CBS Competitive Graduate Research Assistantship for Racialized Students

CBS is pleased to offer a scholarship to encourage racialized students to pursue graduate studies in thesis-based Masters program in each of our three departments (Molecular and Cellular Biology, Integrative Biology and Human Health and Nutritional Sciences). Recognizing that racialized students are typically underrepresented in graduate studies in the life sciences and are more likely to be disadvantaged by historic and present day systemic inequities, adjudication of this scholarship will be based on non-traditional metrics of academic success.

Availability: There will be one award available annually in each CBS department (HHNS, IB, MCB).

Duration and Value: Each award is valued at $10,000 (payable over 3 semesters during the student’s first year of study).

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply and hold this award, prospective students must

  • self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color

  • be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

  • meet the normal minimum admission requirements for their thesis-based MSc program of interest (see CBS admission requirements for program specific requirements)

  • maintain full-time status for the duration of the award

Note: The prospective student does not need to have been accepted into a graduate program in CBS by the June 30 application deadline; however, they must have a graduate supervisor identified. Students selected for this award will normally be expected to enrol in their program(s) the following fall or winter semester.

Tenability with other awards: The CBS Competitive Graduate Research Assistantship for Racialized Students may be held with other awards.
Faculty advisors may reduce the GRA paid to a student who holds a this scholarship for the duration of the award, but the student must receive a total annual stipend of at least $23,348 (i.e., at least $2,000 per year over the college minimum of $21,348, in keeping with the CBS graduate funding policy for students with major awards).

Tenure of Awards: Recipients must remain enrolled as a full-time student and maintain satisfactory progress for the duration of the scholarship in order to maintain funding.

Application Process: To apply, students should submit the following to cbsadr@uoguelph.ca:

  1. A curriculum vitae or resume

  2. A completed, and signed, eligibility confirmation form.

  3. A 1-page description of the thesis research to be undertaken

  4. A 1-page personal statement that describes the student’s interest in research and discovery, career interests and leadership activities (which may take a variety of different forms including, but not limited to: work experience, volunteering, extracurricular activities, etc.)

Note: Do not provide transcripts. Awards will be conditional upon selected recipients satisfying all program admission requirements, including a minimum 75% average during their last two years or 4 semesters of undergraduate study.

Deadline: Application materials should be received by June 30, 2022. Please compile all documents into a single PDF file.

Adjudication: Applications will be adjudicated by the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and a faculty representative from each department’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Selection will be based on entirely on research potential and leadership.