Computational neuroscience doctoral student at Queen's University in the CompNeurosci lab supervised by Dr. Gunnar Blohm.
Liquid state machines for motor control and high performance computing.
emils [dot] matiss [at] queensu [dot] ca
Hello SGPS members,
I'm excited to announce my candidacy for SGPS president!
I have a long history of involvement in university governance throughout my entire graduate
student journey. I started
by representing students at the departmental level, at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, and
later became the chair
of our student leadership committee in the subsequent year. I then took on the role of graduate
student senator, where I
chaired the student senate caucus and a senate committee in my second year. I ran successfully
for re-election for both
the senate and student senate caucus chair positions. I briefly considering running for graduate
student trustee to take
on new challenges, but I enjoyed the role of academic oversight at senate. Ultimately, I decided
to run for SGPS
president. This role offers me an opportunity to broaden my responsibilities, as it involves
serving on the senate, the
board of trustees, and the university council, all while maintaining a strong position for
student advocacy.
As chair of the Queen's University Board-Senate Advisory Committee, I led the Joint Board-Senate Retreat last March, steering discussions to enhance support for graduate student research. This event concluded with senators, trustees, and members of the administration acknowledging the need for increased funding for graduate students. I am proud that I could fulfill my objective of highlighting graduate student needs to key decision-makers, and it is exciting to see several departments raising their minimum funding packages. I have already established strong working relationships with many of the key stakeholders the president collaborates with, positioning me for a smooth transition into the role. I have learned much from working with the SGPS and AMS presidents, the Rector, and Principal. Internally, my primary focus for the upcoming year will be to reinforce our ongoing SGPS initiatives in mental health and community engagement. Externally, it is imperative to ensure that the university remains attuned to the pressing issues faced by students, including funding, housing, and food security, especially during periods of budgetary constraints. Upholding the well-being of graduate and professional students during these challenging times is a shared priority.
If elected as SGPS president, I will work to address the following issues:
Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
Ph.D. in Neuroscience,
2022-present
M.Sc. in Neuroscience (promoted to Ph.D.), 2020-2022
B.A. in Psychology, 2020
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Hon. B.Sc. (Computer
Science)
Hon. B.B.A. (Minor in Economics)
Double degree program with co-op, 2018
2023-present - Senate Cyclical Program Review Committee, Senate, Queen's
University
2022-present - Chair, Student Senate Caucus, Senate, Queen's University
2021-present - Graduate Student Senator, Senate, Queen's University
2021-present - Graduate Studies Executive Council, Queen's University
2022-2023 - Chair, Queen's Board-Senate Advisory Committee, Senate, Queen's
University
2021-2022 - Lead, Student Leadership Committee (CNS), Queen's University
2021-2022 - Non-Academic Misconduct Sub-Committee, Senate, Queen's
University
2021-2022 - Queen’s University Board-Senate Advisory Committee, Senate, Queen's
University
2021-2022 - Councillor to the SGPS, Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS),
Queen's University
2021-2022 - Member, Executive Education Committee (CNS), Queen's University
2021-2022 - Member, EDII Committee (CNS), Queen's University
2020-2021 - Member, Student Leadership Committee (CNS), Queen's University
2020-2021 - Student Representative, Graduate Committee (CNS), Queen's
University