PhD Scholarships

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The full application must be submitted through the link posted above by 11:59PM EDT on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

All responses must be written in clear, lay language suitable for an interdisciplinary review committee. Please avoid technical jargon. Where specialized concepts are necessary, ensure that they are fully explained so that reviewers from diverse backgrounds can easily understand.

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A. Project Description: (1,000 words max)

Detail the proposed project's objectives, relationship to the goals of Connected Minds, interdisciplinary approach, co-creation with partners and communities, knowledge mobilization (KMb) strategies, and expected outcomes/impact. (Use the below headings):

1. Project Aims and Objectives: Explain the issue your project addresses and why it matters. Describe the overarching goal of your project and the specific research objectives.
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2. Alignment with Connected Minds: Explain how your project aligns with one or more of Connected Minds’ long term goals.
   
   • Goal 1: Understand how the interplay of humans and intelligent technologies produces unexpected, emergent properties at the community/whole society levels.
     • How does your project examine human–intelligent technology interactions and emergent patterns, behaviours, or systemic effects.
       
   • Goal 2: Predict how new intelligent technologies will disrupt the techno-social collective.
     • Describe how the project is structured to generate predictions; the technologies or systems involved in your project; what tools or methods will be used to derive them, and how these predictions will contribute to understanding of techno-social disruption and the development of responsible interventions.
       
   • Goal 3: Use these predictions to drive new research and intelligent technology development.
     • Explain how this project will design and develop new and responsible intelligent technology, policy, design, or community practice.
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3. Methodological and Interdisciplinary Approach: Provide a clear description of the research/project design. Including data collection and analysis plans, tools, techniques, and technologies involved (if applicable). Describe the interdisciplinary nature of your proposed work; the degree to which the proposed project incorporates methods and/or outputs across two or more CM expertise pillars (neuroscience & behaviour, intelligent technologies, society). Why are the chosen methods appropriate and are there any anticipated challenges or mitigation strategies.
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4. Co-Creation and Partnership Approach: Describe how co-creation is built into your project. Consider:
   • Who you will collaborate or co-create with (community groups, industry, policy agencies, clinical partners, Indigenous communities, etc.) and how they will be engaged.
   • How reciprocal benefit, inclusiveness, non-extractive practices, and community voice are embedded in your approach.
   • If co-creation is not yet integrated, describe how you plan to incorporate it and what support you may need.
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5. Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) and Expected Impact: Explain how the project outcomes will be shared and applied. Consider:
   • Who will benefit from your findings.
   • How your work may influence communities, policies, technologies, or societal systems.
   • Planned KMb activities (e.g., workshops, co-creation meetings, prototypes, plain-language materials, datasets, policy briefs, community events).

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B. Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Considerations: (150 words max per question)

Explain how EDI principles and best practices will be applied in the development of the proposal’s design, implementation, and impact by answering the following:

1. Please describe how individuals from underrepresented groups (women; racialized; Black; Indigenous Peoples; Persons with disabilities; 2SLGBTQIA+) and/or their perspectives and experiences (e.g., from literature, consultations), have been meaningfully integrated in the creation of the project’s question(s), design, methodology, and knowledge translation plan. If this has not yet occurred, please explain how underrepresented perspective will be integrated in your program.
2. To help you engage and build knowledge of EDI and co-creation practices during your time in the program, what learning and developmental resources and programs would you be interested in participating in to develop your EDI knowledge and skillset. For example, information about conferences, seminars, and/or working groups.
3. In recognition of barriers to participation and data sovereignty, what measures are in place to avoid or mitigate harm to underrepresented groups participating in research? What measures are in place to ensure knowledge generation and translation process have positive impact on underrepresented communities?
4. What steps are in place to ensure the research is open to diverse viewpoints and ensure design and methodology are non-extractive?

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C. Uploads to the Application Form:

1. References/Works Cited: If applicable, 1 page max.
2. Tables, Figures, Project Timeline: Optional, 2 pages max. Please note that any additional pages beyond two may be deleted prior to review.
3. Letter of Support (using the template provided): A signed letter of support from both the proposed supervisor and the co-supervisor, detailing:
   • The scholarly ability of the student and the reasons you chose to accept them as a trainee;
   • Commitments to the student and how they plan to guide discussions on career options and pathways aligning with the student's interest and skills;
   • Description of the different pillars each supervisor's & co-supervisor's research profile represent, ensuring a transdisciplinary training experience and demonstrating sufficient expertise and resources to support the project.
4. Transcript: provide a copy of your transcript.
5. Curriculum Vitae: provide a copy of your most recent CV.

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D. Additional Requirements:

1. One letter of recommendation (using the template provided): Note that the letter of recommendation should come from a referee that is NOT the Connected Minds member who is providing the letter of support and should be emailed directly from the referee to applyconnectedminds@yorku.ca.
2. Self-identification survey: All applicants are required to complete the self-identification survey. If you do not feel comfortable self-identifying, selecting the option “I prefer not to self-identify” under question #5, will end the survey. This option is also available throughout the survey, providing you with autonomy on what is shared. For more information on how data from the self-identification survey will be used, please click here.