Research Funding Opportunities for Laurier and Affiliated Researchers

Our Research Funding Program provides grants to find optimal ways to participate in lifestyle changing recreation. Researchers are invited to submit projects that will result in a stronger understanding of how to improve the overall health-related quality of life for youth in our community. The fundamental goal of the Centre is to conduct physical activity and healthy living outreach programs to the community as an avenue for conducting holistic and integrated research. Research stemming from the Centre will address the multi-faceted and interactive factors that contribute to physical activity and healthy living. Research is inclusive but not limited to motor and cognitive development, psychosocial antecedents and consequences, physiological mechanisms and adaptations, and health and wellbeing, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

The fundamental goal of the Centre will be realized through four integrated research objectives:

• Objective 1: Develop a coherent understanding of the effects of PA on the development of motor abilities, cognitive abilities, and social behaviours in children, youth, and adults.
• Objective 2: Explore the socio-ecological (individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy) antecedents and consequences of physical activity
• Objective 3: Determine the cardiovascular, metabolic, neurophysiological, and muscular adaptations to PA.
• Objective 4: Quantify the health and wellbeing of individuals from a variety of perspectives, such as sleep, nutrition, cognitive, motor, social, and parental influences.

We offer two different types of opportunities, Knowledge Mobilization Funds and Research Assistantships. 

Sun Life Centre for Physically Active Communities Knowledge Mobilization Fund:

CPAC Members and students may apply for support to attend conferences related to physical activity and health, broadly speaking, across the lifespan. A pool of $2,000 will be available for activities that support the knowledge mobilization mission of the Centre (conferences, workshops, speaking engagements etc.) and align with the Research Objectives. A cap of $500 per person will be enforced. At this point, there is no limit on the number of times an applicant can be granted a KMF award. Award winners are expected to present at CPAC’s annual conference, and provide a summary for publication on CPAC’s website.

Sun Life Centre for Physically Active Research Assistantship:

The Centre will provide research assistantships for up to 3 students (undergraduate or graduate) annually for the spring/summer term. The research assistantships will be worth $7,000 and will be allocated to those who are conducting work related to physical activity and health, broadly speaking, across the lifespan. The work could be thesis work or other. A supervisor must support the research plan. Those who receive a research assistantship must present their work at the next Annual Conference of the Centre. Eligible students may hold the assistantship more than once, though the research plan for subsequent applications should consistitute new research.