Deadline: 1 April 2024
Planning on pursuing a graduate degree in the Physical or Life Sciences? Interested in a future career in biotech? Curious about what it takes to build your own start-up? The INSPIRE Scholars Program introduces students to the cutting-edge of research in the quantitative life sciences, which is reshaping the understanding of the biological world.
This immersive, interdisciplinary program is designed to prepare students for graduate school and beyond. The Interdisciplinary Science Program in Research and Entrepreneurship (INSPIRE) program has joined forces with the University of Toronto’s first, newly launched wet lab startup incubator, SpinUp, located at UTM. INSPIRE 2024 students will have a unique opportunity to interact closely with early-stage entrepreneurs innovating in the biotech, pharma, and agritech spaces, among others. Entrepreneurship programming will include networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, seminars, and a pitch competition.
This year, INSPIRE has partnered with Visions of Science, a local organization committed to advancing STEM equity by engaging Black and other racialized youth from low-income communities across the GTA who experience significant barriers to participation. This partnership will enable INSPIRE to work toward the program’s commitment to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion.
What to expect?
- The theme for the 2024 Interdisciplinary Science Program in Research and Entrepreneurship (INSPIRE) program will be Quantitative Biosciences and Research Translation and will focus on educating students in cutting-edge quantitative biophysical, mathematical, and computational techniques necessary for tackling critical, unresolved questions in the Life Sciences. Students will participate in hands-on modules, directly within faculty research labs, that focus on projects across scales from single proteins to microbial systems. In parallel, students will receive a crash course in research translation and innovation, meet with young entrepreneurial scientists, and participate in workshops within SpinUp, U of T’s first Life Sciences incubator.
Who should apply?
- This program is primarily geared toward third and fourth year undergraduate students considering pursuing graduate school in Physics, Chemistry, or Cell and Systems Biology. However, exceptional second year undergraduates with experience in physics/chemistry/quantitative biology are also encouraged to apply.
- They are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. They especially welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible (persons of colour).
Fees & Registration
- Acceptance into the program is expected to be highly competitive. If admitted, students will be provided with a tuition fellowship to cover the costs of all instruction and laboratory fees. Students will be responsible for the additional costs of room and board should this be required.
For more information, visit University of Toronto Mississauga.
