Artificial intelligence (AI), computational science, and automation are revolutionizing the way science is conducted. This revolution will be disruptive, increasing productivity and reshaping the labour force. If students in traditional science and engineering disciplines do not receive the interdisciplinary training required to leverage AI and automation to advance their research, they will be left behind, and Canada’s innovation economy will lag that of leading global competitors.

CREATE for Accelerated Discovery (AccelD) is a national training program that prepares trainees for a new era of accelerated scientific discovery, where artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and self‑driving laboratories (SDLs) fundamentally change how materials and molecules are designed, made, and tested.

The program brings together trainees from across disciplines and institutions to build technical expertise, professional skills, and interdisciplinary perspectives needed for careers in academia, industry, government, and emerging innovation ecosystems.

AccelD equips participants with the skills, perspectives, and professional networks needed to contribute and lead within research environments shaped by AI, automation, and accelerated discovery.

Participants join a national training network spanning multiple universities, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and community building across institutions and sectors.

Learning experiences may include workshops, short courses, and activities focused on:

• self‑driving lab concepts and AI‑enabled discovery workflows

• responsible discovery and values‑based research frameworks

• environmental and social sustainability, including lifecycle considerations

• inclusive leadership for diverse and collaborative teams

• science communication and creative approaches to knowledge mobilization

• innovation management and entrepreneurship

In addition, participants may be eligible for:

• mobility experiences with academic, industry, or other sector partners

• co‑curricular recognition on the University of Toronto’s Co‑Curricular Record (where applicable)

Participation in AccelD is possible with or without stipend support, depending on eligibility and availability.

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AccelD is designed around a four‑pillar accelerated discovery research framework that reflects how modern scientific discovery can be approached as an integrated, end‑to‑end process.

Program participants are involved in research that addresses challenges across one or more of these pillars, depending on their background, research focus, and stage of training. Together, these pillars support a holistic approach to accelerated, responsible scientific discovery.

Design

The Design pillar focuses on using computational tools, data‑driven methods, and artificial intelligence to propose new materials, molecules, and experimental strategies. Research in this pillar includes model development, hypothesis generation, and responsible use of AI to guide discovery.

Make

The Make pillar addresses how designs are realized experimentally. This includes research related to synthesis workflows, experimental automation, robotics, and scalable or reproducible approaches to creating materials and molecules.

Test

The Test pillar focuses on characterization, measurement, and data generation. Research in this pillar includes high‑throughputexperimentation, analytical methods, data quality, and integrating experimental results into iterative discovery workflows.

Functional Materials

The Functional Materials pillar connects discovery workflows to application spaces and real‑world challenges. Research in this pillar explores how accelerated discovery can be applied to areas such as sustainability, energy, health, and advanced materials, while considering broader societal, ethical, and environmental contexts.

Eligible Trainees

Applications are welcome from undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows registered or affiliated with one of the following participating institutions:

• University of Toronto

• Université de Montréal

• University of British Columbia

• University of New Brunswick

• McMaster University

Applicants may come from Natural Sciences and Engineering (NSE) disciplines as well as non‑NSE disciplines that meaningfully contribute to accelerated discovery (e.g., data science, automation, policy, ethics, business, or design).

Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows must be supervised by a Full or Affiliate Member of the Acceleration Consortium at a participating institution listed above. Undergraduate students do not require an Acceleration Consortium‑affiliated supervisor to participate.

CREATE Studentships & Fellowships

Trainees may participate in the AccelD program with or without applying for a program stipend. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows may apply for a studentship or fellowship through the AccelD CREATE program to provide stipend support of up to $15,000 per year for up to two years. Stipend support is competitive, limited, and subject to institutional allocations.

Trainees holding a Mitacs Elevate Fellowship are not eligible for AccelD stipend support.

How to Apply

Applications for 2025 are closed and will reopen in the summer of 2026 for a fall intake.

We encourage all trainees affiliated with the Acceleration Consortium to participate in the AccelD training program. To be eligible to participate in AccelD activities, with or without a stipend, you must complete anapplication form.

Full details on application components, deadlines, selection criteria, and program requirements are outlined in the program guidelines below.

AccelD is delivered through the Acceleration Consortium and involves a multidisciplinary, multi‑institutional team.

AccelD Leadership

• Christine Allen (co-lead) (U of T)

• Carlos Silva (co-lead) (UdeM)

AccelD Team Members

• Alán Aspuru-Guzik (U of T)

• Stijn De Baerdemacke (UNB)

• Glen Berseth (UdeM)

• Avi Goldfarb (U of T)

• Rodrigo Alejandro Vargas Hernandez (McMaster)

• Jason Hein (UBC)

• M Murphy (U of T)

• Audrey Laventure (UdeM)

• Helen Tran (U of T)

• Arnold Koroshegyi (U of T)

CREATE for Accelerated Discovery is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and is supported by the Acceleration Consortium, which is funded through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

Objective 1: Accelerated discovery - linking scientific discovery with AI and automation. Conventional natural sciences and engineering curricula do not offer training at the intersection of AI and robotics, and most graduate students are trained in labs that have not adopted sophisticated AI and automation approaches, let alone SDLs. The AccelD program will provide training in relevant areas, including AI for materials discovery and optimization, AI-driven experimental planning, data management, robotics, and laboratory integration.

Objective 2: Responsible discovery. As we accelerate the discovery of materials, it is essential to fully consider their social, economic, and environmental impacts. Are these materials sustainable throughout their entire lifecycle, from cradle to grave? Do they provide broad social and economic benefits—or could they cause indirect harm? AccelD will equip HQP with the ability to conceptualize and implement ethical approaches to discovery, ensuring that materials R&D is sustainable.

Objective 3: Leadership and mobilizing the benefits of accelerated discovery. Supporting the adoption of AI, automation, and accelerated discovery methodologies by Canadian industry will take more than graduating HQP with these skills. AccelD will provide participants with training in leadership and tools for effective science communication and knowledge mobilization (KM) so they can promote the uptake and manage integration of accelerated approaches into academic and industrial research operations.

2. CREATE Members

We encourage all trainees affiliated with the Acceleration Consortium to participate in the AccelD training programs.

• To be eligible to participate in AccelD programs, you need to register.

• To be eligible for a completion certificate and to request a Co-Curricular Record (CCR). You need to complete the requirements in the table below or demonstrate you have received equivalent training.

For detailed information on eligibility, application requirements, stipend rules, and program expectations, please consult the AccelD Program Guidelines.

For general inquiries, contact the AccelD team at acceleration.create@utoronto.ca.