On June 25, MIRA welcomed over 20 trainees, spanning undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral levels, to the Burke Science Building (BSB) for a one-day workshop designed to support the scholarship and fellowship application process. Hosted by the MIRA Trainee Network, the workshop brought together leading McMaster researchers, grant specialists, and administrative staff to share their insights on crafting compelling applications for major funding opportunities, blending expert-led presentations, small group activities, and opportunities for one on one guidance and advice, the day offered a supportive environment for trainees to refine their proposals and deepen their understanding of the application process.
The morning kicked off with a warm welcome from MIRA Executive Director, Ine Wauben, followed by presentations tailored to key aspects of funding success from:
- Dr. Gésine Alders, Research Coordinator, MIRA, “Identifying scholarship opportunities and funding sources”
- Audrey Patocs, Research Manager “Design thinking, user perspectives and writing research proposals poised for impact in the real world”
- Dr. Soo Chan & Penelope Petire, McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging “Incorporating engagement with older adults, caregivers, stakeholders”
- Dr. Andrew Costa, Canada Research Chair in Integrated Care for Seniors, Department of HEI “Writing compelling rationale & research question”
Trainees were given the opportunity to work collaboratively in small groups, applying what they learned with one another and receiving feedback from facilitators.
“I feel more confident in finding and applying to graduate scholarships, grants, and experiential learning opportunities having this foundation of knowledge in what reviewers look for. I learned new ways to share my research to not just academics, but to stakeholders and the public to ensure my work has impact” – Undergraduate attendee
After lunch, presentations continued with practical insights from a new group of experts:
- Dr. Bapujee Biswabandan & Catherine Gill Poutruff, Health Research Services “Perspectives from scholarship reviewers”
- Dr. Debroah Sloboda, Canada Research Chair in Early Origins of Disease, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences “Incorporating equity, diversity, inclusivity”
- Dr. Dawn Bowdish, Executive Director of the Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health “Writing for lay audience”
- Dr. Maggie MacNeil, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Nursing “Incorporating knowledge translation and mobilization”
- Dr. Allison Dubé, Project Manager, McMaster Institute for Research on Aging “Ask and you shall receive: Tips for requesting and getting effective reference letters
“The workshop was very enriching. It broadened my knowledge of grant writing strategies, including effectively integrating equity, diversity and inclusion and knowledge translation in the applications” – PhD attendee
We would like to thank all our presenters for their time and invaluable insights and trainees for their collaborative participation and attendance.
If you enjoyed this workshop or are interested in future events, we encourage you to join the MIRA Trainee Network, your go to source for upcoming training opportunities, funding, news, and more!
