Mitacs Globalink Research Award

Mitacs will fund up to $6,000 per award. Outbound interns will receive an award of up to $6,000**. Inbound interns will receive up to $6,000 (CAD) for cost reimbursement only (eg. travel and accommodation). Students must submit expenses (including receipts) for reimbursement. Up to $1500 of the $6000 award can be allotted for research expenses.

**In some cases, additional funds may be provided by the international partner.  

See the International Partners Information tab for call dates; otherwise, open all year.

Ontario Tech Applicants:

1. Academic Supervisor
   • Must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding
   • Must be eligible to supervise graduate students 
2. Intern
   • Ontario Tech senior undergraduates, graduate students, and PDFs are invited to apply. Undergraduate applicants completing their first post-secondary degree must have completed their second year of studies prior to departure. Applicants must find a supervisor at their intended host institution and work closely with their Ontario Tech supervisor on the application form.

International Applicants:

Senior undergraduates, graduate students or PDFs from a Mitacs international partner are welcome to apply.  Applicants must first find a faculty member at Ontario Tech interested in hosting them during their research visit. If successful, GRA award recipients must follow procedures for visiting scholars.

 

Additional Eligibility requirements for students and PDFs

• Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian institution or eligible international institution and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award.
• All applicants enrolled in an undergraduate degree must have maintained a B average in their two most recent semesters prior to application. This average can be cumulative over the two semesters.
• Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a PhD program is no more than five years prior to the proposed start date of the research project and they have postdoctoral status at an eligible institution. 
• Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree
• Cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship.
  • Permanent residents or citizens of Canada who are enrolled in an eligible country other than Canada and who wish to do a project in Canada are eligible to apply. 
  • Applicants who hold citizenship of Canada and another eligible country may apply to do a project in either country.
• Must be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years of age or older).
• Must meet travel requirements for their intended destination, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation. 
• Cannot hold more than one Globalink Research Award per academic lifetime. 
• Cannot have previously held a Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program award. 

1. Review all eligibility and award guidelines from Mitacs and the international partner. Confirm student and project eligibility for the specific international partner requirements (see “international partners information” tab on the GRA webpage). Some international partners have specific call dates and special requirements.
2. Participants connect with one another to discuss project interest. Please note that Mitacs cannot connect interested applicants. 
3. Confirm student timeline – ideally begin application 6 months in advance of planned travel to allow for application review, predeparture requirements, obtaining visa, administrative requirements upon arrival
4. Applicants (student or postdoctoral fellow, home and host supervisors) submit application to international partner organization/Mitacs.
   • Please connect with Ontario Tech’s Mitacs Business Development (BD) representative (Hayley McKay, hmckay@mitacs.ca) to request an application package. Please work with the Mitacs BD to develop and finalize application package for Office of Research Services (ORS) review and signature.
   • Note that applications must be reviewed and signed by ORS. Applicants should allow 1-3 weeks to obtain the appropriate signatures. Once the Mitacs application is approved by ORS, inbound interns will be directed to start the Ontario Tech Visiting Scholars application.
5. Within 12 weeks of submission, Mitacs will contact participants about the outcome of the application. Travel must take place within a year from the date of the outcome.
6. Once application is approved, inbound students will need to be given visiting student status at Ontario Tech. As such, inbound students will need to complete the Ontario Tech Visiting Scholars application (the award letter serves as the required “proof of funding letter” to complete the application).
7. The intern is required to complete the pre-departure steps which include the submission of the Mitacs Code of Conduct and Ethics and the International Pre-Departure forms. Concurrently with application review, inbound students begin predeparture steps with their home institution. Outbound students work with the Ontario Tech International Office after the Globalink Research Award is approved.
8. Mitacs forwards the Globalink Research Award funds to Ontario Tech***. In some cases, interns may receive a portion of the funds from Mitacs’s partner organization.
9. The intern departs to the destination and begins the research project.
10. Upon project completion, the intern submits a final report that summarizes the project.
11. All participants (student or postdoctoral fellow, home and host supervisors) submit a final survey.

***Mitacs funds will be sent to Ontario Tech and administered as a research grant in the Ontario Tech supervisor’s name. For inbound interns, the funds will be paid by cost reimbursement only. Reimbursement payments will be paid by cheque in Canada. It is highly recommended for the intern to open a bank account upon arrival.

All parties involved with the Mitacs Globalink program must comply with Mitacs’s Research Ethics Policy and other research integrity policies at the home and host institutions. All parties involved with Mitacs programs should review the following policy statement and guidelines provided by the Government of Canada: 

• Government of Canada “Safeguarding Your Research” Portal

 

Intern responsibilities: 

• Submit reimbursement paperwork (inbound interns)
• Make all necessary preparations for travel abroad with the appropriate institution office(s) 
• Obtain appropriate visa, work permit or other immigration documentation required for the destination 
• Attend any mandatory sessions as required by the home institution 
• Work full-time on the research project (at least 75% abroad, and up to 25% at the home institution) 
• Submit a final report and exit survey to Mitacs at the end of the project 

 

Home supervisor responsibilities: 

• Adhere to institutional policies for research abroad 
• Provide ongoing direction and research support to the participant prior to and during the research project 
• Submit an exit survey and sign the final report prepared by the participant 

 

Host supervisor responsibilities: 

• Adhere to institutional policies for visiting scholars 
• Provide ongoing direction and research support to the intern prior to and during the research project 
• Advise the intern on appropriate travel arrangements and accommodation 
• Provide the intern with any necessary documentation to support the visa application 
• Ensure the intern has appropriate lab and/or office space and resources during the research project 
• Submit an exit survey and sign the final report prepared by the intern 

 

Additional responsibilities of the Canadian institution and supervisor: 

In addition to the above, the Canadian supervisors and institutions – whether home or host – have additional responsibilities, specifically: 

• Support interns with the necessary preparations for travel abroad (institutional travel policy, immigration application support)  
• Assume fiduciary responsibility for the Mitacs grant  

• For general questions on the program, please contact international@mitacs.ca.
• Questions regarding your application, please contact Hayley McKay.
• Ontario Tech Office of Research Services.
• Ontario Tech Faculty can contact their Grants Officer.