- Plants-grads - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Fwd: May 14 Committee meeting
by Bethany Asmundson 14 May '20

14 May '20

Hi all, I know most of you are busy in the field or with various things… But, when you have a minute please read the email I have forwarded from James (see below). This email applies to us as many of us were TAs or have helped with the undergrad labs - due to the next semester being online there has been a committee formed to discuss how labs/"TAing" should go about. If you have any suggestions, questions or concerns on how these labs could operate remotely please get in touch with James (decastr4(a)myumanitoba.ca<mailto:decastr4@myumanitoba.ca>) before next Wednesday. Enjoy your long weekend! Thanks, Bethany Begin forwarded message: From: James De Castro <decastr4(a)myumanitoba.ca<mailto:decastr4@myumanitoba.ca>> Subject: May 14 Committee meeting Date: May 14, 2020 at 12:43:18 PM CDT To: Bethany Asmundson <asmundsb(a)myumanitoba.ca<mailto:asmundsb@myumanitoba.ca>> Hi all, With the recent decision to convert the upcoming Fall term to an entirely online/distance education format, an ad hoc committee has been formed to address and discuss issues pertaining to the changes that need to be done in undergraduate lab instruction, especially for courses that lean towards a more hands-on approach. For graduate students, this is a concern primarily for prospective teaching assistants and how this will affect the experience. So for those that do have questions or concerns, or if you have suggestions to add, please direct all of them todecastr4(a)myumanitoba.ca<mailto:decastr4@myumanitoba.ca> before May 20 (next Wednesday). I know many of us have TA experience so any input is valuable and welcome in the upcoming discussion. Thank you and stay safe, James

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Mental health and wellness resources during COVID
by Martha Blouw 14 May '20

14 May '20

From: Arlana Vadnais <Arlana.Vadnais(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:Arlana.Vadnais@umanitoba.ca>> Subject: Mental health and wellness resources during COVID Good morning, I hope you are all doing well and staying safe and healthy! In light of May being Mental Health Month, not to mention all the changes our world has experienced over the last couple months related to COVID-19, I wanted to reach out to remind you of some of the resources and supports we have available to us (see below). Some are specific to the UM, and some are publicly-available supports. I have attached an additional resource list to this email; while it is geared towards students, many of the community resources are available to staff and faculty as well. There are also two upcoming events to highlight: * Prayers of the People: Together We Grieve, Together We Celebrate, Together We Share Our Gifts (May 14th). Open to students, staff and faculty. * Doing Well During Stressful Times: Managing the New Normal of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 22nd). Open to all staff and faculty. See below for more information about these events. If you have any questions about resources for yourself or others, or if you would like information about further resources available to students, please let me know. I encourage you all to reach out for help if you need it, whether to one of the resources listed below or to a friend or loved one, and take care of yourselves as much as possible. Stay well, Arlana Events/Workshops · Prayers Of The People: Together We Grieve, Together We Celebrate, Together We Share Our Gifts May 14, 5:00 PM, YOUTUBE LIVE An Inter-faith gathering welcoming all UM community members to collectively grieve the challenges imposed by this pandemic, regain perspective, and celebrate the strength and hope we have in one another. Event will be streamed live on YouTube and will also be available on demand after. View at https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/spiritual-services Hosted by Student Support, but open to all UM students, staff and faculty · Doing Well During Stressful Times: Managing the New Normal of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic May 22, 10:00-11:15 AM, via Zoom Register by email to Arlana at arlana.vadnais(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:arlana.vadnais@umanitoba.ca>. Zoom link will be sent out to all registered participants on May 21st. Most of us are well practiced in managing stress and it is rare to face a stressor that we haven’t had experience with previously. Managing stress related to a pandemic? That is new to most if not all of us and it therefore isn’t surprising that some people are struggling right now. Join us for a 75 minute webinar focused on managing COVID-19 stress and doing well during this truly unique time. Counsellors form the Student Counselling Centre on campus (David Ness and Natalia Mozol) will provide practical strategies for managing social isolation, physical distancing, COVID-19 “overload”, negative thinking and worry and more. Participants will be provided workshop materials following the session. This session will be offered via Zoom and staff are invited to participate as they would like (e.g., ask questions via chat function or live using audio and mic, activate video, simply listen, etc.). It is important during this time to take action to be as mentally healthy as possible and not simply wait for better times to come. * Learning & Organizational Development<http://umanitoba.ca/admin/human_resources/lds/index.html> is moving many of their workshops to a synchronous online format, particularly those in their certificate programs. Please check LODReg<https://umanitoba.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse> for workshops located “Online.” Examples of these include Time Management, Effective Virtual Meetings, and Conversational Skills. They are also offering new one-hour Learning Labs for groups and teams (topics include “So now you are working from home…Challenges and Opportunities” and “Resiliency.”) To register or learn more about an LOD Workshop, please visit: LODReg<https://umanitoba.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse>. If you are interested in scheduling a session for your unit, please contact Joshua Hartlin at Joshua.Hartlin(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:Joshua.Hartlin@umanitoba.ca> for more information. Mental Health Supports · Many UM student services are available online or by phone. For more information, go to http://umanitoba.ca/coronavirus/students. Find out more about emotional wellness during COVID-19 here<http://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/counselling-resources-emotional-wellne…>. · All employees (staff and faculty) and their immediate family have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program which provides free, 24/7 crisis supports, counselling, and wellness resources (www.workhealthlife.com<http://www.workhealthlife.com> or 1-800-387-4765). Sign up to their Heartbeat Newsletter for up-to-date resource information, wellness articles and webinar opportunities. NEW! Online Group Counselling to support you during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Group topics include anxiety, parenting and communication skills for managing relationships. Go to www.workhealthlife.com<http://www.workhealthlife.com> and click on the Online Group Counselling link for more information. · The Province of Manitoba has created a new mental health virtual therapy resource, available to all Manitobans. AbilitiCBT is a new digital therapy program from Morneau Shepell, available to all Manitobans experiencing low to mid symptoms of anxiety due to the pandemic. Find out more here<https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/bewell/virtualtherapy.html>. · The Canadian Mental Health Association is offering continued support through their Wellness Support Lines<https://mbwpg.cmha.ca/cmha-wellness-support-response-line/>, which includes peer support, BounceBack® CBT coaching for depression and anxiety, workplace and youth mental health education, brief intervention and supportive counselling and service navigation. · Canada Life has a number of free resources<https://gwl.campaign.adobe.com/nl/jsp/m.jsp?c=%40OhCJrSvgrfirDkbXLPa2Ob5Zh8…> to help you with your mental and financial health, which are designed to help you successfully navigate this challenging time. · Many people are experiencing anxiety related to COVID-19; this workbook has coping and self-care activities to help you manage your anxiety. https://thewellnesssociety.org/free-coronavirus-anxiety-workbook/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/thewellnesssociety.org/free-coronavirus-…> Staying Well * The faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation Services has been posting free workout videos on their youtube channel<https://www.youtube.com/user/UofMRecServices>, taught by the regular instructors at the Active Living Centre. They have focused on workouts that are easy to do without equipment for those who don’t have gym equipment at home. * Mindfulness can be a useful tool in managing stress and increasing your resilience. Check out this article and set of free resources from Mindwell: Ten Ways to Stay Well During the COVID-19 Crisis<https://www.mindwellu.com/post/mindfulness-during-the-covid-19-pandemic> for more information on how mindfulness can help you during this time. * At-Home Workspaces: Check out the attached documents on best practices for ensuring that your at-home workstation is as ergonomically correct as possible. * Mental health and resiliency videos: * Check out these<https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/covid-19?wvideo=n822eygydw&AspxAuto…> daily videos posted by the Conference Board of Canada (scroll down to the videos section) for tips on coping and thriving during COVID * Also, a video by our Employee & Family Assistance Program that does a good job of working through the discomfort we experience around the unknown, found here<https://vimeopro.com/user65099910/emotional-well-being-covid-19>. Coping with COVID-19 * News and social media reports about COVID-19 are becoming widespread and can increase our anxiety and stress around what is already a challenging time. The American Psychology Association has shared five ways to view coverage of the coronavirus<https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/pandemics> to help you manage your anxiety, put news reports in perspective and maintain a positive outlook. * For up-to-date, reliable information, go to Manitoba Health<https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html>, the Public Health Agency of Canada<https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronav…>, or the World Health Organization<https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019> * The Mental Health Commission of Canada has created the COVID-19 Resources Hub<https://cts.vresp.com/c/?MentalHealthCommissi/62c297a365/716e62fc1b/78fbcc7…> to share credible information and resources about maintaining mental health during this time of crisis. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has done similarly to share information on the Impacts of COVID-19 on Substance Use<https://cts.vresp.com/c/?MentalHealthCommissi/62c297a365/716e62fc1b/97b37d7…>. * Article: How to Stay Mentally Healthy While Staying at Home<https://news.umanitoba.ca/stay-mentally-healthy-while-staying-at-home/> * Article: Tips for Coping with COVID-19<https://us.morneaushepell.com/tips-coping-covid-19> COVID-19 Information for Parents * The World Health Organization has numerous resources available for parents; check out: · ‘Parenting in the Time of COVID-19<https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-…>’ · ‘Connecting the world to combat coronavirus: #HealthyAtHome – Healthy parenting<https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coro…>’ · A Children’s story book to help children and young people cope with COVID-19<https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coro…> · UNICEF also has provided 8 tips on how to talk to your child about COVID-19<https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-talk-your-child-about-coronavirus-co…> and 6 strategies for teenages to protect their mental health during COVID-19<https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-teenagers-can-protect-their-mental-h…> Crisis Response Training Course for Essential Workers The Mental Health Commission of Canada has developed a crisis response training course for essential workers<https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/crtcl-nfrstrctr/esf-sfe-en.aspx>. We know that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers are facing a number of new challenges while at work, which may be affecting their mental health. This course is specifically designed to help provide individuals with the tools and knowledge to better understand their own mental health and the mental health of others. Find out more here<https://www.mhfa.ca/en/course-type/crisis-response-virtual-training-caring-…>. [cid:image005.jpg@01D6293E.5D3D06C0]Arlana Vadnais, B.A., M.A. Employee Wellness Specialist & Campus Mental Health Facilitator Human Resources & Student Support 137 Education Building University of Manitoba Tel: (204) 474-8323 Fax: (204)474-7448 Twitter: @UMHRdept<https://twitter.com/UMHRdept> The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. Confidentiality notice: This message and any attachments to it are intended for the addressee only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender if you have received this email by mistake, and please delete it and the attachments (and all copies) in a secure manner. [UMLogoSignature]

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Welcome!
by Bethany Asmundson 07 May '20

07 May '20

Good morning Plant Science Grads! I hope everyone is holding up and is making the most of this strange time… I just wanted to welcome the new grads to the faculty, and wish those in the field good luck this season! Normally we would have a social event to welcome new grads and such, but unfortunately that couldn’t happen this year. I think I can speak for everyone when I say “I miss school (weirdly enough), coffee time and my peers!” Hopefully normal will return soon enough, and we can get together! Please do not hesitate to reach out to fellow grads if you have any questions… We were all in your shoes once, and many still are. We have to stick together, especially during these uncertain times. Additionally, it is so important to maintain constant contact with your PIs regarding various safety measures (especially related to Covid-19), progress updates, etc. Our PIs have us in their best interest, and are doing what they can to minimize the confusion and alleviate any difficulties. We hope to see you all soon! Happy planting to those in the field, and writing to those at home! Hang in there, Bethany Asmundson and Sam Day **REMEMBER - No one is allowed access to the University unless specified by their PI - Our stipends will remain as is for the time being - Your health is important!

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FW: Research Grant Opportunity - Sustainability and Resilience in Canadian Agricultural Soils/ Opportunité de financement - Durabilité et résilience des sols agricoles du Canada
by Martha Blouw 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

From: Elise Bigley <bigleye(a)capi-icpa.ca> Sent: Monday, April 20, 2020 10:23 AM Cc: Don Buckingham <buckinghamd(a)capi-icpa.ca> Subject: Research Grant Opportunity - Sustainability and Resilience in Canadian Agricultural Soils/ Opportunité de financement - Durabilité et résilience des sols agricoles du Canada Caution: This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Dear all, Please find attached and below information with respect to a research fellowship opportunity on Sustainability and Resilience in Canadian Agricultural Soils. Could you please circulate this to your students currently engaged in a Ph.D. program? Thank you for your cooperation. Bonjour à toutes et à tous, Vous trouverez les informations essentielles et relatives à une opportunité de financement pour les étudiant(e)s doctorale d’un projet de recherche sur la durabilité et résilience des sols agricoles du Canada. Pourriez-vous circuler ceci à vos étudiants actuellement engagés dans un programme de doctorat s.v.p.? En vous remerciant d’avance de votre coopération. Call for Proposals: Sustainability and Resilience in Canadian Agricultural Soils le message français suit l’anglais Building on a very successful inaugural Fellowship Program, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) is pleased to announce it will be conducting its second Fellowship Program. The 2020-2022 CAPI Doctoral Fellows<https://bit.ly/2XWZacO> will consist of a small, dynamic, innovative and transdisciplinary research network specializing in sustainability, resilience, and soil in Canadian agriculture. Deadline for applications is Friday, May 29, 2020. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at a Canadian university. the Ph.D. research of the applicant must be related to sustainability and resilience of Canadian agriculture and soil. area of study of the applicants could include, but are not limited to policy, economics, environmental studies, agricultural and biological sciences, geography, law, etc. Each selected researcher will receive up to $12,500 via direct grants and travel subsidies over the two years of the program. Please refer to the attached documents for the broader context of CAPI’s project. For further information, or if you any have any questions, please write to: bigleyE(a)capi-icpa.ca<mailto:bigleyE@capi-icpa.ca>. Appel de propositions : Durabilité et résilience des sols agricoles du Canada S’appuyant sur un programme de bourses inaugural très réussi, l’Institut canadien des politiques agroalimentaires (ICPA) est heureux d’annoncer qu’il mènera son deuxième programme de bourses. Les boursiers au doctorat de l’ICPA 2020-2022<https://bit.ly/3cyVHWg> seront constitués d’un petit réseau de recherche dynamique, novateur et transdisciplinaire spécialisé dans la durabilité, la résilience et les sols en agriculture canadienne. La date limite pour présenter une demande est le vendredi 29 mai 2020. Les candidats doivent être inscrits à un programme de doctorat d’une université canadienne. Les travaux de recherche du candidat doivent être liés à la durabilité, à la résilience et aux sols en agriculture canadienne. Les domaines d’étude des candidats peuvent comprendre, sans s’y limiter, les politiques, l’économie, les études environnementales, les sciences agricoles et biologiques et le droit. Les chercheurs retenus toucheront chacun une subvention maximale de 12 500 $ sous forme de subventions directes et d’indemnités de déplacement au cours des deux années du programme. Veuillez consulter les documents ci-joints pour connaître le contexte général du projet de l’ICPA. Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements ou si vous avez des questions, veuillez-vous adresser à : bigleyE(a)capi-icpa.ca<mailto:bigleyE@capi-icpa.ca>. Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) | Institut canadien des politiques agroalimentaires (ICPA) 960 ave Carling Avenue | CEF immeuble/building 60 | bureau/suite 205 | Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6 Web www.capi-icpa.ca<http://www.capi-icpa.ca/> | Twitter @CdnAgriFood

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FW: [Gs-suppstaff-contacts] Pass/Fail Grading Options for spanned Fall 2019/Winter 2020 and Winter 2020 courses
by Martha Blouw 17 Apr '20

17 Apr '20

From: gs-suppstaff-contacts-bounces(a)lists.umanitoba.ca <gs-suppstaff-contacts-bounces(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> On Behalf Of Dean of Graduate Studies Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2020 3:44 PM To: Graduate Communications <Graduate.Communications(a)umanitoba.ca> Subject: [Gs-suppstaff-contacts] Pass/Fail Grading Options for spanned Fall 2019/Winter 2020 and Winter 2020 courses [University of Manitoba Faculty of Graduate Studies] To: Graduate Students, Dept/Unit Heads, Grad Chairs, Members of FGS, Deans and Directors and Support Staff Contacts Please see the attached document for information regarding the Pass/Fail grading options available for spanned Fall 2019/Winter 2020 and Winter 2020 courses. This information can also be found on our website<http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/graduate_studies/aboutus/covidfaq.html>. ________________________________ Faculty of Graduate Studies · 500 University Centre · Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/umgradstudies/> · Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/umgradstudies/> · FGS Website<http://umanitoba.ca/graduate_studies/> ________________________________

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Available awards
by Martha Blouw 17 Apr '20

17 Apr '20

DOCTORAL AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS<http://bit.ly/2tcQj6U> Variable - awards up to a maximum of $10,000 * For PhD students Research Field(s): Unrestricted Deadline: May 15, 2020 More Info<http://bit.ly/2tcQj6U> MASTER'S AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS<http://bit.ly/2JQCxRI> Variable - awards up to a maximum of $10,000 * For Master's students Research Field(s): Unrestricted Deadline: May 15, 2020 More Info<http://bit.ly/2JQCxRI> PRESIDENT'S GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FOR FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND METIS STUDENTS<https://bit.ly/2JhJacW> $16,125 * For PhD students Research Field(s): Unrestricted Deadline: May 15, 2020 More Info<https://bit.ly/2JhJacW>

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Registration for Summer 2020
by Martha Blouw 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

Hi all, You will all have to register for Summer 2020. Registration begins on April 20. Please register for: Master's Thesis - 1469 - GRAD 7000 - A01<https://aurora.umanitoba.ca/banprod/bwckschd.p_disp_detail_sched?term_in=20…> and Master's Re-registration - 1471 - GRAD 7020 - A01<https://aurora.umanitoba.ca/banprod/bwckschd.p_disp_detail_sched?term_in=20…> OR Doctoral Thesis - 1474 - GRAD 8000 - A01<https://aurora.umanitoba.ca/banprod/bwckschd.p_disp_detail_sched?term_in=20…> and Doctoral Re-registration - 1476 - GRAD 8020 - A01<https://aurora.umanitoba.ca/banprod/bwckschd.p_disp_detail_sched?term_in=20…> You do not have to complete a registration approval form for Summer registration. Thanks and stay well. Martha

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FW: FGS Advisory Regarding Grading - April 7
by Martha Blouw 08 Apr '20

08 Apr '20

From: <members-of-fgs-bounces(a)lists.umanitoba.ca<mailto:members-of-fgs-bounces@lists.umanitoba.ca>> on behalf of Dean of Graduate Studies <deanfgs(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:deanfgs@umanitoba.ca>> Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 8:39 PM To: Graduate Communications <Graduate.Communications(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:Graduate.Communications@umanitoba.ca>> Subject: FGS Advisory Regarding Grading - April 7 [University of Manitoba Faculty of Graduate Studies] On April 1, 2020, Senate Executive approved a proposal to allow undergraduate and graduate students a Pass/Fail grading choice for spanned Fall 2019/Winter 2020 and Winter 2020 courses. In brief, students can “opt to accept the letter grade received (Standard), accept the letter grade received but exclude it from UM GPA calculations (Option 1), or choose to have performance categorized as ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ (Option 2).” The manner by which an “option” can be declared has not yet been established. However, for the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), we would require that all such declarations be approved by the Unit’s Graduate Chair/Head/Designate before submission to FGS. It is imperative that detailed, one-on-one discussions with graduate students be conducted if a student is considering either Option 1 or Option 2, as both may have unforeseen impacts on students’ programs. It is important to note that: 1. FGS standards require graduate students to maintain a minimum degree grade point average (DGPA) of 3.0 with no letter grade below “C+” (unless otherwise specified by individual graduate programs supplemental regulations). Opting for a Pass/Fail option may adversely affect a student and their standing in the program. Some guidelines: · If the minimum grade requirement is achieved, retaining the letter grade is necessary for this course to apply towards program/degree requirements. · For courses with letter grades of “C” or “D”: Opting for a “Pass” would still mean that the course does not meet minimum FGS standards and therefore, the course would not apply towards program/degree requirements. · A “Passed” course cannot be repeated to achieve the minimum grade and program requirements; only a “Failed” course can be repeated/substituted. 2. Passed courses may not fulfill letter grade pre- or co-requisite requirements for other courses, preventing students from taking courses that are required by the program of study or otherwise desirable for students in the timely completion of their educational goals. 3. Passed courses may be excluded from consideration for admission to another program within the University or by other Universities. 4. For programs that are professionally accredited, the granting of passing grades to students that would not normally pass under the standard grading scheme may risk the continued accreditation of the program by professional oversight bodies. Such action may also adversely affect the student’s ability to obtain professional licensure in the future. Clearly, these are serious issues that may impact both students and programs in unforeseen ways. While it remains the prerogative of the student to opt for the grading schemes passed by Senate Executive, graduate students are at particular risk of adverse impacts should such options be exercised. A series of FAQs is being developed and will be disseminated as soon as possible. ________________________________ Faculty of Graduate Studies · 500 University Centre · Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/umgradstudies/> · Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/umgradstudies/> · FGS Website<http://umanitoba.ca/graduate_studies/> ________________________________

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COVID-19 UM Student Emergency Fund
by Martha Blouw 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

Please see http://umanitoba.ca/student/fin_awards/pandemic-relief-fund.html for further information. Stay well, Martha

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Indigenous student awards
by Martha Blouw 26 Mar '20

26 Mar '20

DOCTORAL AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS<http://bit.ly/2tcQj6U> Variable - awards up to a maximum of $10,000 * For PhD students Research Field(s): Unrestricted Deadline: May 15, 2020 More Info<http://bit.ly/2tcQj6U> MASTER'S AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS<http://bit.ly/2JQCxRI> Variable - awards up to a maximum of $10,000 * For Master's students Research Field(s): Unrestricted Deadline: May 15, 2020 More Info<http://bit.ly/2JQCxRI> PRESIDENT'S GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FOR FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND METIS STUDENTS<https://bit.ly/2JhJacW> $16,125 * For PhD students Research Field(s): Unrestricted Deadline: May 15, 2020 More Info<https://bit.ly/2JhJacW>

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