Studying economics at McMaster? Someone wants to support you
Kirsten Saguil (Honours BA 2012) was the first recipient of a generous fellowship, funded by an anonymous donor and available to economics students.
Kirsten Saguil spent 15 weeks in the summer of 2011 analyzing a vast storehouse of data about charitable donations across Canada. It was only fitting, given that her research was funded by a charitable donation.
“I was very lucky. It opened my eyes to graduate school and career possibilities,” says Saguil, the first recipient of the A.A. Payne Research Fellowship, established two years ago by an anonymous donor.
Along with financial assistance, the fellowship gives students hands-on work experience in McMaster’s own Public Economics Data Analysis Laboratory (PEDAL), led by Professor A. Abigail Payne.
Thanks to a further gift from the same donor, the fellowship is now worth $15,000, up from the original $6,000. The expanded award will fund full-time research during the summer and part-time work over the fall and winter semesters.
Fellows will also gain invaluable advice and guidance from experienced business leaders from companies such as TD Securities, Bloomberg and KPMG.
“I can’t say enough about how it helped me,” says Saguil, who graduated from McMaster with an honours BA in economics in 2012.
Through the fellowship, Saguil gained valuable research experience and transferable career skills, and formed a mentoring relationship with Payne. Saguil also worked closely with graduate students, who in turn advised her on grad school applications. Now completing her master’s at Wilfrid Laurier University, she will soon begin full-time work with KPMG.
“Much of the success I’ve achieved so far is due to the Payne fellowship,” says Saguil.
Students have until Feb. 15 to apply for the scholarship. To be eligible, you must be registered full-time in the economics program at McMaster. You must also be eligible to work in Canada and have not received any other research fellowship, research assistantship or teaching assistantship during the period of this fellowship. Preference will be given to students who are finishing their third year.
Click here for more information on applying for the A.A. Payne Research Fellowship.
