Thanks to Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program, UWinnipeg Biology Honors student, Taylor Cangemi, has taken her research work overseas.
“I expanded my bat conservation research from Canada to Australia,” she said. “This funding also supported my attendance at the International Bat Research Conference in Cairns.”
Students benefit from work-integrated learning and access to new networks that often lead to employment upon graduation.
Dr. Shauna MacKinnon
At the conference, she presented her work and earned runner-up for Best Student Spoken Presentation.
“I built lasting connections with leading researchers and stakeholders,” said Cangemi. “I collaborated with peers from diverse backgrounds, gained new theoretical and methodological skills, and designed and conducted my own research project from start to finish.”
“I remain deeply grateful for the financial support that made these opportunities possible,” she added.
In the last fiscal year, Mitacs funding to the University of Winnipeg increased from $530,000 to $810,000, helping over 100 UWinnipeg students just like Cangemi to participate in research internships.
These internships give students the opportunity to take part in research and build their networks, all while receiving on-the-job-training in the private and non-profit sectors in their field of study.
Taylor Cangemi conducting bat conservation research.
“Students gain opportunities to share knowledge learned through their studies at UWinnipeg, while at the same time benefitting from practical experience through their internships in the non-profit sector,” said Dr. Shauna MacKinnon, Professor and Chair, Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies. “Organizations and the broader community benefit from student contributions. Students benefit from work-integrated learning and access to new networks that often lead to employment upon graduation.”
According to the Mitacs annual report, based on the fiscal year for 2024-25, UWinnipeg’s internship units of 20 per 100 full-time graduate students significantly exceeded the provincial average of 11.5 and the national average of 10.1.
The Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program, which fosters collaboration and strengthens research networks between Canadian institutions and their global counterparts, welcomed 21 UW interns for Summer 2024.
The Mitacs Accelerate Program provided UWinnipeg $592,250 in funding in 2024-25. This program supports students engaged in research and innovation across manufacturing, information and cultural industries, as well as professional, scientific, and technical services.
The Mitacs Business Strategy Internship program received an additional $82,000 in funding in 2024-25, increasing its total allocation from $340,000 to $422,250 for the year.
These initiatives provide important opportunities for UW students and highlight institutions like the University of Winnipeg as premier destinations for leading researchers worldwide.
October 24 to 31 is Bat Week, an important time for the University of Winnipeg Bat Lab. Check out the Bat Week website as well as the Bat Lab’s own citizen science website, the Neighbourhood Bat Watch, where people can learn some amazing facts about bats and how to help them, while also contributing their own observations important for conservation. Watch a video about the Bat Lab’s research on little brown bats.
