Graduate

Eligibility: Acceptance into a full-time PhD or MSc program under the primary supervision of a full member of the HBI. The research project must involve the development of neurotechnologies and have the potential for commercialization in the short or long term. Neurotechnologies are broadly defined and include methods, devices, molecules, and drugs to monitor and/or augment brain and key physiological functions. Key physiological functions may include cardiorespiratory control, cerebrovascular regulation, autonomic control, attention, learning, and sleep. Funding prioritizes projects involving a BRAIN CREATE team member. The number of trainees funded by HBI and/or BRAIN CREATE for an individual PI is capped at three, but some flexibility is permitted at the discretion of the HBI Education and BRAIN CREATE Directors. Summer students do not count towards this maximum. Application must normally be made prior to, or within nine months of, commencement of the graduate program. 

Terms: The terms of this scholarship align with the CSM Funding Policy.¹ The BRAIN CREATE scholarship provides $15,000/year for PhD students and $12,500/year for MSc students, and the supervisor’s contribution (i.e., funds from a supervisor’s operating grant, chair, and/or startup funds) should match these amounts to meet the minimum guaranteed salaries stated above. Funding in excess of these amounts may be provided at the supervisor’s discretion according to the CSM Funding Policy. If the applicant holds or gains additional funding from internal or external sources, BRAIN CREATE will match the supervisor’s contribution 1:1 up to the maximum value of the BRAIN CREATE award.²

The purpose of this scholarship is to recruit students working on neurotechnologies who will be highly competitive for internal and external awards based on their academic performance and research program. Thus, students holding this scholarship are expected to apply for internal and external awards or grants for which they are eligible, including those from provincial or national agencies. Students who are successful in obtaining other funding must immediately inform BRAIN CREATE administration (braincreate@ucalgary.ca) and the HBI Operations Coordinator (hbi.education@ucalgary.ca) to enable readjustment of BRAIN CREATE funding.²

Students must be able to commit to the BRAIN CREATE Program Requirements.

BRAIN CREATE scholarships are renewed each year. Renewal is contingent upon: 1) annual review of progress, including participation in core and elective activities as outlined in the BRAIN CREATE Program Requirements; 2) evidence of applications for internal or external scholarships; and, 3) supervisor acknowledgement of satisfactory progress under the terms of the scholarship.

^{1 TheCSM Funding Policy governs the minimum, maximum, and type of funding for students enrolled in a CSM graduate program. Please contact the GSE for any questions regarding the CSM Funding Policy.}

^{2 The BRAIN CREATE award program is based on a 1:1 scholarship (award) to stipend (supervisor) funding match ratio, not to exceed the maximum value of the BRAIN CREATE award. Applicants holding other sources of funding must be assessed according to the CSM Funding Calculator as per the CSM Funding Policy, taking into consideration the minimum guaranteed salaries noted above. When the tenure of the external award is less than that of the BRAIN CREATE scholarship, at the end of the external award’s tenure, the BRAIN CREATE scholarship will be reinstated and paid out to the end of the original tenure date.}