Summer Student Research Program

Interested in academic research? Looking to pursue graduate studies? Start gaining research experience now by participating in the Summer Student Research Program!

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to complete a paid work term during the summer terms conducting research with faculty supervision. Over the course of the program, students will work within a research team and present a poster of their activities at the SSRP Poster competition, held at the start of a new academic year.

Faculty Stipend Funding Programs 

Although all eligible undergraduate students can apply to the SSRP, the Faculty has two different undergraduate summer student funding programs that project supervisor(s)-student pairs may be eligible for: 

Indigenous Undergraduate SSRP (IU-SSRP) Funding Program
Through the IU-SSRP, project supervisors can receive funding to hire eligible Indigenous undergraduate students to work on their research projects. This year, funding is available to support two (2) eligible students at the BC minimum wage for up to 16 weeks on a full-time basis. 

Enhanced Opportunities Undergraduate SSRP (EOU-SSRP) Funding Program
EOU-SSRP provides project supervisors funding to hire eligible undergraduate students from underrepresented communities. This year, funding is available to support one (1) eligible student at the BC minimum wage for up to 16 weeks on a full-time basis.

Students who wish to compete for these awards will be an undergraduate student who self-identifies as:

  • Indigenous;
  • Black or Person of Colour;
  • 2SLGBTQIA+;
  • Person with Disabilities;
  • First Generation Student (i.e., the first person in your family to attend higher education);
  • From a rural/remote or other area that is geographically underserved in terms of access to higher education.

For those students who have self-identified as Indigenous or from underrepresented communities on the Application Form, this opportunity will be discussed at the project supervisor(s)/students interview phase of the application process (please see Application Details, Step 5 section below).

The IU-SSRP and EOU-SSRP funding programs are competitive and eligible to be listed as an honour in your CV. We highly encourage students who self-identify within these categories to apply. Students who are accepted for other stipend funding competitions may not be eligible for this funding.

SSRP Application Deadline: February 15, 2024, 4:00 pm PST

Application Details

Eligibility

The SSRP is open to undergraduate students in good standing at a Canadian university in a related bachelor's degree program, for example: pharmacy, basic sciences, applied sciences, health sciences, materials science, engineering, statistics, economics, medicine, nursing, and more. Students enrolled in an Entry-to-Practice PharmD degree program are also eligible.

Note: Pharmacy students—your clerkship can be accommodated within SSRP. For example, you are not required to work for 12 consecutive weeks as an SSRP participant.

In accordance with UBC HR hybrid work guidelines, students are required to work in British Columbia, Canada. Remote and on-campus work is subject to the same regulatory and statutory obligations.

How to apply?

Step 1: Review the SSRP Project Descriptions (see bottom of page—SSRP Project List) to determine which projects you are most interested in.

Step 2: Complete and submit your application electronically. Applicants should submit application packages via the online application system found here by February 15, 2024, 4:00 pm PST. In addition to completing the application fields via the online application portal, the following materials will need to be uploaded to the online portal as a single PDF file with the following file naming convention (LAST_FIRST NAME-2024-SSRP).

  1. SSRP Research Statement (1 page maximum, double spaced, 12-point font). Describe why you are interested in participating in this research program, what you hope to gain from your participation in this program and how this opportunity will contribute to you achieving your current and/or future educational and/or career goals.
  2. Current curriculum vitae highlighting your education, awards/honours, skills, and science-related experience.
  3. A downloaded unofficial version of your current university transcripts (UBC students through the Student Services Centre, Grades Summary Screen). Transcripts must include your name and average grades summary for all courses.

Step 3: Project supervisor(s)/students interview phase. 

  1. Student applications are sent to project supervisor(s) for review.  
  2. Project supervisor(s) will contact the student to arrange interviews. It is recommended that interested students contact project supervisor(s) directly to discuss opportunity. 
  3. Project supervisor(s)/student are encouraged to discuss project duration, expectations, schedules, and timelines in advance of agreeing to work together. 
  4. Successful project supervisor(s)/student pairing is made.

Step 4: Application to IU-SSRP and EOU-SSRP funding programs.
If the student is eligible to apply for the IU-SSRP and EOU-SSRP funding programs, a project supervisor(s)/student pair must then complete and submit the Application for Indigenous Undergraduate-SSRP or Enhanced Opportunities Undergraduate-SSRP Funding Form and submit via email to Litsa Blanis at pharmsci.ssrp@ubc.ca by March 20, 2024, 4:00 pm PST. Only one project supervisor(s)-student pair funding application will be accepted per program.

IU-SSRP and EOU-SSRP Funding Application Deadline: March 20, 2024, 4:00 pm PST

SSRP Research Project List

Please note the date of the Project List and check back periodically to ensure you have the most current version, as additional projects may be added before the application deadline.

Project List

Timeline

  • January: Launch of 2024 SSRP competition.
  • February 15, 2024, 4:00 pm PST: SSRP Application Deadline.
  • Mid-February–March: Project supervisor(s) application review/student interview phase; successful pairings/job offers are made; end of application process if not applying for IU-SSRP and EOU-SSRP Funding Programs.
  • March 20, 2024, 4:00 pm PST: IU-SSRP and EOU-SSRP Funding Application Deadline for eligible project supervisor(s)/student pairs. 
  • Late March–Early April: IU and EOU SSRP Awards Review Committee meets to review IU and EOU-SSRP applications and make funding decisions.
  • Early April: IU and EOU SSRP Funding Notice of Decisions are distributed to applicants.
  • May–August: Summer work term.

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) Program

Are you an undergraduate student enrolled in a bachelor's degree program with an interest in working on research and development projects at a university? If you answered yes, you may be eligible to apply for an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA). Through these awards, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) subsidizes eligible faculty members to hire students to work on their research projects. These awards can be held in the summer term (May 1–August 31).

Faculty of Pharm Sci NSERC-USRA Application Deadline: February 28, 2024, 4:00 pm PST

Learn more

Program Contacts

SSRP Coordinator: Dr. Ricky Turgeon
SSRP Administrator: Litsa Blanis


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