Vanier scholar reflects on importance of award

In May 2009, Elsayed Ali was one of Carleton University’s inaugural recipients of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship worth a total of $150,000 over three years.

“The Vanier award made all the difference as it allowed me to focus more on my research without worrying about financial issues, particularly as I have a family with a child,” says Ali. “The expectations for a Vanier scholar have been a strong motive for me to always do my best.”

Ali is now in the last few months of his PhD. Upon completion of his doctorate, he will start his residency training in the Medical Physics Department at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre in September 2012.

Since beginning his doctoral research in September 2007, Ali has been working to develop an accurate and cost-effective method to determine the energy distribution of photon beams, which are used for the radiation treatment of cancer patients. Currently, the tool has been built and validated using the Ionizing Radiation Standards’ unique facilities at the National Research Council in Ottawa.

In the near future, Ali plans to measure clinical machines using his validated tool. He and his supervisor have made arrangements with The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and the McGill University Health Centre to perform such measurements.

Read a Carleton University article about Elsayed Ali, and watch a video produced by the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program.