Apply for Sustainability Scholars

Master’s and PhD students in any discipline may apply. 

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled as a graduate student (full-time or part-time) at the University of Alberta, with their last term no earlier than Winter 2027.
• Be available to work the advertised number of hours, attend an orientation session, and publicly present their work at the end of the placement. 

If you hold another paid position at the University of Alberta and are interested in applying to the Sustainability Scholars Program, you are encouraged to reach out to Shannon Heaney (sheaney1@ualberta.ca) to confirm your eligibility. 

All applications must be submitted through campusBRIDGE on the Graduate Students Internship Program (GSIP) Board.  

You may apply to a maximum of three Sustainability Scholars positions. You may only hold one position. All applications require a professional resume and a cover letter. It is strongly recommended that you tailor your cover letter to each position you are applying to. 

Applications for 2027 will open in January or February 2027. 

Please reach out to Shannon Heaney (sheaney1@ualberta.ca) with any questions.  

Project Requirements
The Sustainability Scholars Program looks for projects that relate to advancing the social, environmental, or economic sustainability of society as a whole, or to advancing a sustainability mandate within your organization. Projects should emphasize applied and innovative research with defined deliverables, that the scholar can complete during the program. 

Supervisor Requirements
Each Sustainability Scholar requires a professional supervisor to serve as the Scholar's guide, project supervisor, and primary point of contact within the organization. The supervisor will ensure the Scholar has access to a workspace with a computer and any other tools necessary to complete the project. 

Benefits of the Program
There are numerous benefits to partnering with the Sustainability Council to employ a Sustainability Scholar. Here are some of the things that we take on for you:

• Posting your position, managing applications, and conducting a preliminary scan for eligibility
• Promoting your project to University of Alberta graduate students
• Delivering a general orientation to successful candidates and mentors
• Providing ongoing administrative support throughout the program
• Approving Scholars’ hours in the payroll system and disbursing Scholars’ paychecks
• Hosting a final event to share findings and celebrate completion

The cost of the Sustainability Scholars Program covers the Scholar’s wages and mandatory employment-related expenses. Most Sustainability Scholars projects range between $10,000 - $15,000 depending on the hours required to complete the project. 

There are two options for covering the program cost. 

1) Mitacs Matching Funding 

Host Organizations can apply for matching funding from Mitacs. Mitacs offers $5,000 and $7,500 in matching funding for projects. 

2) Fully Funded by the Host Organization

Host Organizations cover all associated costs with the program. The Host Organization and Sustainability Council will determine the cost of the program based on the hours needed for the project. 

Instructions for applying can be found under How to Apply. If you have any questions please reach out to Shannon Heaney (sheaney1@ualberta.ca) for more information. 

Now accepting applications for host organizations for 2027.  

To apply to host a Scholar, you must submit a project application and designate a supervisor from your organization for the duration of the project. 

Below are the two options for funding the Sustainability Scholars Program, both options require a financial commitment from the host organization. 

To apply to host a Sustainability Scholar using Mitacs matching funding please complete the Mitacs application found on the Mitacs website. The instructions for completing the application can be found in this document. Once you have completed the application on the Mitacs website please email Shannon Heaney (sheaney1@ualberta.ca). 

If your organization would like to fully fund the project please complete the Application Form. 

If you have any questions about which funding option would be best suited for your organization or if you have any questions during the application process please reach out to Shannon Heaney (sheaney1@ualberta.ca) for assistance.