A- grades, also with an unofficial transcript. 
  3. The formal request must be initiated in writing by the student within the department/school. The student must provide 3.a.) a written summary of progress in research to the Advisory Committee and the departmental Graduate Studies Committee. This summary should be accompanied by 3.b.) a copy of the MSc research proposal, 3.c.) a review of research conducted for the master’s thesis and any papers presented, published or submitted, research seminar title, etc. It should also include 3.d.) an outline of the future studies (approximately 3 pages), and 3.e.) an updated CV.
  4. The Advisory Committee must comment on the candidate’s aptitude for doctoral level research and on the suitability of the Master's research project for expansion to a doctoral project. The student should be highly rated by the Advisory Committee.
  5. The Advisory Committee’s recommendation must be supported by the Department Chair and by the departmental Graduate Studies Committee.
  6. After a positive departmental evaluation, the student submits the request for transfer form, together with the proof of payment. The Graduate program assistant forwards the student's request for transfer and the required documentation along with its own recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies.

  7. The Admissions and Progress Committee, on behalf of the Board of Graduate Studies, examines the documentation, including the official academic record, and, if appropriate, recommends admission to the PhD/DVSc program without completing the Master’s program. The Admissions and Progress Committee may review the application directly with the student concerned and/or with the faculty proponent(s) of the transfer.

    Student starts the process by providing 1, 2, and 3 to her/his advisory committee. They write 4) Student submits 1, 2, 3, and 4 to the IB Graduate Program Assistant. The Graduate Studies Committee completes 5, and, if approved, the student submits 6), and the department will submit everything (1-6) to the Office of Graduate Studies. The advisor(s) and graduate student will also have to sign a new funding form. Contact Karen White for the details.

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Complete a Graduate Student Progress Report for Semester 5

Advisory Committee Meeting

Hold an Advisory Committee Meeting

  • Schedule for thesis preparation, review and submission (see Semester 6)
  • Thesis Guidelines

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Complete a Graduate Student Progress Report for Semester 6

Advisory Committee Meeting

Hold an Advisory Committee Meeting

Apply to Graduate

Review the Schedule of Dates for the Application Deadline to Apply to Graduate in the coming semester's Convocation

Defence Preparation

*Note this timeline is based on a defence date at the beginning of this semester's examination period.

10 weeks to Defence - Monday, September 22nd, 2025

  • Student and Advisor agree that the thesis is ready for examination. Advisory Committee members review the thesis as they would a manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Check and clear potential copyright issues with including already published chapters in your thesis: Intellectual Property Issues

8 weeks to Defence - Monday, October 6th, 2025

  • Advisory Committee members return the thesis to the student with their written comments, discussing the comments with the student as necessary. Student revises the thesis as he or she deems appropriate.
  • Note the last day to apply to graduate at Winter Convocation without late application fee is October 17th. Apply to graduate now.

7 weeks to Defence - Tuesday, October 14th, 2025

  • Student submits a "fair copy" of the proposed final version of thesis to each member of their Advisory Committee for final review. Obtain their signatures on the Examination Request Form.

6 weeks to Defence - Monday, October 20th, 2025

  • Faculty will normally return the draft thesis, with written comments, to the student within 1 week of receipt. Students are encouraged to plan well in advance and to select a target week for the defense that leaves ample time afterward should the thesis be judged satisfactory but require revision. Committee Members must indicate on the Examination Request form whether they find the thesis to be ready for examination and choose one of the options indicating in what state they deem the thesis to be. Student submits thesis in electronic format and the completed Exam Request Form to the Graduate Program Assistant at cbsib@uoguelph.ca.

5 weeks to Defence - Monday, October 27th, 2025

  • Student will submit an electronic copy of the final version of the thesis along with the Examination Request Form to the Graduate Program Assistant. If this deadline is met, the Department will make every effort to ensure that the student defends before the end of the semester, but no sooner than 2 weeks.
  • In truly exceptional and uncontrollable circumstances, the Department may attempt to accommodate an Examination Request that is received after this date but cannot guarantee that a defense will take place before the semester has officially ended.  

    Once the thesis and Exam Request Form have been submitted, the Graduate Program Coordinator appoints the Examination Committee. The thesis is distributed to the Examination Committee along with defense information by the Graduate Program Assistant, and a defence date scheduled.

You must submit your thesis and a complete Exam Request Form to the department by Monday, October 27th to ensure a Fall 2025 defence date. 

 

MSc to PhD Transfer

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit Semester 3 Graduate Student Progress Report

MSc to PhD Transfer

  1. The student must have a good quality undergraduate degree (normally B+ to A) in an unofficial transcript. 
  2. The student must have completed at least 1.0 graduate level course credits (two 0.5 credit graduate courses), plus a Seminar or equivalent course, recognized for credit at the University of Guelph, with at least A- grades, also with an unofficial transcript. 
  3. The formal request must be initiated in writing by the student within the department/school. The student must provide 3.a.) a written summary of progress in research to the Advisory Committee and the departmental Graduate Studies Committee. This summary should be accompanied by 3.b.) a copy of the MSc research proposal, 3.c.) a review of research conducted for the master’s thesis and any papers presented, published or submitted, research seminar title, etc. It should also include 3.d.) an outline of the future studies (approximately 3 pages), and 3.e.) an updated CV.
  4. The Advisory Committee must comment on the candidate’s aptitude for doctoral level research and on the suitability of  the Master's research project for expansion to a doctoral project. The student should be highly rated by the Advisory Committee.
  5. The Advisory Committee’s recommendation must be supported by the Department Chair and by the departmental Graduate Studies Committee.
  6. After a positive departmental evaluation, the student submits the request for transfer form, together with the proof of payment. The Graduate program assistant forwards the student's request for transfer and the required documentation along with its own recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies.

  7. The Admissions and Progress Committee, on behalf of the Board of Graduate Studies, examines the documentation, including the official academic record, and, if appropriate, recommends admission to the PhD/DVSc program without completing the Master’s program. The Admissions and Progress Committee may review the application directly with the student concerned and/or with the faculty proponent(s) of the transfer.

    Student starts the process by providing 1, 2, and 3 to her/his advisory committee. They write 4) Student submits 1, 2, 3, and 4 to the IB Graduate Program Assistant. The Graduate Studies Committee completes 5, and, if approved, the student submits 6), and the department will submit everything (1-6) to the Office of Graduate Studies. The advisor(s) and graduate student will also have to sign a new funding form. Contact Karen White for the details.

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit Semester 4 Graduate Student Progress Report

Advisory Committee + PhD thesis approval

  • Update Advisory Committee for PhD committee
    • Make sure that you have enough members for a PhD advisory committee: at least 3 members, and we recommend that one person is from outside the department.
    • Submit revised version of Advisory Committee Appointment Form to Grad Program Assistant.
  • Write/update PhD thesis proposal
  • Hold an Advisory Committee meeting.

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit Semester 5 Progress Report

Qualifying Exam Information

PhD in Integrative Biology

New Graduate Student Orientation

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing
  • IBI0*6630, Scientific Communication (if starting in the fall semester, otherwise take this course during your first fall semester).
  • Provisional status student information 

Department Contacts

  • Dr. Cortland Griswold - IB Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC): Science Complex 1474
    • Support, guidance and questions about graduate program
    • FAQs
    • GPC Office Hours: Tuesdays from 2:00 - 3:00pm during Fall 2025 semester.
  • Kate Artuso - IB Graduate Program Assistant: Science Complex 2483
    • Questions about graduate program
    • FAQs
  • Caitlin Brookbanks - Integrative Biology Administrative Officer: Science Complex 2482
    • GTA information
    • Payroll
  • Ryan Kenwell - IB Academic Services Assistant: Science Complex 2484
    • Office assignments
    • Keys
    • Room and projector bookings
    • Renting departmental vans
  • Stephanie Crowther - Assistant to the IB Chair:  Science Complex 2485
    • Booking a meeting with the chair
  • Dr. Amy Newman - Chair, Department of Integrative Biology:  Science Complex 2486


New Personnel Safety Training 

All new personnel are required to complete five online safety courses available through the EHS training site and Courselink. Everyone has the ability to self-register as soon as they have a central login and password.

The four mandatory modules are: 

  1. Laboratory Safety
  2. EHS BioSafety
  3. WHMIS
  4. EHS Worker Health and Safety Awareness
  5. Principles of Belonging

Once you register for the courses they can be completed through CourseLink. Be sure to save a PDF copy and print a hard copy of the certificates of completion for each of the four courses. 

Your faculty member / advisor must receive copies of all safety certificates. Once the safety training is complete, a single PDF copy of all training certificates should be sent along with a Tap Access Form to <ibtap@uoguelph.ca> to request electronic Access to labs.

Animal Care Instruction

If you will utilize vertebrate animals in your research and/or will be working as a teaching assistant in a course involving vertebrate animals, you must complete the requirements stipulated in the mandatory Animal User Training Program. The program includes online modules and hands-on workshops. Additional species-specific workshops may be required depending on the field of research and type of animal use. The training must be completed prior to commencement of your animal-based work. The online modules are offered at regular intervals throughout the year and registration is accepted online through Animal Care Services (ACS).

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity for Graduate students (UNIV*7100) is a course that must be completed by the 20th class date.

GTA Assignment

  • Submit an application for GTA assignment
    • In most cases, your minimum stipend includes one full unit (140 hours) of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) per year. This will be indicated in your offer of admission.
    • Your application allows the department to determine your interests and suitability for particular courses.
    • Please keep in mind that there are many students in the department applying for GTAs each semester and it may not be possible to assign you your first (or only) choice. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to indicate several courses on your application.
    • The majority of the GTA units offered by the Department are available in the Fall and Winter semesters, with more in Fall than Winter. There are very few available in the summer. Thus, you are strongly advised to apply for a GTA unit in the first semester of each year in which you are entitled to one. Moreover, if you are not able to accept a GTA in Fall or Winter due to special circumstances (e.g. field work off campus), you must advise the Integrative Biology Administrative Officer as soon as possible so that this can be factored into GTA planning.
    • If you will be on campus and are offered a GTA assignment for which you are qualified, the Department has met its obligation to provide you with GTA support in a particular year even if you decline the offer. Thus, if there are insufficient GTA units available for all applicants in the following semester (excluding summer), you may not receive one that year. In that case, compensation for the shortfall in your annual stipend for that year will be at your advisor's discretion.

Advisory Committee

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Thesis Proposal

  • Write thesis proposal
    • final product from IBIO*6630 (if course was taken)

Advisory Committee Appointment

  • Schedule first Advisory Committee Meeting
  • You will be required to submit an Advisory Committee Appointment and Degree Program Form by the 20th class day of your 2nd semester. This GryphForm is reviewed by the Graduate Program Assistant, your Advisor, your Co-advisor (if applicable), the Graduate Program Coordinator and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS). Your registration for semester 3 will be blocked if you fail to submit either part of the form. 
    Please do not submit a separate Degree Program Form, as one will automatically be generated with submission of the Advisory Committee Appointment section. Follow the link emailed to you with approval of this section.
  • To have an external advisory committee member on your advisory committee your advisor must fill in a Graduate Faculty Nomination form, and submit it together with a recent CV to the Graduate Program Assistant. This will then be evaluated by the Graduate Studies Committee, CBS Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and finally by the Board of Governors of Graduate Studies.

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit a Graduate Student Progress Report for Semester 2

Qualifying Exam Information

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit a Graduate Student Progress Report for Semesters 3-9

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit Graduate Student Progress Report for Semester 10

Schedule Advisory Committee meeting to discuss:

Registration

  • UNIV*7510*01 Active Full-time Registration or UNIV*7520*01 Active Part-time Registration
  • UNIV*7500*01 Research/Writing

Progress Reports

Submit Semester 11 Graduate Student Progress Report

Defense Guidelines

  • Guidelines for Defense
  • Ph.D. Final Oral Examination takes place. Examiners judge thesis and defense to be satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The Chair of the defense may withhold final signature on defense forms until confirmation is received that the recommended changes required by the Examination Committee have been made to the thesis.
  • The student completes thesis revisions after the defence, as required by the Examination Committee. Once the thesis has been deemed satisfactory, the student submits the approved thesis electronically to the Atrium.  The Graduate Program Assistant will submit all defense forms with required signatures to the Office of Graduate Studies.
  • Thesis Submission Checklist
  • Applying for Graduation
  • Convocation

Completion Time

  • Maximum Program Duration If timely defense does not occur:
    • A Plan of Study and a Progress Report must be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant for review by the Admissions & Progress (A&P) Committee by the 20th class day of Class Level 13 (or 13 full-time semesters)
    • If approved, continuation is allowed for 3 semesters, i.e., Semester 14, 15 and 16.
    • If still not complete by Class Level 16, a second Plan of Study and Progress Report must be submitted to A & P by the 20th class day of Class Level 16 (or 16 full-time semesters).
    • Continuation is permitted through Class Levels 17 and 18 (or 17 and 18 full-time semesters) to Maximum Program Duration with the approved Plan of Study.
    • Class Level 18 (or 18 full-time semesters) is the Maximum Program Duration. The Appeal for Extension of the Maximum Program Duration form must be submitted to A & P by the 20th class day.

Completion Time PhD Transfer and Direct Entry students

  • Maximum Program Duration If timely defense does not occur:
    • A Plan of Study and Progress Report must be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant for review by the Admissions & Progress (A&P) Committee by the 20th class day of Class Level 17 (or 17 full-time semesters)
    • If approved, continuation is allowed for 3 semesters, i.e., Semester 18, 19 and 20.
    • If still not complete by Class Level 20, a second Plan of Study and Progress Report must be submitted to A & P by the 20th class day of Class Level 20 (or 20 full-time semesters).
    • Continuation is permitted through Class Levels 21 and 22 (or 21 and 22 full-time semesters) to Maximum Program Duration with the approved Plan of Study.
    • Class Level 2 (or 18 full-time semesters) is the Maximum Program Duration. The Appeal for Extension of the Maximum Program Duration form must be submitted to A & P by the 20th class day.

This is a guideline based on the defence taking place at the beginning of the F25 exam period. Please note that you must submit your thesis and a complete Exam Request Form to the department by Monday, October 20th, 2025 to ensure a F25 defense date. You may still submit your thesis and completed Exam Request Form to the department after this date and we will do our best to arrange your exam as quickly as possible, but we then cannot guarantee a defence date before the end of the semester. 

12 weeks to Defense - Monday, September 8th, 2025

  • Student and Advisor agree that the thesis is ready for examination. Advisory Committee members review the thesis as they would a manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Check and clear potential copyright issues with including already published chapters in your thesis: Intellectual Property Issues

11 weeks to Defense - Monday, September 15th, 2025

  • Selection and invitation of an External Examiner will occur not less than 8 weeks in advance of the anticipated date of the defense. Advisor must therefore obtain a Nomination for External Examiner Form at least 10 weeks before the anticipated date of defense in order to allow the Advisor sufficient time to establish the availability and willingness of potential External Examiners to participate in the defense. The Nomination form is then submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant for approval by the Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair.

10 weeks to Defense - Monday, September 22nd, 2025

  • Advisory Committee members return the thesis to the student with their written comments, discussing the comments with the student as necessary. Student revises the thesis as he or she deems appropriate.

9 weeks to Defense - Monday, September 29th, 2025

  • Student submits a copy of the proposed final version of thesis to each member of their Advisory Committee for final review.
  • Note the last day to apply to graduate at Summer Convocation without late application fee is October 17th. Apply to graduate now.

7 weeks to Defense - Monday, October 14th, 2025

  • Faculty normally will return the draft thesis, with written comments, to the student within 1 week of receipt. Students are encouraged to plan well in advance and to select a target date for the defense that leaves ample time afterward should the thesis be judged satisfactory but require revision.
  • Student obtains committee members' signatures on Examination Request Form. Committee members must indicate on the Examination Request Form whether they find the thesis to be ready for examination, and choose one of the options indicating in what state they deem the thesis to be. Student submits thesis in electronic format and Exam Request Form to the Graduate Program Assistant.

6 weeks to Defense - Monday, October 20th, 2025

  • Student will submit an electronic copy of the final version of the thesis to the Graduate Program Assistant. If this deadline is met, the Department can ensure that the student before the end of the semester, but no sooner than 4 weeks. In truly exceptional and uncontrollable circumstances, the Department may attempt to accommodate Examination Requests that are received after this date but cannot guarantee a defense will take place before the semester has officially ended. The Graduate Program Coordinator appoints the Examination Committee. Thesis is distributed to the Examination Committee along with defense information once the Graduate Program Assistant identifies a day and time that is agreeable to all committee members.
     

You must submit your thesis and a complete Exam Request Form to the department by Monday, October 20th to ensure a F25 defense date.

About

The College of Biological Science is a globally recognized academic faculty with a mission to expand the understanding of life, from DNA to cells to complex ecosystems. It produces intrepid and interdisciplinary research in a student-centred learning environment that encourages and promotes comprehensive understanding of the systems that govern life.