Concordia University's Volt-Age Now Has 250 Fully Funded PhD Opportunities

Recipients of the fellowships will work on the cutting edge of electrification research

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Concordia University's Volt-Age program recently reached a funding milestone: it now provides 250 fully funded PhD opportunities, focusing on the many different facets of electrification research.

Volt-Age, Canada's largest electrification research program, is supported by more than $123 million in funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). It aims to make real contributions to decarbonizing the energy sector with cutting-edge research in multiple fields.

To support this mission, the program provides PhD students with $35,000 per year for four years (totaling $140,000) and offers access to state-of-the-art labs and research.

"We are thrilled to be in a position to announce this major funding milestone," says Graham Carr, president and vice-chancellor of Concordia.

"Volt-Age is a catalyst for Canada’s electrification research ecosystem which is addressing critical challenges around climate change and the green energy transformation. The ability to recruit the most highly qualified students from across the country and internationally is critical to support this endeavor.

“As a university, Concordia is extremely fortunate to have access to this unprecedented tranche of PhD funding, particularly at a time when there is massive global competition for talent but also growing uncertainty and confusion about student mobility options,” he added.

“These PhD scholarships represent a unique opportunity for Concordia to be more competitive in recruitment than ever. They will play a pivotal role in allowing us to provide the kind of novel training and support for research in areas where Concordia excels, and to meet the rigorous program demands required by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund."

A catalyst for the ecosystem

Volt-Age has brought an impressive amount of academic, political and corporate players together in its push for net-zero electrification in the urban transportation industry.

"The projects that we have funding for are very diverse," says Karim Zaghib, CEO of the Volt-Age program and professor of chemical and materials engineering at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. He notes that they are encouraging students from all backgrounds to apply, including those in social sciences.

"Above all we're looking for exceptional students, with an emphasis on early-career researchers," Zaghib says. "The recipients of the doctoral fellowships will be trained to leverage their scientific expertise, protect and commercialize their findings and create new value through their research at Volt-Age."

Zaghib has been on a mission to promote electrification in transport ever since he was a young man.

"These are the biggest social issues of our time," he says. "According to a Harvard study, millions of people die every year due to fossil fuel–related health issues. Young people are enthusiastic about change; they understand the need for it. This research and these issues are a passion of mine and we need to keep moving forward."

Zaghib believes that the transition to net-zero and the electrification of transport can be positive on an industrial and economic level as well.

"We need to focus on reindustrialization locally through electrification. This means that we're modernizing old industries and stimulating the growth of new ones. By electrifying the transportation sector and our urban environments, we're creating a whole host of new business opportunities. It's a very exciting time right now, and my job is to keep spreading the message and pass the torch. These PhD funding opportunities will help us do that."