Studentship Awards

The 2025 Studentship Award competition is now open. 
BHCRI Summer Studentships are intended to foster an interest in the field of oncology and enable students to pursue cancer-related research projects. Open to undergraduate students, including those registered in a graduate program commencing the following September, who are undertaking cancer research at recognized institutions in Atlantic Canada. All applicants must be registered, at the time of application, in a full-time undergraduate program at a university in Atlantic Canada and must be planning to return to full-time studies following the tenure of the award. Supervisors must be a Scientist, Senior Scientist, Associate Member or Honorary Member (qualifying as a Scientist, Senior Scientist or Associate Member) of the Institute.

For more information on this competition, please contact admin@bhcri.ca 

All BHCRI award applicants are invited to complete the optional self-identification form.

BHCRI encourages applicants to complete the voluntary self-identification form to help determine whether our programs are reaching a broad range of applicants to create an inclusive environment and sense of belonging with a diverse community of contributors. Information provided in the forms is confidential and will only be used for statistical reporting on the representation of equity groups within the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, and will not be used for any aspect of the peer-review process.

Thank you to our Summer Studentship funding partners: IWK Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society (Carol Ann Cole Comfort Heart Summer Studentship for Breast Cancer Research), and Dalhousie Advancement (D.W. Hoskin Summer Studentship - highlighted below.

Please view the Guidelines for Writing Lay Summaries

Sample Studentship Competition Review Form and Lay Summary Readability information are located below. This is provided for your reference only and is subject to change.
A sample Studentship Competition Review Form is provided for your reference only and is subject to change.

Dr. David Hoskin: A BHCRI founder, continues to contribute

Dr. Hoskin’s interest in science began when he was very young. At an early age, he had an improvised laboratory in his basement where he did research with a microscope and a chemistry set that his parents gave him.

To pay forward part of the benefits that he enjoyed from the awards he won as a student, Dr. Hoskin has donated money to establish an undergraduate summer studentship. This studentship allows an Atlantic Canada student primarily interested in breast cancer or prostate cancer to work with leading figures in the research environment during the summer to help advance their career.

“Giving a young student the opportunity to work in a lab is really important,” said Dr. Hoskin. “It can have an impact and shape their career for treating cancer.”

Since its inception, he has been passionately involved with the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, serving on the Working Group for the Institute and its Development Board. He used his previous experience at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and other institutions to help put together the new Institute’s bylaws and programs. Dr. Hoskin collaborated with cancer researchers and research entities in different areas, which allowed him to help shape one of the most important and unique research centres in the Atlantic region. “I’ve been involved from the beginning without pause,” said Dr. Hoskin. Today he continues to help the Institute by serving on the Membership Committee.

Dr. Hoskin is now retired, but as part of his career, he has studied natural products that have the potential to treat cancer, as well as investigated cancer cell molecules that suppress the immune response. Today, several of his former trainees continue to work in the natural products line of research or have become physicians, which makes him proud. Even though he no longer runs a research program, Dr. Hoskin is still active in helping former trainees to write papers and research grant applications.

After more than 40 years of research, he feels satisfied that he has contributed to the body of knowledge. “I created a base for the next generation of researchers to build on, and eventually, someone is going to discover something critical.”

“Because of your support, we will be able to increase the quality of life of many cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy implications.” – D.W. Hoskin Studentship recipient

Recipients:

2021 – Lia Massoeurs, Dalhousie University;

2022 – Rikki Clarke, Acadia University;

2023 – Ali Salman, Memorial University;

2024 – Maria McCully, Acadia University

To support BHCRI summer studentships, visit: https://alumniapps2.dal.ca/giving/?gift=bhcri