Applications for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are now open.<\/p>\n
Administered by the federal government\u2019s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), USRA grants are meant to nurture students\u2019 interests in, and fully develop their potential for, a research career in the natural sciences and engineering.<\/p>\n
The grant program also aims to encourage undergrads to pursue graduate studies in those fields. NSERC and Brock University are encouraging qualified Indigenous students to apply for this award.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis funding sets the stage for mentorship, where gifted researchers share and model fundamental research skills and knowledge with those starting their research journey,\u201d says Brock\u2019s Vice-President, Research Tim Kenyon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis opportunity gives undergraduate students valuable professional experience that can launch them into a career in natural sciences and engineering,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Many students have made great strides with their USRA grant.<\/p>\n
For instance, Michael Finch (BSc \u201920)<\/a>, along with senior graduate students, was able to publish an article in the Journal of Applied Physiology<\/em> that reviewed an earlier paper. He and his team were supervised by Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Rebecca MacPherson.<\/p>\n The funding, valued at $6,000 plus supervisor contribution, provides 14 to 16 consecutive, full-time weeks of research employment that complements students\u2019 undergraduate studies in an academic setting. There are 23 grants available in this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n The application is a two-part process. Students fill out the USRA Application Form Part A<\/a>.<\/strong> Supervisors fill out the USRA Application Form Part B<\/a>.<\/strong> More details can be found in the USRA Applicant Guidelines for 2022-23<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The application deadline is Friday, <\/strong>Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.<\/strong> Recipients will be announced in March.<\/p>\n