Overview
The Ross C. Purse Doctoral Fellowship encourages and supports theoretical and practical research and studies at the doctoral level in the field of vision loss in Canada.
The fellowship is awarded for research in the social sciences or other fields of study that are relevant to those experiencing of vision loss.
Amount of award
One fellowship is awarded annually to a qualified applicant. Successful applicants will be considered for subsequent funding only in exceptional circumstances. Each fellowship is valued at up to $12,500 CAD, to be paid in three equal installments. Initial payment is made at the time of the award, and the second installment is paid after receipt of an interim report outlining the development of the recipient's research. Final payment is made conditional upon receipt by the secretariat of the dissertation from the candidate and his/her thesis supervisor or department head.
Eligibility
Applications will be considered from persons studying at a Canadian university or college, or at a foreign university where a commitment to work in the field of vision loss in Canada for at least two years can be demonstrated. Preference will be given to graduates of a Canadian university or college.
Applicants must have achieved a high academic standing and must have demonstrated superior intellectual ability and judgment. Recipients may undertake paid employment with the permission of their supervisor of studies.
Reporting
On the completion of the program, one copy of the thesis must be forwarded to the secretariat's administrative secretary, to be kept in the CNIB Sherman Swift Reference Collection.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by June 30 of each year.
Please click here to download the application form.
If you have any questions, email Cheryl-Ann Ali at cheryl-ann.ali@cnib.ca; tel: 416-486-2500 x 7637.
Please note that we receive a very large number of applications and are unable to acknowledge receipt of individual submissions. Only successful candidates will be contacted to be notified of results.
Past recipients:
2019: Marie-Céline LorenziniUniversity: School of Optometry, University of Montreal
2018: Afua Asare
University: University of Toronto
The Cost Effectiveness and Utilization of Publicly Funded Universal Vision Care Services for Young Children in Ontario
2017: Natalina Martiniello
University: School of Optometry, University of Montreal
2016: Sean Heaslip
University: University of British Columbia
Thesis: Unhelpful Help: An exploration of persons with visual impairments experiences receiving help.
2015: Laura Bulk
University: University of British Columbia
Thesis: Exploring experiences and challenging perceptions of blindness.
2013: Caitlin Murphy
University: Universite de Montreal
Thesis: Visual impairment/cognitive impairment co-morbidity; examining genotype-structure-function relationship.
2012: Christine Hochbaum
University: University of British Columbia
Thesis: Exploring the determinants of parental discipline: The robustness of child characteristics.
2011: Adam Wilton
University: University of British Columbia
Thesis: The relation between teachers’ oral language and students’ story comprehension: supporting classroom teachers’ understanding and use of meaningful language in the inclusive classroom.
2010: Yuan-Hao Ho
University: University of Waterloo
Thesis: Early detection of glaucoma using new tests of both visual function and structure, and in particular, investigating the diagnostic performance of combining measures of structure and function.