Posted on June 22: Prestigious research opportunity for student with top score

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Amy_Latimer_opt.jpg” caption=”Amy Latimer”]A McMaster University student is headed to Yale University to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship after receiving a rare “perfect score” on her application from a Canadian funding agency.

Amy Latimer, a PhD student in McMaster's Department of Kinesiology, plans to use the two-year fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to study health communication strategies at Yale's Health, Emotion and Behaviour Laboratory.

“I'm very excited about this opportunity to build on my current research interests in a large lab that receives a lot of international profile,” says Latimer. “My family and my colleagues here are just thrilled.”

The Ottawa native, who also completed her Masters degree at McMaster, wrapped up her PhD this spring. Most recently she's made headlines with her research supervisor and associate professor in kinesiology, Kathleen Martin Ginis for their work in identifying and promoting the benefits of exercise for people with spinal cord injuries.

Latimer says working at the Yale laboratory, led by psychology professor Peter Salovey, will also give her an opportunity to expand her scope as an interdisciplinary researcher. The lab's research currently focuses on motivating healthy behaviours such as healthy eating, cancer prevention, and mammography promotion, with research spanning cognitive, social and health psychology.

The SSHRC application process requires a two-page written proposal outlining past and present research experience and proposed research activities, as well as letters of reference from the applicant's current supervisor, an expert in the area, and the potential supervisor.

“This award is reflective of the incredible accomplishments Amy has
achieved in graduate school,” says Martin Ginis. “I didn't think 30 out of 30 was possible on these applications, but Amy's work has obviously earned recognition and respect both inside and outside of McMaster.”

Of 270 SSHRC postdoctoral research fellowship applicants, only 66 received awards. All scored 22.9 or higher on their applications.

Latimer is the former president of the Kinesiology Graduate Body. She plays varsity water polo and coaches Special Olympics swimming. Following the completion of her fellowship Latimer hopes to return to Canada to work as a professor.