The Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellow Award recognizes a postdoctoral fellow who reflects Dr. Page’s academic excellence and his passion for life. In Michael’s memory, each year CBR recognizes a Postdoctoral Fellow who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement combined with significant extra-curricular achievements, both scientific and non-scientific.
An awards ceremony is held in the fall, and the winner will be presented with a memorial plaque and prize. They will also present a summary talk of their career to date together with their extra-curricular activities.
Who can be nominated?
This award is open to Postdoctoral Fellows in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or the Centre for Blood Research in recognition of outstanding academic achievement combined with significant extra-curricular achievements (both scientific and non-scientific). Nominees must have held a PDF appointment at UBC for at least 1 year.
Who can submit a nomination?
Nominations will be made by the Postdoctoral Fellow’s research supervisor; each research supervisor can only nominate one PDF per year. The nominator must hold an appointment as a full member of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or be an Investigator in the Centre for Blood Research. Unless the PI is a member of the CBR, Associate Members of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are ineligible to be nominators for the award.
How do I submit a nomination?
Nominations for the 2023 Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellow Award are closed. 2024 nominations will open early next fall.
Contact Mira Milutinovic (mira.milutinovic@ubc.ca) or Kaitlyn Chuong (kaitlyn.chuong@ubc.ca), with any questions.
About Dr. Michael John Page
Michael John Page was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he graduated from Port Arthur Collegiate in 1994. He attended Carleton University in Ottawa, graduating with his B.Sc. in Biochemistry in 1998. Following, he entered the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology graduate program at UBC under Ross MacGillivray’s supervision. During his graduate studies, his fellow students recognized Mike’s achievements by selecting him for the prestigious 2001 Zbarsky Prize. He then completed a highly productive postdoctoral fellowship, studying the biological activity of thrombin with Dr. Enrico Di Cera at Washington University in St. Louis, and in 2010, moved to a junior faculty position at the University of California, San Francisco, mentored by Dr. Charles Craik. Tragically, Mike died suddenly in June 2013 at age 36, leaving a legacy of a thirst for knowledge and a love of life.
In addition to Mike’s sustained academic success, he was well-liked by his peers and friends. As one colleague describes him:
Mike was the essential glue in keeping our group coherent during grad school and made those years so memorable for all of us.
After his arrival in Vancouver in 1998, Mike hosted the annual biochemistry hockey tournament in Vancouver and whether in Vancouver, St. Louis or San Francisco, he continued to host the tournament and to maintain his support for his beloved Vancouver Canucks hockey team. Mike was always there to help and support his colleagues. Mike was a great guy who was fun to be around – he really had a passion for life. As one of his graduate student colleagues recalls:
Mike had an endless excitement and drive for science, sports and life in general and he shared all of those interests with his friends
2023 Recipient: Dr. Melina Messing
Lab: Mcnagny Lab
Award Presentation: "The ins(-ide the lab) and outs(-ide the lab) of a career in Immunology: a path reaching far beyond the four corners of the bench!" | Wednesday, October 4, 2023
2022 Recipient: Dr. Miffy Hok Yan Cheng
Lab: Cullis Lab
Award Presentation: “Passing the shuttlecock around: How the bounces in my career helped me to achieve science excellency” | Thursday, October 6, 2022
2021 Recipient: Dr. Alison McAfee
Lab: Foster Lab
Award Presentation: "Causes and consequences of honey bee infertility" | Wednesday, October 27, 2021
L - R: Roger Page, Dr. Guadelupe (Lupe) Jaraquemada-Peláez, and Roger Page
2020 Recipient: Dr. Guadelupe (Lupe) Jaraquemada-Peláez
Lab: Orvig Lab
Award Presentation: "Design: From the Arts to Radiopharmaceuticals" | Wednesday, October 21, 2020
L - R: Dr. Ross MacGillivray, Dr. Peter Rahfield and Roger Page
2019 Recipient: Dr. Peter Rahfeld
Lab: Withers Lab
Award Presentation: “Discovery of New Enzymes for Universal Blood Donor ” | Wednesday, October 9, 2019
L - R: Dr. Rachel Fernandez; Dr. Aly Karsan; Dr. Jennifer Grants; Dr. Ross MacGillivray; Mr. Roger Page; Ms. Hourik Khanlian.
2018 Recipient: Dr. Jennifer Grants, Postdoctoral Fellow
Lab: Karsan Lab
Award Presentation: “Loss of miR-146a links inflammation, aging, and myeloid malignancy” | Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Dr. Ross MacGillivray (L) with Jürgen (centre) and Roger Page (R)
2017 Recipient: Dr. Jürgen Niesser, Postdoctoral Fellow
Lab: Strynadka Lab
Award Presentation: “Blurring the Lines between Fun and Science” | Thursday, October 26, 2017
L - R: Dr. Evan Haney, Roger Page, Dr. Ross MacGillivray
2016 Recipient: Dr. Evan Haney, Postdoctoral Fellow
Lab: Hancock Lab
Award Presentation: "Huddle Up and Science! (My Life in Football and Scientific Research)" | Friday, November 4, 2016
2015 Recipient: Dr. Solmaz Sobhanifar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Lab: Strynadka Lab
Award Presentation: “The ‘bio’ in science and flamenco” | Friday, October 23, 2015
Dr. Michael Yucci (L) and Roger Page (R)
2014 Recipient: Dr. Michael Yuchi, Postdoctoral Fellow
Lab: Van Petegem Lab
Award Presentation: “Do Science Like a Footballer” | Friday, October 17, 2014
L-R: Julien Bergeron, Ross MacGillivray, Roger Page
2013 Recipient: Dr. Julien Bergeron, Postdoctoral Fellow
Lab: Strynadka Lab
Award Presentation: Friday, October 18th, 2013
Below are just a few stories of the many award recipients of the Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellow Award at the CBR. Learn about their stories and the impact the award has had on them.
Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Recipient 2023: Dr. Melina Messing
"I am truly honoured to receive an award that is given in his name. There are many scholarships/awards that recognize scientific achievements but few that focus on the extra-curricular activities that are such an important part of a scientific career and often go unnoticed."
- Dr. Melina Messing, 2023 Award Recipient
Read the full story >
Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Recipient 2022: Dr. Miffy Hok Yan Cheng
“I felt incredibly honored [to be selected] and wanted to take this opportunity to share my passions and my love for science, along with my scientific journey, which I think echoes many others."
– Dr. Miffy Hok Yan Cheng, 2022 Award Recipient
Read the full story >
Dr. Alison McAfee receives the 2021 Michael John Page Postdoctoral Fellow Award
“It is a huge honour to receive this award,” said Dr. McAfee, who is co-supervised by Dr. Leonard Foster of UBC and Dr. David Tarpy from the University of Northern Carolina. “I am so grateful to have this support and recognition.”
– Dr. Alison McAfee, 2021 Award Recipient