Mary-Jane Carroll Trainee Award

Mary-Jane Carroll Trainee Award

The Mary-Jane Carroll award is created to support trainees whose work best aligns with Mary-Jane’s vision of advancing our understanding of genetic variants, and ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals living with them. This award honours Mary-Jane Carroll who had a condition caused by a genetic variation, and preference shall be given to students who intend to pursue research in rare germline genetic diseases.

Value of Award: $40,000 (one time)                                                                                                                   

Deadline: 5 pm, October 20, 2025

Applicant Eligibility for the Award:

• Current full-time graduate student and continuing in the Graduate Program for 12 months or more
• Have completed comprehensive exams
• Graduate Advisor must be a Department of Medical Genetics faculty member (e.g. full-time, clinical, joint, partner, and associate members are included)
• In good academic standing with the University and must be making satisfactory progress toward their degree as defined by the UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
• Pursuing research in rare germline genetic disease
• Have not received this award in the past

Objectives:

• To enable recruitment of the best and brightest to the field of medical genetics, thus strengthening the overall research landscape in medical genetics across BC and improving outcomes for those living with genetic conditions; and
• To build greater capacity to identify human genes and disease-causing variants, ultimately enabling earlier diagnoses, so that people like Mary-Jane may live healthier, longer lives with a clearer understanding of how their genetics will affect their health.

Selection Committee:

• A physician with expertise in diagnosis and management of rare genetic diseases;
• A genetic counsellor with experience in supporting patients with rare genetic diseases and their families; and
• A scientist whose research involves rare genetic diseases.

The Selection Committee will make a final recommendation to the Head who will recommend the conferral of the award to the recipient.

Use of Funds:

• 100% contribution towards stipend, or
• A combination of Stipend, Conference Travel, and Research Support

Application Procedure:

• Applicant CV which includes awards, publications, and presentations
• Current UBC Transcript
• Research plan (2 pages maximum excluding references, and up to 2 additional pages of images)
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) statement by applicant (250 words maximum)
• One (1) letter of support from a supervisory committee member or faculty expert, commenting on the quality of applicant and confirming applicant’s research area is in Rare germline genetic Diseases (1 page maximum)
• Submit all documents to the Department by deadline.

Deadline: Monday October 20, 2025, 5pm. Submit all documents to yasodha.weerasinghe@cw.bc.ca