The call for applications to become a BIOS2 Fellow is now closed. The next call will open in spring 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 launch 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 to the summer schools organized by the program, take part at least once to 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 Fellows, regardless of its status, have access to all training activities and financial support including complementary grant 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 of 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 of 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 are 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, visit external laboratories, etc.).
- Communication grant aims to encourage Fellow to develop their communication skills (present at national or international conferences, give academic or professional seminars in other institutions or organization, 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.
Application process :
Fellows need to apply when the Call for Fellows opens in spring or summer each year. Prospective Fellows will need to make contact with at least one BIOS² academic members prior to the application. If your supervisor is not a BIOS² academic member and you would like to apply to BIOS2, you can share this information with them: https://bios2.usherbrooke.ca/get-involved/researchers/.
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.
Eligibility rules:
Any graduate student supervised or co-supervised by a BIOS² academic member can apply to be a Fellow of the program.
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 2 status.
For researchers who wish to apply to become a BIOS2 academic member:
Researchers from any Canadian institution can apply to become a BIOS² academic member and thereby access training and funding for their students. Researchers from an associated institution (Université de Sherbrooke, Université de Montréal, Université Laval, UQAM, UQAR, Concordia University, University McGill, University of Alberta and University of British Columbia) can access funding through one of the co-PIs. Researchers that do not work at one of the 9 associated institutions will need to invite one of the co-PIs to co-advise the Fellow. In all cases, we require that one of the co-PIs be a member of the Fellow’s advisory committee.
To apply to become a BIOS2 academic member, reserchers should send a motivation letter to the direction team (dominique.gravel@usherbrooke.ca & timothee.poisot@umontreal.ca, cc. info.bio2@usherbrooke.ca) describing their interest in the program objectives, their commitment to the collaborative training experience, and how they could be involved in the training activities and administration. All members are expected to contribute to the development or maintenance of at least one training activity.
Applications to become academic members will be reviewed in parallel to the student’s application.
If you have any questions, please contact Kim, the program coordinator: kim.gauthier.schampaert@usherbrooke.ca.