Graduate Research Fellowships

Overview

CERi’s Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to facilitate community-engaged research through a combination of community connection, financial support, peer learning, professional development and opportunities for mentorship from CERi staff or affiliated researchers. The program runs for 8 months (from September - April) and is open to all registered graduate students at Simon Fraser University interested in community-engaged research. The bulk of this fellowship is organized around monthly in-person workshops, facilitated at SFU’s space at 312 Main (downtown Vancouver). There will also be occasional group discussions and monthly check-ins held via Zoom.

*Given the unpredictability of public health concerns regarding Covid 19, we will pivot to hybrid formats when and if that is required but fellows are expected to attend all workshops in-person unless public health guidelines prohibit it.

Eligibility

The program is open to all registered graduate students at Simon Fraser University who are actively practicing community-engaged research or whose research will be undertaken using CER methods. The Graduate Fellowship Program is open to students working on all three SFU campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. We encourage applications from students working in all disciplines at SFU, including: Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical and Applied Sciences, Health Sciences and Resources and Environmental Management.

Testimonials from past fellows

As an international student the fellowship allowed me to get to know people, the region, the experience of communities and the great work that goes on in the Vancouver area.

The CERi program definitely opened my eyes to a new way of approaching my research.

Community has always been very important to me and coming to CERi I was always on the lookout for how to care for the community and how to make this research reciprocal. I found a lot of resources being a CERi fellow to inform this and put it into practice.

There’s such a long list of skills and experiences that I’ve gained from this fellowship. Being a fellow really inspired me to do more community-engaged research.

Award

Each fellowship consists of:

  • $3,000 in research funding

  • A 14-hour total offering of seven monthly, two-hour professional development workshops related to community-engaged research* 

    • Workshop topics include: CER Methods; CER Ethics; Power, Positionality and Working with Community; Knowledge Mobilization; Decolonizing Practices in CER and more 

  • Access to bookable research space at CERi located at 312 Main in Vancouver, BC.

  • Publicity and research profile through CERi’s website, public forums and social media channels

  • Support from CERi affiliated scholars and community leaders

  • Community-building opportunities and networking

Workshop dates (in-person): Wednesday afternoons, 1:00-3:00pm Pacific Time

  • Orientation: Wednesday, September 13 - 
  • Session 1 (2 hours): Wednesday, September 27 

  • Session 2 (2 hours): Wednesday, October 11

  • Session 3 (2 hours): Wednesday, November 8

  • Session 4 (2 hours): Wednesday, January 10

  • Session 5 (2 hours): Wednesday, February 14

  • Session 6 (2 hours): Wednesday, March 13 

  • Session 7 (2 hours): Final Fellowship Showcase: Wednesday, April 10 (Tentative)

Application deadline

CLOSED

Forms & templates

Selection criteria:

  • Background/expertise of applicant: Applicants must be in good academic standing.  The fellowship program aims to support applicants from a diversity of identities by adhering to the University’s goals in relation to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the selection process. Student applications are encouraged from all disciplines and campuses at SFU.
  • Research rationale and impact: The degree to which the research adheres to the principles of community-engaged research.

  • Knowledge mobilization: The degree to which the research includes knowledge mobilization opportunities CERi can support (e.g., connecting with or publishing work through popular media outlets, community storytelling events, "lunch and learn" discussion sessions, podcast interviews, blog posts, etc.).

Requirements and opportunities

The fellowship runs for 8 months from September, 2023 - April, 2024. Fellows are invited to:

  • Participate in monthly capacity building workshops with the fellowship cohort, facilitated by CERi staff on monthly Wednesday afternoons from 1:30-3:30pm.

  • Participate in monthly peer-support check-ins with the other fellows and CERi staff.

  • Provide a short presentation on the work accomplished at CERi's Research Fellowship Showcase event taking place towards the end of the fellowship program in April 2024.

There will also be opportunities for Fellows to:

  • Participate as an active member of the CER community, including taking part  in CERi community events;

  • Connect with past and future CERi Fellows; 

  • Use CERi's workspace as a community meeting venue or personal workspace during your time in the fellowship program.

Adjudication

Fellowships are adjudicated by a committee composed of CERi staff and SFU faculty.

Quick links

How to apply

Complete the application form and gather additional required documents as outlined in the application checklist. Submit your complete application package via email to Tara Mahoney, Research and Engagement Coordinator at SFU's Community-Engaged Research Initiative (tara_mahoney_2@sfu.ca).

Please name your documents “Your full name_Document name” and write “CERi Graduate Fellowship Program” in the email subject line.

Inquiries

Inquiries about the CERi Graduate Fellowship Program should be directed to Tara Mahoney, Research and Engagement Coordinator at SFU's Community-Engaged Research Initiative (tara_mahoney_2@sfu.ca).

Application checklist

  • Application form

  • Current Curriculum Vitae

  • Expression of Support from Academic Supervisor*

    *Note: In the event your academic supervisor is not immediately available to provide a letter of support during the application period, we will accept supporting letters from academic supervisors up to the fellowship program start date of September 22, 2023.