What we offer – training overview
The training program includes two main components. Graduate research trainees develop both technical and transdisciplinary research skills and career transition support.
1. Horizontal Competencies Training—Build cross-cutting research and engagement skills
This component helps trainees work across disciplines, engage with communities and turn research into real-world impact. Training is offered in three themes:
Gain essential tools to conduct rigorous, high-quality research. Learn the foundations of research design, data management, and academic writing. Strengthen your ability to apply for funding, teach effectively, and synthesize knowledge. This theme prepares trainees for both academic and applied research careers.
Build the ability to collaborate across fields and with community partners. Focus on inclusive research design, design thinking and clear communication of complex ideas. Learn how to engage ethically and meaningfully with diverse communities, including Indigenous and underrepresented groups.
Explore how to move research beyond the lab. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to translate ideas into innovations through partnerships, policy engagement, or commercialization. Understand intellectual property, regulatory environments and how to scale up solutions through funding and collaboration.
2. Career Transition Support—Prepare for diverse paths within and beyond academia
This component supports research trainees in aligning their academic experience with future professional goals.
Reflect on your values, interests, and strengths. Set career goals and track your progress over time.
Explore career options and build key professional skills. Improve your resume, practice interviews and connect with professionals across sectors.
Apply what you’ve learned in real-world settings through internships, consulting challenges, or job shadowing.
Volt-Age's training program is designed to support the core research activities of students through two additional components: horizontal competencies training (including technical research skills, transdisciplinary research skills and research-to-impact strategies) and enveloping that, career transition support (including goal-setting, Career Connect and hands-on experiences).
Interactive workshops
Workshops are an integral part of our researcher training program.
