A robust research program is key to the future of the poultry industry. The Canadian industry is fortunate to have access to a wide range of research expertise that can help us meet new challenges and find solutions to the problems we face. However, maintaining that pool of expertise requires injection of new scientists that pick up where retirees leave off. The Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) promotes succession in our poultry research community by offering a scholarship program. The objectives of the program are:
- to encourage and support graduate students to carry out research in an aspect of poultry science
- to build Canada’s intellectual capacity in poultry science
- to promote graduate research in poultry science at Canadian universities
To be eligible for a CPRC scholarship award, a student must be studying (or planning to study) some aspect of poultry science. Applicants are assessed on a number of criteria, including academic performance, research aptitude, career goals and a demonstrated interest in poultry research.
“Postgraduate Scholarship Supple-ments” are available to students who hold a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) scholarship. Several excellent students have received supplements to their scholarships through this program since its inception in 2006. As of 2011, a scholarship is also available to non-NSERC scholars. This change opens the availability of the scholarship program to more students with an interest in poultry science.
Applications to either the scholarship or the supplement are due May 1. Awards are $7,500 per year and are available to masters (eligible for one year) or doctoral level (eligible for up to two years) students. There will be only one award per year. Details of the program, including application requirements and past winners, are available on the “Scholarship” section of the CPRC website.
And the winner is…
After reviewing many excellent applications, the CPRC board voted to award the 2011 scholarship to Megan Rose at the University of Ottawa. Megan has attained a strong academic standing and has received several awards. She co-authored a journal article in 2009 with her M.Sc. supervisor on the protein constituents of the eggshell and has made a number of presentations, both refereed and non-refereed, at European and Canadian poultry conferences. She is involved with the university community as a laboratory teaching assistant and is active in various volunteer activities. Megan wants to become a leading poultry research scientist.
Megan started an M.Sc. program in 2008 under the supervision of Dr. Max Hincke in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. She looked at eggshell proteins associated with antimicrobial activity. Her work suggests that components of the cuticle layer of the eggshell have significant antimicrobial properties, which may have important implications for the industry, as much of the cuticle is removed during egg washing. Before completing her M.Sc. program, Megan transferred directly to a Ph.D. Her current research is looking at the possibility of exploiting the antimicrobial activity of proteins known as histones. These are the proteins around which DNA coils during the formation of chromosomes. Preliminary work has shown that histones have potent antimicrobial activity. The objective of Megan’s research will be to optimize histone purification from blood and test the histones for bactericidal activity. If they test positive and enough of them can be recovered, they will be assessed as antimicrobial feed supplements. If successful, this research may lead to value-added products from chicken blood and provide a potential alternative to currently used antibiotics.
Megan has already made significant contributions to her research program and displays great potential to mature into a scientist of excellent calibre – the kind of scientist we want in poultry science to help ensure the future success of our industry.
For more details on any CPRC activities, please contact Bruce Roberts at the Canadian Poultry Research Council, 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1007, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8, phone: 613-566-5916, fax: 613-241-5999, e-mail: info@cp-rc.ca, or visit us at www.cp-rc.ca .
The membership of the CPRC consists of the Chicken Farmers of Canada, the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, the Turkey Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada and the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors’ Council. CPRC’s mission is to address its members’ needs through dynamic leadership in the creation and implementation of programs for poultry research in Canada, which may also include societal concerns.
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