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.
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
- 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
- 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. Adjudicators cannot present at MURC 2025.
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 workshop 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.