Western University launches program to capitalize on shrinking U.S. research funding

Western University is looking to capitalize on massive shifts in the academic landscape of the United States with a new initiative designed to turn a difficult situation into a brain gain for both the school, and the country.

The Doctoral Excellence Award established this month offers up to $160,000, over the course of four years, to people interested in enrolling in a research-based doctoral program at Western.

The catch? To qualify the university says, applicants have to be studying at, have received an offer from, or have had an offer rescinded by a doctoral program at an American university.

"I think it's great that Western is getting ahead of this, because the situation in the states with funding for science is evolving very quickly in a direction that's not very great for science across the board," said Anthony Cruz, a PhD candidate in Western's Department of Psychology, and the vice president academic for the Western Society of Graduate Students.

The creation of the grants comes amid a significant disruption in the United States's university system, driven by Trump administration cuts to funding for science research. Those cuts have resulted in fewer graduate students being admitted to U.S. universities, and many existing offers being rescinded.

Cruz , who is American himself, said he's thankful to be working toward his PhD in Canada, especially given stories he's heard from his colleagues across the border. One, he said, was expecting to have grant funding through to next year, before funding was cut prematurely.

"People are very worried," Cruz said.

The Doctoral Excellence Award doesn't just apply to students from the United States. Eligibility requirements outlined on Western's website also say people of any nationality can apply, so long as their prior involvement was with a U.S. school that's ranked in the top 100 on either the QS Top Universities list or the Times Higher Education list.

Western promises applicants it will streamline the timeline from application submission to review and decision, and offer assistance in connecting candidates with thesis supervisors.

In terms of funding, the university offers $40,000 per year, for up to four years of study in research-based doctoral programs.

In its pitch to potential applicants, Western paints London and itself as a "welcoming, English-speaking environment similar to the United States."

It also implores applicants to "join a university where your research is respected, your voice is heard, and your potential is fully realized."

It's an approach that Cruz calls impressive, especially in terms of the speed with which Western has responded to the unfolding situation south of the border.

He said he believes Western is "ahead of the curve" in its response.

"The states have been this hub for research for a really long time, and there's a lot of talent there. There's this moment where, for a lot of the talent that wants to get this doctoral training, those opportunities are being taken away. Western is providing that opportunity."

A spokesperson from Western was not available for an interview.