Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
mcmaster university logo McMaster logo

Faculty of Science

School of Interdisciplinary Science

Scholarships & Awards

""Students in the School of Interdisciplinary Science have many opportunities to obtain scholarships and awards. Most of these awards recognize students’ academic achievements or other accomplishments.

Please see the full list of Undergraduate Academic Awards granted by the University. There is also a list of awards available to students in the Faculty of Science.

Information about external awards is available through the McMaster Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships. In past years, SIS students have successfully applied for the Schulich Leadership Scholarship, the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award, the Venture For Canada Fellowship and more. SIS students have also received nomination-based awards such as the MSU Honour M Award and the President’s Award.

Associate Director (iSci)’s Fund

“Established in 2007 through a gift from Thomas Edward Waller, this fund supports priorities of the iSci program as identified annually by the Director (now Associate Director (iSci)) of the program. It provides the flexibility for the Director (now Associate Director (iSci)) to support, in a timely fashion, opportunities that will enrich the iSci program.”

The Associate Director (iSci)’s Fund (ADIF) is available by application to all ISCI 2A18 EP students, ISCI 3A12 IP students and ISCI 4A12 thesis students. Funding can be used for equipment, software purchase, etc. Proposals can be submitted for assessment throughout the year.

For more details, iSci students should refer to the operating policy and application form on the iSci Program Avenue Shell.

SIS Research Grants: Equity Stream

The source of this funding is the Dean of the Faculty of Science. Grants are for supporting current SIS undergraduate students (i.e. those enrolled in MedRadSci, iSci, and LifeSci) in years II and above, engaged in curricular research activities (i.e. research for credit-bearing courses with course code prefixes LIFESCI, MEDRADSC, ISCI, or SCICOMM).

Grants can be used for research-related expenses such as equipment, consumables, software, conference fees, travel etc. Individual grants will not exceed $500, and can be for as little as $50.

There is no deadline. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Funds are limited, so this is a competitive process and the quality of the application, particularly the rationale of why the grant would make a difference to the applicant’s academic success, will be reviewed. Applications will relate to research that either widens research into areas of equity, accessibility, under-represented populations, or similar AND/OR applications from students who face barriers to completing their own research (in any field) because of hardship or inequities.

Application link coming soon.

SIS Travel Grants: Office of Undergraduate Research

The source of this funding is the Office of Undergraduate Research in the Faculty of Science. Grants are for supporting current SIS undergraduate students engaged in Level IV thesis course-based research activities, especially those involving travel to present work at conferences.

Grants are to be used to reimburse student out-of-pocket research expenses for travel, conference fees, etc. Individual grants will not exceed $100. The date of travel should have taken place between May 1, 2025 and March 1, 2026 to be eligible for this award. Funds are limited, so this is a competitive process and the applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. These awards cannot be used for expenses that have already been compensated by your research supervisor or the University through another grant/scholarship.

Please complete each question prompt fully – we require this information to be able to provide a reimbursement, and failure to provide appropriate evidence of purchase or context of your research travel activities can void your application for these funds.

Application link:SIS Travel Grants: Office of Undergraduate Research – Fill out form

Student Successes:

Shannon Buck from the Integrated Science (iSci) Program received the Schulich Leadership Scholarship. The prestigious award, granted to 50 graduating high school students each year, recognizes excellence in academics, leadership and innovation. Shannon was drawn to iSci’s interdisciplinary curriculum and experiential opportunities.

“I love all of the sciences and math, so learning how to use them all together in one program sounded perfect for what I want to learn and do,” she says.” I firmly believe that many things must be learned with the world as one’s classroom!”

Sebat Mohamed from the Life Sciences Program received the McMaster Students Union Academic Achievement Award and the Burke Memorial Ring, both of which recognize academic excellence and contributions to the McMaster community. She also received the Emerging Health Leaders Exceptional Leader Scholarship and the prestigious President’s Award, which recognize leadership at McMaster and beyond. She credits opportunities within SIS and McMaster for making her the leader she is today.

“Surrounding myself by people who are passionate about the same things as me made me really want to give back to the school and the community,” she says.

Ushma Purohit from the Life Sciences Program received The Albert Lager Prize for Student Initiative and the Rotary Club of Burlington Community Contribution Award, both of which recognize leadership and community involvement. She also received the Science Alumni Award and the President’s Award, prestigious awards that honour academic excellence and community service. Ushma says the Life Sciences Program allowed her to explore her many passions and put knowledge gained in the classroom to work in the community.

“It allowed me to make the most of my undergraduate experience,” she says. Ushma was volunteering at the Canadian Mental Health Association in Hamilton when she heard she had won the President’s Award. “It was such a perfect way to end my four years at Mac,” she says.

Shaarujaa Nadarajah from the Life Sciences Program received the McMaster Student Union Honour M Award and The Albert Lager Prize for Student Initiative, both of which recognize leadership and community service. She says the Life Sciences Program inspired her to take use the knowledge she gained in the classroom to make the world a better place.

“I would learn about different diseases and then go out and fundraise for these causes,” she says. The McMaster experience “is not just the 9-to-5 lecture in a classroom,” she adds. “It’s about developing a person who is more socially aware and working towards creating a brighter world.”

Monish Ahluwalia from the iSci Program received the L. R. Wilson Leadership Scholar Ward, which recognizes upper-year undergraduate students with exceptional leadership potential. Monish says the interdisciplinary nature of the iSci Program has positioned him well for a leadership role in science.

“It allows you to do so much,” he says of the program. “I really like the broad-based, ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ approach and I find it’s really applicable to leadership.”

Hannah Dies from the iSci Program received the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to support her MD/PhD studies at Queen’s University. Hannah’s application entitled “Integrated optical and plasmonic microfluidic sensing devices as portable sensors for biological applications” was ranked third in the country. The Vanier Scholarship program aims to support world-class doctoral students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement.

“It allows you to do so much,” he says of the program. “I really like the broad-based, ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ approach and I find it’s really applicable to leadership.”

Mike Gill from the iSci program received the Venture for Canada Fellowship. He was one of 50 successful graduates out of 1,700 applicants. The fellowship connects top Canadian graduates with fast growing Canadian startups to prepare these students to becomes entrepreneurial leaders across Canada.