Become a Partner

Would you like to host a Sustainability Scholar?

Sustainability Scholars connects University of Alberta graduate students with Edmonton-area institutions or corporations to work on applied research projects related to sustainability. Scholars work with a designated mentor from your organization and complete a project during the summer months from May to August. 

In return for hosting a scholar, your organization receives the deliverables you outlined in your project, which will help you make sustainable changes. Applications for hosts in 2024 are now closed. If you are interested in hosting a scholar in the summer of 2025, please contact Shannon Heaney at sheaney1@ualberta.ca to be notified when applications open. 

Project Requirements

The Sustainability Scholars Program looks for projects that:

• Relate to advancing the social, environmental or economic sustainability of society as a whole, or to advancing a sustainability mandate within your organization
• Have an emphasis on applied and innovative research
• Are tangible, with defined deliverables, that the scholar can complete in the course of the program

Projects may vary in length, please see the cost section for further details.

Mentorship Requirements

Project mentors should expect:

• To serve as the scholar's guide, project supervisor, and primary point of contact within your organization.
• To conduct interviews with project applicants and provide the university a list of preferred candidates during the hiring process.
• To ensure scholars have access to a workspace with a computer, telephone and any other tools necessary to complete the project.

Why participate in the Scholars program? 

There are numerous benefits to partnering with the Sustainability Council to employ a Sustainability Scholar. Here are some of the things that we take on for you:

• Posting your position, managing applications, and conducting a preliminary scan for eligibility
• Promoting your project to University of Alberta graduate students
• Delivering a general orientation to successful candidates
• Delivering an orientation to mentors
• Providing ongoing administrative support throughout the placements
• Approving Scholars’ hours in the payroll system
• Disbursing Scholars’ paycheques
• Hosting a final event to share findings and celebrate completion

Cost

The cost of the program covers the scholar’s wages and mandatory employment-related costs. Hosts may apply through Mitacs to receive matching funding, or they may apply without Mitacs. 

The cost for the program will depend on the number of hours per week, and the number of weeks your Scholar works. Mitacs provides two matching funding options, $10,000 and $15,000 ($5000 and $7500 from the host). For the $10,000 option, your scholar will work 25 hours per week for approximately 14 weeks. For the $15,000 option, your scholar will work 35 hours per week for approximately 15 weeks. For the self-funding option, we can tailor the length of your program. Although our preference is for projects between 14-17 weeks long. 

Please contact sheaney1@ualberta.ca for more information.