NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards
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If you are an undergraduate student who'd like to get research experience in an academic setting, you should consider applying for an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA). Through these awards, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) subsidizes eligible professors to hire students to work on their research projects. The program creates interesting research-related jobs and gives you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.
Are you eligible for an award?
To be eligible to apply for an award, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Be registered (at the time you apply) in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university.
- Have obtained, over the previous years of study, a cumulative B- (68%) average or above.
- At the time of your award, have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor's degree.
- Not have started a graduate studies program in the natural sciences or engineering.
In addition:
- If you already hold a bachelor's degree and are studying toward a second bachelor's degree, you may still apply to this program.
- You may hold only one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
- You may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your university career.
- If you are a graduating student, you may hold an award in the term immediately following the completion of all requirements of your undergraduate program, regardless of your graduation date.
- Once you start working, you must be engaged, on a full-time basis, in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during the tenure of the award.
Who is not eligible?
You are not eligible for an undergraduate student research award if:
- You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN, B.Sc.Pharm.);or
- You hold higher degrees in the natural sciences or engineering.
How do you find USRA positions?
This depends on which faculty/department you want to work in. Note that in order to be eligible, a professor must hold an active NSERC research grant.
| Faculty | Faculty coordinator | Application deadline | Finding USRA positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Science |
Deborah Feduik |
Varies by department |
1. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 2. Check departmental websites for postings 3. Contact professors directly. |
| Arts | Darrin Lehman | March 9, 2012 | 1. Look for postings within the faculty. 2. Contact the Arts Faculty Coordinator. 3. Contact professors directly. |
| Education | Fran Harrison | March 9, 2012 | 1. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 2. Contact the Faculty Coordinator for more information. 3. Contact professors directly. |
| Forestry | Dan Naidu | March 2, 2012 | 1. Look for postings within the faculty. 2. Contact Dan Naidu in person at FSC 2604, by phone at 604.822.6177, or by email at dnaidu@forestry.ubc.ca. 3. Contact professors directly. |
| College for Interdisciplinary Studies | Linda Leathley | March 5, 2012 | 1. Look for postings within the faculty. 2. Contact professors directly. |
| Land and Food Systems | Samantha Turner | March 4, 2012 | 1. Look for postings within the faculty. 2. Contact professors directly. |
| Medicine | Debbie Giaschi | March |
1. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 2. Find more information on the 3. Contact professors directly. |
| Sauder School of Business | Annie Ko | March 9, 2012 | 1. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 2. Check out the CareersOnline job postings. 3. Contact the Sauder Faculty Coordinator. 4. Contact professors directly. |
| Science | |||
| Botany | Veronica Oxtoby | February 24, 2012 | 1. Contact the Botany Department Coordinator. 2. Contact professors directly. |
| Chemistry |
Wayne Mah |
February 1 |
1. Check out the 2. Contact the Chemistry Department Coordinator. 3. Contact professors directly. |
| Computer Science | Giuliana Villegas | February 29, 2012 | 1. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 2. Watch for email announcements by the department office. 3. Contact the Computer Science Student Services Coordinator. 4. Contact professors directly. |
| Earth and Ocean Sciences | Carol Leven | March 9, 2012 | 1. Watch for email announcements by the department office. 2. Check out the student club posting boards in EOS Main. 3. Contact the EOSC Department Coordinator. 4. Contact professors directly. |
| Math | Verni Brown | February 10, 2012 | 1. Find more information on the Mathematics Department's NSERC USRA page. 2. Contact the Math Department Coordinator. 3. Contact professors directly. |
| Microbiology and Immunology | William Ramey | March 9, 2012 | 1. Look for in-class announcements by professors in MICB 202, MICB 323, or MICB 324. 2. Check out the bulletin boards in the Wesbrook Building. 3. Contact the Microbiology and Immunology Department Coordinator. |
| Physics and Astronomy | Salena Li | January 30, 2012 | 1. Go to the Physics and Astronomy NSERC USRA page for specific departmental procedures and postings. 2. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 3. Watch for email announcements by the department. 4. Contact the Physics and Astronomy Department Coordinator. 5. Look for postings on bulletin boards in the Physics Building. 6. Contact professors directly. |
| Statistics | Andrea Sollberger | March 3, 2012 | 1. Watch for email announcements by the department's office. 2. Look for in-class announcements by professors. 3. Contact the Statistics Department Coordinator. 4. Contact professors directly. |
| Zoology | Alice Liou | February 24, 2012 | 1. Contact professors directly. |
How do you contact eligible professors?
Try to create your own research opportunity by contacting eligible professors you would like to work with and tell them about this program. Many professors will be happy to talk to you about the opportunity to hire you at a subsidized wage. If you find a professor who is interested, ask them to contact their department/faculty coordinator for more information and the application forms.
Here are some tips:
- Know what you are going to say: Be prepared to talk about your interests, knowledge areas, and lab or volunteer experience. Familiarize yourself with your professor's research subject so you can ask intelligent questions about it. This will show that you are genuinely interested in helping with the research.
- Bring a copy of your resumé.
- Print out the NSERC program rules for supervisors. Make sure you understand these rules and application procedures.
- Regardless of whether you get the position or not, thank the professor for their time. A thank you email would be a nice touch.
How do you apply?
- Students and supervisors must complete the online Form 202 (parts I and II) on the NSERC website by clicking "System Login" or, if you are a first-time user, "Register."
- Once you have found an eligible professor, you will have to complete an online Form 202 part I, and your potential supervisor will complete part II of Form 202. Forward your reference number to the supervisor you wish to work with.
- Instructions on how to complete the form can also be found online.
- You must also upload a copy of your official transcripts with your online Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award.
- Print out a copy of your completed Form 202 part I, and submit it to your supervisor or Department/Faculty Coordinator.
- Your Department/Faculty Coordinator will be in touch with your proposed project supervisor about the outcome of your application.
- NSERC will not accept hardcopy forms.
Value and payment of awards
- These awards have a value of $4,500. This amount will be reimbursed to your project supervisor's account at the end of your work tenure.
- Universities are required to supplement the amount of the award by at least 25% of its value using other sources such as university funds, NSERC grants, or any other research funds. Therefore, your minimum pay for the tenure of your award is $5,625.
- You will receive your payment from the university in accordance with its pay procedures. You will also receive a T4 or T4A slip (Statement of Income) for tax purposes.
- A travel allowance may also be granted if you take up the award at a university other than the one at which you are currently registered.
- NSERC will not reimburse the University for any period during which you worked part-time. No payment will be approved for any vacation leave you take during tenure of the award.
Duration of awards
- The minimum normal duration of the award is 16 consecutive weeks full time.
- Under exceptional circumstances, NSERC may approve awards for periods of less than 16 weeks.
- You can hold an award at any time during the year as permitted by your academic program (e.g., an award may be held concurrently with a co-op placement). Most work terms start in early May and end in late August.
Where can you hold your award?
An Undergraduate Student Research Award is tenable at any eligible Canadian university. Once NSERC has approved your award for tenure at one particular institution, you may not transfer it to another institution.
You must work under the supervision of a faculty member who holds an active NSERC research grant (e.g., research, strategic, research partnerships), either at the time you submit the application or when you hold the award.
Awards in industry
Some eligible Canadian companies can also participate in the NSERC USRA program. If you are interested, contact the company directly. Learn more by visiting the Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards Program website.
Travel allowances
NSERC may approve a travel allowance for the actual costs you incur to get to your host university if it is different from the one you are attending at the time of the award. The maximum allowance is an amount equivalent to economy airfare between the cities where the universities are located.
To request a travel allowance, contact your faculty coordinator.
Questions about NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards?
Contact your faculty coordinator if you have further questions. As a second resource, you can also contact:
604.822.
