The Innovation Challenge is a competitive program designed to foster innovation, research, creativity, and collaboration as students tackle real-world contemporary questions of importance in neuroscience and work together to develop a novel hypothesis and research proposal toward new solutions.
Congratulations to all the 2023-2024 finalists!
Favziya Rasulova, Yuden Dorji, Yvette Umutoniwase, Fatima Mohammed, and Mubina Rasul took first place for their research proposal “Investigating the Effects of Acetazolamide on Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) in a Simulated Microgravity Environment”.
Annika Griffith and Megan Olson took second place for their research proposal “The Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome and Neurodegenerative Diseases”.
Zenab Ariye, Sahra Mohamed, and Sharleen Mtesa took third place for their research proposal on “Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)”.
Eligibility
All Concordia undergraduate students are eligible. This includes students studying fields outside of neuroscience, first-year students, and those who have not yet conducted research. Students self-select into teams of two to four individuals.
Teams
There is no limit to the number of teams that can participate. Students are encouraged to seek team members with complementary strengths and experiences in order to leverage the advantage of multiple viewpoints, perspectives, and ideas.
Timeline
Early fall semester: Information meeting
Early October: Team registration, question selection
Early November: Checkpoint 1 – preliminary references, brief summary of topic
Early December: Checkpoint 2 – developed hypothesis and reference list, draft of research proposal
Late January: Checkpoint 3 – final hypothesis, reference list, and research proposal (URSCA PEAK eligible)
Mid-March: Checkpoint 4 – proposal presentation (up to 3 teams will be invited after Checkpoint 3 to present)
Benefits
Participants of the Innovation Challenge gain invaluable research experience, sharpen problem-solving skills, harness creativity, develop teamwork, and are eligible to earn an URSCA PEAK.
The program begins in October and finishes in March, giving students the flexibility to develop a schedule that works best for them.
Teams select one of the research question options to guide their work.
Students may seek mentorship from anyone they choose and receive feedback at each checkpoint.
The winning team will also share a cash prize.