In support of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, we have transitioned all services to online delivery. If you have any questions about the NSERC USRA, please email nserc.usra@ubc.ca or phone 604-827-2937, from 9 AM - 4 PM Monday through Friday.
If you are an undergraduate student who'd like to get research experience in an academic setting, you should consider applying for an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA). Through these awards, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) subsidizes eligible professors to hire students to work on interesting research-related jobs and projects.
Be registered, as of the deadline date for applications at the university, in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university
Have obtained, over the previous years of study, a minimum cumulative B- (68%) average
Have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor's degree
Have been registered in at least one of the two terms immediately previous to holding the award in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university. The terms of an academic year are: Summer (May 1 to Aug 31), Fall (Sep 1 to Dec 31), Winter (Jan 1 to Apr 30). Registration in either one of the two summer sessions will count as registration in that term.
Not have started a graduate studies program in the natural sciences or engineering at any time
Not have held a previous USRA in this fiscal year (Apr 1 to Mar 31), or more than 2 previous USRA awards in total
Be engaged on a full-time basis in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during the tenure of the award
You may hold only one university USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
You may hold a maximum of three university USRAs throughout your undergraduate university career.
You should not receive academic credits for the work done during the term of a USRA. Students may take a maximum of one course if special arrangements to make up the time under supervision have been made with the supervisor.
You are not eligible for an Undergraduate Student Research Award if:
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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UBC-V: Gayatri Thakor gayatri.thakor@ubc.ca |
March 12, 2020 |
Contact professors directly Refer to your Department-Specific Information |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Marcy Caouette arts.awards@ubc.ca |
February 21, 2020 |
1. Contact the USRA Coordinator |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Undergraduate Program undergraduate.program@geog.ubc.ca |
February 21, 2020 |
1. Contact the USRA Coordinator |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Psychology Undergraduate Program undergrad@psych.ubc.ca |
February 21, 2020 |
1. Contact the USRA Coordinator |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Ingrid Ellis iellis@dentistry.ubc.ca |
February 24, 2020 |
Contact professors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Robert Olaj robert.olaj@ubc.ca |
March 6, 2020 |
Submit application directly to USRA Coordiantors NOTE: The Faculty of Education is not receiving NSERC-USRA applications for the 2020 - 21 cycle. |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Chiara Longhi chiara.longhi@ubc.ca |
March 9, 2020 |
Apply online and ensure that a copy of all non-UBC transcripts are sent to the USRA Coordinator |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Dr. Jean-Sebastien Blouin jean-sebastien.blouin@ubc.ca Fran Harrison fran.harrison@ubc.ca |
March 6, 2020 |
Submit application directly to USRA Coordinators |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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David Kitts david.kitts@ubc.ca Baohua Wang baohua.wang@ubc.ca lfs.nserc-usra@ubc.ca |
March 6, 2020 |
Instructions for students in terms of how to apply for the award will be posted on the faculty website |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Dr. Debbie Giaschi fom.nserc.usra@ubc.ca |
February 27, 2020 |
1. Find more information on the Faculty of Medicine's NSERC USRA page 2. Contact eligible supervisors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Dr. Sarah Hedtrich sarah.hedtrich@ubc.ca |
February 17, 2020 |
1. Contact eligible supervisors directly before filling out the NSERC USRA application. 2. Submit a paper copy of your NSERC USRA application (signatures not needed) with your SSRP application by the SSRP deadline - visit our website for information on how to apply to the program. |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Stuart Donald info@coe.ubc.ca |
March 6, 2020 |
1. Look for in-class announcements by professors 2. Contact the Sauder Coordinator to find a supervisor 3. Contact professors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Alice Liou alice.liou@botany.ubc.ca |
February 20, 2020 |
Contact professors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Wayne Mah undergrad@chem.ubc.ca |
January 30, 2020 |
Go to the Chemistry NSERC USRA website for application instructions |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Ana K. Drole undergrad-admin@cs.ubc.ca |
February 11, 2020 at 4 PM |
Applications for students can be found here. |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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inquiries@eos.ubc.ca |
March 6, 2020 at 9 AM |
1. Complete the online application Form 202 - Part I on the NSERC website. You will need to upload a copy (front and back) of your official transcript. 2. Have your proposed faculty supervisor complete Form 202 - Part II on the NSERC website. You are responsible for seeking out a faculty supervisor. 3. Print a copy of your completed Form 202 - Part I, including submitted transcripts. Have your faculty supervisor print a copy of the completed Form 202 - Part II. Submit both to ESB 2020. |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Eden Fellner e.fellner@oceans.ubc.ca |
February 26, 2020 |
Contact professors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Stefanie Ickert stefanie.ickert@ubc.ca Kelsey Robertson kelsey.robertson@ubc.ca |
February 24, 2020 |
Contact professors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Jenny Liddie ugrad-coord@math.ubc.ca |
February 7, 2020 |
Find out more information, look for available projects and how to apply for a research position on the Mathematics Department's NSERC USA page. |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Dr. David (Dave) Oliver dcoliver@mail.ubc.ca |
February 15, 2020 |
Find more information on the Department of Microbiology and Immunology’s summer studentship information page |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Kirsty Dickson ugcoord@phas.ubc.ca |
January 31, 2020 |
Refer to the Physics and Astronomy NSERC USRA page for specific departmental procedures and postings |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Nicholas Geers gradinfo@stat.ubc.ca |
February 21, 2020 |
1. Check the Statistics Summer Research Assistant webpage for a list of available projects and further details. |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Shandra Stephenson coordinator@zoology.ubc.ca |
February 20, 2020 |
Contact professors directly |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Dr. Tanya Forneris tanya.forneris@ubc.ca |
February 28, 2020 |
Please visit our URSA award page for instructions and links to the NSERC website Eligible Grant Holder List - Health and Exercise Sciences-UBCO |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Dr. John Klironomos john.klironomos@ubc.ca Julie Martin julie.martin@ubc.ca |
January 27, 2020 at 4 PM |
Please see our IKBSAS website with instructions Eligible Grant Holder List - IKB School of Arts and Sciences-UBCO |
| USRA Coordinator | Application Deadline | Finding USRA Positions |
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Samantha Luckow samantha.luckow@ubc.ca |
February 28, 2020 |
Contact professors directly Refer to the Faculty Directory to find a potential supervisor |
Try to create your own research opportunity by contacting eligible professors you would like to work with and tell them about this program. Many professors will be happy to talk to you about the opportunity to hire you at a subsidized wage. If you find a professor who is interested, ask them to contact their USRA Coordinator for more information.
Here are some tips:
Review the information for students handout to better understand the application process.
The NSERC USRA program is administered and coordinated through the Faculty/School USRA Coordinators. Each faculty establishes procedures for identifying and ranking applicants and setting deadlines.
Once you have found an eligible professor, both faculty supervisors and students must complete and submit an online NSERC USRA application Form 202 part I (student) and Part II (supervisor), by clicking on “System Login” or, if you are a first time user, “Register”. Forward your reference number to the supervisor so they can include it in their part of the application.
Instructions on how to complete the forms can be found on the NSERC USRA website. Additional resources can be found here:
You must also upload, with your application form, a copy of your official transcripts, including one copy of the back page legend.
Once completed online, a copy of the forms (Part I and Part II, as well as the student’s transcripts) have to be submitted to your Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinator for review.
Your Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinator will be in touch with your proposed project supervisor about the outcome of the application.
NSERC will not accept hardcopy forms so the official application must be completed and submitted electronically. The copies sent to the Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinator are only necessary for the internal review process.
Universities are required to supplement the amount of the award by at least 25% of its value using other sources such as university funds, NSERC grants, or any other research funds. The minimum pay for the tenure of your award of 16 weeks is $7968.80 (assuming May 1, 2020 start date) based on the June 1, 2020 BC minimum wage increase from $13.85/hr to $14.60/hr. If the award is longer than 16 weeks, your pay should increase by a minimum of $511.00 for each additional week or $102.20 for each additional day.
You will receive your payment from the university in accordance with its pay procedures. You will also receive a T4 or T4A slip (Statement of Income) for tax purposes from UBC Payroll.
An Undergraduate Student Research Award is tenable at any eligible Canadian university and can allow you to expand your background training at other universities. You must apply at the institution where you would like to hold the URSA and must comply with the internal selection criteria of that institution and be selected by that university to hold one of their quotas of awards. Once NSERC has approved your award for tenure at one particular institution, you may not transfer to another institution.
As of the 2020 - 2021 competition cycle, NSERC will no longer be providing travel allowance for visiting (non-UBC) students. Please refer to the NSERC USRA webpage for more details.
| NSERC USRA Application Period |
Students and supervisors must register or log onto the NSERC on-line system to complete Form 202 Part 1 (student application) and Form 202 Part II (supervisor application) starting January 2020. See above for internal application deadlines. *UBC holds one annual completion a year for Summer 2020, Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms. Applications for ALL terms must be submitted during this period. |
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USRA Placements |
Summer Term - May 1 - August 31, 2020 *(May 12, 2020) Fall Term - September 1 - December 31, 2020 *(September 4, 2020) Winter Term - January 1 - April 30, 2021 *(January 11, 2021) *latest a student can start working on their award |
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NSERC Award Notification |
Award letters for the summer term will be issued directly to students in July for the Summer term, November for the Fall term, and February for the Winter term. |
Application process and general questions:
Contact your Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinator (see list above)
As a second resource, you can also contact:
NSERC USRA Liaison Officer
UBC Centre for Student Involvement & Careers
nserc.usra@ubc.ca
