AI graduate studentship programs evolve

A member of a University of Alberta research team investigates various organisms that can break down lignin to make biofuels.

November 19, 2020

Strengthening Alberta's economy

Strengthening our provincial economy through people, research, and innovation is at the heart of what we do. Yet we also recognize that no single technology or industry will grow or transform the provincial economy. Instead, a convergence of emerging technologies, platforms and applications is necessary. To better support the recruitment, development and retention of talent that can drive this convergence, we are further streamlining and focusing our approach to our studentship opportunities.

What's changing?

Discontinuing our Graduate Studentships in Health Innovation program

There are two reasons for this:

  1. Since Alberta Innovates' consolidation in 2016, the Graduate Studentships in Health Innovation program co-existed alongside Alberta Innovates' much larger studentship program, but with slightly different eligibility requirements, terms, and award values, which created confusion in the ecosystem.
  2. The Graduate Studentships in Health Innovation program became a catch-all program, attracting applications involving a broad range of health-related research and training. As we work to maximize the impact of our investments, we must better target workforce enhancement in areas of strategic importance to Alberta.

Restructuring our Graduate Student Scholarship program

We are restructuring our larger Graduate Student Scholarship program to better serve as a single mechanism through which Alberta Innovates can support health talent development in strategic priorities areas. This includes:

  • Removing restrictions related to the faculty from which a student can apply (students from any faculty can apply if their project fits with the priority research areas identified); and
  • Providing clearly defined eligible research areas for each competition. Please note, these areas can change time to time.

This shift to a single mechanism doesn't currently include the Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU) Graduate Studentship program.

The Graduate Student Scholarship will continue to be administered and adjudicated by participating universities (i.e., University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge), while Alberta Innovates provides the program guidelines and strategic oversight. This means students apply directly to their university, and deal with their university for all questions and concerns related to the application process, notice of results, and fund administration.

Contact your university to learn more about the deadlines and application processes.