Plant Genome Editing (Sateesh Kagale, NRC) CRISPR/Cas technology has sparked a new revolution in biological research and promises to transform agriculture with its high precision, ease of design, multiplexing ability and low cost. This half-day workshop will focus on CRISPR gene editing principles, and provide an overview of the basic gene editing workflow, consisting of the design of effective guide RNAs (gRNAs), delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components into host cells, detection of genome modifications and analysis of gene editing efficiency. This workshop is aimed at students/researchers who are familiar with basic molecular biology techniques and are interested in learning about plant genome editing using CRISPR/Cas systems.

Synchrotron (Chithra Karunakaran, CLS & Teagen Quilichini, NRC) Canadian Light Source synchrotron-based techniques shinning light on plant science and research: The Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron is a national research facility located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan that offers innovative and unique-in-Canada infrastructure and support for research. Synchrotron-based techniques help scientists probe the nature and structure of molecules and materials, making the CLS a valuable tool for both academic and commercial researchers. This workshop covers two main themes that may be of interests to plant biologists: 1. How synchrotron based 2D or 3D X-ray imaging is advantageous to study internal structures or to characterize structural phenotyping of intact samples in spatial scales from micron to nano scales; and 2. How chemical composition or phenotyping is possible using mid-infrared or X-ray spectroscopy and imaging techniques on intact or sections of pristine samples. Participants will be educated on how to access the CLS for academic research and examples will be shown on sample preparation, data collection and analysis using millet seed and cannabis samples.

From the bench to the classroom: Transitioning from research to teaching In this workshop we will discuss how to write an effective and reflective teaching dossier, explore current topics in teaching and learning, and what to expect in job searches. This workshop is targeted for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career researchers. o Dr. Madoka Gray-Mitsumune (Teaching stream – Senior Lecturer at Concordia University) o Dr. Marcus Samuel (Research stream – Professor at the University of Calgary) o Dr. Eliana Gonzales-Vigil (Research stream – Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto - Scarborough)