Sidebar: Fine fellows indeed

Fine fellows, indeed

With his $64 million donation to McGill, much of it earmarked towards fellowships for graduate students, Richard Tomlinson breathed new life into McGill's ability to support the work of students doing master's, doctoral and postdoctoral studies.

Among the first Tomlinson Fellowship recipients are physicists, psychologists and a pianist. This diverse group recently gathered for a reception at the Faculty Club to meet each other and Tomlinson himself.

The Tomlinson Fellowships, and others like it, says Richard Preuss, a PhD student in the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, "take a lot of the financial pressures off graduate students, and allow us to pursue our studies and our research without the added concern of how we're going to pay the rent or buy groceries."

PhD psychology student Eric Stouffer says he is relieved to now be able "to take the time to fully develop ideas and theories before any experimentation is done -- essential for good science."

Earning such a fellowship can also bolster a graduate student's self-confidence.

For mathematics and science master's student Olivier Dubois, "winning the fellowship brought a lot of motivation. People believe that I can produce original and useful research and that makes me more confident and determined."

All recipients agree that students should apply for anything and everything they are eligible for.

Daniella Checchin, a PhD student in pharmacology and therapeutics, encourages people to apply for specialized scholarships. "These are often restricted, making the actual pool of applicants smaller, but if you fit the selection criteria your odds are very good."

Graduate student Fanie Barnabe Heider, from the Brain Tumour Research Centre, concurs. "It is usually worth it to apply for [scholarships] even if chances are small that you'll get it." You might be wrong about the odds and, in any case, organizations that support graduate students need to be reminded that there is a lot of demand for that support.

Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Martha Crago salutes Tomlinson's generosity. "Tomlinson is a special donor in that he understands the needs of graduate students."

Says Stouffer, "You cannot invite the great young minds of the world, then tie their hands with limited financial support and expect them to produce greatness."

Maeve Haldane