Graduate Scholarship for Excellence in Memory Research

Value: $1,000

Description: The Graduate Scholarship for Excellence in Memory Research, funded by the Memory and Anxiety Research Foundation, Inc., is intended to support graduate-level research in the field of human memory, especially insofar as it relates to active forgetting or memory for distinctive events. The scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates: (1) academic excellence, (2) strong research potential, (3) community involvement, and (4) financial need.

Eligibility Criteria

Current Enrollment
- Applicants must be enrolled as a current graduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Field of Study
- Preference will be given to students in the Department of Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland, intending to study human populations. Applicants must be engaged in thesis research focused on active forgetting (broadly defined to include any work with a cognitive focus dealing with the control of unwanted thoughts or memories) or memory for distinctive events (broadly defined to include studies based on distinctive forms of encoding or memory for distinctive experiences). It is incumbent on the applicant to demonstrate their dedication to this research area in their submitted materials.
Academic Standing
- Applicants should have a strong academic record at both the undergraduate and graduate levels (as appropriate to their current academic level).
Research Potential
- The applicant’s current research or proposed research should relate meaningfully to the cognitive mechanisms involved in active forgetting or memory for distinctive events. This includes applied work focusing on how active forgetting or distinctive events contribute to human memory “in the wild” as well as basic laboratory research focusing instead on more fundamental applications. Meta-analyses are also welcome. Examples of previous research that fit the scope of this award include “Forgetting as a consequence of retrieval suppression: A meta-analytic review” (Clark et al., 2026) and “Generation (not production) improves the fidelity of visual representations in picture naming” (Whitridge et al., 2025).

Selection Criteria (Equally Weighted)

Academic Excellence (30% Weight)
- As demonstrated by transcripts, GPA, and academic achievements.
Research Potential (30% Weight)
- The applicant’s research potential is evidenced by a solid track record of academic productivity—which may include any of the following: peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and research assistantships—as well as the significance of their ongoing or proposed work in active forgetting or memory for distinctive events.
Community Involvement (30% Weight)
- Engagement in activities, volunteer work, or initiatives that benefit peers, the university, or the community at large. Special attention will be paid to knowledge translation, media engagements, outreach or other associated activities related to the field of cognitive psychology.
Financial Need (10% Weight)
- Applicants should outline the need for financial assistance and how receiving this scholarship would make a difference. Need comes in many forms, and it is incumbent on the applicant to explain their need within their materials (please limit to the Financial Need Form described below). All identifying information will be removed from the Financial Need Form by the committee chair before it is provided to student members of the selection committee.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following documents:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Include relevant academic achievements (e.g., awards or scholarships), research experience, conference presentations, publications, volunteer work, and community involvement.
Unofficial Transcripts
- Undergraduate and Graduate transcripts at all institutions attended over the past 10 years are requested for consideration.
Cover Letter (1–2 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font.)
- Briefly summarize your application. We recommend your letter highlight your academic background, research interests, and their relevance to active forgetting or memory for distinctive events, as well as provide context on your career goals and commitment to advancing knowledge surrounding human memory.
Financial Need Form
- Please complete the Financial Need Form (see Appendix below) to help us understand your current financial circumstances. The form includes a checklist of relevant financial factors, an estimate of your expected funding, and a brief written section describing how this scholarship would support your goals.
- Please do not include your name or any identifying information in this form. All responses will be reviewed by the selection committee, with any identifying information removed by the committee chair before review by student members. You do not need to submit any financial documents.
- Note: Sharing information about your financial situation in the Financial Need Form is optional, and you may choose how much detail to provide—or whether to include this section at all. However, please be aware that financial need accounts for 10% of the overall selection criteria. If you do not submit a Financial Need Form, you will receive a score of 1/5 in this category, which may affect your overall ranking.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Considerations (Optional; 1 page maximum)
- As part of our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, applicants are invited to share any relevant personal experiences or systemic barriers they may have faced in their academic journey. This may include, but is not limited to, considerations related to ethnicity, Indigeneity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other aspects of identity or lived experience that have shaped access to opportunities.
- Providing this information is voluntary. It may help the committee better understand the applicant’s context, resilience, and the significance of their academic and community contributions. All identifying information will be removed from the EDI Considerations Statement by the committee chair before it is provided to student members of the selection committee.

Submission Guidelines

Deadline: May 31^st, 2026

Method of Submission: All documents should be emailed as PDF attachments to memoryandanxietyresearch@gmail.com.

Subject Line or Reference: “Scholarship for Excellence in Memory Research – [Applicant’s Name]”

All documents must be submitted by the posted deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Award Administration

Notification of Results: The successful applicant will be notified via email. We aim to announce the recipient prior to August 31^st of the current year.

Use of Funds: Scholarship funds are intended to support the recipient’s educational goals, broadly defined to include tuition, academic materials, and reasonable living expenses.

Future Committee Engagement: As a part of the award acceptance process, the recipient agrees to serve on the selection committee for this award for a minimum of one (1) year and up to a maximum of two (2) years. In this way, the recipient will help select future recipients. Please note that award recipients serving on the committee will not be eligible to apply for this award during their committee term.

Payment of Funds: Scholarship funds will be issued to the recipient by cheque. Further details regarding payment logistics, including timing and collection options, will be provided at the time of award notification.

Memory and Anxiety Research Foundation