NMIN
TRAINING
From 2019 to 2024, NMIN’s Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Program cultivated the next generation of nanomedicine scientists and entrepreneurs, and helped train the skilled workforce required by the growing nanomedicines industry in Canada.
The program benefited from the input of the former HQP Program Advisory Committee (HPAC).
The HQP Program was a top priority for the Network and was the most immediately transformational program NMIN offered.
The former Priority Areas and Strategic Goals of the NMIN HQP Program
Priority Area 1: Nanomedicine Research Skills and Experience
Strategic Goal 1: To equip trainees with core, cutting-edge research skills in world-class research environments (also addressed through the Research Program).
Priority Area 2: Intellectual Property (IP) Creation and Commercialization Skills and Experience
Strategic Goal 2: To familiarize trainees with key concepts and processes in IP creation, identification, protection, and commercialization.
Priority Area 3: Entrepreneurial and Leadership Skills and Experience
Strategic Goal 3: To provide hands-on/experiential learning opportunities for the development of entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Priority Area 4: Communication and Knowledge Mobilization Skills and Experience
Strategic Goal 4: To prepare trainees to communicate their research effectively to diverse audiences and potential knowledge users, including the public, policymakers, and industry representatives.
Priority Area 5: Genetics, Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Social (GE3LS) Issues Awareness and Understanding
Strategic Goal 5: To increase trainees’ awareness and understanding of GE3LS concepts.
This program is now closed.
NMIN HQP Network (NHN)
The former NMIN HQP Network (NHN) was a student-led organization comprising NMIN research trainees and new professionals in all fields of nanomedicine-related research. The NHN fostered networking, knowledge exchange and professional skill development among Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)—students, trainees, research staff and young professionals—working in the field of nanomedicines.
Governance: The NHN was headed by an Executive Committee comprised of NMIN HQP who played a leadership role in the planning and realization of NMIN’s HQP programs, activities and other opportunities.
Membership eligibility: Trainees and new professionals working on NMIN-funded research projects automatically became NMIN HQP and NHN members. Trainees and new professionals not directly involved in NMIN research, but training or working in the field of nanomedicine research, could apply to join the NHN. Applicants had to be working in Canada and be affiliated with a Canadian institution.
Benefits of membership included the eligibility to apply for a range of capacity-building opportunities, including:
For details about current opportunities, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
Advanced Training Certification (ATC)
NMIN Advanced Training Certification (ATC) recognized an individual’s engagement in diverse capacity-building activities organized by NMIN, its partners, and/or other recognized organizations, where the learning involved went “above and beyond” the training typically provided in an academic program and supported the formation of a well-rounded professional.
As a qualification listed on one’s CV, NMIN ATC provides a competitive advantage by formally recognizing national-level network experience as well as training and experiential learning across a broad range of professional and interpersonal skills.
When the program was active, there were three levels of NMIN ATC: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
This opportunity is now closed.
All NMIN Trainees/HQP (including undergraduate students, research support staff and NMIN HQP Network members) were eligible to complete the program and receive NMIN ATC.
Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows working on NMIN-funded research were expected to work towards NMIN ATC.
CREDITS: Participants had to complete at least 20 credits to receive the NMIN ATC.
Every activity eligible for recognition within the ATC was given a credit value. As HQP completed each activity, they earned the corresponding number of credits. See the ATC Credits Overview.
Certification was available at three levels, according to the number of credits accumulated:
- ATC Level I: Silver (20 credits)
- ATC Level II: Gold (20 additional credits)
- ATC Level III: Platinum (10 additional credits, with trainees earning credits in all five of the priority areas across all 50 accrued credits)
RECOGNIZED ACTIVITIES: Most activities organized by NMIN and/or its HQP Program partners had an assigned credit value. See the ATC Credits Overview.
Credits could be awarded for non-NMIN/non-partner events and programming if these were: 1) aligned with NMIN’s HQP Program Priority Areas; and 2) delivered by a reputable source able to provide organizational confirmation of program/activity completion.
Requests for non-NMIN/non-partner credit recognition towards NMIN ATC had to be made in writing to the NMIN Administrative Centre. See the instructions for making such requests.
A maximum of 25% of ATC credits (i.e., 5 credits) could be accumulated from non-NMIN/non-partner sources.
RANGE OF TOPICS: Participants had to ensure that the activities they completed for credit toward the ATC spanned the five Priority Areas of the NMIN Strategic HQP Program (detailed in the HQP Program description):
1. Nanomedicine Research
2. Intellectual Property (IP) Creation & Commercialization
3. Entrepreneurial and Leadership
4. Communication and Knowledge Mobilization
5. Genetics, Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal & Social (GE3LS) Issues
REGISTRATION: There was no application/registration process for ATC. All NMIN HQP (trainees and research staff working on NMIN projects and other members of the NHN) were automatically included in the program.
TRACKING ACTIVITY/CREDITS: The NMIN Administrative Centre tracked completion of eligible activities for certification (see Requirements for certification, above, for details).
Participation in any NMIN activity, or in any NMIN partner group activity, was automatically tracked and recorded. Other activities could be accredited upon written request.
HQP could check in at any time with the HQP & Events Coordinator to ascertain the number of credits they had accumulated and/or to ensure all their activities had been accurately captured.
COMPLETION/CERTIFICATION: When a participant completed the required number of credits (20) across the span of NMIN’s five HQP Program Priority Areas, an NMIN ATC certificate was issued.
Gold level
- Dr. Miffy Cheng, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia (April 2023)
- Nancy Dos Santos, Research Associate, BC Cancer (November 2022)
- Yulin Mo, PhD candidate, University of Toronto (April 2023)
- Liza Silverman, PhD candidate, University of Victoria (April 2023)
- Wesley Walker, MSc. student University of Toronto (April 2023)
- Jennyfer Zapata-Farfan, PhD candidate, Polytechnique Montreal (November 2022).
Silver level
- Dr. Noorjahan Aibani, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Saskatchewan (November 2021)
- Genc Basha, Research Associate, UBC (April 2023)
- Karen Chan, Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC (April 2023)
- Po-Han Chao, PhD candidate, UBC (April 2023)
- Dr. Kent Chen, Technology Development Scientist, Genevant Sciences (November 2021)
- Dr. Miffy Cheng, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia (November 2021)
- Ka-Yee Grace Choi, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia (June 2021)
- Talita de Franceso Calherios, PhD candidate with Dr. Matthew Moffit at the University of Victoria, and Member-at-Large on the NHN Executive Committee (November 2022)
- Cécile Darviot, PhD candidate, Polytechnique Montreal (April 2023)
- Nancy Dos Santos, Research Associate, BC Cancer (June 2021)
- Dr. Michael Dunne, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto (November 2021)
- Harrison Fan, Research Engineer, UBC (April 2023)
- Sathak Garg, MSc candidate, UBC (April 2023)
- Tiffany Ho, Masters candidate with Dr. Gang Zheng at the University of Toronto (November 2022)
- Isabelle Largillière, PhD candidate, Polytechnique Montreal (April 2023)
- Jerry Leung, PhD candidate with Drs Pieter Cullis and Christian Kastrup at UBC (November 2022)
- Presley MacMillan, PhD candidate, University of Toronto (November 2021)
- Tavonga Mandava, MSc candidate, USaskatchewan (April 2023)
- Quinn Matthews, Master’s candidate, University of Toronto (November 2021)
- Samantha McWhirter, PhD candidate, UToronto (April 2023)
- Yulin Mo, PhD candidate, University of Toronto (November 2021)
- Mark Pereira, Research Associate, University of Toronto (June 2021)
- Fariba Saadati, Research Associate with Dr. Marco Ciufolini at UBC, and Events Director on the NHN Executive Committee (November 2022)
- Sams Sadat, PhD candidate, University of Alberta (June 2021)
- Liza Silverman, PhD candidate, University of Victoria (June 2021)
- Sarah Thomson, PhD candidate, University of British Columbia (November 2021)
- Tyler Thomson; MSc candidate, UBC (April 2023)
- Ariadne Tuckmantel Bido, PhD candidate, UVictoria (April 2023)
- Michael Valic, PhD candidate, UToronto (April 2023)
- Abishek Wadhwa, PhD candidate, UBC (April 2023)
- Wesley Walker, MSc. student University of Toronto (June 2021)
- Dominik Witzigmann, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia (June 2021)
- Nicole Wretham,research technician with Dr. Marcel Bally at BC Cancer (November 2022)
- Kelsey Yuan, PhD candidate with Dr. Gilbert Walker at the University of Toronto (November 2022)
- Jennyfer Zapata-Farfan, PhD candidate, Polytechnique Montreal (June 2021)
- Logan Zettle, MSc candidate, Utoronto (April 2023)
- Lin-Hua Zhang, Research Associate, University of British Columbia (June 2021)
- Nashmia Zia, Postdoctoral Fellow, UToronto (April 2023)
For details, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
For details, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
NanoMedicines Translated
NMIN’s former NanoMedicines Translated Program engaged NMIN HQP in a hands-on learning process, under the guidance of communications/knowledge mobilization professional Sylviane Duval, to produce clear-language summaries (ResearchSNIPS) of their NMIN-supported, peer-reviewed research publications.
These summaries provided, in accessible language, information on:
- What the published research is about;
- What the researchers did in the study;
- What the researchers found; and
- How the research results can be used.
Participants in the program not only produced a communications tool by which to disseminate their research to the broader public, but also acquired broadly applicable knowledge translation and science communication skills.
This opportunity is now closed
NMIN HQP who had co-authored a peer-review publication based on NMIN-funded research and who were working with an NMIN investigator were eligible to participate. NMIN HQP not working on NMIN-funded research could also participate in the program (up to a maximum of five such HQP per year).
The former NanoMedicines Translated program aimed to make NMIN-supported research findings more accessible to a broad audience; to highlight novel, high-impact findings to specific audiences for whom these results may be particularly useful; and to hone the knowledge translation and plain-language writing skills of NMIN HQP.
NMIN’s NanoMedicines Translated Program was facilitated by the seasoned Knowledge Transfer Professional Sylviane Duval. Sylviane is the founder of OpenTheBox consultancy, which focuses on knowledge transfer, research navigation, and business/soft-skills and science communications training for scientists. She is also co-founder of the Institute for Knowledge Mobilization and a member of Evidence for Democracy’s Network of Experts. She has served on national and international boards supporting the ethical and accessible communication of science (including Plain Language International); on a national advisory committee promoting the protection of intellectual property; and as Vice-President of the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada.
“The language of the academy and that of the street are completely different. Over many years, it’s been my great pleasure to help scientists bridge the gap so they can gain public support for their work and, most of all, translate results into usable tools and knowledge that benefit society,” says Sylviane.
“Together, we’ll take your publication, boil it down to the nitty-gritties then build the key messages back up in plain language. You will experience a huge sense of satisfaction knowing that, because people can understand and relate to your work, A) they’ll be more likely to fund you, and B) they can tell others about it. More directly, you’ll learn new ways of thinking about what you write and how to express yourself. You can apply both in just about every facet of your life.”
NMIN HQP whose papers are selected for the NanoMedicines Translated Program:
- learned clear-language writing, science communication and knowledge mobilization principles under the guidance of a seasoned professional;
- received $500 upon successful completion of their lay summary; and
- had their clear-language research summaries published on the NMIN website and disseminated to a variety of audiences.
For details, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
ResearchSNIPS created
NMIN
HQP: Funding & Training Awards
NMIN Doctoral & Master’s-level Graduate Awards
2023-24 Competition
Five Doctoral awards are available providing a stipend of $35,000 a year for one year; and five Master’s awards are available providing a stipend of $17,500 for one year.
The goal of NMIN Graduate Awards is to enable exceptional doctoral and master’s students to pursue nanomedicine academic research training with Canadian experts. The awards are intended to develop nanomedicines academic research expertise across Canada. The quality of the applicant, research project, and training opportunity are the principal criteria on which applications will be judged.
Eligible academic foci include nanomedicine research ranging from discovery to translation/ commercialization, aligned with NMIN’s mission and vision (i.e., targeted drug delivery, gene therapies, or diagnostics) with priority given to projects at least at the stage of Proof-of-Concept (PoC) or Proof-of-Principle (PoP).
Applicants must be full-time graduate students in good academic standing pursing a PhD or Master’s degree at a Canadian university or Canadian partner institution, and must be supervised by an NMIN Investigator and/or an NMIN committee member with an academic appointment at a Canadian university or research institute eligible to hold Tri-Council funds. See the competition guide for full eligibility requirements.
This opportunity is now closed.
Graduate Awards Granted
NMIN Postdoctoral Fellowship Award in Gene Therapy
2021 Competition
One award, providing a stipend of $40,000 a year for a maximum of two years, is available in the area of Gene Therapy.
The goal of the NMIN Postdoctoral Fellowship Award is to enable exceptional postdoctoral fellows (PDF) to pursue nanomedicine academic research training with Canadian experts. The quality of the research project and training opportunity is the principal criterion on which applications will be judged.
Eligible academic foci include Proof-of-Concept (PoC) and Proof-of-Principle (PoP) nanomedicine projects. Preference will be given to projects jointly funded by industry partners, or projects that exhibit a high potential for commercialization.
This opportunity is now closed.
Postdoctoral Awards Granted
NMIN Lab Exchange & Research Skills Development Awards
The Lab Exchange Program offers funding for NMIN trainees to spend between six weeks and six months working on research projects with national or international investigators and their research teams. Research visits must contribute to the mission and vision of NMIN and provide for a unique training opportunity currently not available to the trainee.
The Research Skills Development Award Program provides support for workshops and individual training opportunities to cultivate the next generation of nanomedicine scientists and entrepreneurs and to train the skilled workforce required by the growing nanomedicine industry in Canada. Applications will be evaluated based on the potential contribution to NMIN-funded and nanomedicine-related research and the capacity-building benefits for the applicant.
Funding is restricted to a living allowance, eligible travel-related expenses, and tuition/workshop/research costs (if applicable) for NMIN trainees and NMIN HQP Network (NHN) members (NMIN HQP).
This opportunity is now closed.
Questions? Contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
Lab Exchange/Research Skills Awards Granted
NMIN-Mitacs Internships & Fellowships
Open, ongoing call for proposals partnering NMIN HQP with companies or not-for-profit organizations for nanomedicine-related research projects.
NMIN-Mitacs Internships & Fellowships enable opportunities for NMIN HQP who wish to work with non-academic partner organizations on research projects that involve nanomedicines. Through partnership with Mitacs, 430 internship/fellowship units (valued at approximately $6.5 Million) have been made available for NMIN HQP.
This opportunity is now closed.
For more information, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
- Interested NMIN HQP: Complete a draft application for an internship or a fellowship and send it to the Mitacs Business Development Representative (MBDR) for your institution prior to obtaining all signatures and submitting. Inform NMIN of your intention to apply.
- If you plan to work with a not-for-profit partner, seek partner and project eligibility approval from an MBDR before applying.
- Send your completed application package (application form, CVs as required, budget, other supplementary material as applicable), with all the required signatures, to BOTH of the following emails:
- Mitacs: MBDR (be sure to indicate that you are an NMIN trainee)
- NMIN: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
NOTE: Follow closely the instructions given for the general Accelerate (for internships) or Elevate (for fellowships) program, and use the corresponding application package.
NMIN/Mitacs Internships Awarded
NMIN Travel Awards
NMIN Travel Awards are available to NMIN Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) to support their attendance of and participation in national and international non-NMIN events aligned with NMIN’s mission and scope of research, occurring before 31 December 2024.
NMIN will fund 50% of total eligible expenses associated with attending an approved event, up to a maximum of $1,000/application for events in Canada, and $1,500/application for international events.
This opportunity is now closed.
- Applications will be accepted, up until 31 May 2024, from NMIN trainees, research staff, and members of the NMIN HQP Network (NHN) on a first come, first served basis.
- Completed application forms must be received a minimum of four weeks prior to travel.
- The event for which the travel award is intended must be aligned with NMIN’s mission and scope of research; must provide opportunities for networking, research collaboration, knowledge exchange, new skill development, entrepreneurship and commercialization skills, and/or learning; and must take place before 1 December 2024
Questions? Contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
NMIN Undergraduate Studentships in NanoMedicines Research
The NMIN Undergraduate Studentships in NanoMedicines Research program provides undergraduate students an opportunity to advance their careers and enhance their employability through hands-on nanomedicine-related research experience with NMIN investigators.
The 2023-24 program aims to:
- strengthen equity deserving undergraduate students’ ability to develop innovative nanomedicines and related technologies; and
- foster interest in nanomedicines research, enable undergraduate students belonging to equity deserving groups to participate in the Network, and motivate them to continue to pursue studies in nanomedicine sciences at the graduate level and in their future careers.
Application eligibility – applicants must:
- Be equity deserving undergraduates enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (full-time or part-time) at a Canadian university;
- Have completed at least one year of undergraduate studies at the time of the award; and,
- Be supervised by an investigator named on a currently-funded NMIN project during the proposed Studentship.
Equity deserving groups include, but are not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups and members of LGBTQ2+ communities.
Preference will be given to undergraduates who have not previously worked and are not currently working in the proposed supervisor’s lab.
This opportunity is now closed.
2022 Competition Call
Call for Proposals
NMIN invites outstanding students and their Supervisors to apply to this Call for Proposals.
Nine awards of $1,500 a month for up to four months are available: six (6) of the awards are for groups underrepresented in nanomedicine research, and three (3) are open awards.
Please refer to the Application Guidelines for details regarding eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and the application process and timeline.
Application deadline: 28 February 2022
2023-24 Competition Call
Call for Proposals
NMIN invites outstanding students and their Supervisors to apply to this Call for Proposals.
Five awards of $1,500 a month for up to four months are available for undergraduate students from equity deserving groups in nanomedicine research.
Please refer to the Application Guidelines for details regarding eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and the application process and timeline.
Application deadline: 15 September 2023
For more information, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
Studentships Awarded
NMIN
HQP: Capacity-Building Events
HQP Research Presentation Series
From 2019 to 2024, the HQP Research Presentation Series gave NMIN HQP the opportunity to collaboratively develop their poster presentation skills, deliver a presentation in a supportive environment, and to receive constructive feedback from qualified professionals.
The activity – participants:
- joined a team of four colleagues to help each other improve their presentations in a peer-mentoring meeting;
- presented their posters during a monthly online Poster Presentation session; and
- received formative feedback from NMIN researchers, committee members and staff.
The benefits – participants who presented a poster:
- were eligible for an NMIN HQP Research Presentation Travel Award of up to $400 to attend an in-person conference to present their research;
- earned 4 credits towards NMIN Advanced Training Certification (ATC);
- strengthened their presentation, peer-mentoring and formative feedback skills; and
- networked and built community with other NMIN participants.
All NMIN HQP (including undergraduate and graduate students, Postdoctoral Fellows, research support staff and other NMIN HQP Network members) are eligible and encouraged to participate in the HQP Research Presentation Series.
If you are uncertain about your status, contact divyarao@nanomedicines.ca.
HQP may present in the series only once in a 12-month period.
APPLICATION: Apply to participate in the HQP Research Presentation Series by submitting an abstract to the NMIN Administrative Centre (divyarao@nanomedicines.ca).
Applicants will be assigned to an HQP Team (with three other HQP), and the Team will be scheduled to present at an up-coming monthly Poster Presentation session.
NOTE: You may present only once in the series within a 12-month period. If you wish to participate again during a subsequent 12-month period, you must submit: a significantly updated or new abstract; and an outline of how the formative feedback from your previous presentation will be integrated into your next.
PEER MENTORING: The four members of an HQP Team will meet for at least one two-hour peer-mentoring session in advance of the group’s Research Presentation session. Team members will present their posters and provide each other formative feedback. These sessions will be chaired by Leah Graystone, NMIN’s HQP and Events Coordinator.
POSTER SUBMISSION: Team members will submit their posters, incorporating improvements from the peer-mentoring process, to NMIN at least one week before their scheduled Poster Presentation session. Their posters will be posted on the NMIN website for review by, and online feedback from, the larger Network.
POSTER PRESENTATION: Team members will present their posters in a one-hour online session hosted by NMIN, with one HQP Team (four HQP) presenting per session. Each Team member will present for 10 minutes, with five minutes for Q&A.
TRAVEL SUPPORT: After completing a Research Presentation, participants will be eligible for an NMIN HQP Poster Presentation Travel Award of up to $400 to attend an in-person conference to present their research. For more information, contact: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca.
Descriptions of upcoming sessions can be found here.
If you are interested in presenting on any of these dates contact: Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
Confidential Information (IP Disclosure):
Abstracts, posters, and presentations may be published on NMIN’s website and should not unduly disclose intellectual property (IP).
PIs and Supervisors should review HQP abstracts, posters, and presentation scripts/slides prior to submission to ensure that no IP is unduly disclosed.
PIs, Investigators, and HQP should refer to the NCE Network Agreement; specifically, Section 3.2 regarding disclosures, and Sections 6, 7, 8 regarding IP, Commercialization and Revenue Sharing.
Questions or concerns around IP and/or requests for assistance with IP and the commercialization of NMIN-funded research can be directed to Diana Royce, Executive Director, dianaroyce@nanomedicines.ca.
Attribution:
Publications arising from NMIN’s investments (in whole or in part) must acknowledge NMIN as a supporting organization. The required NMIN attribution statements can be found here on NMIN’s website.
For details, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
Additional capacity-building and networking events to benefit NMIN HQP are being planned.
For more details, contact Divya Rao, Manager, HQP Programs & Network Events, at: divyarao@nanomedicines.ca
NMIN’s HQP Program was launched in stages throughout 2020.
For more details, contact Leah Graystone, HQP and Events Coordinator, at