Funding for trainees

This program is now OPEN.

The RQR Training Committee is pleased to announce its custom training competition. RQR students can apply for the training of their choice (i.e., location, duration, amount, theme of their choice). The maximum amount that the training committee can award per application is $2,000.

First come, first served after evaluation of the application by the committee.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The research director of the applicant must be a RQR’s regular member;
• Only one grant per lab and per trainee.

The guidelines for applications are available here: Form_Bourse-FormationsurMesure_CustomTraining_FR_EN

This program will continue until funds are exhausted.

The RQR training committee is pleased to announce its Bioinformatics or AI Training Awards competition. Students from the RQR may apply for scholarships of up to $500. These scholarships will be used to cover the costs associated with registration.

Note: The applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds have been allocated.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The research director of the applicant must be a member or collaborator of the RQR;
• A limit of 2 grants per laboratory has been set;
• Only one grant per trainee per year.

The guidelines for applications are available here: Form_Bourse formation_Bioinfo-IA_FR_EN 2026

This program is now OPEN.

The RQR training committee is pleased to announce its scholarship competition for the “Thèsez-vous” retreats. RQR students can apply for $300 scholarships for in-person retreats and $75 for urban retreats. Note: First come, first served. The first 10 eligible applicants who register will be awarded the scholarship. *Activities in French only.

More information on the website « Thèsez-vous » : In-person retreat, Urban retreat

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA :

• The research director of the applicant must be a member or collaborator of the RQR;

• Have not received another scolarship covering this retreat;

• Only one scholarship per trainee per year.

The guidelines for applications are available here: Form_Bourse thèsez-vous_FR_EN 2026

The sick leave scholarship competition is now OPEN.

The Diversity Committee is pleased to launch its new 2026 Sick leave Scholarships program.

This scholarship is designed to support regular RQR members who wish to provide financial assistance to their master’s or PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in the event of absence from the laboratory for medical reasons, for a period of at least 3 weeks with complete inability to work on their research project.

• The value of the grant is $450/week for a maximum of 12 weeks;
• The bursary applies from the date indicated on the medical note and transcribed by the applicant.

All details of the programme and application are available: RQR_SickLeave_FR_EN_2026

Applications are open until April 30, 2027 and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis for candidates that meet all of the eligibility criteria.

The parental leave scholarship competition is now OPEN.

The Diversity Committee is pleased to launch the 2026 Parental leave Scholarships competition.

The RQR parental leave grant is intended to financially assist master’s and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows (if they do not otherwise have benefits) who elect to take leave following a birth

• The value of the grant is $450/week for a maximum of 12 weeks;
• The grant applies from the date of delivery.

All details of the programme and application are available: RQR_ParentalLeave_FR_EN_2026

Applications are open until April 30, 2027 and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis for candidates that meet all of the eligibility criteria.

The RQR Travel Awards program is OPEN.

The RQR offers travel grants of up to $1,000 to cover expenses related to international meetings, or $500 for national meetings, in order to promote scientific exchange. For meetings held within the province of Quebec, the grants can reach up to $250.

The admission criteria are the following:

• The meeting must occur between April 1^st 2026 to March 31^th 2027
• The meeting theme must align with the RQR program
• Applicants must be giving a poster or platform presentation at the meeting
• The research supervisor must be a RQR member
• A limit of 2 travel grants per laboratory has been set;
• Only one RQR Travel Award per year per trainee
• The meeting cannot take place in the city where the applicant lives or works
• The RQR Symposium does not meet the criteria for this competition

To submit an application, see below:

•  The RQR Travel Award application form
• Proof that the abstract has been accepted for an oral or poster presentation (Note that it is possible to apply even if your abstract has not yet been accepted. However, proof will have to be submitted later).

If the travel award is granted, email a copy of the following documents as a single PDF file to info@info-rqr.ca:

• Proof of conference registration and associated fees;
• Proof of attendance at the conference (e.g., conference poster with your name, your identification badge issued at the conference, etc.);
• For UdeM postdoctoral fellows: the conference program, accommodation invoice, airline ticket invoice, and boarding passes must be added to proof of participation.

*** Note: The RQR logo must be included in the presentation ***

Deadline to submit your application: Application can be sent throughtout the year until funds are exhausted. First come, first served!

This program will continue until funds are exhausted.

The RQR offers trainees the opportunity to be reimbursed, fully or partially, for travel expenses incurred while traveling to another laboratory in Quebec from May 1^st, 2026 to April 30^th 2027. For example, as part of collaborations between two researchers or for participation in technical workshops or other training opportunities.

Eligibility criteria:

1. Costs covered by this program include: hotels, train and bus tickets, parking tickets, and fuel costs ($ 0.60 per km or $ 0.75 per km if carpooling). For fuel, a receipt from the meeting place must be provided.
2. The trip must be to the laboratory of a principal investigator based in Québec who is a member or collaborator of the RQR.
3. The trip must be outside of the city where the applicant resides or works.
4. The maximum amount of the refund is set at $ 500 per trainee per year.
5. The RQR pre-Symposium workshop does not meet the conditions of this program.

You can apply throughout the year by email (info@info-rqr.ca) explaining how you qualify for the 4 points mentioned above.

This program is now CLOSED.

This year, the RQR would like to encourage students to participate in the symposium of our partner, the Brazilian College of Animal Reproduction (CBRA), which will take place from November 4 to 6, 2026, in Brasília, Brazil. The RQR will cover expenses (registration, airfare, and accommodation) up to a maximum of $3,000 for participation in this event.

Submission of an abstract is mandatory to be eligible for the scholarship, and the deadline is June 30.

You will find details about the event, as well as a link for registration and abstract submission, on the event’s website.

The deadline to submit your abstract to the conference is June 30, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The candidate must give an oral or poster presentation at the meeting;
• The research director must be a member or collaborator of the RQR;
• The maximum amount of the refund is set at $ 3000 per trainee.

The guidelines for applications are available here: Formulaire_de_demande_financement_XI_International_Symposium_on_Animal_Biology_of_Reproduction_2026

In the amount of $6,000 each, the scholarships are offered to students who recently started or will soon pursue Master’s, doctoral studies, or postdoctoral fellowship in RQR-affiliated laboratories during the eligible periods.

This scholarship is competitive and students wishing to apply must complete the form in a single PDF file and send it toFanny Morin  (info@info-rqr.ca) no later than May 18th, 2026.

Eligibility criteria and application form can be found below.

The RQR is pleased to announce its 2026–2027 Brazil Travel Grant competition to attend the Sociedade Brasileira de Tecnologia de Embriões (SBTE) conference, which will be held in São Paulo on August 11, 2026. This grant may be used to cover costs associated with attending the conference. Five grants will be awarded, each valued at $3,000. Note: the conference will be conducted primarily in Portuguese.

The deadline to submit your abstract to the conference is April 15, 2026.

You may then apply for the RQR travel grant.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The candidate must give an oral or poster presentation at the meeting;
• The research director must be a member or collaborator of the RQR;

TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION:

PhD students or postdoctoral fellows can apply by sending a copy of the following documents in a single PDF file to info@info-rqr.ca:

• The RQR Brazil Travel Award application form (next page);
• Proof that your abstract has been accepted for an oral or poster presentation (Note that it is possible to apply even if your abstract has not yet been accepted. However, proof will have to be submitted later).

The winter 2026 inter-axis scholarship competition is open to full-time students who are officially co-supervised by two regular members of the RQR. Five scholarships will be awarded, in the amount of $4,000 each.

The application deadline is February 26, 2026.

All details of the program and application form are available here : Inter-axis scholarshipsRQR_Admission&Form-EN_2026

The fall 2025 – winter 2026 inter-university co-supervision scholarship competition is open to students who are officially co-supervised by two regular members of the RQR and who have started their programs in September 2025 or January 2026. Five scholarships will be awarded, in the amount of $4,000 each.

The application deadline is February 26, 2026.

All details of the program and application form are available here : Co-supervision scholarshipsRQR_Admission&Form-EN_2026

The program is intended for graduate students enrolled full-time in a Quebec university, or starting an MSc or PhD program in the summer or fall 2026 semester, whose supervisor is a member of the RQR-CIRD*

Students who have already received a scholarship from the CIRD are not eligible. Similarly, students holding a scholarship from a major granting agency (FRQS, FRQNT, NSERC, CIHR…) or any other organization of $15,000 or above.

The proposed research work must be in line with the RQR’s program or research priorities.

To submit an application, candidates must

• Fill out the formbelow
• Meet all program eligibility criteria
• Have a research supervisor who is a regular member of the CIRD.

The completed application form must be sent to Isabelle Plante at isabelle.plante@inrs.ca no later than February 13, 2026.

This program is now CLOSED.

The RQR training committee is pleased to announce its travel grant competition for international or Canadian (outside Québec) internships. RQR students can apply for $1000 scholarships.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The research director of the applicant must be a member or collaborator of the RQR;
• Only one award per trainee per year;
• The duration of the internship must be a minimum of 3 days.

The guidelines for applications are available here: Form_Bourse deplacement_Stage formation hors QC_FR_EN_3

This program is now CLOSED.

The RQR training committee is pleased to announce its travel grant competition for internships in Québec. RQR students can apply for $500 scholarships.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The research director of the applicant must be a member or collaborator of the RQR;
• Only one award per trainee per year;
• The host laboratory is directed by a regular member or not of the RQR;
• The duration of the internship must be 3 days minimum.

The guidelines for applications are available here: Form_Bourse déplacement_Stage formation au QC_FR_EN_3

This program is now CLOSED.

Composed of nearly 100 scientists and over 200 students and postdoctoral fellows, the Quebec Reproductive Network (Réseau Québécois en Reproduction, RQR) (https://rqr-repro.org/en/) is a scientific network based in the Canadian province of Quebec and dedicated to the study of reproduction in mammals. Although the RQR is non-political, it is in solidarity with the Iranian people and wishes to provide concrete assistance by offering Iranian citizens the opportunity to pursue their studies in Canada.

1. To this end, five scholarships in the amount of CAD 10,000 each are available for qualified Iranian students to undertake a master’s, doctoral or post-doctoral program in a RQR laboratory. The scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

2. Below are the eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must have completed, at a minimum, training equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to reproductive biology, or a doctorate in medicine or veterinary medicine;
• Be currently residing in Iran;
• Have a goal of starting the program of study in Winter, Summer or Fall 2023;
• A good command of English or French is also required.

3. Scholarships will be awarded upon acceptance into the program of study by the University with which the RQR researcher is affiliated.

4. Note that the principal investigator will be responsible for providing financial support after the first year and until the end of the training. As a reminder, salary support averages: (i) $18,000 to $20,000 for the master’s degree; (ii) $20,000 to $24,000 for the doctoral degree; (iii) and $30,000 to $45,000 for the postdoctoral degree, depending on the researcher and institutional salary ranges.

5. RQR will work with host universities as needed to assist awardees in obtaining required study permits and immigration/visa documents.

6. To apply, students will need to send the following 3 items in a single PDF document to info@info-RQR.ca:

• a copy of their college degrees and transcripts;
• a current resume;
• a letter explaining their motivation, their professional interests and their current situation.

Claude Robert, PhD
Director – Réseau Québécois en Reproduction

This program is CLOSED.

Comprising nearly a hundred scientists and over 200 trainees, the Réseau Québecois en Reproduction (RQR)(https://rqr-repro.org/en/) is a scientific network based in the Canadian province of Quebec that is dedicated to the study of mammalian reproduction. Although not politically oriented, the RQR stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine during the current unprovoked invasion, and wishes to provide tangible assistance by offering an opportunity for Ukrainian citizens to pursue their studies in Canada.

To this end, two bursaries in the amount of 25 000 CAD apiece are available immediately (April 2022) to qualified Ukrainian students to undertake a master’s, PhD or postdoctoral training program in an RQR laboratory. Applicants must have completed, at a minimum, training equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to reproductive biology, or a doctoral degree in medicine or veterinary medicine. A high level of fluency in either English or French is also a necessity.

To apply, please send a copy of your university diplomas and transcripts, an updated CV and a letter explaining your motivation, professional interests and current situation to info@info-RQR.ca. Selected applicants will be provided a list of RQR members willing to accept them as trainees, and will be given the opportunity to choose and contact their preferred mentor(s). Bursaries will be awarded upon acceptance into the chosen program of study by the University to which the RQR researcher is affiliated. Note that the principal investigator will be responsible to provide support after the first year and until the completion of training. Extent of salary support averages 18 000$-20 000$ for MSc, 20 000$-24 000$ for PhD and 30 000-45 000$ for postdoc depending on the investigator and institutional wage scales. The RQR will collaborate as required with the host Universities to assist the bursary awardees in obtaining the required study permits and immigration/visa documentation.  The competition will remain open until suitable candidates are found.

On behalf of the RQR, I would like wish you the best of luck in this competition, and we look forward to meeting you in Quebec.

Claude Robert PhD
Director – Réseau Québécois en Reproduction

The co-supervision scholarship competition is CLOSED.

The spring-summer 2022 co-supervision scholarship competition is open to students who are officicially co-supervised by two regular members of the RQR and who have started/will start their programs in January 2022, May 2022, September 2022. Seven scholarships will be awarded, in the amount of $ 6,000 each, and inter-university co-supervision will be given priority.

The application deadline is June, 15^th 2022.