The Institute

The Ottawa-Carleton Institute combines the research strength of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The Institute offers graduate programs leading to the master’s (MSc) and doctoral (PhD) degrees in several fields (biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, etc.).

General Information

Toxicology is the study of effects of toxic substances on living systems. These toxic substances can either be organic or inorganic, synthetic or natural materials. Environmental toxicology further extends to aspects of chemical transport, fate, persistence and biological accumulation of toxic substances and their effects at the population and community levels. While individual researchers usually specialize in a particular area, toxicologists today must be able to appreciate significant research in other fields and therefore require an understanding of the basic principles of other disciplines. To meet this challenge the University of Ottawa and Carleton University offer a joint collaborative program leading to a master of science or a PhD degree with specialization in chemical and environmental toxicology.

This Ottawa-Carleton collaborative program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology is intended to augment the research and training available to students through the individual supporting institutes.

The programs operate within the general framework of the regulations and procedures for Joint Graduate Programs and the general regulations of the graduate faculty at the two universities. The general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) of the University of Ottawa are posted on the FGPS website.

Participating Units

The primary participating units are:

• The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology (OCIB), the joint graduate program of the departments of Biology at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
• The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Chemistry (OCIC), the joint graduate program of the departments of Chemistry at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
• The Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre (OCGC), the joint graduate program of the departments of Earth Sciences at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

The professors included in the list below are members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This means that they are authorized to supervise or co-supervise theses. A complete list of the faculty and staff members associated with the program can be found at http://www.chemistry.uottawa.ca/students/current_grad.html

ARNASON, John, Full Professor
Plant secondary chemicals; plant-insect interaction

BLAIS, Jules, Associate Professor
Environmental toxicology

CHAREST, Christiane, Associate Professor
Plant eco-physiology

CLARK, Ian, Full Professor
Hydrogeology; isotopes and aqueous geochemistry

FINDLAY, C. Scott, Associate Professor
Conservation biology, ecosystem management, ecological risk assessment, evolution of resistance, cancer, weight of evidence, scientific uncertainty, traditional knowledge

FORTIN, Danielle, Associate Professor
Biogeochemistry of metals

KENNEDY, Sean W., Adjunct Professor
Environmental toxicology

MAYER, Paul, Associate Professor
Physical chemistry

MOON, Thomas, Full Professor
Comparative physiology; biochemistry

PAKTUNC, Dogan, Adjunct Professor
Environmental mineralogy

PICK, Frances, Full Professor
Behavior, ecology and systematics, algae, algal toxins, lakes, metals, rivers, water pollution, wetlands

ROBIN, Michel, Associate Professor
Hydrogeology

SCAIANO, Juan, Distinguished University Professor
Physical organic chemistry; photochemistry

TRUDEAU, Vance, Full Professor
Physiology and toxicology of reproduction

WHITE, Paul, Adjunct Professor
Genotoxicity

Candidates must indicate in their admission form that they wish to be accepted in the collaborative program.

All applicants must be able to understand speak and write either English or French proficiently . Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations of the FGPS.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, assignments, examinations, research papers and theses can be produced in either English or French.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Be admitted in one of the programs participating in the collaborative program of the Institute.
• Complete a relevant introductory course in toxicology, either:
  
  (i) prior to admission to the collaborative program in chemical and environmental toxicology; Or
  
  (ii) While registered in the program by taking one of the two introductory courses (CHM8156 or BIO9104).

• Provide a confidential letter of recommendation from a professor who is willing and available to act as thesis supervisor.
• Be sponsored into the collaborative program by a faculty member, normally the thesis supervisor, who must be appointed, cross-appointed or stand as an adjunct at one or more of the participating units.

NOTE: The choice of supervisor will determine the primary campus location of the student. It will also determine which university awards the degree.

• 3 compulsory credits of an introductory course in chemical and environmental toxicology (CHM8156 ou BIO9104).
• Enrollment in the seminar course in toxicology (TOX9105), which involves the presentation of a seminar, and regular attendance at the seminars presented by the Department.
• Presentation and defense of a thesis in toxicology based on an original research carried out under the supervision of a faculty member participating in the chemical and environmental toxicology collaborative program.

Residence

Minimum Standards

Academic Unit Coordinates