What is it?
Would you like to apply your engineering knowledge towards the betterment of the environment, mental health or nutrition? In concert with the CREATE SMAART program, Université Laval’s graduate study programs can offer you an unparalleled training opportunity.
The SMAART program is the link bridging together different graduate study programs, different institutes (INAF, COPL, CERVO, Takuvik) and Sentinel North to provide a truly transdisciplinary training experience.
How to join
Register in a graduate study program approved by our program
Stated requirements
The research project must focus on the development and deployment of innovative tools spanning the fields of optics, the environment and health.
Co-supervision by a mentor from environmental studies, health or life sciences and by another mentor from the fields of optics & photonics or engineering is mandatory. Through this co-supervision, students and interns will gain access to the infrastructure and expertise of at least two research groups combining the know-how of both fields.
The student must agree to participate in the annual retreats and in the professional training workshops aimed at developing proficiency in complementary areas.
The student must be registered in a Université Laval study program related to the SMAART program’s field of activities.
Financial support will be offered in priority to students who commit to do an internship or an exchange with one of our partners.
Available funding
Undergraduate internships
Master's studies
PhD studies
Mobility support
Publication support
Sentinel North's PhD Schools
Students will have complete access to international winter schools and transdisciplinary training programs offered by the Sentinel North program. The winter schools will support the participation of some 40 graduate students and mentors of all research fields covered by Sentinel North.
Every three years, a winter school will take place on board the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen providing students with the unique opportunity to observe the arctic environment and to fully participate in a multidisciplinary research expedition and in the deployment of cutting edge instrumentation.
Students enrolled in the SMAART program will benefit from an enhanced experience as newer students will be immersed in a dynamic transdisciplinary learning and training environment while more experienced students will take part in mentoring and delivering the program to their younger counterparts.
Mobility and publication support
These travel allocations will serve a double purpose: to enhance student and intern training while helping them develop their network of contacts.
With the support of travel allocations, students will be encouraged to acquire new skills and expertise that will benefit their research projects.
Participation in conferences
Are you a student in the SMAART Program and want to attend an event to improve your knowledge? Thanks to the SMAART Program support, we can help you achieve your project.
The congres allowance will be established according to the funds available for the current budget.
Deadline to submit your project: April 01 of each year
Each request must include the following:
1. Full contact details of the student and identification of his / her research director
2. Brief description of the congress, the connection with your research project and expected benefits (maximum one page).
Deadline to submit your expense report: January 31 of each year
Deployment of tools in the field – Nordic environment
You want to deploy your tool in a Nordic environment? Find out about the help offered by the SMAART program.
Company internships
Doric Lenses, Quebec (http://doriclenses.com)
2 internships (4 months) in collaboration with MITACS
2 internships (4 to 6 months)
Laboratory exchange
Nanotechnology Nanosystem Laboratory, LN2, Sherbrooke (https://www.usherbrooke.ca/ln2/fr/):
4-month exchanges (living expenses budget to be determined)
Scientific Publication support
In order to promote publications of scientific articles written jointly by students and researchers within the CREATE SMAART program, funding is available. This aid will be used to defray the open access fees required.
To apply, a request must be received by our office, sent either by student or the research supervisor. The amount of this grant will be established according to the funds available for the current budget.
Eligibility criteria
1. Be a of the CREATE SMAART Program
2.Have an original article reviewed and published
3.Indicate the pubmed link (to access your publication)
Application deadline: January 31 of each year
Submit your request by email to julie.lamarche@crulrg.ulaval.ca.
Principal partners
Takuvik in collaboration with the CNRS in France.
For collaborations involving Takuvik's partners, students will receive funding to enable them to travel to designated work sites.
In addition, students will be strongly encouraged to participate in external workshops on the topic of experimental approaches relevant to their research project and not offered in any of the participating laboratories. This will contribute to enhance not only the student training experience but also our SMAART program, as well as provide additional expertise.
Doric Lenses
Doric Lenses' internship program trains students in an industrial setting and offers them a professional experience while accelerating the development of the company's products.
Available internships:
- Short term internships
- MITACS Accelerate internships
Laboratory for Nanotechnologies and Nanosystems (LN2)
Available internships:
- Internships for Master's and PhD students in collaboration with Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke