Co-op Work Term 2, Fall 2024

Summary:
As a Research Services Student Assistant at TRIUMF, I contributed to international collaboration efforts and enhanced grant administration processes. Key achievements include developing a presentation for the Horizon Europe program and streamlining NSERC grant proposal tracking.

Full Description:
During my work term at TRIUMF, I engaged in projects that emphasized the importance of effective research administration and international collaboration. One major task involved creating a presentation for the Horizon Europe program to showcase TRIUMF’s capabilities to potential EU partners. This required compiling information about cutting-edge facilities like ISAC-I and tools such as bNMR and GRIFFIN, and presenting it in a way that resonated with an international audience.

Key Accomplishments:
1. Developed and delivered a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation for dissemination to international research institutions as a part of the Horizon Europe program, showcasing TRIUMF’s cutting-edge physics and life sciences research facilities such as ISAC-I, bNMR, and GRIFFIN.

2. Facilitated the first of two webinars with Horizon Europe representatives, successfully engaging over two dozen TRIUMF researchers with potential funding opportunities to solve some of the greatest challenges by 2030, such as climate change, cancer and ocean restoration.

3. Coordinated a Q&A session between a team of TRIUMF scientists and the Canadian National Contacts of Horizon Europe to align TRIUMF’s isotope therapy research with Horizon Europe’s health-related priorities in the 2025 cycle.

General Learning Significance:
This work term has been pivotal in advancing my professional and personal growth. I learned how to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively to diverse audiences, a skill that is crucial in research administration. Enhancing data management processes also strengthened my analytical and organizational abilities.

The alignment between this role and my academic background in International Relations and Law & Society became clear as I applied my understanding of global partnerships and funding mechanisms to real-world scenarios. This experience reaffirmed my career interest in research administration, particularly in roles involving grant funding and international collaboration.