If you’re interested in joining the lab as an undergraduate, grad student or postdoc, please read below for how to reach out to me at tess.grainger@uoguelph.ca.

PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS

UPDATE: PhD students: I am looking for one or two PhD students to start in January, May or September 2025 – if you’re interested in doing a PhD in the lab, please see below for how to get in touch! Note that students entering directly into the PhD program must already have a master’s degree when they start. Master’s students: I’m no longer accepting applications for master’s students to start in 2024. I may be recruiting a master’s student for a 2025 start – check back in summer 2024.

How and when to contact me

To enquire about current grad school opportunities, please email me at tess.grainger@uoguelph.ca with a few short paragraphs outlining your research interests, research experience, and why you want to join the lab. Please attach your resume or CV and your unofficial transcripts. Due to funding constaints, I’m currently only able to take Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The application process for grad school in Integrative Biology at Guelph is described here. There is no deadline for applying, but in general the ideal time to reach out to potential advisors is late summer or early fall (between July and October) of the year before you’re planning to start (assuming a September start, which is the norm). That said, later inquiries will also be considered.

Funding information

Full-time graduate students are guaranteed a minimum stipend (annual salary). In addition to conducting research and completing some coursework, grad students in Integrative Biology at Guelph normally work for one semester per year as a teaching assistant as part of their stipend. The minimum stipend in Integrative Biology is $21,460 per year for MSc students and $25,460 per year for PhD students (information here). Graduate students are also required to pay tuition totalling roughly $9000 per year (information here – note that this is for Canadian students and the situation is a bit different for international students). To help offset the rapidly rising cost of living, I will pay graduate students in my lab above these minimums: master’s students in the lab will be paid at least $27,000 per year (i.e., a minimum of $18,000 after tuition) and PhD students will be paid at least $30,000 per year (i.e., a minimum of $21,000 after tuition). I will also work with students to apply for internal and external scholarships to raise this further (list here). I strongly support current initiatives to raise graduate student funding (e.g., Support our Science).

Note: there are a number of scholarship available to graduate students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour (some of which are listed here). I encourage applicants who are eligible for these awards to highlight this when they reach out to me.

Important dates

December 1st: deadline to apply for an NSERC CGS-M Master’s Scholarship. It is often possible to apply for this in the year before starting (with my help).

Mid October: deadline to apply for NSERC PGS-D and CGS-D PhD Scholarships (note that Guelph’s internal deadline is at the end of September). You can apply for this in the year before starting, but you can also apply the year you start.

PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Ways to do research as an undergraduate:

4th year thesis project (a.k.a Honours project – IBIO 4521 and 4522. Worth 2.0 credits total). Thesis projects involve conducting a literature review, designing an experiment, submitting a research proposal, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a poster presentation and a publication-quality final report. UPDATE: Applications for a thesis student to start in September 2024 are now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied!

One-semester or two semester independent research projects for course credit: Undergrads at Guelph can do one semester research project (IBIO 4500 – can be in either fall or winter. Worth 1.0 credit) or a two semester research project (IBIO 4500 (fall) plus IBIO 4510 (winter). Worth 2.0 credits total). UPDATE: I am not currently recruiting any indpendent research students.

Work Study program: paid, part-time research work (usually about 10 hours per week). Can occur in any semester, and I will likely have at least one Work Study position advertised in all fall and winter semesters. All work study positions in the lab will be advertised on the Experience Guelph jobs portal. UPDATE: I will likely be hiring two Work Study students for summer 2024 (these will be posted on the Experience Guelph website in spring 2024).

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) and Undergraduate Research Assistantships: (URAs): 16 week full time paid summer independent research programs. These are advertised on the Experience Guelph jobs portal in January, we hire in February, and they are a full-time position from May to August. UPDATE: The USRA position for summer 2024 has been filled. Check back next spring for summer 2025 USRA opportunities!

Note: there are several scholarship available to help undergraduate students who identify as Black or Indigenous get involved in research at Guelph (e.g., NSERC USRA+ awards for Black and Indiginous students and Indiginous Undergraduate Research Awards). I encourage applicants who are eligible for these awards to highlight this when they reach out to me.

PROSPECTIVE POSTDOCS

I am always open to hearing from potential postdocs! However, because my ability to fund postdocs is currently limited, external funding (a fellowship) is usually required. If you’re interested, please send me an email outlining your research background and interests, potential project ideas, and any postdoc funding that you are eligible for (e.g., NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, Banting, Liber Ero). Please attach your CV!

Note: There is an institutional postdoctoral fellowship at Guelph for Indigenous Scholars. I encourage applicants who are eligible for this grant to highlight this when they reach out to me.

Important dates:

Mid-October: Deadline to apply for NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (note that Guelph’s internal deadline is earlier).

Early July: Deadline to submit Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship letter of intent to apply to Guelph.