Little Current’s Alexandria Cosby
GUELPH—Alexandria Cosby, a PhD student in integrative biology at the University of Guelph who is currently undertaking a ‘little brown bat’ study on Manitoulin Island, has been selected for the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, (one of 166 in Canada).
“Congratulations to the 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships recipients!” said the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of innovation, science and industry. “Their dedication to advancing knowledge for the benefit of all is truly impressive and their hard work will help find solutions that have the potential to make the world a better place and drive Canadian prosperity.”
“It’s amazing to be selected; this is life and career changing,” Ms. Cosby told The Expositor. “Those in academia know about the Vanier scholarship, and it will open doors for opportunities in the future and it allows me to focus on my research.”
Ms. Cosby explained, “A significant part of the Vanier application process is demonstrating your leadership potential and dedication to community improvement. Growing up on Manitoulin, I was surrounded by a strong sense of community that made getting involved easy.”
“Education and animal welfare are close to my heart and are major components of my career goals,” said Ms. Cosby. “I volunteered with Little Current Public School and Manitoulin Pet Rescue throughout high school and have tried my best to stay involved during university and whenever I’m home. My parents set this example for me, always willing to lend a hand. They instilled in me a work ethic that has been invaluable throughout my education, and they are a major reason why I was fortunate enough to receive this scholarship.”
Ms. Cosby, who is in her first year of a PhD program at the University of Guelph in Ecology, said under the Vanier Scholarship through the federal government she will receive $50,000 per year for three years.
“It is meant to be a graduate stipend for me over the next three years,” said Ms. Cosby, who pointed out she had applied for this grant about a year ago.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in a release May 29, 2024, indicated the government of Canada has announced the recipients of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.
“Doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers are the future leaders of innovation and research excellence in Canada. Tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges, their discoveries will strengthen the economy of the future, boost productivity, and enhance the health and quality of life of Canadians,” a release notes.
“Today (May 29) the Honourable Francois-Phillippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, minister of health, announced the recipients of 166 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and 70 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships. These talented doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers are part of Canada’s next generation of research leaders, spanning the health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities.
“Canada is a world-leader in research and innovation, and the individuals we are recognizing today are a testament to that,” said Minister Holland. “Their research holds tremendous promise for making our lives better and healthier in a variety of ways.”
Dr. Tammy Clifford, acting president, CIHR said, “On behalf of Canada’s granting agencies, I congratulate these top-tier researchers. The Vanier and Banting awards recognize outstanding scholars whose research has the potential to drive meaningful change. I wish you luck as you pursue your careers and thank you for your commitment to advancing research.”
As has been previously reported, Ms. Cosby is in the first year of her PhD studies at the University of Guelph and is conducting research on Manitoulin this summer toward her PhD, studying little brown bats and the types of habitats they need to forage. “There is very little information available about bats on Manitoulin, and bat research heavily relies on having relationships with communities. I felt the Island would be the perfect place for my study given my roots here.”
“My PhD is in ecology,” Ms. Cosby shared. “I’m studying communities of animals and how they interact with each other. My PhD will take about four years to complete.”
Ms. Cosby is a Haweater, born and raised on Manitoulin Island and lived in Little Current. “I graduated from Manitoulin Secondary School in 2016.”
“I study little brown bats, which have seen significant population declines and are now endangered in Ontario due to white-nose syndrome,” said Ms. Cosby. She explained during years one to four she aims to identify five maternity roosts on Manitoulin Island. “My findings will contribute to the development of informed conservation strategies, identifying spring and summer critical habitat and important prey species for little brown bats. Further, delving into how heightened energy demands during reproduction influences predator-prey dynamics and responses to environmental variation will contribute to our broader understanding of the complex interplay between species and their habitats, thereby advising our comprehension of optimal foraging.”
Ms. Cosby is being assisted by two other students at the University of Guelph, consisting of Genevieve Kleefisch (MSc student) and Owen Tapia Daly (BSc student) who have been invaluable to the project.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students who demonstrate academic excellence, research potential and leadership potential and demonstrated ability.
Funded through the three federal granting councils-the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), CIHR and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Vanier Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships help Canadian institutions attract and retain highly qualified trainers, establishing Canada as a global centre for research training and career support.
