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Scholarships

CVR-VISTA Masters Entrance Award

The Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA Entrance) Award is an entrance scholarship designed to support high-calibre scholars conducting research aligned with the VISTA program, under the supervision of a CVR-VISTA core member. The VISTA program fosters the combination of fundamental and applied vision research, integrating biological and computational perspectives with translational potential for health, industry, or other applications. These Masters scholarships are supported by The Vision: Science to Applications program.

Awarded amount: $20,000

How to Apply: The application form and guidelines can be found here.

Deadline: February 17th, 2025


CVR-VISTA Doctoral Entrance Award 

The Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA Entrance) Award is an entrance scholarship designed to support high-calibre scholars conducting research aligned with the VISTA program, under the supervision of a CVR-VISTA core member. The VISTA program fosters the combination of fundamental and applied vision research, integrating biological and computational perspectives with translational potential for health, industry, or other applications. These Doctoral scholarships are supported by The Vision: Science to Applications program.

Awarded amount: $20,000

How to Apply: The application form and guidelines can be found here.

Deadline: February 17th, 2025 


Ian Howard Family Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship was set up to honour the founder of the CVR, Ian P. Howard. He founded the CVR in 1992 and was its first director. He remained an active member until he passed away. This scholarship will be awarded annually to an entering full time Master's level student who will study vision or perform vision related research and who will be supervised by a member of the CVR. Students must be nominated for this award by their supervisor. The scholarship will be awarded based on academic merit.

Awarded amount: $5000

How to Apply: You need to be nominated by your supervisor. Once your supervisor has done that, the application will be accessible through York's Awards portal (search for "Ian P. Howard Family Foundation Graduate Scholarship" or award cycle # 10798735). You will need to upload your CV, transcripts, and a research statement.

Deadline: February 17th, 2025. If you need more time to get your transcripts, please contact cvr@yorku.ca

2024 recipient: Jacob Boulrice


Kevin Mackenzie Doctoral Fellowships (entrance fellowship and continuing fellowship)

These fellowships were established in memory of Kevin Mackenzie, who was an active and valued member of the CVR community, and who earned his MA and PhD studying stereoscopic vision with Dr. Laurie Wilcox. He helped found the Applied Perception Science team at Meta, and was strong advocate for industry-academic collaboration.  The entering fellowship will be awarded annually to an entering PhD student who will be supervised by a CVR member. The primary criterion for the fellowship is academic merit, though EDI considerations will be taken into account too. The continuing fellowship will be awarded annually to a 2nd or 3rd year PhD student who is supervised by a CVR member. The primary criteria for the fellowship will be the applicant’s demonstrated contributions to the academic and social life of students in the centre, though EDI considerations will be taken into account too.

Awarded amount: $5,000

How to Apply: Applications will be accepted through York's Awards portal (entrance fellowship: search for "Kevin MacKenzie Entrance Doctoral Fellowship" or award cycle #: 10816898; continuing fellowship: search for "Kevin MacKenzie Continuing Doctoral Fellowship" or award cycle #: 10798730). For both fellowships you will need to upload your CV, transcripts, and a research statement. You will also need two academic reference letters to be uploaded directly into the Awards system. For the continuing fellowship: In the same document as your research statement, please also add information about your involvement in the CVR so far.

Deadline: February 17th, 2025. If you need an extension to get your transcripts or reference letters, please contact cvr@yorku.ca.

2024 recipient of the entrance fellowship: Kayton Jaksic

2024 recipient of the continuing fellowship: Sara Weinberg


E. Lynn Kirshner Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in memory of E. Lynn Kirshner, an accomplished and promising graduate student in Visual Science. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a BBCS psychology doctoral candidate, specializing in Visual Science, and will be based on a senior-authored, independently produced, peer-reviewed paper that was published or accepted (in-press) in the preceding calendar year.

Awarded amount: $1,000

How to Apply: Watch for email announcement of the award competition. Applications will be accepted through York's Awards portal. You will see a question that will ask you to upload your research statement. Please upload your paper at that prompt.

Deadline: TBA 

2024 recipient: Khushbu Patel


Director’s Prize

The Director’s Prize was established by CVR director Rob Allison. This prize will be awarded annually to a doctoral candidate specializing in Visual Science from any field other than Psychology and will be based on a senior-authored, independently produced, peer-reviewed paper that was published or accepted (in-press) in the preceding calendar year.

Awarded amount: $500

How to Apply: Watch for email announcement of the award competition. Applications will be accepted through York's Awards portal (applications are not yet available). You will see a question that will ask you to upload your research statement. Please upload your paper at that prompt.

Deadline: TBA 

2024 recipients: Shanaa Modchalingam and Zoha Ahmad