WHAT IS THE ACADEMY?
The AMA program, proposed to the regular stream of NSERC-CREATE, is supported by four institutions – Université de Montréal (UdeM), Polytechnique Montréal (Poly), McGill University (McGill) and Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) – and propelled by the Regroupement Québécois sur les Matériaux de Pointe (RQMP).
Our vision for AMA is to create a uniquely integrated, interdisciplinary, collaborative, professional, inclusive and immersive training experience for students in materials science and engineering. In addition to their specialized research training covering the full spectrum of next-generation materials, AMA trainees will benefit from several activities going beyond the standard experience of graduate studies in our field. Supported by a 5M$ budget from CREATE & our partners, AMA will provide a global platform for student recruitment, hands-on workshops in the state-of-the-art facilities of RQMP, an immersive experience in industry and/or abroad, a shared offer, of course, for academic and transversal skills, an annual international summer school and mentoring, integration and outreach activities. Over the program’s term, AMA will enroll 105 trainees in its full program. In addition, the AMA activities will also be open to all of the RQMP trainees. This inclusive approach ensures that AMA will significantly benefit a vast number of trainees in materials science and engineering.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Submission deadline : October 28, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
The Quebec Regroupment on Advanced Materials (RQMP) is launching a call for applications to join the first cohort of the Advanced Materials Academy, subsidized by the NSERC CREATE program. The Academy is an initiative aimed at enhancing the training and job market preparation of the next generation of scientists in the field of advanced materials.
We invite students who are currently at the start of their master’s or doctoral studies under the supervision of a professor who is a member of the RQMP to submit their application (see eligibility criteria).
Those selected will benefit from a training program complementary to their study program, including training in each of the following areas:
- hands-on workshops on instrumentation;
- advanced computing;
- sustainability;
- business skills;
- project management, communications, knowledge transfer, ethics;
- Research integrity and intellectual property
- Equity, diversity et inclusion (EDI).
Each person participating in the program must also :
- Complete a four-month mobility experience, either an exchange abroad or an internship in a Canadian company;
- Participate in the mentoring program;
- Participate in at least one summer school edition of the program.
The student’s training course must be completed within two (2) years for master’s students and four (4) years for doctoral students.
Each participant will receive an AMA scholarship of $10,000/year for the duration of the program. This scholarship must be supplemented by funds from their supervisor according to the guidelines applying in their institution. Mobility allowances are also provided for travel required as part of the program.
Eligibility criteria:
- Be registered in fall 2024 for a master’s or doctorate in chemistry, physics or engineering in the field of advanced materials, under the supervision of a member of the RQMP, in one of the four participating universities (University of Montreal, Polytechnique Montréal, McGill University, University of Sherbrooke);
- Have started your master’s program no earlier than May 2024, or your doctoral program no earlier than September 2023;
- Commit to participating in all training activities in the Academy program, including a mandatory 4-month full-time internship (in a company or abroad).
- A student currently registered for a master’s degree and supervised by a professor from the Regroupement québécois sur les Matériaux de pointe (RQMP) and who is making a transition from a master’s degree to a doctorate, who is therefore already admitted to the doctoral program in January 2025, with the same supervisor, will be eligible to apply for the 2024-2025 AMA cohort as a doctoral student.
For any questions or additional information, please contact Joaneve Milette, coordinating agent of the Academy of Advanced Materials (AMA) at joaneve.milette@umontreal.ca
Application file:
1) Cover letter (2 pages maximum) describing:
- Your academic background and previous research experience;
- Your current research project;
- Vos ambitions professionnelles;
- Your motivations for participating in the Advanced Materials Academy program;
2) Description of a potential internship environment: in approximately 250 words, explain what your interests would be for a 4-month internship environment, in a Canadian company or in an academic laboratory abroad. You do not need to have already precisely identified or confirmed the internship location;
3) Scientific CV detailing your relevant experiences and academic achievements;
4) All of your university transcripts of records (unofficial copies accepted);
5) Letter of support from your RQMP supervisor (please use the template).
Applications must be received in a single PDF document (the name of the PDF file must be named as follows: Last name_first name_AMA2024 ), no later than Monday October 28, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) to the following email address: joaneve.milette@umontreal.ca
Join the Advanced Materials Academy and participate in an enriching and innovative scientific training experience!
OUR OBJECTIVES
Increase the diversity and global competitiveness of our student cohorts in MS&E.
Our targets here are to increase the visibility and power of attraction of our graduate programs covering MS&E, to reduce barriers in the recruitment process and to promote an inclusive student experience. This will enlarge the recruitment pool and results in more diverse excellent cohorts.
Coordinate an enhanced interdisciplinary & multi-institution training curriculum in MS&E.
We seek to assemble an integrated offer of courses and workshops to address gaps in the traditional academic curriculum. In addition to better coordinating our theoretical course offers, we will provide a broader experience on instrumentation, more interdisciplinary interactions, and add learning opportunities for transversal knowledge and skills in business, computation, communication, among others.
Facilitate the integration of MS&E graduates into the Canadian workforce and society.
Our goal is to empower our students to take leadership roles in the workforce and contribute positively to society. We want our students to experience various environments other than the classroom and their supervisor’s lab, so that they learn to adapt to different teammates and work situations. We will help our international students to integrate our community. Finally, we will foster a culture of inclusive practices in which all students learn to collaborate with each other, regardless of their different backgrounds.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Increase the diversity and global competitiveness of our student cohorts in MS&E.
Our targets here are to increase the visibility and power of attraction of our graduate programs covering MS&E, to reduce barriers in the recruitment process and to promote an inclusive student experience. This will enlarge the recruitment pool and results in more diverse excellent cohorts.
Coordinate an enhanced interdisciplinary & multi-institution training curriculum in MS&E.
We seek to assemble an integrated offer of courses and workshops to address gaps in the traditional academic curriculum. In addition to better coordinating our theoretical course offers, we will provide a broader experience on instrumentation, more interdisciplinary interactions, and add learning opportunities for transversal knowledge and skills in business, computation, communication, among others.
Facilitate the integration of MS&E graduates into the Canadian workforce and society.
Our goal is to empower our students to take leadership roles in the workforce and contribute positively to society. We want our students to experience various environments other than the classroom and their supervisor’s lab, so that they learn to adapt to different teammates and work situations. We will help our international students to integrate our community. Finally, we will foster a culture of inclusive practices in which all students learn to collaborate with each other, regardless of their different backgrounds.
THE PROGRAM OFFER
Mobility
- Processus de recrutement global et international
- 4 mois de stage à l’étranger (France, Suisse, Allemagne, États-Unis, Chine, Australie, etc.) ou en entreprise canadienne
- Participation à une école d’été internationale
Professional skills training and mentoring
- Training in communication, management, knowledge transfer and/or ethics
- Training in business skills
- Training in Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI)
- Mentoring for better integration: Each participant will be paired with a mentor (e.g. professor or senior student), with the aim of facilitating inclusion in the program and the spirit of community.
- Recognition of awareness
- Inclusive social activities
Technical training
- Academic courses coordinated between the University of Montreal, Polytechnique, McGill, and the University of Sherbrooke
- Hands-on workshops in Controlled growth of thin films, Micro/nanofabrication of devices, Low temperature measurements, Surface analysis with ion beams, Raman spectroscopy of nanomaterials, Surface topography with scanning probes, and Material simulations
- Training in advanced computer skills
- Training in sustainable development
THE PROGRAM OFFER
Mobility
- Global and international recruitment process
- 4 months of internships abroad (France, Switzerland, Germany, United States, China, Australia, etc.) or in a Canadian company
- Participation in an international summer school
Professional skills training and mentoring
- Training in communication, management, knowledge transfer and/or ethics
- Training in business skills
- Training in Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI)
- Mentoring for better integration: Each participant will be paired with a mentor (e.g. professor or senior student), with the aim of facilitating inclusion in the program and the spirit of community.
- Recognition of awareness
- Inclusive social activities
Technical training
- Academic courses coordinated between the University of Montreal, Polytechnique, McGill, and the University of Sherbrooke
- Hands-on workshops in Controlled growth of thin films, Micro/nanofabrication of devices, Low temperature measurements, Surface analysis with ion beams, Raman spectroscopy of nanomaterials, Surface topography with scanning probes, and Material simulations
- Training in advanced computer skills
- Training in sustainable development
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Delphine Bouilly (UdeM), project manager, but also to the co-applicants, to our collaborators from the university and industry network, but above all to all our members of the RQMP who played an essential role from the ideation to the design of this project.
Special thanks to: Andrea Bianchi (UdeM); Audrey Laventure (UdeM); Bradley Siwick (McGill); François Schiettekatte (UdeM); Ion Garate (UdeS); Lena Simine (McGill); Louis Taillefer (UdeS); Ludvik Martinu (Poly); Paul G. Charette (UdeS); Tamar Pereg-Barnea (McGill); Thomas Szkopek (McGill); Yves-Alain Peter (Poly)and Sébastien Garbarino, Director of Innovation & Infrastructures at PRIMA Québec;.
Offering an international internship and industry internship opportunity, it also goes without saying to thank our laboratory partners and collaborating industries (IBM, Calogy, Chemia Discovery Inc, 5Nplus, Photon Etc., Teledyne MEMS, Nanoacademic Technologies Inc , Plasmionics, D-Wave Systems Inc) who volunteered to warmly welcome our future interns.
Finally, we acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
