About the award
The Dr. Donald Baxter Scholarships for Global Food Security was established through a very generous $1 million endowment from Dr. Patrick Man Pan Yuen, MD, FRCP(C) – an alumnus from the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, class of 1964 – and an annual matching contribution of $40,000 for 25 years from the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS).
The Baxter Scholarships are intended to reward achievement and recognize graduate students involved in research and study related to food security in any pertinent academic department of the University of Saskatchewan. The Baxter Scholarships may be of interest to students in a variety of disciplines, including Agri-Food Policy, Food, Health and Nutrition, Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Agronomy, Chemistry, Plant Sciences, Soil Sciences, etc.
Each year, there will be two scholarships of $40,000 each awarded.
Eligibility
1. The student must be registered full time in a graduate degree program or have been recommended for admission to a graduate degree program in the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.
2. The student’s primary supervisor must be a member of the Global Institute for Food Security or a faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan.
3. The student must have a minimum entrance average of 80%.
4. Master’s students are eligible to hold this scholarship for a maximum of two years if they meet the renewal criteria.
5. PhD students are eligible to hold this scholarship for a maximum of four years if they meet the renewal criteria.
6. A student who receives the scholarship as a Master’s student and transfers to a PhD program is eligible to hold the scholarship for a maximum of four years if they meet the renewal criteria.
7. A student who receives the scholarship as a Master’s student, completes their Master’s program, and applies for a PhD program is eligible to re-apply for the scholarship but can hold the scholarship for a maximum of four years in total if they meet the renewal criteria.
Conditions of Renewal
In order to be eligible for renewal of their scholarship, the student must remain in full-time studies, must maintain good academic standing and an average of 80%, continue in a program as identified above, continue to have their primary supervisor be a member of the Global Institute for Food Security or a faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan, and uphold the spirit of the award.
Annually, the student must submit to the Chair of the Awards Committee a one-page report describing their research progress. The Awards Committee must also receive a letter from the Chair of the student’s Advisory Committee stating the unanimous recommendation of that committee for renewal of the student’s award.
Application Process
For each academic year, applications must be received by March 15 at 5:00 pm CST.
Completed applications and accompanying documents must be submitted to:
The University of Saskatchewan
College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116, Thorvaldson Building
110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9
E-mail: gradstudies.awards@usask.ca
Important – Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please ensure that you fill out the form completely and provide all required information.
1. Complete the application form. All information must be typed.
2. Include photocopies of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions that you have attended.
3. You must arrange for two letters of reference from persons familiar with your academic work. The letters must be sealed and submitted directly by the department or referred to the College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Reference letters can be sent confidentially by e-mail to gradstudies.awards@usask.ca. Reference letters from a student’s departmental application can be used, as long as they discuss the points given in Part 5: Instructions for Referees in this application form.
Letters of Reference are given substantial weight in assessment of research quality and productivity and of performance in classes. Professors that have had sufficient opportunity to assess your potential and who can provide a complete, detailed, and thoughtful analysis of your achievements and scholarly attributes are the most effective referrals.
Letters should support the information in your application, be enthusiastic, and focus on your skills, past achievements, and potential. They should stress strengths and personal attributes, comment on the quality of publication venues, and demonstrate why you are of superior caliber and worthy of an award. Extremely brief or cryptic letters put the student at a disadvantage. Referees are strongly encouraged to read and follow Part 5: Instructions for Referees can be found in the application form.