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Neurosciences Division Scholarship (NSDS)

2024 Award Program Regulations 

The Neurosciences Division (NSD) has established an annual scholarship of $3,000 to support a graduate student pursuing research which advances knowledge and practice in the field of neurosciences. The scholarship is offered to a physiotherapist enrolled in a post-entry level Master’s or PhD program, in a Canadian University, who is conducting research related to the neurosciences field as part of the academic requirements for completion of their program. The successful applicant must be a member of the Neurosciences Division in good standing.  

Regulations

  1. The PFC, on the advice of its Scientific Awards Committee (SAC), awards the Neurosciences Division Scholarship. PFC Board of Directors reserves the right to approve or decline any application.  
  2. The Neurosciences Division Scholarship is usually awarded for a period of 12 months for the period of July 1st – June 30th. If the scholarship is not held for the stated period, the PFC should be notified. A prorated reduction in the scholarship may be made. At the end of the Scholarship term, candidates must submit a complete report to the PFC including plans for the public dissemination of the research results. This report should reach the PFC by August 31st of the year following the issuance of the initial scholarship. 
  3. The Neurosciences Division Scholarship is tenable at Canadian universities. 
  4. Successful candidates pursuing a Master’s or PhD in physiotherapy should preferably devote themselves for a period of 12 consecutive months (3 semesters) to the subject of the Award. Assistance may be provided to candidates enrolled on a half-time basis. Successful candidates must be involved in a physiotherapy research project that forms part of the academic requirements for the completion of their degree programme. The research project must be congruent with the mission of the PFC. At least 50% of the applicant’s time must be spent on activities related to the award. Candidates may have other sources of scholarship support as long as the total value of the support, with this Scholarship, does not exceed $25,000. 
  5. Scholarships are open to Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, or people who reside in Canada (for the duration of the Scholarship) with a valid work or student visa. 
  6. Members of PFC and NSD committees may apply for the Neurosciences Division Scholarship but cannot be involved in either the decision-making or in determining the disposition of the applications. 
  7. Preference will be given by the selection committee to early career researchers defined as: “An early career researcher is a researcher within five years from the date of their first research-related appointment, minus eligible delays in research, where: 
    • research-related appointments are defined as those where the individual has the autonomy to conduct research independently; and 
    • all eligible leaves (e.g., maternity, parental, medical, bereavement) are credited as twice the amount of time taken, and professional leaves (e.g., training, sabbatical, administrative) are not credited.”

Eligibility Criteria

  • Enrolled in a post-entry level MSc or PhD program in a Canadian University 
  • Field of research (studies) related to the practice of physiotherapy in neuroscience  
  • NSD member in good standing 
  • Disseminate research results to the NSD membership. 
  • Credit the NSD and the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada (PFC) with the support of any publications or presentations of the work 
  • Must include a written statement of the relevance (250 words) on why their project is relevant to the practice of physiotherapy in neuroscience. 

Procedures

  1. Applications for the NSDS must be received electronically ONLINE through EventsAir by March 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST. Notification on the outcome of applications will be provided in writing in May. Award disbursement will commence in June.

The applicant will be cued to upload the following documents in the online application process via the EventsAir portal.

  • a letter of appraisal from the supervisor, or advisor, of the applicant that also outlines the proposed research programme; 
  • two additional letters of appraisal; 
  • a letter from the Head of the Department at the university confirming acceptance into one of the programmes described in the Regulations for the Neurosciences Division Scholarship.  If the applicant is not enrolled at the time of the application, any scholarship will be conditional upon the receipt of written confirmation of enrolment in the programme in question.  No funds will be released by PFC until proof of enrolment is received.

Obligations of the Recipients

  1. The investigator must submit a final report on the work accomplished during the period of the research grant no later than 2 months after the end of the Scholarship period (normally August 31). Please note that investigators who do not comply with this requirement will thereafter be ineligible for further funding from the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada and the awards it administers.
  2. Within one year of the scholarship’s completion, disseminate the results to the NSD membership through (a) a presentation e.g. NSD AGM, NSD webinar and (b) write a summary of their research for the NSD e-newsletter. 
  3. Should the work of the candidate result in the publication of papers or a thesis, the assistance furnished by the PFC and the Neurosciences Division must be acknowledged. For example, a statement such as the following should be included: “This research was supported in part by the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada through the Neurosciences Division Scholarship.” A copy of the published paper should be sent to the PFC office and the Neurosciences Division. 
  4. Should the work of the candidate be presented at national or international conferences as a poster or oral presentation – the logo of the Neurosciences Division and of the PFC should be included. 

Financial Administration

  1. The PFC will inform applicants of its award decisions after it has completed the selection process. The successful applicants will receive an award letter via email in May. The award will be disbursed in June.
  2. PFC will issue a T4 or T4A slip to the award recipient at the end of the calendar year.