Prospective Applicants
Important Info for Prospective Applicants: What current and former lab members and students say about Manish Raizada:
“He’s just plain cruel” – Former member who prefers not to identify current country (or continent) of residence.
“He smells bad. I don’t think he ever showers. I can’t stand when he takes his shoes off”. – Former student who now cannot approach Manish within 20 feet within running away and now lives in England.
“He has the sickest sense of humour. Really though, he just ended up embarrassing himself and all of us at national meetings. ” – Former member now in Chile.
“He drinks secretly in his office. We could smell it on his breath. At first, we tried gently to let him know that he had a problem. Some nights, he couldn’t even make it to the elevator at the end of the day without collapsing drunk in the hallway. How pathetic.” – Former post-doc who never received a (coherent) letter of recommendation.
“He beats up everyone in the lab on a regular basis – just for fun. I think he goes home and eats little bunny rabbits for pleasure. That’s what I’ve heard.” – Former student who is now in therapy.
“Manish Raizada…..I have no comment. Please leave me alone.” – Former student who has since assumed a new name (not through marriage).
“I tried to throw a Molotov cocktail through his windows at home, but I missed. I’m now a fugitive from Canada, all thanks to him. I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!” – Former member now seen on posters in post offices throughout the country.
Prospective Applicants (seriously…)
We are always interested in talented new researchers joining our team with a shared motivation. The Raizada Lab is a relatively new lab at the University of Guelph in a relatively new department. Our goal is to mentor and train young scientists with an interest in plant biology or agricultural improvement in a positive, friendly and encouraging atmosphere. We are particularly interested in students with an interest in agricultural improvement in the Developing World. Students from diverse academic backgrounds (computer science/computational biology, molecular genetics, protein science, biochemistry, chemical engineering) are encouraged to apply. Students will be encouraged to seek national scholarships, but all admitted students are guaranteed a full stipend to cover living costs and tuition.
Students will have access to $2 million in new equipment for genomics, molecular genetics, microscopy and imaging, in addition to a new $1.5 million transgenic plant growth facility, redesigned laboratory space, access to top-notch scientists and engineers across departments, active journal clubs and seminar series, and international scientific collaborators. Please scroll down the following link to also examine the facilities and equipment located in the Department: http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/welcome/excellence/excell.htm
The University of Guelph is one of Canada’s most research-intensive universities with a focus in the life sciences. Chatelaine Magazine voted Guelph as one of Canada’s top ten cities to live in, with an active downtown and nightlife, dynamic arts scene, scenic rivers and bike trails. Guelph is located less than 1 hr from downtown Toronto. Check out the City of Guelph website for visitors: http://guelph.ca/visiting.cfm
Interested applicants should contact Manish Raizada directly (raizada@uoguelph.ca) with a C.V., (unofficial) transcript, names of 2-3 references and a statement of research interests.
Note that admission is to the Department of Plant Agriculture. Applications are accepted quarterly, but foreign students may be required to write the TOEFL examination, but NOT the GRE. For Canadian students, please note that the deadline for NSERC and Ontario Graduate School (OGS) scholarship applications is typically in September. Prospective students should look at the prospective student website for the Department of Plant Agriculture for admission, scholarship and course details:
http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/grads/index.html
Useful Grad Links
Plant Agriculture Graduate Student Website and Links (includes links to Graduate Handbook):
http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/grads/index.html
Guelph Graduate Student Site:
http://www.careerservices.uoguelph.ca/home/gen_students_graduate_students.cfm
Plant Agriculture Graduate Student Liaison Committee
http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Epa-gslc/
The University of Guelph Campus and the Guelph Region
More About the Crop Science Building
The present Crop Science Building was opened in 1968. It consists of 4-stories containing 5 classrooms, 47 offices, 59 research laboratories, and a single-storey area which houses growth facilities. The main building's growth facilities include: 13 controlled-environment, large, walk-in growth rooms, and 4 rooms housing 51 controlled-environment growth cabinets. The growth rooms provide about 1/10 ha of bench space for growing plants.
Learn about the Department of Plant Agriculture:
Excellence:http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/welcome/excellence/excell.htm
History:http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/welcome/history/history.htm
Our impact: http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/welcome/impact/impact.htm
Learn more about the campus:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/campus/
Campus Map and Finding the Crop Science Building (we are located in rooms 310-312 of the Crop Science Building)
http://www.uoguelph.ca/campus/map/
More about the University of Guelph
The University of Guelph is renowned for its commitment to placing students first, research intensity, collaboration with world-class partners, distance education opportunities and international outreach. Guelph's high-quality programs, outstanding faculty and talented students make one of the top three comprehensive universities in Canada, according to a national survey by Maclean's Magazine (2001).
The university was established in 1964, when its founding colleges - the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), and the Macdonald Institute - joined with a new college of arts and science. Today, the institution comprises six colleges: Arts; Biological Science; Physical and Engineering Sciences; Social and Applied Human Sciences; OAC, and OVC. A total of 16,600 students attend U of G, including 14,200 full- and part-time undergraduates and 1,700 full- and part-time graduate students. They pursue more than 80 undergraduate and 45 graduate degree programs.
Guelph attracts the best students - the average entering grade is 85.4 per cent, the highest in Canada for a comprehensive university. Not only do the best students come to Guelph, they stay at Guelph. Numerous programs assist with the transition to university. As a result, the university has an 88 per cent graduation rate that also outranks all other comprehensive universities. And our students continue to succeed after they graduate -- more than 97 per cent of grads entering the labour force find jobs within two years of completing their studies.
Our award-winning faculty plays a key role in student success. More than 100 professors have been recognized for teaching excellence, including 10 prestigious 3M Fellow teaching awards. Among its researchers, Guelph has 19 Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. Faculty and students engage in research that has led to breakthroughs in a number of fields. Guelph is the second-most research intensive university in Canada, the first among non-medical schools, with an estimated $92.7 million in research funding annually.
The University attracts students from 82 countries and maintains 36 exchange programs with 16 countries. Guelph has university partners in 30 countries and participates in projects funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and other agencies worth a total of $17 million. There are about 69,000 U of G alumni in 130 countries around the world.
Campus Images
More About the City of Guelph
Guelph was founded by John Galt in 1827 and named in honour of the British Royal Family. Century-old limestone buildings and downtown avenues are set in a picturesque natural setting at the junction of the Speed and Eramosa rivers. Today, Guelph is known for its rich architectural heritage and its vibrant cultural life. The Guelph area is known for its music festivals that feature a wonderful blend of Blues, Folk, Rock, alternative, Jazz, and Classical music. A visit to arts and craft shows, antique dealers, and the farmers' market are an adventure of colours, smells and sounds. Guelph's beautiful parks, riverside green spaces, sports facilities and teams provide indoor and outdoor fun for people of all ages. Distinctive shops, cafes, pubs, and bistros invite visitors to relax and enjoy the Guelph atmosphere while enjoying food and entertainment. The compact downtown and several malls offer a variety of unique shopping opportunities. Accomodations in Guelph range from the charming bed and breakfast to complete hotel facilities to picturesque campgrounds. University of Guelph activities and the campus draw many people to the city each year through conferences, on-campus concerts and programs, and varsity sports teams. The University includes internationally renowned institutions such as the Ontario Agricultural College and the Ontario Veterinary College. Come visit the "Royal City" today. It's a great place to raise your family! -- Courtesy of Guelph Visitor and Convention Services.
Check out the City of Guelph website for visitors: http://guelph.ca/visiting.cfm
City of Guelph Images
Directions to Guelph (courtesy of MapQuest)
http://www.uoguelph.ca/visitors.shtml#directions
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=guelph&state=ON&address=50+stone+rd&country=canada&zoom=4&size=big
