Harper Government Investment in World's Most Promising Young Researchers

News Release

The 2014 Vanier Scholarships and Banting Fellowships will continue to support discovery research as well as improve the economic prosperity and quality of life of Canadians

August 14, 2014 – Toronto, Ontario – Vanier-Banting Secretariat

The Harper Government demonstrated its commitment to developing, attracting and retaining the best young researchers in Canada and from around the world with today's announcement of 166 new Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipients and 70 new Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients.

The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, were at the University of Toronto today to announce over $34 million in awards. These prestigious awards will support world-class doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows carrying out leading-edge research in the health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities at universities in Canada or Canadians carrying out research at institutions around the world.

The University of Toronto is host to 26 new Vanier Scholars and 8 new Banting Fellows, including:

Vanier Scholar Miles Montgomery whose research in engineering sciences focuses on the development of tissues in a lab that, when transplanted, can help fix damaged human organs.
Vanier Scholar Catia Perciani whose study of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), or chickenpox virus, could help in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
Banting Fellow Santiago Rincón-Gallardo whose work explores how innovative teaching methods can be incorporated into educational systems on a large scale.
Banting Fellow Elizabeth Willis whose research may explain how a molecule called PSA can coat the surface of cancer cells and allow them to move freely in the human body, providing new targets for chemotherapy.

Quick facts

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program, which was created by the Government of Canada in 2008, is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. Scholarship recipients receive $50,000 a year for up to three years of research.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program, which was developed by the Government of Canada in 2010, represents a concerted effort to attract and retain world-class post-doctoral talent. The Fellows announced today will receive $70,000 a year for up to two years of research.
Both programs are funded through the three federal research granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Quotes

"Our government is investing in developing, attracting and retaining the world's most promising young research talent to ensure Canada remains a leader in discovery and applied research. Today's recipients of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are world-class researchers who will make the breakthrough discoveries and innovations that Canadian jobs, our economy and our quality of life depend on."
– Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"As a city powered by our country's knowledge economy, Toronto will continue to benefit from developing, attracting and retaining the world's most promising young researchers at the University of Toronto. Our government will continue to invest in research awards that lead to long-term social and economic benefits for Canadians."
– Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for York–Simcoe

"The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships enable Canadian universities to attract and train the next generation of research leaders across all disciplines. The recipients of these awards are advancing knowledge and putting Canada at the forefront of scientific and scholarly achievement."
– Janet Walden, Chief Operating Officer of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Member of the Tri-Agency Vanier-Banting Steering Committee

"Today we celebrate the recipients of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships as part of Canada's greatest strength—our boldest and brightest young minds. Having these awards in place in Canada's research environment helps universities like the University of Toronto attract and retain the world's best talent from within Canada and beyond."
– Locke Rowe, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost of Graduate Research and Education, University of Toronto

Associated Links

Contacts

Scott French
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-943-6177

Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
613-941-4563
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system for Canadians. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 13,200 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

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Harper Government Investment in World's Most Promising Young Researchers

News Release

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