Volunteer at MURC | Student Services

Volunteer for the conference

Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC) volunteers are important to the success of the conference. Volunteers are given the opportunity to network with other student leaders and researchers on campus and learn about the research being conducted by their peers.

Volunteers will be supported by the MURC Planning Committee and the UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning staff. If you are interested in applying, read the volunteer position description (pdf).

Volunteer applications for MURC 2025 will open on Dec 2, 2024 and close on Jan 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

About the volunteer role

Qualifications

The ability to work independently and as part of a team
Effective time management and organizational skills
Adaptability and openness to new experiences
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Interest in learning more about student development and research
Willingness to learn technological platforms that MURC will be hosted on
Previous experience navigating Zoom, Collaborate Ultra, and Canvas is an asset
Previous public speaking experience is an asset, but is not required
Able to commit to a mandatory training session

Experience in research is not required to apply.

Volunteer tasks

Event volunteers will be tasked with several roles, including:

Assisting with pre-conference preparations as required
Assisting with the facilitation, timing, and evaluation of presentations
Moderating presentation sessions and introducing presenters
Answering general inquiries from conference attendees and adjudicators
Providing any additional logistical assistance as needed

Anticipated learning outcomes

Teamwork and collaboration skills
Problem-solving and decision-making skills
Experience in running and logistically managing a large conference
Professional communication with peers, presenters and staff

Benefits and recognition

Opportunity to network with other student leaders on campus and work in a collaborative team with other volunteers
Opportunity to gain online events experience and learn about undergraduate research from a variety of disciplines at UBC
Letter of Service upon request
Panel and networking session with graduate student adjudicators to learn about different fields of research and get career advice or tips for getting involved with research
Optional professional development opportunities

Become an adjudicator

Adjudicators play a vital role at MURC by evaluating presentations and offering presenters valuable feedback. We invite upper-year undergraduates (third year and above) with research presentation experience, as well as graduate students enthusiastic about supporting student research, to apply for this role.

Expectations of the position

MURC stands apart from typical research conferences in 2 key ways. First, it serves as an entry point for undergraduate students to gain initial experience with research presentations. Second, MURC evaluations focus on how effectively students explain and justify their research, rather than on disciplinary expertise.

As an adjudicator, it's essential to understand the unique goals and format of MURC. To support this, all adjudicators must attend the mandatory workshop on Feb 27, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, in addition to adjudicating on Mar 15, 2025.

Qualifications

To provide our students with reliable, consistent and constructive feedback, adjudicators must meet the following qualifications:

Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Passion for supporting undergraduates in their research journey
Availability to attend the mandatory on Feb 27, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Available to adjudicate student presentations on March 15, 2025 at MURC
Positive and professional attitude to help students feel comfortable presenting
Undergraduate applicants must have experience presenting research projects, such as through course presentations, directed studies, symposiums, research fairs, and conferences

Benefits

Adjudicators benefit in several ways through participation:

Network with students, faculty, and staff at dedicated events
Develop critical skills in assessment and constructive feedback that are applicable in academic, research, and professional settings
Support and inspire undergraduate researchers by providing meaningful growth-oriented feedback

To learn more about the adjudication process or for any other questions about the conference, please contact undergraduate.research@ubc.ca.