Portage College is proud to announce that it has been approved $82.5K in funding for two consecutive summers under the Summer Research Studentship (SRS) program administered by Alberta Innovates. Currently, Portage is looking for students and supervisors for this opportunity to foster the next generation of health research and innovation leaders.

During each summer session (May and June), up to five students will be sponsored, receiving a studentship of a maximum of $700 per week for eight weeks, totalling $5,600. This studentship is exclusively available to current students enrolled in the PN, EMR, PCP, and ACP health programs.

The Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (SRS) program is designed to provide undergraduate students, including those in relevant diploma or certificate programs, with valuable paid experiential learning opportunities at post-secondary institutions across Alberta. The program focuses on cultivating interest and success in health research and innovation, aligning with Alberta Innovates' priority areas, such as digital or data-driven health research, commercialization, and health system transformation.

As part of this initiative, Portage College invites applications from potential supervisors to host mini-research projects and mentor students. Each selected supervisor will be able to guide a maximum of four students. These supervisor roles are not limited to the health department faculty, opening doors for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Students participating in the program will gain valuable research experience and the opportunity to attend workshops and the Alberta Innovate annual conference in Calgary, enhancing their exposure to the broader health research and innovation field.

Dr. Donna Feledichuk, Vice President of Academics and Research at Portage College, looks forward to the continued growth in research, stating, “I am thrilled that we are expanding our applied research in the area of health care. Portage College has fantastic faculty that bring a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience to our region and their profession. The grant from Alberta Innovates is a great opportunity for us to showcase our faculty’s expertise in health. As we grow our research mandate, I look forward to using our expertise to assist stakeholders in our region.” 

Dr. Shun Li, Dean of Health and Wellness at Portage College, expressed enthusiasm about the Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship launch, stating, "I am excited to have this Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship launched at Portage College. This studentship provides our health students a great opportunity to obtain research experience. It supports our faculty in conducting health-related research at Portage College. I am very confident that this SRS will help Portage College build up its reputation as a research institute."

For more information, please contact Shun Li at shun.li@portagecollege.ca.