Student scholarship competition 

CERMA is launching a new competition to award grants to its student members. The main objective is to encourage the creation of new collaborative research projects involving several CERMA professors. This call for projects also aims to diversify students' training and enhance their CVs. The competition also aims to promote greater integration of sustainable development (SD) in projects, in line with CERMA's strategic orientations. Four annual scholarships of $5,000 each are available, distributed across two competitions held during the summer and fall semesters.

Contest rules 

1. The project must fit in with CERMA's research axes.  

2. Applicants must be graduate students. They must not be summer interns in research groups or postdoctoral fellow.  

3. Projects must be the result of collaboration between at least two professors at the Centre, with preference given to new collaborations (new projects, new collaborating professors). The number of grants is limited to one per research group.  

4. Applications may be submitted jointly by two candidates from the same research team.  

5. The application must demonstrate that SD has been seriously considered in the project:  

   • In particular, it must explain how the project can potentially respond to one or more of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and which specific target(s) are more particularly aimed at.  

   • In the unlikely event that the project does not meet any of the SDGs, even in the long term, for example because it is too fundamental in nature, this must be clearly justified. In this way, the application will be assessed in the same way as the others.  

   • We strongly encourage you to point out the project's potential limitations with regard to aspects of SD other than those it aims to address; identifying these limitations will not detract from the evaluation of the project's relevance but will help to assess the researchers' ability to consider SD in a holistic way.  

   • Exploratory projects that aim to integrate SD in an interdisciplinary way are encouraged.  

6. Each scholarship will be in the amount of $5,000 for 1 year. 

7. The scholarship is paid directly to the student and may not be used for the purchase of materials or equipment. 

8. A total of four (4) projects will be funded. This call for applications is for two (2) scholarships. Another call for two (2) scholarships will be issued in the fall session.  

9. The scholarship awarded must be used within the year and is non-renewable.  

10. The application must be submitted by the candidate(s).  

11. Applications will be evaluated according to a pre-established grid (see criteria below) and a minimum of 75% is required to be eligible for CERMA grants. 

12. The participation and commitment of the candidate(s) in CERMA activities will be taken into account. 

13. Grant recipients will be required to present their research work at the edition of the CERMA Student Symposium held following the awarding of the grant. 

14. At the end of the scholarship, a short report must be provided outlining the results obtained, the spin-offs and the achievement (or non-achievement) of the objectives.  

The applications will be evaluated by a committee composed of the Centre’s leadership and three regular faculty members.

How to apply:  

The application must contain the following elements:  

• Curriculum vitae of the applicant(s) (2 pages maximum)  

• A document containing:  

  • Name of applicant(s)  

  • Project title  

  • Research directors involved  

  • Project description (2 pages maximum) 

    • General aim, objectives, methodology, benefits and relevance of the project  

    • Benefits, interest or need for collaboration  

    • Expected benefits in terms of science and project progress  

    • Personal and/or professional benefits for the candidate(s) in terms of science, new skills, career goals, etc.  

  • In line with the criteria indicated above (point 5 above), a paragraph specifying which SDG(s) and target(s) the project aims to address and how, as well as any potential limitations in terms of SD (approx. 200-300 words)  

  • A brief time-table  

• The application must be signed by the research director(s).  

If you have any questions or would like to submit your application, please contact: cerma@ulaval.ca.