Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) and Mitacs—a national, not-for-profit organization that helps build partnerships between academia, industry, and the world—invites undergraduate, college and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows from all disciplines to participate in KBHN-Mitacs Awards competition.
This funding is available as an open rolling call, where the applications are reviewed quarterly by Mitacs and the KBHN Research and Training Committee.
Applications are due by January 18th, 2024. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about upcoming opportunities.
Overview: KBHN-Mitacs Awards & Internships
- Award: We offer internship stipends of $20,000 maximum, including a $5,000 contribution from KBHN, and a contribution from the participating agency or business. The awardees will also have their registration fees waived, to attend and present at the KBHN Annual Conference.
- Internship Term: Up to six months from approval (or other timeline, as negotiated)
- Eligibility: Undergraduate, college and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows from all disciplines interested in neurodevelopmental disability
- Co-Funding: $7,500 is required from Canadian or international industry, municipalities, and hospitals.
- Applications are due by January 18th, 2024.
What Is the KBHN-Mitacs Accelerate Internship?
KBHN is committed to the implementation of research innovations into practice and ensuring evidence-based solutions reach their intended audience. In support of this goal, the KBHN-Mitacs Awards were established to respond to opportunities for supporting projects that focus on enhancing services and support for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, their families, and caregivers across Canada.
The KBHN-Mitacs Awards support collaborative research between KBHN, a non-academic partner, and a research intern.
The KBHN-Mitacs Accellerate Internship supports opportunities that:
- Partner with small and medium sized businesses or not-for-profit organizations (including municipalities and hospitals) with emphasis on services and supports for children with a neurodevelopmental disability and their families;
- Are driven by real-world problems and challenge areas in the field of children-focused neurodevelopmental disabilities;
- Are solution oriented and user-centered, involving children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, their families, caregivers, and community stakeholders in all stages of the research;
- Have the potential to lead to economic and/or social impact.
The expected outputs of these projects could include, but are not limited to:
- Technology-based solutions (services or products)
- Innovative interventions and services expanding or scaling support for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, their families, and caregivers
- Knowledge mobilization (KM), translation (KT) or exchange activities, including but not limited to, the development or implementation of KM/KT products or tools
Priority will be given to projects that directly address one or more of the following areas of focus:
- Early screening and identification: Work with community partners and stakeholders to implement novel approaches to earlier recognition of developmental vulnerability.
- Evidence-based interventions and treatment: Support the implementation of evidence- based interventions that target the functional needs of the child, and work with community partners to ensure that innovations are integrated effectively into policy and practice.
- Family support: Work with community partners in identifying and providing the most effective strategies to support parents and caregivers to reduce family stress, improve communication, and access resources that help children, their families and caregivers realize their full potential.
Who Should Apply?
- Full-time undergraduate, college and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows from all disciplines interested in neurodevelopmental disability research in Canada
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students over the age of 18
- All academic disciplines
Benefits of Applying
- These internships provide students the opportunity to apply skills in a non-academic environment, build their CV with peer-reviewed research, broaden their professional network, and earn a minimum stipend of $10,000 per six-month period (or other timeline, as negotiated).
- Partner organizations obtain access to academic expertise, build a customized research plan with support from Mitacs representatives, augment research and development budgets, and benefit from the opportunity to assess potential employees.
- Supervising professors build flexible research partnerships and obtain funding for students.
How to Apply
Applications are due by January 18th, 2024. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about upcoming opportunities.
If you are interested in applying, contact your local your Mitacs business development representative to learn more or discuss next steps.
Specify that you are applying for the Mitacs Accelerate in partnership with KBHN. To be eligible for KBHN funds, a strong rationale must be included in the application on how KBHN funds would further benefit the project.
Contact Us
We’re here to support you. If you want to learn more about accessing the KBHN-Mitacs Awards and other opportunities for trainees, please contact training@kidsbrainhealth.ca.
