The Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (RDC), the Crown corporation for improving R&D capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced a student research awards competition. The RDC Ocean Industries Research Awards are targeted at post-secondary students enrolled in science, engineering and technology programs who have an interest in pursuing research in the province's growing ocean industries sector.

The RDC Ocean Industries Research Awards are open to post-secondary students across Canada and internationally, who are interested in pursuing their studies and conducting leading edge research in Newfoundland and Labrador. Students who are studying and are interested in supervised research specific to offshore petroleum, ocean engineering, fisheries and aquaculture, and marine science are encouraged to apply.

"Through these research awards, we are nurturing the development of future researchers and attracting or retaining the talent required for the continued growth of ocean industries in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Glenn Janes, chief executive officer of the RDC. "The RDC Ocean Industries Research Awards target students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including master's and doctoral candidates. These researchers will play a critical role in fuelling R&D and meeting the need for highly qualified people required by industry," Janes added.

There are up to 20 student research awards available, at the undergraduate (diploma and bachelor's) and graduate (master's and doctoral) levels. Awards range in value from $20,000 to $30,000 per year at the graduate level, and $5,000 to $7,500 per year for undergraduate research.

The RDC Ocean Industries Research Awards are being funded through the Industrial Research and Innovation Fund, which is administered by the Research & Development Corporation. Selection of award candidates will be based on academic achievement, the technical merits of the proposed research plan and the relevance of the research to Newfoundland and Labrador's ocean industries. Final selection of award recipients will be made with advice from the RDC's research awards committee, comprised of academia, industry and government stakeholders in ocean industries.

Applications are available from the Research & Development Corporation at www.researchnl.com. The deadline for applications is May 5, 2010.

The Research & Development Corporation is a provincial Crown corporation that was established to improve Newfoundland and Labrador's R&D performance. The RDC works with R&D stakeholders including industry, academia and government agencies and departments. For more information about the RDC, go to www.researchnl.com.

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Media contact:

Libby Carew
Director, Marketing
Research & Development Corporation
709-758-0973, 728-6852
libbycarew@researchnl.com