Students Targeting Aging Research (STAR)

The Centre on Aging hosts Students Targeting Aging Research (STAR) meetings for students attending the University of Manitoba.

On this page:

Next STAR meeting

STAR meetings are normally scheduled from September–November and January–March during the academic year. Meetings are being hosted virtually.

Next meeting

Thank you to all those who joined us and presented over the past year!

The next meeting will take place in September 2022. If you're a UM student interested in aging email STAR to get on our mailing list!

What happens at STAR meetings?

STAR information (PDF)

STAR meetings are a great way for any student attending the University of Manitoba to meet other students interested in aging related topics. 

Currently, meetings are held virtually until it is safe to meet in person. 

Meeting topics vary and are based on STAR member recommendations and interests. We've had Centre on Aging Research Affiliates talk about their aging related research, invited community members to talk about their aging related careers and to share their own career paths with students, hosted networking events to get to know one another, and hosted outreach activities to help support older people in the community. 

Connect with STAR

The Centre on Aging hosts the STAR group for students attending the University of Manitoba. The aim of STAR is to provide students, whose interest is in aging related topics, with an opportunity to actively engage and connect with one another, discuss shared interests, network with peers, learn about current issues in gerontology from researchers and practitioners in aging, and stay up-to-date on aging related topics using an interdisciplinary perspective.

Gerontology is a diverse and complex field. By 2031, it is projected that the 65- to 74-year-olds will account for nearly 11 per cent of Manitoba’s population. And by 2036, the number of Manitobans aged 75 to 84 is projected to near 125,000.

At the University of Manitoba, Centre on Aging Research Affiliates represent 11 diverse, interdisciplinary faculties. Aging issues require the collaboration and teamwork of individuals from different backgrounds. Through networking, students can make connections with like-minded individuals who share the same interests in aging.

Sign up for the STAR mailing list

If you are interested in staying up to date on future STAR meetings and opportunities, email the co-leads at star@umanitoba.ca to be included on the mailing list.

Students must provide their current UM email addresses as per the University of Manitoba's student email policy.

Meet the STAR co-leads

STAR is co-lead by student representatives from both campuses. Lisette Danserau (Fort Garry and Bannatyne) and Chetan Patil (Bannatyne) are available to answer any questions students may have about joining the group.

  • Lisette is the students targeting aging research co-lead representative on the Bannatyne campus.

  • Fort Garry/Bannatyne STAR co-lead

    Doctoral candidate Lisette Dansereau is the University of Manitoba’s student representative. Lisette is a student in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences studying home care policy. Her background is in the Social Sciences, where she is interested in better understanding how broader society shapes the experiences of individuals as they navigate through life.

    On a national level, Student Connection – Connexion Étudiante (SC-CÉ) is a national network for students interested in aging issues. The SC-CÉ is organized by student members of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG).

  • Chetan is a student co-lead for the STAR group.

  • Bannatyne STAR co-lead

    Chetan Patil is a Ph.D. candidate under supervision of Dr. Michael F. Jackson from the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Manitoba. His research project is to understand the signalling pathways that lead to initiation of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease at molecular level. Through our investigations, we aim to develop novel therapeutic targets which are able to prevent, delay or reverse disease progression.

    Apart from being a passionate neuroscience researcher and an electrophysiologist, he is also an enthusiastic follower of soccer and tennis.

STAR activities

Summary report: Enhancing student engagement in STAR

Current and past co-leads of STAR: Lisette Dansereau, Megan Campbell, and Courtney Addison, conducted a study under the supervision of Centre Director, Dr. Michelle Porter, which asked, “How can we increase student engagement in STAR?”

The goal was to assess awareness of STAR in the study body at large, to describe basic characteristics of our membership, assess interest level and participation rates, and collect thoughts and ideas for improvement.

View the study summary.

Presentations

2021.    Addison, C., Campbell, M., & Dansereau L. Engaging Students in STAR (Students Targeting Aging Research). University of Manitoba Centre on Aging Annual Spring Research Symposium (VIRTUAL). May 3–4, 2021.
2021.    Dansereau, L., Addison, C., & Campbell, M. Engaging students in aging research. Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG) Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting (VIRTUAL). Oct 20–23, 2021.

Get credit for participating and volunteering

University of Manitoba students who participate in STAR meetings and volunteer at the Centre on Aging's Spring Research Symposium may be eligible to receive credit for participation and volunteering.

Four students volunteer at the registration desk during the spring research symposium.

Eligibility

Students who wish to pursue credit for Volunteerism and participation must complete 10 approved hours of combined attendance of STAR meetings and volunteering (registration desk, session chair, assisting symposium attendees, etc.) at the Spring Research Symposium.

Official recognition will be provided through the University of Manitoba's Co-Curricular Record (CCR). The STAR group is officially recognized as a CCR program.

To start earning credit, students need to:

  1. Log in to careerCONNECT to create an account if you already haven’t.
  2. Select UM Students and enter your UM credentials
  3. Search for “STAR” to find the Students Targeting Aging Research listings
  4. Follow the prompts to sign up as a STAR member.

Other organizations and groups

UM students can connect with other students interested in aging through national organizations: