Supporting the Next Generation Scholarship Program 2022-2023

Applicant Eligibility

The competition is open to all, without restriction as to citizenship or residence. Priority is given to candidates who have not yet received support from OBVIA.

The fellow will be required to maintain full-time enrollment and meet the program requirements throughout the duration of their fellowship to remain eligible.

Period of validity of the scholarship

The period of use of the scholarship must begin at the beginning of a semester, and within eight months of the award. For students whose program of study has already begun, the period of use will begin at the beginning of the next semester, in September 2020. The award is not retroactive. Sessions completed prior to the effective date of the award cannot be funded.

The scholarship cannot be used for full-time preparatory studies (propaedeutic).

Cumulation of scolarships and other remuneration

The cumulation of scholarships is possible, if authorized by the other organization(s) and up to the amount of the scholarship offered by OBVIA.

The fellow may accept up to 150 hours of work per semester, provided that his/her research management team does not object and that these activities do not interfere with the proper conduct of his/her research program. This limitation does not apply to postdoctoral fellows and college students.

The salary that a fellow receives from his or her supervisor for working solely on the research project is considered as a scholarship that can be accumulated.

Scholarship renewals

Doctoral and Master’s scholarships may be renewed for an additional two years (doctorate) or one additional year (Master’s). The renewal of the fellowship is conditional on the fulfilment of the eligibility requirements by the fellow, on the assessment of the satisfactory progress of the research project, on the rules of accumulation of fellowships and other remunerations and on the availability of the budget at OBVIA.

Funding for postdoctoral fellowships

Funding for postdoctoral fellowships offered through the OBVIA Supporting the Next Generation Scholarship Program is based on a matching funds model. Applicants must have proof of minimal co-funding from the supervisor or other sources to support the costs of the postdoctoral fellow’s benefits and to meet other requirements according to the rules in force (like a collective agreement, if applicable) at the host university.

Postdoctoral fellows who are funded by research projects are unionized in many universities and benefit from a collective agreement that provides for the coverage of costs related to social benefits. For example, at Laval University, an amount equivalent to approximately 19.76% of the salary paid must be added to the budget for the payment of fringe benefits, as well as the annual salary increase of 2% at the end of March each year.

Modification of the research project

For any change in the research project or its direction, the fellow must inform OBVIA in writing. The research direction will verify whether the nature of the requested change affects the outcome of the evaluation received by the applicant in order to recommend or not the continuation of funding for further studies.

Parental leave

If you are interrupting your studies for the birth or adoption of a child, you must request an unpaid parental leave from OBVIA. This will be approved if the period of scholarship coverage does not exceed the period for which OBVIA is funded by the FRQ. Parental leave is for a maximum period of 12 months, the equivalent of 3 semesters. It may begin during the expected term of childbirth or adoption and ends no later than one year after the birth of the child.

Awarding of scholarships

The evaluation committee reserves the right to award the number of scholarships in each category based on the evaluations of the applications and the available budgets.

The International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies (OBVIA) is offering $25,000 postdoctoral fellowship fundings. The funding is for a 12-months period and non-renewable.

Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements of the Program, applicants for postdoctoral funding must meet all of the following requirements by the closing date of the competition to be eligible:

• Propose a project that fits within the OBVIA’s mission.
• Have completed a doctoral degree within the last five years from a recognized university (the date of graduation is considered to be the date on which all degree requirements have been met, which includes the successful defense of the thesis and the submission of the corrected version of the thesis) or plan to hold a doctoral degree at the time of the start of funding, i.e., within eight months of the award of the scholarship.  Applicants who have had an interruption or delay in their career may apply with justification for the interruption or delay.
• Be supervised by an OBVIA research member for the postdoctoral project proposed in the application.
• Dedicate full time to the proposed postdoctoral research project and the work of OBVIA.
• Be involved by a research team from different disciplines, or have received a letter of invitation to join an OBVIA interdisciplinary research team.
• Submit a letter of commitment from the supervisor for the minimum co-funding of the postdoctoral fellowship and for the coverage of the costs related to the postdoctoral fellow’s social benefits according to the rules in force at the host university (see General Conditions of the Program).

Responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Fellow 

• Participate to OBVIA’s activities, including speaking at events and/or training activities.
• Share research findings with a variety of audiences (academic papers, editorials, opinion pieces, blogs, conferences, interviews, etc.).
• Publish research results in scientific journals
• Work in collaboration with OBVIA researchers and teams

Evaluation criteria

• Relevance of the project presented, with regard to the OBVIA’s mission and the candidate’s background, originality: 20%.
• Applicant’s experiences and achievements, such as publications, accomplishments, social involvement and academic results, professional experience, research or teaching assistantships, student mentoring and internships, as well as the quality of letters of recommendation: 20%.
• Quality of the project (precision, assumptions, methodology): 40%.
• Links of the project with the research axes or one of the three functions: Deliberation, Monitoring and Investigation, Public Policy: 10%.
• Impact of the project on the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies: 10%.

Submitting an application

To submit an application, the applicant must download the application form available at www.observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca/bourses, fill it out, and then return it as a PDF with the requested documents in a single email to bourses@observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

• The applicant must indicate on the application form:
  • General identifying information;
  • Project title, description and relevance, and its links with the OBVIA’s mission;
  • OBVIA research member supervisor’s name;
  • Information about academic background, awards and honors obtained;
  • Written papers and presentations;
  • Participation in research projects and training courses;
• The applicant must submit the following documents with the application form:
• A cover letter;
• A letter of commitment from the OBVIA research member supervisor for the minimum co-funding of the postdoctoral fellowship and for the coverage of costs related to social benefits according to the rules in force at the host university;
• A copy of the diplomas obtained and university transcripts for all years of university studies completed or not (certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate, etc.) (combined in a single .pdf file). If applicable, the candidate must submit proof of successful completion of the thesis defense and a copy of the certificate of final deposit of the thesis or a letter from the thesis director if the defense has not yet taken place;
• Acknowledgements of receipt from the publisher for all papers accepted for publication but not published, papers and abstracts of future conferences (combined in one .pdf file). For previously published papers, please provide only the list of references in the form.

The International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies (OBVIA) is offering scholarships of $21,000 for doctoral students. The scholarship is awarded for a 12-months period and can be renewed twice subject to the submission of progress reports deemed satisfactory by the OBVIA evaluation committee and the research director.

Download the Application Form

Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements of the program, applicants for doctoral scholarship must meet all of the following requirements at the closing date of the competition to be eligible:

• Propose a project that is in line with the OBVIA’s mission.
• Be enrolled or have an offer of admission to a doctoral program at a Quebec university.
• Be directed or co-directed by an OBVIA research member.

Evaluation criteria

• Relevance of the project: 20%
• Quality of the academic record and other achievement (publications, presentations, academic, other achievements, involvement in society and academic results): 20%
• Quality of the project (precision, assumptions, methodology): 40%
• Links of the project with the research axes or one of the three functions: Deliberation, Monitoring and Investigation, Public Policy: 10%
• Impact of the project on the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies: 10%

Submitting an application

To submit an application, the applicant must download the application form available above, fill it out, and then return it as a PDF with the requested documents in a single email to bourses@observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

• The applicant must indicate on the application form:
  • General identifying information
  • Project title, description and relevance, and its links with the OBVIA’s mission
  • OBVIA research member supervisor’s name
  • Information about academic background, awards and honors obtained
  • Written papers and presentations
  • Participation in research projects and training courses
• The applicant must submit the following documents with the application form:
  • A cover letter
  • A letter of recommendation from the OBVIA research member supervisor or co-supervisor
  • A copy of the diplomas obtained and university transcripts for all years of university studies completed or not (certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, etc.) (combined in a single PDF file)
  • Acknowledgements from the publisher, if applicable, for all papers accepted for publication but not already published, papers and abstracts of future conferences (combined in one PDF file). For previously published papers, please provide only the list of references in the form

The International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies (OBVIA) is offering $15,000 scholarships for master’s students. The scholarship is awarded for a 12-months period and can be renewed twice subject to the submission of progress reports deemed satisfactory by the OBVIA evaluation committee and the research director.

Download the Application Form

Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements of the Program, applicants for master’s scholarship must meet all of the following requirements by the closing date of the competition to be eligible:

• Propose a project that is in line with the OBVIA’s mission.
• Be enrolled or have an offer of admission to a master’s program at a Quebec university.
• Be directed or co-directed by an OBVIA research member.

Evaluation criteria

• Relevance of the project: 20%
• Quality of the academic record and other achievement (publications, presentations, academic, other achievements, involvement in society and academic results): 20%
• Quality of the project (precision, assumptions, methodology): 40%
• Links of the project with the research axes or one of the three functions: Deliberation, Monitoring and Investigation, Public Policy: 10%
• Impact of the project on the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies: 10%

Submitting an application

To submit an application, the applicant must download the application form available above, fill it out, and then return it as a PDF with the requested documents in a single email to bourses@observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

• The applicant must indicate on the application form:
  • General identifying information
  • Project title, description and relevance, and its links with the OBVIA’s mission
  • OBVIA research member supervisor’s name
  • Information about academic background, awards and honors obtained
  • Written papers and presentations
  • Participation in research projects and training courses
• The applicant must submit the following documents with the application form:
  • A cover letter
  • A letter of recommendation from the OBVIA research member supervisor or co-supervisor
  • A copy of the diplomas obtained and university transcripts for all years of university studies completed or not (certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, etc.) (combined in a single PDF file)
  • Acknowledgements from the publisher, if applicable, for all papers accepted for publication but not already published, papers and abstracts of future conferences (combined in one PDF file). For previously published papers, please provide only the list of references in the form

The International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies (OBVIA) is offering $5,000 scholarships for undergraduate students. The scholarship is awarded for a 12-months period and non-renewable.

Download the Application Form

Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements of the program, applicants for an undergraduate scholarship must meet all of the following requirements by the closing date of the competition to be eligible:

• Propose a research or research-creation activity that is in line with the OBVIA’s mission.
• Be enrolled or have an offer of admission to an undergraduate program at a Quebec university.
• Be supervised by an OBVIA research member.

Evaluation criteria

• Relevance of the project: 20%
• Quality of the academic record: 20%
• Quality of the project: 40%
• Impact of the project on the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies: 20%

Submitting an application

To submit an application, the applicant must download the application form available above, fill it out, and then return it as a PDF with the requested documents in a single email to bourses@observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

• The applicant must indicate on the application form:
  • General identifying information
  • Project title, description and relevance, and its links with the OBVIA’s mission
  • OBVIA research member supervisor’s name
  • Academic background and professional experiences
  • Academic work and communications, distinctions and social implications
• The applicant must submit the following documents with the application form:
  • A cover letter (max. 2 pages)
  • A letter of recommendation from the OBVIA research member supervisor
  • A copy of high school, college and undergraduate transcripts (combined in one PDF file)

The International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies (OBVIA) is offering $1,500 scholarships for college students. The scholarship is awarded for a 12-months period and non-renewable.

Download the Application Form

Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements of the program, applicants for an undergraduate scholarship must meet all of the following requirements by the closing date of the competition to be eligible:

• Propose a research or research-creation activity that is in line with the OBVIA’s mission.
• Be enrolled in a college program at a Quebec institution (part-time enrolment allowed in a continuing education program).
• Be supervised by a teacher from an OBVIA member college or CEGEP: Collège Ahuntsic, Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne, Collège de Brébeuf, Collège Dawson, Collège John Abbott, Cégep de Limoilou, Collège de Rosemont, Cégep de Sainte-Foy et Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe.

Evaluation criteria

• Relevance of the project in relation to the societal impacts of AI and digital technology: 40%
• Quality of the academic record: 20%
• Quality of the project: 40%

Submitting an application

To submit an application, the applicant must download the application form available above, fill it out, and then return it as a PDF with the requested documents in a single email to bourses@observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

• The applicant must indicate on the application form:
  • General identifying information
  • Project title, description and relevance, and its links with the OBVIA’s mission
  • Supervisor’s name
  • Academic background
  • Possible academic work, distinctions and social implications
• The applicant must submit the following documents with the application form:
  • A cover letter (max. 2 pages)
  • Approval of the supervisor to lead the project, with support from OBVIA as needed
  • A copy of high school and college transcripts (combined in one PDF file).