Doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers are the future leaders of innovation and research excellence in Canada. Tackling some of the world's biggest challenges, their discoveries will strengthen the economy of the future, boost productivity, and enhance the health and quality of life of Canadians.
On May 29, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the recipients of 166 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and 70 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships. These talented doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers are part of Canada's next generation of research leaders, spanning the health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities.
Examples of the diverse research being supported include:
- Zhenwei Ma, Banting Fellow, University of British Columbia, looks at new ways of treating and managing esophageal cancer.
- Kristy Ferraro, Banting Fellow, Memorial University of Newfoundland, researches how conserving large mammals such as caribou, deer and elk acts as a nature-based solution to climate change.
- Daniel Romm, Vanier Scholar, McGill University, assesses how sustainable transportation systems such as bike sharing can connect people in small population centres to major cities.
- Camille Bédard, Vanier Scholar, Université Laval, studies how fungal pathogens are mutating to become resistant to the drugs we use to treat fungal infections.
Funded through the three federal granting councils - the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Vanier Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships help Canadian institutions attract and retain highly qualified trainees, establishing Canada as a global centre for research training and career support.
Quotes
"Congratulations to the 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships recipients! Their dedication to advancing knowledge for the benefit of all is truly impressive and their hard work will help find solutions that have the potential to make the world a better place and drive Canadian prosperity."
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
"Canada is a world-leader in research and innovation, and the individuals we are recognizing today are a testament to that. Their research holds tremendous promise for making our lives better and healthier in a variety of ways."
The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health
"On behalf of Canada's granting agencies, I congratulate these top-tier researchers. The Vanier and Banting awards recognize outstanding scholars whose research has the potential to drive meaningful change. I wish you luck as you pursue your careers and thank you for your commitment to advancing research."
Dr. Tammy Clifford, Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Quick facts
- In Budget 2024, the Government of Canada re-committed to investing in homegrown research talent by proposing to provide $825 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, with $199.8 million per year ongoing. This enhanced suite of scholarships and fellowships, including Vanier and Banting, will be streamlined into one talent program and will include an increase in the number of scholarships and fellowships provided, building up to approximately 1,720 more graduate students or fellows benefiting each year.
- The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students by investing $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies.
- The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to the top postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to Canada's economic, social, and research-based growth.
- Since 2016, the Government has invested more than $16 billion in science and research across the country.
Related products
