Every year the Biology Department awards scholarships for the current year and prizes for the previous year to students who excel in their academic endeavours within the department while maintaining very high academic standards during their Trent University degree. Below are the criteria for the scholarships and prizes awarded by the Biology Department. Unless otherwise noted, all scholarships and prizes may be awarded to domestic or international students enrolled in a full-time or part-time degree program managed by the Biology Department.
Please see the Trent University Academic Calendar for a full list of Trent University’s Scholarships and Prizes.
Scholarships
Jean McKerracher Scholarship in Biology
Awarded to one or two outstanding student(s) in the 4th year of the Honours program in Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or Biomedical Science with the aim of encouraging promise and interest in a career in health services. No application is required.
Dr. Charles Omole Medical Scholarship
Established by Dr. Charles Omole, an alumnus of the original class of 1964 upon his death in 2012. Charles never forgot how important Trent was on his path to becoming a general surgeon in Wingham, Ontario. To be awarded to one or two full-time upper-year undergraduate students pursuing the Internship in Medical Sciences or Placement in Biomedical Sciences courses with the intention to become a doctor, or to a student enrolled in current or future Trent University medically-related courses or programs that are approved by the Selections Committee. A student may only be awarded this prize once during each degree.
This scholarship requires an application that includes the following:
- Name, student number, and email address
- Proposed plan of post-graduate study
- A description of experience related to medicine (eg, courses, volunteer work)
- Reasons for pursuing medicine as a career
- Optional – an indication whether an application has been made to medical school and if MCATs have been written
Roy L. Edwards Scholarship
Established in honour of Roy L. Edwards, one of the founding faculty members of Trent University and the first Chair of the Biology Department. Awarded to two outstanding students entering the fourth year of the Honours program in Biology, with the aim of encouraging promise and interest in the study of freshwater ecology or terrestrial ecology. Students must be enrolled in a full-time program to be eligible. No application is required.
Biology Department Scholarship
Awarded to a student of high academic achievement and promise entering the fourth year of the Biology Program. A student may only be awarded this prize once during each degree. No application is required.
Prizes
Powles Prize
This award is given in honour of Percival M. Powles, long time member of the Biology Department. Awarded to a student entering the fourth year of the Biology program who has demonstrated excellence in the area of fisheries and aquatic sciences. No application is required.
Botany Prize
This is awarded annually to a second or third year student who shows excellence and promise in plant biology. No application is required.
Joseph Ernest Goodhead Prize
This prize is the gift of an anonymous donor and is awarded for excellence in the study of Biology in the study of aquatic degradation. The donation for this prize was made in 1970 in recognition of the pioneering work in the field of water pollution done by the Biology Department here at Trent. The contributors believed that the prevention of future environmental degradation lies in the hands of future generations of biologists. No application is required.
Dr. Erica Nol Biology Prize
Created in honour of Professor, Dr. Erica Nol, the fund is awarded to a student who is passionate about conservation biology and demonstrates leadership qualities and/or volunteerism.
This prize requires an application that demonstrates the following eligibility:
- Enrolled full-time in a program with the Biology Department
- Preference for the recipient to have completed second year of study.
- Preference for the recipient to be passionate about conservation biology.
- Preference for the recipient to demonstrate leadership qualities and/or volunteerism
- Recipients must be in good academic standing
Biology Department Prizes
This fund was established by the Department of Biology in recognition of the retirement of Jim Sutcliffe, Michael Fox and future retirees. The Biology Department Prizes for high academic achievement in first, second, and third year, the Biology Conservation Prize and the Biomedical Prize are awarded annually from this fund. No application is required.
Bursaries specific to Biology students
Bursaries are awarded each term to students with demonstrated financial need. To demonstrate financial need, students must be in receipt of OSAP, Canada part time student loans, First Nations band funding, or the government financial aid program of their home province. Bursaries are designed to supplement funding from other sources. Students must be Ontario residents and in receipt of OSAP to access OTSS funds, which is the case for those that specify "OTSS guidelines apply."
Students may complete one application at the beginning of each term to be assessed for all available bursary funding. The application is available, at the beginning of each term, in the myTrent student portal.
Roger and Janet Jones Bursary
Established by Professor Emeritus Roger Jones, a faculty member of the Biology department for 32 years. To be awarded to full-time or part-time upper-year undergraduate students majoring in Biology. Students must have an interest in plant biology or conservation. Open to students from any province of Canada and/or international students.
Dr. Edward Nol Bursary for Field Biology
Established by Professor Erica Nol in honour of her father, Dr. Edward Nol, a man whose love of the outdoors and awe in the complexity of nature, inspired his children. To be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student taking any of the Ontario University Program in Field Biology (OUPFB) courses. OTSS guidelines apply.
David & Sharon Lasenby Ecology Bursary
Established by Sharon Lasenby ’66 and Professor Emeritus, David Lasenby ’64, a teacher and researcher in the field of Limnology in the Biology Department at Trent University. To be awarded to a student in upper year in the Honours Biology program in the field of Ecology. OTSS guidelines apply.
Michael Berrill Bursary in Conservation Biology
Established by colleagues, students and friends to honour Michael Berrill, Professor Emeritus of Biology. Awarded to a Biology major who has completed at least 10 credits. Preference will be given to a student who has taken BIOL 4390H (Conservation Biology). OTSS guidelines apply.
Many more bursaries are available from financial aid every year, and many are not claimed. You can find more information about Bursaries at Trent on the Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards page.
