External Scholarships
Please see theGraduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)External Scholarshipswebsitefor more information about the following scholarship:
- Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) scholarships
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)scholarships
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) / Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST)
Departmental Awards
Provost Doctoral Entrance Award for Women
This entrance award, valued at $5000, is open to prospective female full-time doctoral students (Canadian citizen, permanent resident or student on study permit). Awardees must have first class academic standing, as well as an outstanding record of research accomplishments and/or references citing significant future potential in research. Students will be nominated by their proposed supervisor and/or the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.
Additional details are available on the Graduate Studies website.
Graduate Seminar Award
This was awarded to the best MSc and PhD presentation at the annual Biology Graduate Student Symposium. In 2022 the Department switched to a bi-weekly format.
Recipients
- 2021Evan Balzer, Ellen Cameron
- 2020Symposium cancelled due to COVID-19
- 2019Alicia Dubinski, Parisa Mirzapour (Vision Science), Jody Daniel, Jackson Tsuji
- 2018 Casey Remmer, Shawna Semple, Wynona Klemt, Eric Le Dreff-Kerwin
- 2017 Sarah Poynter, Ashley Ross
J. Frank Brookfield Memorial Graduate Scholarship
This fund is made possible by a donation from the J. Frank Brookfield Trust to support exceptional students studying zoology. Thescholarship will beawarded annually to a graduate student registered full time in a master's or doctoral program who is conducting research in zoology. Selection is based on academic achievement over the last two full-time academic years. The Department of Biology will identify and select a recipient annually.
Recipients
- 2024Yubing Chen
- 2023Ryan Leys
- 2022Karyn Robichaud
- 2021Alexander Douglas, Mehdi Moslemi Aqdam
E.B. Dumbroff Award in Plant Sciences
This award was established by colleagues and former graduate students of Professor Erwin B. Dumbroff in recognition of his contribution to plant science research and his training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. As a plant physiologist, he researched how plants cope with environmental stress, among other related interests. As a teacher, he developed one of the first courses in the biochemistry of natural products to be offered anywhere. The award will be given to a graduate student for research excellence in any aspect of plant science and will consist of a monetary amount and other forms of recognition, if appropriate. It will be awarded annually or less frequently (if there are no suitable candidates) as deemed appropriate by the Department of Biology Scholarship Committee. A nomination letter from the student's supervisor(s) should outline the outstanding nature of the research including descriptions of their research contributions. This letter is due by the second Friday in March to the Biology Graduate Office.
Recipients
- 2024Hanna Hickey
- 2023Sabina Henry
- 2022Nilanth Yogadasan
- 2021 Alyssa Overton
- 2020Lina Aragon Baquero
Dr. Noel Hynes Memorial Graduate Scholarship
A scholarship valued at $2,000 will be awarded annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in the department of Biology in the Faculty of Science, working in the area of ecology. Preference will be given to students who do not hold another major award. This fund is made possible by the family and friends of Dr. Noel Hynes, first permanent Chair of the Department of Biology.
Recipients
- 2024Beatriz Nogueira E Figueira
- 2023Arisha Imran,Ryan Leys
- 2022Alexandra Sauk
- 2021Christian Therrien
- 2020Lauren Koiter, Mehdi Moslemi Aqdam
Brian M. Jessop Graduate Scholarship in Fisheries Science
This scholarshipis awarded to a Department of Biology graduate student based on academic achievement over the last two full-time academic years and interest in the biology and/or management of freshwater and/or diadromous fishes in Canada. Students are nominated by the Department.
Recipients
- 2024 Sana Gavarikar
- 2023Jessica Turecek
- 2022Mehdi Moslemi Aqdam
- 2021Nathanael Harper
- 2020Isabel Hilgendag
John E. Thompson Biology Graduate Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to agraduate student who also holds an Ontario Graduate Scholarship or other major external scholarship that requires a matching or enhancement component. If a suitable recipient cannot be found, the funds will be paid out as a regular graduate scholarship. Students are nominated by the Department.
Recipients
- 2024Ryan Leys
- 2023Arisha Imran
- 2022Nathanael Harper
- 2021Hannah Thibault
- 2020Mitchell Kay
- 2019Mike Mansfield
Ram and Lekha Tumkur Award
This $1,000 scholarship has been established by Dr. and Mrs. Nagraj Tumkur in memory of their children Rammonhan and Chitralekha, who lost their lives in Air India flight 182 that crashed in June 1985 with no survivors. It is awarded annually for postgraduate study leading to a MSc degree in any field of biology and is based on both scholarship and financial need. Applications are due in October each year.
Recipients
- 2024Noah Rogozynski, Eddie Wu
- 2023Sana Gavarikar, Benjamin Piticaru
- 2022Patrick Breadner, Bronte McPhedran, Madeline Prater
- 2021Keith McAllister
- 2020Isabel Hilgendag, Lucia Liao
ݮƵ Pioneers of Microbiology Award
Recipients
- 2024Anjali Krishna, Anastasiia Kurnosova, Abtin Roostan, Anja Skrobonja
- 2023Alyssa Graham, Harold Hodgins
- 2022Nathanael Harper, Molly Chen, Eugenia Dadzie, Isabella Ippolito, Zjardyn Liera-Hood
- 2021Delaney Nash
- 2020Alexander Douglas, Aranksha Thakor, Alex Umbach
Dean of Science Award - Biology
The Dean of Science award is given in recognition of outstanding performance in the Master of Science program. One certificate will normally be awarded annually to a master's student from the Department of Biology in recognition of creative research as presented in the student's thesis.
Recipients
- 2024Drew Thompson
- 2022Madison Brook
- 2021Isabela Jasiak
- 2020Sarah Barwell
W.B. Pearson Medal
This medal was created to honour Professor W.B. Pearson in recognition of his contribution to the University of ݮƵ and to Canada as a research scientist and teacher. One medal is awarded annually to a PhD student from the Department of Biology in recognition of creative research as presented in the student's thesis.
Recipients
- 2024Nikhil George
- 2022Jennifer Aguiar
- 2021Matt McLeod
- 2020Mike Mansfield
University of ݮƵ scholarships
- Must have a minimum average of 80% in graduate coursework.
- Must not have any INC in courses.
- Must not be past program time limits
- Must be registered as a “Full-time” student in good standing
- Not available to students who hold NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) or other major scholarships.
- There is no application process; all students who meet the eligibility requirements are considered in Fall and Winter terms.
Graduate Student Research Dissemination Award (GSRDA)
GSPA has a fund available to subsidize the travel costs of graduate students presenting papers or posters at scientific meetings. Students may apply once per fiscal year (May 1 - April 30). Please refer to theGraduate Student Research Dissemination Award Applicationfor more information. This is only a subsidy, so the student should consult theirsupervisor first to ascertain whether they arewilling to pay some of the travel expense. Proof that the student’s abstract has been accepted is required as well as all original travel receipts.
In addition, the Department has a small budget to assist as well. Please contact the Biology Graduate Office for information.