IBET initiative to represent Waterloo in federal contest

An innovative new program that provides financial support, mentorship and networking to Black and Indigenous PhD students has been chosen to represent the University of Waterloo in a federal competition for bold and potentially game-changing projects to address persistent systemic barriers in the research ecosystem and academia.

The Indigenous Black Engineering Technology (IBET) PhD Project, led by chemical engineering professor Tizazu Mekonnen, is aimed at rapidly increasing the presence of Indigenous and Black academics in engineering and computer science across Canada. Launched only 18 months ago, the program has expanded to 15 universities across Canada with 28 Momentum Fellows in the 2021 and 2022 cohorts.

Along with $120,000 over four years to support the costs of PhD studies, IBET fellows are matched with mentors of their choice from industry or academia. IBET fellows are also able to pursue an internship with an industry partner through an attractive MITACS partnership that incentivizes industry partners.

Go to IBET PhD Project to represent Waterloo in federal competition for the full story.