Life Sciences Ontario Announces the Launch of Year 5 of the Scholarship and Mentorship Program

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Sciences Ontario (LSO), along with our partners, is proud to announce the launch of year 5 of the Scholarship and Mentorship Program, designed to support undergraduate students pursuing education in life sciences fields at Ontario Institutions. The deadline to apply is May 31st.

The LSO Scholarship and Mentorship program will award scholarships in the amount of $3,000 to a minimum of 30 undergraduate students enrolled in life sciences-related university or college programs for the 2023-2024 fall/winter term. The program aims to help prepare students for successful careers in the life sciences sector, while also promoting the growth and development of the sector itself.

In the 4 years of running this program, LSO has awarded 135 scholarships to students worth $425,000. The Scholarship program has become an important part of our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives. In 2022, 72% of all recipients were women and 70% identified as visible minorities. We hope to continue this trend this year in order to tackle the issue of diversity and talent shortages within the life sciences sector.

To help create an inclusion program, half the scholarships are awarded by random draw from all eligible applicants. The eligibility requirements for this program are as follows:

• Must be currently residing as a permanent resident in Ontario verified by an official Ontario Government IDn.
• Must be entering the final year in September 2023 of their full-time studies in a bachelor's degree program or a diploma program.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative average of 75% from all their completed years of undergraduate schooling.
• College students in 2-year programs must provide proof of enrollment & program length.

In addition, selected scholarship recipients will be required to participate in the mentorship component of the program which can be accomplished through one-to-one mentor meetings or through small group mentorship with senior industry leaders.

"Biotalent Canada predicts that the Life Sciences industry will have an additional $65,000 jobs by 2029," said Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of LSO. "With support from our many partners, in the five years of running the program, we have been able to increase awareness around careers in Life Sciences along with providing financial and mentorship opportunities to deserving students."

Simonne Rauch, a 2022 LSO scholarship award recipient from Queen’s University, said, “The Life Sciences Ontario Scholarship Program is an excellent opportunity for students in Life Sciences to connect with many influential individuals in this field. This program has opened my eyes to unique career pathways and provided me with many insights on how to excel in this industry. Overall, this program is a great gateway into the Life Sciences industry and I would recommend it to all students in this field.”

We would like to say a big thank you to all our generous scholarship sponsors — Alexion Pharma Canada, AstraZeneca, Astellas, Novo Nordisk Canada, Ontario Genomics, Roche Canada, Sanofi Canada, GSK Canada, 3Sixty Public Affairs, Bayshore Specialty Rx Ltd, Jazz Pharmaceuticals,, and Takeda — for supporting our mission to develop the life sciences sector and provide opportunities for the next generation. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for any organization interested in participating.

For more information about the program, including eligibility criteria and application details, please visit the LSO website at https://lifesciencesontario.ca/scholarship/

About Life Sciences Ontario:

Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a member-driven organization that represents and promotes the province's vibrant and diverse life sciences sector. LSO collaborates with governments, academia, industry, and other stakeholders to create a supportive environment for research, development, and commercialization of life sciences innovations in Ontario.