Two Indian students get Canadian scholarships

Two Indian doctoral students are among 37 international researchers who have been awarded Canadian scholarships.

The two Indian recipients for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for 2009 are Niladri Chattopadhyay, who will pursue cancer research at the University of Toronto, and Atam Kapoor, who will work in the field of chemical engineering at the University of Alberta, an official statement said Thursday.

The awards will entitle them to $50,000 each per year for up to three years.

Once at full capacity, the programme will support up to 500 new students annually.

The scholarships were announced by the Canadian government in budget 2008 and are awarded to the world's leading doctoral students hailing from across Canada and abroad.

Announcing the scholarships in Ottawa, Canada's Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear, said: "The recipients of these scholarships are the world's leading doctoral students and the next generation of researchers, professors and industry leaders who will make considerable economic and social contributions in Canada and abroad."

The scholarship programme aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health, as well as leadership skills.