Undergraduate Summer Research Internships (USRI)
The Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internships (USRI) program provides undergraduate students with engaged research experiences and opportunities to learn new research methods and techniques alongside faculty mentors. It also helps develop skills in preparation for future careers.
USRI students and supervisors will receive access to a wide range of professional development sessions to support their research work, and career development, and gain exposure to new approaches to research dissemination, etc. At the end of the summer, students and faculty are expected to share their research with the broader campus community during a virtual exhibition event.
Value and Duration:
- Value: $9,268
- Duration: 16-week period
Kindly take note that Western Research will reimburse $7,414 for each student who completed their obligations to the 16-week program. Additionally, USRI supervisors are required to contribute a minimum top-up of $1,854 to the award stipend, resulting in a total award amount of $9,268.
Deadline:
The USRI Deadline is February 26, 2024, by/before 4 PM.
Students:
In collaboration with their faculty supervisor students
- will develop and produce a research project.
- participate in at least four professional development workshops.
- present their final research output at the end of summer (e.g., poster, blog, video, etc.).
Award recipients are expected to spend 16 weeks between May 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024, to work on a jointly created research project with their faculty supervisor, with established milestones, deliverables and clearly defined outcomes.
Supervisor:
- Participate in at least one EDI-D workshop shared as a part of the Professional Development sessions.
- Support the development of the research output.
To meet the goals of this program, faculty mentors should set clear expectations with their USRI student about the commitment required for successful outcomes. Award recipients should devote the same or similar amount of time to their research project, as aligned with other members of the research team.
Eligibility:
Students
- Must have been enrolled at Western in an undergraduate program in Winter and should be planning to attend Western in the Fall.
Supervisor
- Must hold a research-eligible appointment at the Faculty of Education.
- Joint appointment faculty members should apply through primary Faculty.
- Co-supervisors do not need to hold a research-eligible appointment at Western.
Application Streams:
Matched Stream
- Students and supervisors seeking to collaborate on a research project submit joint applications.
Unmatched Stream
- Students apply individually, and the department matches them with suitable supervisors and projects based on shared interests
