A new grant is allowing Lakehead University to get students out of the classroom and into the field.
The school announced a $1.6 million grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Monday morning that will train students on various aspects of medical imaging. They’ll be partnered with local places like the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute.
“The idea is students will be exposed to approaches that companies are using,” physics professor Alla Reznik said. “This will improve their employer readiness.”
With 35 positions available in every level from undergraduate to post-graduate over the next six year, it’s also going to help the university attract and retain more students.
“We are providing them with opportunities, which I’m confident do not exist in a majority of universities,” she said.
Oleksii Sameniuk is already benefiting from the grant. He came to Lakehead from Ukraine to do his masters. He’s now doing his PHD in chemistry and molecular science and is training at the Research Institute.
Learning in the classroom is valuable, but getting hands-on experience with equipment is also a great opportunity to learn, he said.
“It is extremely important. You have to understand all of the details of your training but also it’s nice to do it several times on your own.”
Plus, there’s an opportunity for innovation through research.
“You can be a part of it, that’s why I’m so appreciative,” he added.
Lakehead is also partnering with other Canadian universities. University of Waterloo electrical engineering student Patrick Chen came to TBRRI because of the grant.
“I do believe this grant is probably the reason why I was able to come here,” he said.
“It’s improved my knowledge. I’ve learned a lot here so far.”
While neither student knows what their career might look like, Reznik said the program will prepare them whatever they choose to do.
“This will improve their employer readiness,” she said.
