2022/2023 inlight studentship Award Program
23.03.2023 Update – Abstract Submission deadline extended to Monday, March 27 at 10:00 am EST.
Program Statement: The Inlight Studentship Award (ISA) program provides support to University of Toronto undergraduate student teams working together to mobilize knowledge that can improve outcomes and create a community of belonging in student mental health and wellness.
Note: this program is not intended to fund original research. Successful projects should mobilize knowledge related to existing research and practice evidence.
The ISA program will support teams of undergraduate students who are completing a project that will contribute to improving postsecondary student mental health and wellness outcomes at the University of Toronto.
- ISA projects must be co-led by at least two undergraduate students currently enrolled at the University of Toronto and returning to studies in the Fall 2023 semester.
- ISA projects must strengthen student engagement in mental health research and contribute to a community of belonging within student mental health at the University of Toronto.
- ISA projects must build on and mobilize knowledge from existing student mental health research and evidence based practice.
- ISA applications must integrate Inlight’s guiding principles into the research project planning, engagement, design and implementation.
- Final deliverables must engage with students at the University of Toronto and can include: websites, blog series, podcasts, research papers, policy recommendations, peer support programs, poster presentations, art exhibits, online performances, presentations or symposia, books/magazines etc.
- Each successful team will be connected with one of the Directors from the Inlight Leadership Team and the Inlight Engagement Lead to support project development and advise on alignment with research and evidence based practice.
- Each selected project will be awarded up to $6000 for a funding period of eight months. Funding will be provided in two installments following a mid-project progress report.
- Eligible costs include: stipends (costs of time), equipment & supplies, software subscriptions, meeting space rentals, dissemination of research results, honorariums, etc. Project budgets will be reviewed during the adjudication process, and applicants may be asked to submit a revised budget if items are deemed ineligible under the University of Toronto’s funding guidelines.
Strategic Priorities
Studentship funds will be prioritized to support the following streams in the 2022 competition. One application from each pool below will be funded first in rank order. If a stream is undersubscribed or lacks fundable applications, funds will be used for remaining applications. All remaining fundable applications will be pooled together and funded in rank order as far as funds will allow.
- Student Voice. Meaningful student engagement is critical in every step of the research process and mobilization of knowledge and research-driven solutions. Why does postsecondary student mental health research matter to students?
- Communities of Support. Student mental health does not exist in silos, and so it is important to meet students and their communities “where they are”, acknowledging local contexts and needs. How do postsecondary students define their communities of support and the role their community plays in supporting their mental health?
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Inlight is committed to ensuring that research and research outcomes are reflective of the diverse University of Toronto student population and the intersectionality of factors that influence student mental health and wellness. What does equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility mean in the context of postsecondary mental health research?
- Communication for Change. The 2019 Taskforce Report recommended the development of a comprehensive strategy to enhance mental health literacy among students, staff, and faculty, including knowledge of mental health supports and services. What do effective and culturally sensitive mental health communication strategies look like for postsecondary students?
2022 Inlight Studentship Award Program
Studentship Award applications are due Thursday March 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.
| Open call for studentships | Thursday, March 9 |
| Deadline for studentship applications | Thursday, March 23 |
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Anticipated Notice of Decision |
Friday, April 21 |
| Funding Period | April 2023 – November 2023 |
Eligibility
The 2022/2023 studentship is open to:
- Applicant teams including at least two undergraduate student co-leads, and any number of additional student team members as described in the application team section of the submission.
- Eligible undergraduate students include students in professional degree programs (ie, medicine, nursing, law, etc.).
- Student co-leads and team members may be enrolled in full-time or part-time study.
- Student co-leads must be currently registered University of Toronto students in good academic standing and returning to studies in the following academic year (September 2023).
- Student co-leads must be eligible to receive award funds (ex, studentships, student stipends). Dissemination of awarded funds will be divided equally between named student co-leads.
- Diverse teams, interdisciplinary teams, cross division and tri campus representation are strongly encouraged.
- Student applicants are only permitted to submit one proposal as a project co-lead.
Submission Process
- Applicant co-leads must meet with the Inlight Engagement Lead (please email Emma McCann at studentmh.research@utoronto.ca) ahead of submitting their final application form to discuss project scope and alignment.
- Applicants for the studentship will submit using the online studentship application form which includes:
- Information on co-applicant team
- Project outline of project proposal including
- Theme alignment: Description of how this project aligns and advances the identified strategic priority (max 150 words).
- Summary of project: Project rationale, objectives, design and project plan, and anticipated impact on student mental health and community of belonging at the University of Toronto (max 750 words).
- Strategic alignment: Description of how the project aligns and advances Inlight’s vision, mission and guiding principles (max 250 words).
- Project team: Names, roles, program and division, and relevant experience and/or expertise of the student team co-applicants and collaborators (max 100 words/team member).
- Project risk evaluation: Description of projects risks and mitigation strategies related to: a) participation and consent; b) disclosure and potential for harm; c) results and knowledge sharing (max 250 words).
- Milestones and timeline table.
- Budget table and budget justification (max 350 words).
- Self Identification Survey. After teams submit their full application a self identification online survey will be sent for the co-leads and applicant team to complete. The survey data will only be used internally to ensure we are proactively seeking to increase diversity and representation from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous Peoples of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2SI+ persons, and others who may contribute to the diversification of ideas.
Adjudication
- All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Inlight Leadership Team and the Student Engagement Team. Reviewers will make a funding recommendation to the Inlight Chair.
- Selection Criteria for studentship applications include:
- Strategic alignment and impact
- Partnership and engagement
- Project design and risk evaluation
- Adjudication will be completed following the funding deadline, and final decisions on funding will be communicated to all applicants by April 21, 2023.
Reporting
All teams are required to fulfill the following obligations:
- All teams are required to complete two project reports. Completion of progress report 1 will initiate the process to release the second installment of funding. The second project report will serve as a final impact report must be submitted one month after the end of the funding period or project.
- Studentship teams will be invited to present at the annual 2023/2024 Inlight symposium.
- Additionally, students selected for studentships may be asked to be Inlight grant and fellowship reviewers for subsequent years.
Application & Adjudication Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is this program intended to fund new research? Do projects require Research Ethics Board (REB) approval? This program is not intended to fund original research and so eligible projects should not require REB approval. Successful projects should mobilize knowledge by building on existing student mental health research and evidence-based practice. |
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What academic program must student co-leads be enrolled in to be able to apply? Student co-leads must be currently enrolled in a undergraduate program at the University of Toronto and returning to studies in the Fall 2023 semester. Undergraduate students in professional degree programs are eligible to apply as co-leads. |
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Are students from any University of Toronto Faculty/Division able to apply? Yes, students from any University of Toronto Faculty/Division are able to apply. Teams with representation from multiple divisions are strongly encouraged. |
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What does a “community of belonging” mean? A community of belonging means that by engaging in student mental health research and knowledge mobilization activities, students feel heard, valued, and validated in their experiences and perspectives. By being part of a community of belonging, students better understand and feel they have capacity to impact the services and systems that support their mental health and wellbeing. |
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What does it mean to be part of the Inlight network? Joining the Inlight network provides the opportunity to connect with other researchers, students, providers and others involved in student mental health research as well as be invited to future Inlight research funding opportunities and knowledge events. All applicants will be added to the Inlight membership listserv. |
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How is Inlight supporting Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility? Inlight strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity and representation among its members and we encourage applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous Peoples of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. |
Inclusion of EDIA Statement
Inlight strives to be an equitable and inclusive community. We proactively seek to increase diversity and representation among its membership and strongly encourage applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous Peoples of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2Si+ persons, and others who may contribute to the diversification of ideas.
To learn more about research at the University of Toronto, including policies related to Principal Investigator eligibility and holding research funds, please visit the Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) website.