The Graduate Student Awards are administered annually by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Education for the Faculty of Medicine graduate students during the Fall term. This year we have 15 awards totalling over $65,000 to distribute among our learners. These awards are in various research areas ranging from general medical research, cancer research, and infectious diseases, to specific areas of research like brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. Please see the full list of awards to check the description and individual award amount.
Eligibility
Full-time graduate students who are registered in any of the graduate programs overseen by the Faculty of Medicine or full-time graduate students whose main supervisor has a primary appointment with the UBC Faculty of Medicine are eligible to apply for the Graduate Student Awards. Please scroll down to check the full list of the awards.
All applicants must be in good academic standing with the University and must be making satisfactory progress toward their degree as defined by the UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
| Master’s students | The applicant must have started the program within the last 18 months at the time of the application (excluding any months on extended leave) *, |
| Doctoral students | The applicant must have started the program within the last 42 months at the time of the application (excluding any months on extended leave) ** |
| MD/Ph.D. students | The applicant must have started in year 1 of the MD/PhD program within the last 42 months at the time of application (excluding any months on extended leave) |
*Please note that if you have been within your program as a graduate student longer than the indicated months and were on extended leave during this period, kindly indicate that in the online application form.
**Start date of the program for Ph.D. students:
- If you have completed all Masters’ requirements before enrolling in your doctoral program, then the start date of your Ph.D. program is the actual start date of the doctoral program.
- If you have transferred from a Master’s program to your Ph.D. program without completing all of the requirements of the Master’s degree, then the start date of your Ph.D. program is the start date of the Master’s program.
- If you have enrolled directly after completing an undergraduate degree without any Masters’ training, the start date of your Ph.D. program is the actual start date of the doctoral program.
Please refer to the Instructions and FAQs for complete eligibility guidelines.
Application Procedure
STAGE I – Declaration of Intent (CLOSED)
Stage I application opens on: September 5, 2024, at 9 AM PST
Stage I application closes on: September 19, 2024, at 5 PM PST
A Declaration of Intent (DOI) is required from all graduate students applying to the following two Graduate Student Awards:
- Harry and Florence Dennison Fellowship in Medical Research ($12,450)
- Mary Adele Norman Postgraduate Award in Medical Research ($4,370)
Download the Declaration of Intent Form and submit it via the Online Portal (Closed).
Stage I is ONLY required for those candidates who are applying for the two awards mentioned above. Once all the DOIs are reviewed, applicants will be notified within ten working days (after the deadline) and invited to submit a full application package for the next stage II.
STAGE II- Full application package submission
Stage II application opens on: September 20, 2024, at 9 AM PST
Stage II application closes on: October 18, 2024, at 5 PM PST
To apply, you must submit a Complete Application package by the deadline, which consists of:
1. Main Application form
Download the Main Application Form and submit it via the Online Portal.
2. Post-secondary transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
Electronic copies of transcripts must be shared with the GPE Office via OneDrive or through email at med.gradpostdoc@ubc.ca by your graduate program assistant or coordinator. In case, the applicant is submitting transcripts by themselves, each page has to be initialed by the candidate’s supervisor.
3. Sponsor Assessment Form from TWO sponsors
- Please download the Sponsor Assessment Form PDF or Word and request your referees to send the forms directly to us at med.gradpostdoc@ubc.ca.
- One of the sponsors should be your proposed or current supervisor. (Master’s students starting in 2024W have an option to request their previous supervisor or instructors)
- The second sponsor should be familiar with your academic and research abilities.
To facilitate a blind review process, please ask your sponsors to not use your name, gender-specific pronouns, or similar identifying characteristics in their letters. They should refer to you as “The Trainee” as needed.
Please refer to the Instructions and FAQs for complete formatting and submission guidelines.
Adjudication Procedure
The Graduate and Postdoctoral Education office forms a committee comprising faculty members from the Faculty of Medicine. The evaluation of applications focuses on the candidate’s academic record, research project summary, characteristics, and abilities as demonstrated through their application package and letters of support. The final decision is made on the recommendation of Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Education.
Awards
NOTE: All award values may be subject to change.
| Award | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Harry and Florence Dennison Fellowship in Medical Research (Award#5617) | $12,450 | A $12,450 scholarship has been endowed through a bequest by Florence Helen Dennison for masters and doctoral students undertaking research in Medicine. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. |
| Mary Adele Norman Postgraduate Award in Medical Research | $4,370 | A $4,370 scholarship has been endowed by Mary Adele Norman for graduate students doing medical research. This award is administered by the Faculty of Medicine. |
| Bert Bauman Parkinsons Disease Research Fund | $490 | A $490 scholarship has been endowed to support basic scientific research into the causes of and cure for Parkinson's disease. |
| Bertrand and Neila Galloway Leukemia Research Fund | $7,298 | A $7,298 scholarship has been endowed by the Bertrand and Nelia Galloway Fund for Research and Leukemia to support research into the causes of and cure for leukemia. |
| Nettie Polischuk Memorial Cancer Research Fund | $1,450 | A $1,450 scholarship has been endowed through a bequest from the Estate of Nettie Polischuk. The fund specifically supports cancer research. This award is administered by the Faculty of Medicine. |
| Team KOA | $3,000 | This funding is to support research and training in pediatrics cancers, with a preference to NMC and Head and neck cancers. |
| Edward Squires Memorial Scholarship (Award#139) | $4,450 | A $4,450 scholarship has been endowed by Mrs. Katherine Borden, in memory of her son. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, to a student undertaking research into spinal meningitis or related diseases of the nervous system. |
| Dorothy Helmer Scholarship in Medicine (Award#5619) | $6,000 | A $6,000 scholarship has been endowed through a bequest by Dorothy Evelyn Helmer for masters and doctoral students in Medicine undertaking research concerning infectious diseases. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. |
| Richard A. Robertson Memorial Service Award in Medicine (Award#5633) | $5,700 | A $5,700 service award has been endowed by Richard A. Robertson's wife, family and friends to honor and remember him. A UBC graduate (B.A.1971), he was known for his intellect, curiosity, passion and "pushing the envelope." This award is intended for graduate students, with a supervisor whose primary appointment is in the Faculty of Medicine, undertaking research into HIV/AIDS, with consideration also given to those studying other infectious diseases or immune disorders. Adjudication is based on academic standing and research potential, as well as demonstrated leadership skills, involvement in extracurricular activities and commitment to community service. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine. |
| Millie and Ralph Drabinsky Graduate Scholarship in Medicine (Award#6330) | $700 | A $700 scholarship has been endowed by family and friends in honor of Ralph and Millie Drabinsky's fiftieth wedding anniversary. The award is offered to a masters or doctoral student, whose supervisor has a primary appointment in the Faculty of Medicine, undertaking research into the etiology or treatment of Alzheimer's or related neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. No individual will receive support from this fund for more than two consecutive years. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. |
| Dorothy May Ladner Memorial Fellowship (Award#6373) | $13,600 | A $13,600 fellowship has been endowed in memory of Dorothy May Ladner through a bequest by her sister, Edna G. Ladner, for a graduate student doing research which could lead to the effective treatment of traumatic brain injury. One of the first women from British Columbia to receive a masters degree in public health nursing, Dorothy Ladner was known throughout the province for her administrative skills in public health. She assisted with the development of the Variety Club's Children's Treatment Centre in Surrey of which she later became Director. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine. |
| Dr. Michael Schulzer Memorial Award in Biostatistics (Award #6885) | $2,000 | Awards totalling $2,000 have been made available annually through a gift from Patricia Chin, in memory of Dr. Michael Schulzer (1936-2021) for outstanding graduate students who demonstrate excellence in applied biostatistics. Dr. Michael Schulzer (B.A. 1958, M.A. 1959, M.D. 1963, Ph.D.) served as a faculty member in the UBC Department of Statistics and Faculty of Medicine for more than 25 years and as a Professor Emeritus, Michael held a faculty appointment with the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation (C2E2). Michael received his M.D. from UBC in the 1960s, and his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Washington in the 1970s. His varied research passions included the exploration of the application of statistics in medical research, regression modelling, meta-analysis and health metrics. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. |
| Omer H. Patrick II Memorial Prize (Award#6452) | $5,600 | A $5,600 prize has been endowed in memory of Omer H. Patrick II by his family to recognize excellence in Alzheimer's research by a doctoral student whose work is contributing to a greater understanding of the disease. Preference is given to students pursuing research directly into the causes and potential cures for the disease, but related research may also be considered. The Patrick family wishes to express gratitude for the efforts of the recipients in pursuing Alzheimer's research. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies. |
| Masayuki Hashimoto Memorial Award in Glioblastoma Research (Award#6777) | $1,500 | A $1,500 award has been made available annually by friends, colleagues, and family to honour the memory of Masayuki Hashimoto for a graduate student researching glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in the Faculty of Medicine. GBM is the deadliest form of brain cancer affecting adults. Despite improvements in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, and therapeutics, this devastating disease has eluded major treatment advances. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies |
| Holly Ewanyshyn Women's Health Equity Graduate Research Award (Award#6909) | $2,000 | Awards totalling $2,000 have been made annually, through a gift from an anonymous donor in honour of Holly Ewanyshyn, for Faculty of Medicine research-stream graduate students, or research-stream graduate students supervised by Faculty of Medicine supervisors, researching disease pathogenesis in women or female models of disease. Preference will be given to students whose research or research proposals pertain to conditions that have historically received inadequate attention in terms of sex and gender differences. Holly has gained intimate knowledge of the disparities in the approach to healthcare for women, not only through her career as a physiotherapist but also as a woman living with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The donor is establishing this fund in order to recognize and support research that is taking action on these disparities, as they believe a more equitable health care future for women is necessary and possible. Through this award they aim to assist the medical community to better understand how sex and/or gender affects womens health and ultimately help women live longer, healthier lives. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. |
Further Information
Please refer to the Instructions and FAQs for complete eligibility guidelines. For any concerns or queries, please reach out to us at med.gradpostdoc@ubc.ca.
Past Recipients
2023 – 2024
| Dorothy May Ladner Memorial Fellowship ($13,850) | Brianna Bristow, MSc student, Neuroscience |
| Harry and Florence Dennison Fellowship in Medical Research ($12,150) | Simran Gill, PhD Student, Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences (WACH) |
| Mary Adele Norman Postgraduate Award in Medical Research ($4,265) | Yao Zhang, MSc student, Biomedical Engineering |
| Bert Bauman Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund ($2,724) | Jessica Chalissery, MSc student, Neuroscience |
| Bertrand and Neila Galloway Leukemia Research Fund ($7,123) | Diana Djaksigulova, MSc student, Interdisciplinary Oncology |
| Dr. Michael Schulzer Memorial Award in Biostatistics ($2,0000 | Hanna Frank, PhD Student, Population & Public Health |
| Richard A. Robertson Memorial Service Award in Medicine ($5,300) | Tony Guo, MSc student, Experimental Medicine |
| Omer H. Patrick II Memorial Prize ($3,500) | Kelly (Marie) Johns, PhD Student, Medical Genetics |
| Team KOA ($3,000) | Liam Johnston, MSc student, Interdisciplinary Oncology |
| Millie and Ralph Drabinsky Graduate Scholarship in Medicine ($700) | Tatiana MacKeigan, MSc student, Neuroscience |
| Dorothy Helmer Scholarship in Medicine ($6,700) | Tyler Paetkau, PhD Student, Population & Public Health |
| Nettie Polischuk Memorial Cancer Research Fund ($1, 500) | Ramin Rezaeianzadeh, MSc student, Experimental Medicine |
| Edward Squires Memorial Scholarship ($4,300) | Kevin Salim, PhD Student, Experimental Medicine |
2022 – 2023
| Dorothy May Ladner Memorial Fellowship | Janna Griffioen, MSc student, Rehabilitation Sciences |
| Harry and Florence Dennison Fellowship in Medical Research | Md Belal Hussain, PhD Student, Population & Public Health |
| Mary Adele Norman Postgraduate Award in Medical Research | Pinhao Xiang, MSc student, Experimental Medicine |
| Bert Bauman Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund | Cyril Helbling, PhD student, Pathology and Laboratory Science |
| Bertrand and Neila Galloway Leukemia Research Fund | Saambavi Charu Sankaran, MSc student, Interdisciplinary Oncology |
| Masayuki Hashimoto Memorial Award in Glioblastoma Research | Andrew Galbraith, Msc Student, Bioinformatics |
| Richard A. Robertson Memorial Service Award in Medicine | K Hanwei Sudderuddin, MSc student, Experimental Medicine |
| Omer H. Patrick II Memorial Prize | Andrew Snow, PhD Student, Cell and Developmental Biology |
| Millie and Ralph Drabinsky Graduate Scholarship in Medicine | Leah Kuzmuk, MSc student, Neuroscience |
| Dorothy Helmer Scholarship in Medicine | Shayda Swann, MD/PhD Student |
| Nettie Polischuk Memorial Cancer Research Fund | Alpamys Issanov, PhD Student, Population & Public Health |
| Edward Squires Memorial Scholarship | Aysha Allard Brown, PhD Student, Neuroscience |
| Dr. Michael Schulzer Memorial Award in Biostatistics | Lin Wei (Henry) Tung, PhD Student, Experimental Medicine |