University of Alberta Undergrad Research

Here's what [Catherine Hynes] found about what the U of A has going on:

The U of A Undergraduate Research Initiative (Launched Sept. 2011)

“The URI has four main functions:

1. To raise students’ awareness of and interest in undergraduate research.
2. To support students in developing the knowledge and skills needed for participation in undergraduate research.
3. To facilitate opportunities for students to engage in undergraduate research.
4. To assist students in disseminating and celebrating undergraduate research results and achievements.”

-Discusses importance of defining what undergraduate research is (sciences, social sciences, humanities, and fine arts all differ)

-URI has an online database of opportunities “From paid research positions to methodology courses, the Inventory gathers all different types of research opportunities and activities in one place for your viewing pleasure”

-Also suggests that undergraduates “try to think more broadly than just mentored research options - other possibilities include:

·       Research-based courses (e.g. BIOL 299 - Research Opportunity Program)

·       Independent/directed-study courses (e.g. W ST 401 - Directed Readings in Women's Studies)

·       Honors or specialization majors that require final projects or dissertations

·       Fieldwork with a faculty member during the spring or summer

·       Research assistant positions (paid or volunteer) with a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow or graduate student

·       Internship placements with organizations (e.g. Faculty of Science Industrial Internship Program)

·       Supervised research awards (e.g. Roger S. Smith Undergraduate Student Research Award)

·       Community service-learning courses (e.g. CSL 350/360)

·       International placements (e.g. RISE: Research Internships in Science & Engineering)

·       Volunteering (e.g. in a research lab, for a community organization, with a graduate student)”

-URI website describes how to approach a professor about working with them as a research assistant

-URI hosts events like workshops on how to write a conference abstract, or how to design a research poster

-Lists internal funding available to those interested in pursuing undergraduate research (for example, summer awards to pursue a specific project)

-3 undergraduate research journals at U of A: Eureka (science), Constellations (history), and The Agora (political science)

The U of A also has an undergraduate research symposium:

http://www.su.ualberta.ca/governance/executives/projects/urs/