Competitive Graduate Research Assistantship for Racialized Students

This scholarship was established in 2021 in recognition of the fact 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. As a result, the main goal for this program is to promote the recruitment of historically disadvantaged individuals by minimizing the financial barrier for securing an MSc position. This program acknowledges that some students have had fewer opportunities to develop research skills, so previous research experience is not required to apply. This program prioritizes life experiences and clearly described research interests, and therefore adjudication is based on non-traditional metrics of research potential.

Availability: There will be three awards available annually for an incoming MSc student in CBS.  Recipients must enroll in a thesis-based MSc program in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, Integrative Biology or Molecular and Cellular Biology, if they secure an award. 

Duration and Value: Each award is valued at $10,000 (payable over 3 semesters during the student’s first year of study). In line with CBS’s Minimum Stipend Policy, faculty advisors can reduce their financial commitment to the recipients’ annual stipends if they hold a major award. However, recipients of major awards such as this must receive a total annual stipend of at least $2,000 over the college minimum (i.e. $26,041, which is at least $2,000 over the college minimum of $24,041*)

*Stipend amounts effective F25.

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

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

Important: Students do not need to have an advisor identified, or be accepted into a graduate program in CBS by the application deadline.  Students selected for this award will normally be expected to submit a graduate application and enrol in their program of interest in F25 or W26 (S25 also possible).

Tenability with other awards: The Competitive GRA is not tenable with other major awards including GTS, OGS, NSERC, CIHR, Vanier or Morwick. Minor awards (~$5k or less) can be held at the same time as the Competitive GRA. 

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

Application process: To apply, students submit the following (in a single PDF):

1) A completed, signed eligibility confirmation form

2) A personal statement (maximum 2 pages) that describes the following:

• Your goals, interests and motivation. Describe what kind of research questions interest you and why.  Consider relating your research interests to your academic and/or personal experience. Examples of such experience could include, but are not limited to, how specific course(s) or labs sparked your interest in that research area; formal research and/or volunteer activities; and/or activities or events outside of the university. The type of experience is not as important as the personal reflection and description of what you learned from these experiences that stimulated your interest in pursuing an MSc thesis.  Explain what personal objectives or goals you hope to achieve by pursuing graduate research.
• Your leadership activities. These may take a variety of different forms including, but not limited to: work experience, student-led events, social advocacy work, community service and outreach, public speaking, volunteering, extracurricular activities, caregiving, small group work, the organization of events, mentoring, social media campaigns, etc. Provide a brief reflection of the value/importance of these leadership activities.
• The three accomplishments you are most proud of. This can be anything and relate to either personal growth or external impact. 

Note: Transcripts cannot be included in the application, but students can refer to specific courses in their personal statement if applicable to their research interests. While transcripts cannot be included, successful students will need to meet the minimum admission requirement of a 75% average during their last two years or 4 semesters of undergraduate study to be accepted into the MSc program and be eligible to hold the award.  

Deadline: Application materials should be submitted by January 31, 2025 to cbsadr@uoguelph.ca as 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 entirely based on research potential and leadership, based on the rubric below.   

Post award process: The Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies (ADRGS) office will assist selected students with identifying potential advisor in CBS that align with their research interests, and provide coaching in how to contact them. 

Once an advisor has been secured, the applicant will submit an application to the appropriate MSc program (see instructions on CBS website). Given application approval timelines, the applicant will normally expect to start in the following fall or winter semester; however, if an advisor is secured fairly quickly, it may be possible to apply in time for a spring semester start.

Should a selected student end up securing a major award (e.g., OGS) then the Competitive GRA will be offered to the next student on the reversion list.  

Process timeline:

• Mid January: 
  • Info session for prospective students
• Late January:
  • Submit application by Jan. 31 deadline
• February:
  • Adjudication (results announced by March 1)
• March 1 to Aug. 31:
  • Secure faculty advisor in CBS (college will assist)
  • Apply to relevant graduate program
• Enroll in MSc program in F25 or W26 (S25 start also possible).

Save the date! Info session: Please join us for an information session to learn more about this opportunity on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 at 10 a.m. Join the Zoom meeting here. 

Rubric for the Evaluation of Research and Leadership Potential