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2026 Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2026 Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Awards recipients
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Awards. Congratulations to all!
Collip Medal Award
Dr. Emma Walker
Department: Biochemistry
Supervisor(s): Drs. Bogumil Karas & Gregory Gloor
Title of Thesis: Towards synthetic diatoms: establishing large-scale genome engineering tools for Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Established in 1959, the award is presented annually to the most outstanding Ph.D. student graduating from one of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s programs. The award commemorates the contributions of Dr. J. B. Collip, one of the School’s former Deans.
Cobban Student Award in Heart and Stroke Research
Sarah Lee Konermann, Medical Biophysics, (Supervisor: Dr. Stewart Gaede)
Established by Audrey and Delmar Cobban and matched by Robarts Research Institute, this award recognizes doctoral research in the area of heart and stroke disease.
Value: 1 @ $2400.00
Drs. Madge and Charles Macklin Fellowship for Teaching and Research in Medical Sciences
Luis Limo, Pathology & Lab Medicine (Supervisor(s): Drs. Noha Gomaa & Emma Duerden)
This fellowship is available to full-time doctoral students, and it recognizes and rewards excellence in teaching and research. This fellowship was established by a bequest from Margaret Macklin Frewen.
Value:1 @ $5600.00
Drs. Madge and Charles Macklin Fellowship for Publication in Medical Sciences
Nitara Fernando, Medical Biophysics (Supervisor: Dr. Paula Foster)
The fellowship is available to full-time doctoral students who have published their doctoral research as first author in a peer reviewed journal. This fellowship was established through a legacy donation from Margaret Macklin Frewen.
Value: 1 @ $5600.00
Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Graduate Scholarship
(5 Doctoral Awards listed in Alpha Order):
- Mahmoud Hanafy, Neuroscience (Supervisor: Dr. Jibran Khokhar)
- Victor Lau, Anatomy & Cell Biology (Supervisor(s): Drs Shawn Whitehead and Ali Khan)
- Patricia Nistor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Supervisor(s): Drs. Shehzad Ali and Osvaldo Espin-Garcia)
- Hannah Pineda, Neuroscience (Supervisor: Dr. Susanne Schmid)
- Emma Tassinari, Neuroscience (Supervisor(s): Drs. Jean Theberge and Andrew Nicholson)
This scholarship is given to doctoral students who are specializing in the neuroscience of mental health disorders and is generously made available by Mr. Robert McKinnon.and a potential for Rimala Trust (1 award at $25,000).
Value: 4 @ $25,000.
Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Graduate Travel Scholarship (Masters or Doctoral)
Colette Mahr, Neuroscience (Supervisor: Dr. Jibran Khokhar)
This scholarship is given to a doctoral or masters student who is specializing in mental health research and is generously made available by Mr. Robert McKinnon and friends.
Value: 1 @ $1400.00
Norman E. Nixon Marie Rämö Nixon Award
Jake Hamilton, Medical Biophysics (Supervisor(s): Drs. Corey Baron and Arthur Brown
Awarded to a full-time graduate student in a Masters or PhD program at Western with academic achievement and research merit, who is working with a Robarts Research Institute Scientist.
Value: 1 @ $4100.00
Dr. William P. McGrath Scholarship
TBD (announcement to be made in late August)
Awarded to full-time graduate students in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry based on academic achievement. Preference will be given to candidates who are specializing in research in Ophthalmology.
Value: 1 at $12,000
This scholarship was established by Vera McGrath in honour of her late husband, Dr. William P. McGrath (MD'48).
Fatima Abou-Taha Scholarship
TBD (announcement to be made in late August)
Awarded to full-time graduate students in Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry working on research related to the field of cancer, based on academic achievement.
Value: 1@ $1,000
Gladys Burden Graduate Bursary
TBD (announcement to be made in late August)
Awarded annually to a full-time Master’s or Doctoral student in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, based on research merit and demonstrated financial need.
Value: 1 @ $4000.00
Dean's Research Scholarship:
The Dean’s Research Scholarship (DRS) supports Western University and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s commitment to advancing collaborative and translational research.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, the scholarship provides awards of $10,000 for Master's students and $14,000 for PhD students. As in previous years, recipients may hold the award for up to two consecutive years, subject to reapplication and continued eligibility. Recipients are also expected to apply for all eligible external funding opportunities, including Tri-Agency scholarships.
Following a competitive review process, we are pleased to announce the students selected to receive the 2026–2027 Dean’s Research Scholarship:
Announcement coming soon (mid-late August).