PhD student receives first endowed award for doctoral studies
Bing Zhou is the first PhD student recipient at the University of Regina to receive the Verna Martin Memorial Scholarship in Doctoral Studies. -Photo: U of R Photography Dep't

Bing Zhou is the first PhD student recipient at the University of Regina to receive the Verna Martin Memorial Scholarship in Doctoral Studies. Former Regina resident Verna Mae Martin gifted the University nearly $400,000 to create this annual scholarship.

Zhou, a third-year PhD candidate studying in the Department of Computer Science, will receive $15,000 from the Verna Martin scholarship and an additional $5,000 from the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

"This award will allow me to focus on my studies and will relieve any financial worries I would have had," said Zhou.

"It's important for graduate students to have opportunities such as this because many of us are mature students who have families and other responsibilities that we need to tend to. Receiving this award permits me to research and spend time with my family - having balance is key to my success."

Zhou's doctoral work involves implementing a general research strategy that covers the mining of granular information and knowledge structures while applying the discovered knowledge for real-world applications. A prototype system will be implemented. Her research is complementary to existing studies of data mining which do not pay sufficient attention to multiple levels of granularity.

Financial support is critical to fostering opportunities for students to succeed. Graduate students become faculty members and research leaders in our communities, both of which the University of Regina sees as important investments, according to University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Vianne Timmons.

"As our students graduate, they do so with the recognition that they have a responsibility to serve our greater community, just as our donors have helped serve them during their years of study. On behalf of our current and future doctoral students, I would like to express my thanks for Ms. Martin's vision and her long-term commitment to support doctoral-level education at the University of Regina.  I would also like to congratulate Ms. Zhou on being the first recipient of this scholarship," said Timmons.

One graduate student enrolled in a doctoral program in any field of study will be chosen annually.

Eligibility requirements and application deadline for the Verna Martin Memorial Scholarship in Doctoral Studies are located at www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/scholarships/