Smart support: Invigorating the AI Research Experience, one Fellowship at a time

Pursuing a Ph.D. in Machine Learning (ML) or Artificial Intelligence (AI) takes deep dedication to advance the frontiers of science through academic research. What exceptional Ph.D. students need most is a support system to help them advance their research and turn it into real-world impact. That is why RBC Borealis has dedicated itself to creating opportunities for graduate students to advance their education and research and support them in their journey.

The RBC Borealis Fellowships program supports world-leading research in Canada. It also helps strengthen and diversify the Canadian AI community. We provide Fellows with financial support and mentorship to help them pursue their research objectives. This annual program supports students as they pursue their Ph.D. in machine learning (ML) or artificial intelligence (AI) at a Canadian university.
 
Applications for our 2022-2023 Fellowships Program are now open. To learn more about our Fellowships or to apply, click RBC Borealis Fellowships.

When research turns into action

Does being a RBC Borealis fellow make a difference? Find out how this award has impacted past fellows and where they are now in their research careers.

Golara Javadi

(2020-2021) Fellow

Golara Javadi published two papers over the duration of her Fellowship, one at the International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (IJCARS) and one at the International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention (MICCAI). She also worked with RBC Borealis as a Research Intern, gaining hands-on experience in multitasking learning and network dynamics. This internship concluded with a paper submission to the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).
 
As a Ph.D. Candidate at UBC, Golara, focuses on using AI to improve medical imaging. She credits the RBC Borealis fellowship award for instilling confidence in her work and inspiring her to help others and give back to the community.

Parnian Afsher

(2020-2021) Fellow

Over the course of the RBC Borealis Fellowship, Parnian Afsher advanced her research on machine learning-based medical image analysis. She specifically worked on Tumor Classification, Deep Learning-based COVID-19 Diagnosis, and a novel deep learning architecture proposed to predict pre-defined clinical endpoints in a cohort of lung cancer patients. Shortly after, in March of 2021, she was awarded the Prix Relève étoile Louis Berlinguet by Fonds de recherche du Québec for her cancer prediction and diagnosis work. Currently, Parnian is working as a full-time Data Scientist II at Amazon.

Supporting the next generation of AI talent

AI isn’t just about cutting-edge technology. It’s about inspiring meaningful scientific discovery and creating solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges. We aim to empower and equip the next generation of AI talent to do just that. 

"The RBC Borealis Fellowships – alongside our other programs like Let's SOLVE it and the RBC Borealis Internships offer a unique opportunity for early-career researchers to receive the support needed to break into the rapidly changing field of AI/ML. That is why we are so excited to be opening our fellowships once again, as we know programs like this are what the AI ecosystem needs to thrive."

Dr. Eirene Seiradaki

Director of Research Partnerships, RBC Borealis