U of T ENGINEERING

BioZone

CREATE for BioZone

CREATE for BioZone connects bioscience and bioengineering researchers with experts in leadership, entrepreneurship, law, and Open Science training.

This NSERC-funded training program, awarded in 2018, produces graduates with the dynamic, adaptable skills Canada needs to contribute to the global circular bioeconomy. CREATE for BioZone provides stipends and mobility opportunities for BioZone graduate students, while trainees from all associated research groups can take part in CREATE workshops and seminars.

Training Program Overview

Growing Canada's biotech sector will require students to possess more than technical excellence. This CREATE program addresses three skill gaps that equips our students to become leaders in the bioeconomy sector.

  • Data fluency - skills to manage and share enormous amounts of data generated by genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and sensor technology.

  • Innovation in entrepreneurship and idea-generation - knowledge transfer skills, open science principles, entrepreneurship approaches and provides researchers with the space to incubate their technologies.

  • Communication and leadership skills - how to communicate science to non-technical audiences, and how to promote authentic leadership and an inclusive culture.

Benefits for participants

The CREATE program provides participants with the skills needed to lead Canada's transition to a sustainable circular bioeconomy. Learning experiences include workshops in:

  • Accelerating innovation through open science and novel business models.
  • Improving data fluency through programming and using, sharing and visualizing large omics datasets.
  • Evaluation of biotechnologies using TEA and LCA methodologies.
  • Science communication and leadership training.

CREATE participants are also eligible for:

  • International research exchange funding.
  • Funds to support company creation.
  • Co-Curricular Record (CCR) accreditation.
A researcher works at a biotech lab bench.

CREATE Highlights

  • 54 trainees supported

  • 40 workshops held at BioZone

  • 13 trainee research exchanges

  • 11 Program Committee members from academia, industry, and government

Learn more

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