Undergraduate Awards
Summer Research Awards
Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are available from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for top students conducting research in the summer. Applications are to be submitted in January through an online procedure from NSERC's website.
RBC Foundation Undergraduate Summer Research Internship Awards . Application deadline: 12:00 PM (noon), Friday, February 7, 2020. For more information, click HERE.
Dr. Leo P. Chiasson Scholarships and the Dr. Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship are also available for students performing research in the summer. Students aiming to obtain one of these scholarships should apply for a USRA in January, as Chiasson and McLachlan awardees are those students with a high GPA who did not obtain USRAs, which are awarded to the top-ranked students.
Other summer scholarships are often available from Biology professors through a variety of sources (NSERC Discovery Grants, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, etc.). Contact a professor who does research on your discipline of interest for more information.
Biology Achievement Awards
Biology Achievement Awards are given to our top students every fall, based on course grades from the previous academic year. An Academic Improvement in Biology Award is awarded to the student who has demonstrated a strong improvement in course grades. Recipients of these awards are listed here.
Dr. Leo P. Chiasson Award
Dr. Leo P. Chiasson was the Head of the Department of Biology from 1944 to 1983. He was a respected researcher, conducting studies on fisheries, forest tree hybridization, and microbial and human genetics. While at StFX, he served on the Board of Governors and Senate and played a central role in the development of the J. Bruce Brown Hall, which houses the departments of Biology and Human Nutrition. Born and raised in Chéticamp, Cape Breton, Leo P. arrived to StFX in 1934. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 1938 and 1940, respectively, and continued his studies at the University of Toronto, where he received a doctoral degree in biology with a major in genetics. This renowned teacher also held numerous voluntary positions locally, provincially, and nationally. He was chair of the Antigonish County School Board, chair of the Board of St. Martha's Regional Hospital, chair of the Nova Scotia Hospital Association, and president of the Canadian Hospital Association. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to his alma mater, his community and his province, StFX bestowed upon him the degree doctor of laws, honoris causa, in 1987. Dr. Leo P. Chiasson was a professional influence on the careers of many StFX students and has touched the lives of thousands.
The Leo P. Chiasson Fund was established by the faculty members of the Department of Biology to honour and recognize the significant contribution that Dr. Chiasson made to the department. The fund currently provides a cash award and a certificate, which are presented at Spring Convocation to the meritorious graduating senior. The successful candidate is selected by the faculty members of the Department of Biology.
Recipients of the Dr. Leo P. Chiasson Award are listed here.
Congratulations to the 2021 Biology Achievement Award winners! (Photo below)
Junior - Third Year
1. Robyn Walter
2. Taylor Smith
3. Julia Ward
Sophomore - Second Year
1. Annika Nobbe
2. Hannah Neilson
3. Peter MacGregor
First Year
1. Brooke Breen and Simon Maltby
3. Evan Pye
Academic Improvement in Biology Award
Mairinn Christine Campbell
