The Karl Freeman Prize is awarded annually to graduate students in the department who are deemed to have presented the most outstanding graduate seminars.  The School of Graduate Studies awards the prizes on the recommendation of the Department.  Prizes are given for first and second place seminar ranking in the M.Sc. and Ph.D. program.   This prize was established in 2001 by Karl Freeman, Chair of the Department of Biochemistry from 1973 to 1979 and acting chair for six months during 1982.

This award will be presented to Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences graduate students for highly meritorious contributions to scientific literature.  A prize for the most impressive first-authored publication(s) by our graduate students will be given based on the recommendation of the Departmental Graduate Admissions Committee.  The department anticipates bestowing up to three awards annually.  Prizes are valued at $3000, $2000 and $1000.

The Department will grant up to 20 competitive $500 travel awards each year to assist students planning to attend scientific meetings.  To qualify, students must be enrolled on a full-time basis in either the M.Sc. or Ph.D. program and must present data either as a poster or as a speaker at the meeting they plan to attend.  Students who have received a travel award in the past will only be eligible for another one if funding permits. 

This award was established in memory of Dr. Thomas Neilson by his family, friends and colleagues as a token of their appreciation and respect.  The Neilson Scholarship will be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Departmental Graduate Admissions Committee, based upon performance in the program with particular emphasis upon the overall academic standing, supporting letters, contributions to teaching, the seminar presentation, the transfer report, research contributions and publications.  The award will not necessarily be given every year, and may be awarded twice in a given year. The value of the award is $1,000.

To be eligible for support from NSERC, you must and/or will be undertaking a program of study or research in one of the fields that NSERC supports. The proposed research must clearly be intended to advance knowledge in one of the natural sciences or in engineering. In addition, for awards held at universities, the research must be supervised by a faculty member whose own research is in a field that NSERC supports.  In cases where the proposed research is deemed to fall within the mandate of either CIHR or SSHRC, NSERC will not accept the application.  If you hold or have held a CGS from another federal granting agency (CIHR or SSHRC), you are not eligible to apply to NSERC for support at the same level.  You may submit only one application per academic year to NSERC or CIHR.

Scholarship Values:              

• CGS M - $17,500 (for one year)
• PGS M - $17,300 (for one year)
• CGS D - $35,000 a year (for up to three years)
• PGS D -  $21,000 a year (for up to three years)

More Information:  

• Biochemistry Contact: Lisa Kush, HSC-4H21A, Ext. 22064, kushl@mcmaster.ca
• Biochemistry Deadline:   September 23, 2011
• HOW TO APPLY

Ontario Graduate Scholarships are awarded for one academic year ($15,000 value).  Students should note you are writing for different and wide audiences.  List all academic awards and distinctions and all publications, patents and conference presentations.  Choose referees who know your abilities well through direct experience.  Applicants MUST apply on-line and provide a hardcopy to Lisa Kush by the internal deadline.

More Information:  

• Biochemistry Contact: Lisa Kush, HSC-4H21A, Ext. 22064, kushl@mcmaster.ca
• Biochemistry Deadline:   September 23, 2011
• HOW TO APPLY

These awards will be offered to students who are pursuing a Master’s degree in a Health related field in Canada.   Awards have a maximum term of one year and are valued at $17,500 per annum.  Again please note, applicants may submit only ONE application per year to NSERC or CIHR.  McMaster University is permitted to forward 11 applications to the national CIHR competition for adjudication.  An ad hoc committee of Graduate Council will rank the applications to determine which applications will be submitted to the national competition.

More Information:  

• Biochemistry Contact: Lisa Kush, HSC-4H21A, Ext. 22064, kushl@mcmaster.ca
• Biochemistry Deadline: December 16, 2011
• HOW TO APPLY

Doctoral Research Awards are intended to provide special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a PhD degree in a health-related field in Canada or abroad. These candidates are expected to have an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement and productivity.  Candidates interested in a CGS Doctoral Award must apply for a DRA; all DRA candidates will be automatically considered for a CGS based on CGS eligibility requirements and ranking in the DRA competition. If you already hold, or have held, any federally-funded doctoral award, you are not eligible for a CGS Doctoral Award, unless the term of the doctoral award awarded was less than the maximum allowed and you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for a DRA described below.  For this competition, applications will be accepted in all areas of health research.  The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $27,000 for up to 3 years.  This award is non-renewable.

More Information:  

• Deadline: October 14, 2011 (submit directly to CIHR – refer to website)
• Applications (Doctoral Research Award)

VANIER competition is separate from the regular doctoral (CIHR/NSERC) competition. Students MUST submit an application to BOTH competitions to be considered for both awards

• Biochemistry Deadline: September 23, 2011
• HOW TO APPLY

Hardcopy application is complete with the following documents:

• Candidates submitted application
• Department Chair/Director nomination letter (maximum 2 pages)
• Leadership Reference Letter (maximum 2 pages)
• Corresponding referee forms (two)
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts - scanned and uploaded by candidate