With funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and JDRF Canada CIRTN-R2FIC is offering an expanded training program.
Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE)
The CREATE Program is designed to improve the training and mentoring environment for the Canadian researchers of tomorrow by improving training in areas such as professional skills, communication and collaboration, as well as by providing mentoring and experience relevant to both academic and non-academic research environments.
Within CIRTN-R2FIC, training opportunities include mentoring from an external advisor, participation in courses, workshops, and networking events, a yearly in-person national meeting, and a research placement. Upon entry into the CREATE Program each Trainee will be paired with a mentor from within CIRTN-R2FIC with whom individualization of the program can be discussed.
Successful applicants will receive stipend support for two years, with the expectation of matching funds from other sources. Additionally, they will receive funding for a national/international placement or industry internship. Interested applicants should begin by asking their current supervisor if matching funds have been committed by their home institution.
For full details regarding program requirements, eligibility, and funding, please refer to the Training Program Guide below.
View the 2024 Training Program Guide in English
Consultez le guide complet du programme de formation en français
The registration period for Cohort 2 (January 2024 start date) is now closed. Registrants will be contacted with details on how to submit their applications.
Cohort 3 (January 2025 start date) will begin accepting applications in summer 2024.
To be eligible, applicants must currently be training (or plan to train) in a CIRTN-R2FIC member laboratory on an islet-related project. All trainees currently at the MSc, PhD, or postdoctoral level (or expecting to enter one of these streams by the program start date) are welcome to apply. Applicants should have at least 2 years of training remaining in order to complete the required program objectives.
View the 2024 Application Instructions
Voir les instructions de candidature 2024 en français
Congratulations to the following trainees selected to participate in the CREATE Training Program!
• • •
Cohort 2 – January 2024 Program
Courtney Ostromecki • Verchere lab, University of British Columbia Erin van Zyl • Bruin lab, Carleton University Jia Zhao • Kieffer lab, University of British Columbia Kyle van Allen • Bruin lab, Carleton University Nerea Cuesta Gomez • Korbutt lab, University of Alberta Rachel Spencer • Taubert lab, University of British Columbia Vriti Bhagat • Verchere lab, University of British Columbia Youngmin Song • Nostro lab, University of Toronto Zurie Campbell • Screaton lab, University of Toronto
Cohort 1 – January 2023 Program
Cassandra Locatelli • Mulvihill lab, University of Ottawa Heart Institute Clara Goubault • Poitout lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal Ekaterina Filatov • Lynn lab, University of British Columbia Emily Hoffman • Riddell lab, York University Hui Huang • Buteau lab, University of Alberta Ishnoor Singh • Wheeler lab, University of Toronto Jane Velghe • Verchere lab, University of British Columbia Lahari Basu • Bruin lab, Carleton University Liam Hall • Johnson lab, University of British Columbia Nelson Chang • Dhanvantari lab, Western University Saumadritaa Kar • Verchere lab, University of British Columbia Siyi He • Lim lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal Yufeng Wang • Rocheleau lab, University of Toronto Xiong Liu • MacDonald lab, University of Alberta Zuraya Elisa Angeles Olvera • Poitout lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
Cohorts 1 and 2 of the CIRTN-R2FIC NSERC-CREATE Program are run in partnership with JDRF Canada.
CIRTN-R2FIC has partnered with JDRF Canada to increase the total number of trainees funded entering the Program in 2023 and 2024. Trainees funded through the JDRF Canada Funding Stream will have the opportunity to participate in JDRF virtual meetings and seminars together with international JDRF trainees. These awards will support health researcher training to build capacity in the future of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. This program is part of JDRF’s goal to expand its support of the next generation of T1D researchers in 2023 and beyond.
Cohort 2 (2024) Adrian Alejandro Schcolnik-Cabrera • Tsai lab, University of Alberta Jia Zhao • Kieffer lab, University of British Columbia Nerea Cuesta Gomez • Korbutt lab, University of Alberta Youngmin Song • Nostro lab, University of Toronto
Cohort 1 (2023) Emily Hoffman • Riddell lab, York University Hui Huang • Buteau lab, University of Alberta Jane Velghe • Verchere lab, University of British Columbia Saumadritaa Kar • Verchere lab, University of British Columbia Siyi He • Lim lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal Yufeng Wang • Rocheleau lab, University of Toronto Zuraya Elisa Angeles Olvera • Poitout lab, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
Students from Cohort 1 of the CREATE Training Program, as well as their supervisors and external mentors, will be formally welcomed to the Program. This will be an opportunity to discuss the general overview and requirements of the Program, and for participants to ask questions. The meeting will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.
Trainees should now be connected with their external mentor (a PI from within CIRTN-R2FIC but outside their own research group). Please arrange a time to meet with your mentor within the next 2 months to discuss your program goals. Prior to your meeting, Trainees should partially complete the form “Trainee Mentor Meeting #1” and submit it to their mentor. Following the meeting, Trainees must fully complete the form and send it to Chris Peacocke. External mentors have been provided the document “External Mentor Checklist 2023” to help guide the meeting.
If you have questions about this initial meeting, or did not receive the form, please contact Chris Peacocke.
Presented by Krista Lamb. Attendance is open to the full Network for this event.
Presented by EDI Committee co-chairs Elizabeth Rideout and Gareth Lim. The first hour of this event is open to the full Network. The second hour is a more interactive session provided just for CREATE Program participants.
An opportunity for Cohort 1 trainees to present updates on their work, and network with industry and academic partners ahead of their year 2 internships/exchanges.
In-person workshops TBD, conference registration opens July 2023.
We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Nous remercions le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG) de son soutien.
