Canada's next generation of researchers receive new support from the Government of Canada

Logo: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CNW Group/Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Logo : Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships (CNW Group/Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

More than $34 million to support PhD and Post Doc students working in fields such as astronomy, health care and food security

EDMONTON, Sept. 6, 2018 /CNW/ - Young researchers produce the discoveries and innovations that help build a strong future for Canada, one that includes a clean environment, healthy communities and a growing middle class. That is why the Government of Canada is investing to support their greatest research ambitions.

Today, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced 167 new Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipients and 70 new Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients, for a total investment of $34.85 million.

Minister Duncan, who made the announcement at the University of Alberta, presented the awards to a group of Canada's brightest doctoral and post-doctoral students who are working to make discoveries in the health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, as well as the social sciences and humanities.  The skills and expertise they gain will help them solve the world's most pressing challenges and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow; jobs that will contribute to a strong and sustainable economy. Researchers receiving awards include:

• Vanier Scholar Laurie-Ann Lines at the University of Alberta, who is earning her PhD by researching how to develop a youth-led program for communicating health issues within the Dené First Nation in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada; and
• Banting Fellow Emilie Parent at McGill University, who is undertaking an in-depth study of the most rapidly rotating neutron stars in our galaxy. She has also made education and public outreach on astronomy an important part of her scientific career.

Quotes

"Our greatest hope lies with the ambitions of the next generation of Canada's researchers. Their curiosity and desire to collaborate will lead to new medical treatments, health care programs and social innovations that will strengthen our economy and support a growing middle class. Our government is proud to support them as they gain the skills and experiences needed for the jobs of tomorrow."
- The Honourable Kirsty Duncan
Minister of Science and Sport

"We are giving researchers, students, and fellows the foundation they need to achieve their dreams and come up with the innovations that will drive the economy and help solve the challenges of our time. I'm happy to support the world's most promising research talent in Canada. I congratulate the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholars and Banting Postdoctoral Fellows and wish them continued success with their research that will benefit all Canadians."
- The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada made an historic investment of nearly $4 billion in Budget 2018 to support research and the next generation of researchers. This is the single largest investment in discovery research in Canadian history.
• Budget 2018 proposed to invest more than $1.7 billion over five years to support researchers through Canada's granting councils and research institutes. This includes $275 million over five years to support a new tri-council fund, which will help support early career researchers.
• Both the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program and the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program are funded through the three federal research granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The program is administered through CIHR.

Associated Links

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Full list of Vanier Scholars
• Full list of Banting Fellows

SOURCE Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Ann Marie Paquet, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, 613-404-2733, [email protected]; David Coulombe, Media Relations, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 613-941-4563, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca