The call for applications to become a BIOS2 are open from June 19 to August 18, 2023.
BIOS² Graduate Fellowship Program
The BIOS² Graduate Fellowship Program is how most of the Fellows get into the BIOS² training program. Graduate Fellows are selected after a call for applications launches in spring each year. The fellowship includes free access to training activities, financial support for mobility and communication, and scholarships.
The BIOS2 training program is designed to enhance Fellows’ training and experience and to facilitate their transition towards non-academic sectors. BIOS2 training consists of instruction (courses, short modules, and summer schools), working groups and internships. Fellows will use their internships and working groups to solve real-world problems related to biodiversity and to get valuable professional experience outside of academia.
Every Fellow is expected to actively participate in the program’s activities. More specifically, Fellows should participate at least once in the summer schools organized by the program, and take part at least once in a working group (organized by BIOS2 or partner organizations such as CIEE, LDP or QCBS) during their membership in the BIOS2 program and do internships* each year with collaborative members.
*Note: This requirement varies depending on the student’s status, see the Internship section for specific requirements.
Funding and resources :
BIOS2 proposes 2 different statuses: BIOS2 funded Fellows and Independent Fellows.
- Every Fellow, regardless of its status, have access to all training activities and financial support including complementary grants for mobility and communication, and funding to lead workshops and working groups.
- BIOS2 funded Fellows (students members without external funding from NSERC, FRQNT, or other funding organizations) will also have access to scholarship equivalent to 50% of their stipend. The remaining of their stipends must come from other sources (supervisors, departments, universities, partners, etc).
- Independent Fellows (not funded by BIOS2) will have access to all the program’s resources except stipends.
Specifically:
- BIOS2 funded Fellows at MSc level are eligible for up to two years of funding equivalent to 50% of their stipend (up to $8750 per year). They have access to complementary grants for mobility and communication up to the value of $2000.
- BIOS2 funded Fellows at PhD level are eligible for up to three years of funding equivalent to 50% of their stipend (up to $10500 per year). They have access to complementary grants for mobility and communication up to the value of $2000.
- Note: If the student is receiving an external scholarship, the amount eligible through the BIOS² grant can be adjusted.
- Independent Fellows have access to complementary grants for mobility and communication up to the value of $2000.
A central element of the BIOS² fellowships is the complementary grants for mobility and communication.
- Mobility grant aims to facilitate exchanges across institutions and participation in training activities (training activities and summer schools offered at external institutions, internships, visits to external laboratories, etc.).
- Communication grant aims to encourage fellows to develop their communication skills (present at national or international conferences, give academic or professional seminars in other institutions or organizations, cover publication fees in open access international journals, etc.).
BIOS² support NSERC’s policies about family and medical leaves. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information.
Eligibility rules:
Any graduate student supervised or co-supervised by a BIOS² academic member and enrolled in one of the associated institutions1 can apply to be a Fellow of the program. If their supervisors are not currently BIOS² academic members, they should apply to become one. For this call in particular, we offer the option for student applicants to send their advisor’s letter of motivation through the same form as their own application. Applications to become academic members will be reviewed in parallel to the student’s / PDF application.
Students seeking funding from BIOS2 and students with their own funding can apply to become a BIOS2 Fellow/trainee. Indeed, BIOS2 proposes 2 different statuses: BIOS2 funded Fellows and Independent Fellows. See above for more information related to the two statuses.
Application process :
To apply, please fill in the form below by August 18.
The selection committee will select students based on the fit between their proposed research, career aspirations and the BIOS2 goals. Fellows can reapply for up to three years in the program. We prioritize the renewal of fellowship over new applicants to maintain continuity in the program. However, Fellow participation in the program will be evaluated each year and the renewal of their fellowship will depend on the completion of the program’s expectations.
If you have any questions, please contact Gracielle Higino (bios2@graciellehigino.com).
1 Université de Sherbrooke, Université de Montréal, Université Laval, UQAM, UQAR, Concordia University, University McGill, University of Alberta and University of British Columbia