Doctoral student receives prestigious Vanier Scholarship

Posted: October 22, 2013 9:00 a.m.

Michelle Gagnon, a second year doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, has been awarded the highly prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS). This award, valued at $50,000 per year, for three years, is one of the most significant awards available to PhD students in Canada.

Gagnon will use this scholarship to further her current research in psychosocial and health behaviour. Specifically, her research centres on pain communication in couples, where one or both individuals experience chronic pain.

“I am extremely honoured to have received this award. This funding allows me to focus on my training and my research”, says Gagnon. “It’s also rewarding and motivating to know that my contributions are supported by the University of Regina and the Canadian Government”.

Gagnon is the third Vanier Scholar from the University of Regina.  In 2011 another Psychology student Mathew Fetzner, received the award and Kazi Mamun, a Ph.D. student in Computer Science, was awarded one in 2012.

The Vanier CGS program was created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and to establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields. The scholarship is available to both Canadian and international PhD students studying at Canadian universities.

Nominees for the Vanier CGS undergo a rigorous selection process. Potential scholars are nominated by their Canadian university and then evaluated by selection committees struck by Canada’s three research granting agencies – SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR. An international, blue-ribbon selection committee then ranks Vanier scholarship recipients and recommends them for funding.