TRP Students Receive Prestigious 2022-23 CGS-M Awards

Achievements & Awards, Agile Education

Six Translational Research Program students receive the sought after 2022- 23 Canada Graduate Scholarship- Master’s (CGS-M) Awards

June 21, 2022

The Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s (CGS-M) Award continues the award’s long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. This program helps develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel and we’re proud to announce that this year, six Translational Research Program students are on the recipient’s scroll for their exceptional accomplishments and passion to be the change they want to see in the world.

TRP students receiving the 2022-2023 CGS-M Award:

We spoke to our students about their journey, the experiences that won them this award, and their future aspirations.

Sam Neumark

I am incredibly honoured to receive the CGS-M award and proud to represent the Translational Research Program (TRP) on a national level. I credit many of my achievements in academia to my undergraduate studies in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. With an inquiry-based model of thinking and experiential learning, I was able to align my experiences with my passions to expand my research portfolio to prepare me for graduate school.

I have been involved with numerous research projects focusing on knowledge synthesis in the areas of substance use, chronic pain, and telemedicine. Understanding and synthesizing the current state of published literature on a topic is essential for translational research, problem solving, and innovation. I was inspired to join the TRP to further practice summarizing scientific knowledge and discovering ways to apply it to improve health, medicine, and patient care.

When I logged into my account on April 1^st to see the result of my scholarship application, I was overwhelmed with excitement to see I was offered the award. I immediately shared the good news with my family and walked around the house with a smile the rest of the day.

I am thankful to be part of the supportive TRP community that encourages us to take initiative, apply for scholarships, and other opportunities to develop our careers. This award will allow me to continue pursuing my passions, engage in research activities, and advance my education as I prepare for a career in healthcare.

Tyler Redublo

For over a decade, I have been a caregiver for my grandmother Alicia who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Over the years, I’ve contributed to dementia advocacy and research, such as campaigns and fundraisers through the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, as well as the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance.

I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to continue improving dementia care by pursuing a project that recognizes and supports young caregivers of people living with dementia. It truly means the world to me! I also want to thank my amazing family and friends for their constant support, as well as my colleagues and mentors at the Translational Research Program.

At the TRP, we’re given the knowledge and tools to make a positive impact on people. I am extremely excited to apply what I’ve learned to support and raise awareness for this important healthcare issue!

Janine Noorloos

I joined the Translational Research Program (TRP) after completing a Bachelor of Music. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I was an active member in my community and enjoyed volunteering at the local men’s shelter in Kitchener. Sometimes I would play board games there, I helped hand out snacks and food, and my string quartet came a few times and performed concerts in the drop-in area.

After winning the concerto competition at Laurier in 2019, I was lucky enough to be performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the symphony. One of my rehearsals conflicted with the time I normally volunteered at the shelter. My perspective shifted, as I realized I wanted to be at the shelter more than I wanted to be performing on stage.

I took an extra year before graduating from Laurier to then take courses in sociology, criminology, research methods, and community engagement. I worked as a research assistant and started to see the value research could have in community-based settings. Throughout this time, I was in a shelter supervisor position, did outreach work for a mobile community health van, and ran an Out of the Cold shelter. These experiences cultivated my interest in the intersection between homelessness and health which motivated me to join the TRP, and ultimately to apply for the CGS-M (SSHRC) award. My proposal was titled “The compounding emotional effects of the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic on frontline shelter workers”. I felt very grateful to win this award, especially as the topic of my proposal is tied very closely to my experiences as someone who worked in shelters throughout the pandemic.

Following the completion of the TRP, I am interested in continuing my professional work in social services and community health settings and furthering my academic studies in either social work or law.

Jaspreet Randhawa

I am so honoured to be one of the recipients of the CGS-M Award for 2022. I want to thank my mentors and peers at the TRP, Medical Makers & I-EQUIP for their continued support. With a background in health sciences and applied computing technology, I am highly interested in the fields of translational research to bring innovative solutions to implementation in healthcare especially in pediatrics and cardiovascular health.

Throughout my journey, I have developed a passion, alongside a need, to bridge the gap between research and knowledge to improve patient care and empower our communities.

As an aspiring physician, I knew the TRP was exactly where I needed to be to build my translational research skills and provide me with avenues to continue learning about the best approaches to improve patient care. As a firm believer in life-long learning, I am hoping to continue my education through medical school to gain clinical knowledge & experience to further create innovative solutions and improve healthcare delivery.

I am looking forward to engaging in patient-centric translational research which places patients as our partners in these projects by using co-design approaches. I am beyond excited to be working with my incredible team on our Capstone Project focused on supporting patients with sickle cell disease and their families transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare.

Fairuz Karim

Fairuz Karim, an M.H.Sc. student in the Translational Research Program (TRP), has been awarded a prestigious Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS-M) from SSHRC. This scholarship supports graduate students who demonstrate a high standard of research potential and achievement and aims to help them further develop their research skills.

Ellis Gao

Ellis Gao, an M.H.Sc. student in the Translational Research Program (TRP), has been awarded a prestigious Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS-M) from CIHR. This scholarship supports graduate students who demonstrate a high standard of research potential and achievement and aims to help them further develop their research skills.