Applications are being accepted for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA), which support short-term research employment for undergraduate students.

The program is supported by the Government of Canada’s three major granting agencies: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

USRAs are meant to nurture students’ interests in, and develop their potential for, a research career in the natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, or health care.

The funding — shared between the three agencies and the student’s supervisor with support from the Office of the Vice-President, Research — provides 14 to 16 consecutive, full-time weeks of research employment that complements students’ undergraduate studies in an academic setting.

Brock’s NSERC USRA allocation for 2025-26 includes 21 open awards, two awards for self-identified Black student researchers and an unlimited number for self-identified Indigenous student researchers.

Two SSHRC awards are available for self-identified Black student researchers and one award from CIHR is available for self-identified Black student researchers.

The application is a two-part process. Students must fill out the USRA Application Form Part A and NSERC Form 202 Part I. Supervisors must fill out the USRA Application Form Part B and NSERC Form 202 II.

Students must also provide up to date transcripts, a statement of academic standing and have their supervisor provide a letter of reference.

 Full requirements and instructions are contained within Brock’s 2025-26 USRA guidelines.

The application deadline is Monday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. No late applications will be accepted. Questions about the program can be directed to USRA Liaison Officer Tyler Weaver at [email protected]