WIN-Velocity Scholarship Program

Congratulations to Brian Rojkov, winner of the 2022 WIN-Velocity Scholarship!

The WIN-Velocity Scholarship, with a value equivalent to a Graduate Research Studentship (GRS) for two years, has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) to support domestic research-based master’s students, who will be registered full time in their first year of graduate studies, in the Faculty of Engineering and/or Faculty of Science.

Eligible students must pursue commercialization and entrepreneurship activities for establishing a start-up company at UW with Velocity support, based on a business idea in “deep-tech” (a category of startup companies that develop new products based “on scientific discovery or meaningful engineering innovation) which matches research conducted by the WIN supervisor. Students participating in the program will receive mentorship and advice for start-up and entrepreneurial activities from Velocity.

To be considered for this scholarship, students must complete the WIN-Velocity Scholarship Application and submit it to Lisa Pokrajac according to the graduate admission deadlines set by the Faculties of Engineering and Science: 1st February for Fall admission; 1st June for Winter admission; and 1st October for Spring admission.

A committee composed of WIN and Velocity representatives will review applications and make selections based both on academic credentials as well as on the market potential of the applicant’s business idea within six (6) to eight (8) weeks of application submission.

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

Program Details:

Eligibility and selection criteria
  • The student must be admitted into a research-based master’s program in the Faculty of Engineering or Faculty of Science at Waterloo, with a WIN member as the primary supervisor.
  • The student must be a Canadian citizen/Permanent resident.
  • The applicant must complete the WIN-Velocity Scholarship Application found on the WIN-Velocity website and submit it to the WIN-Velocity Scholarship Coordinator according to the graduate admission deadlines set by the Faculties of Engineering and Science: 1st February for Fall admission; 1st June for Winter admission; and 1st October for Spring admission.
  • A joint committee consisting of individuals from WIN and Velocity will receive and evaluate applications three times per year, coinciding with the application for admission deadlines. WIN will evaluate based on academic strength and Velocity evaluation will evaluate on the business opportunity. Following an in-person/virtual interview, awardees for each term will be selected by the evaluation committee.
  • Selection will be based both on both on academic credentials as well as on market potential of the student’s business idea.

Value Description

 Up to two (2) awards will be given annually with the value being equivalent to two (2) years’ Graduate Research Scholarship (GRS) (value will normally be the upper value between Engineering or Science regardless of the student’s home department).

Level

 Masters

Program

 Engineering→Architecture, MBET, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Eng, Electrical & Computer Eng, Management Sciences, Mechanical & Mechatronics Eng, Quantum Computing, Systems Design Engineering; Science→Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Pharmacy, Physics and Astronomy, Vision Science

Citizenship

Canadian/Permanent resident

Selection process

Application required

Term 

 Winter, Spring, Fall
Application deadline February 1, June 1, October 1
Additional instructions
  • Recipients are expected to focus on their academic and start-up/entrepreneurship activities for the duration of the WIN-Velocity Fellowship program.
  • The student is required to receive co-curricular mentoring through the Velocity Translation Program which includes support for successful spinout from the university.
  • This scholarship is provided as part of the guaranteed minimum funding. The recipient’s supervisor would not be required to pay any GRS to their student for up to two (2) years from the start of the graduate program. The award may be held in conjunction with other major awards (i.e., awards valued at more than $3,000 per year such as Tri-Agency, OGS, EEF-M/D, Provost awards, etc).
  • The scholarship will be for a maximum of two years, providing the recipient remains registered full-time in the program. Changes to registration status or a change in program may result in future installments of the scholarship being cancelled.
  • Recipients who fast-track from a master’s program into a PhD may continue to receive the remainder of their scholarship for the original duration it was issued (i.e., maximum of two years). The scholarship value will continue to be at the master’s level.
Contact person

For further information about this award or if you are interested in applying, please contact:

WIN-Velocity Scholarship Coordinator
Lisa Pokrajac, PhD, Assistant Director of Research Programs
Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
Email: lisa.pokrajac@uwaterloo.ca

WIN-Velocity Scholarship Winners 

WIN would like to offer our congratulations to the WIN-Velocity Scholarship winners and we thank all of the talented students who apply.