Every year, the Dean of Science offers paid summer research internships to top first-year science, computer science and mathematics students. These Dean’s Summer Research Internships (DSRIs) afford students the opportunity to work with professors to conduct research. Currently, students who receive these competitive research internships will be paid about $6,300 ($15/hour for 12 weeks @ 35 hours/week) to work with a professor in the Faculty of Science.
Information and Application Procedure
To be eligible, students must have first-year standing and be enrolled full-time, with an overall GPA of 10.0 or higher at the end of their first term of study.
Eligible students are e-mailed an invitation to apply, with a mid-February submission deadline. The DSRI application requires students to discuss why they want to do research, to identify the professor they wish to work with, explain why they want to join the professor’s research program, and describe what they will work on. While students can get substantial information from faculty websites to learn which professors’ research interests them and why, students must contact faculty members directly to discuss research possibilities and for them to get a good idea of the type of work conducted by the particular professor. All applicants are notified of the results by the second week of April.
The Science Student Success Centre (SSSC) organizes a few activities to help students prepare their DSRI application. In January many labs in the Faculty of Science will open their doors during Science Lab Tour Week. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about the types of research being done on campus and to talk with professors about doing a DSRI in their lab. The SSSC will also be sharing expert advice about writing applications for research grants and awards in the sciences. Students can bring a draft of their DSRI application to a SSSC workshop and the presenters will review it one-on-one to help it stand out from the crowd. Check out the SSSC website for more details in January.
The Dean’s Summer Research Internship program provides an invaluable learning experience for students while earning income to support their university education. This very special opportunity is made possible through the generous support of our donors. To contribute to this program, please visit the Dean’s Summer Research Internship section on FutureFunder.
Student Testimonials
As a DSRI recipient, I am gaining an in depth understanding of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), as well as acquiring laboratory skills beyond my second year standing. Working with Dr. Kristin Connor has given me the opportunity to be part of a research team and learn about the scientific process from start to finish. With Dr. Connor’s guidance, I have learned how to perform systematic and scoping reviews in order to prepare a literature review of my own. This review discusses the role of the placenta and fetal membranes in regulating transport of inflammatory mediators and xenobiotics to the fetus in conditions of maternal inflammation and we plan to submit the manuscript for peer review within the next few months, with an aim to have it published in a scientific journal. I have also gained new laboratory skills to answer the question: how does malnutrition in pregnancy affect the ability of the placenta to defend against microbes and protect the developing fetus? I hope to continue to work on this initiative throughout the year. Although my research experience is still in its infancy, the experience and exposure to another domain in the area of health science has sparked my interest to potentially pursue a career involving maternal and prenatal health.
~ Elia Pallandino, 2016 DSRI recipient
Working alongside Dr. Kristin Connor has advanced my proficiency in a laboratory setting and further allowed me to hone skills required for scientific investigation. I was able to gain exposure to various techniques useful for molecular biology and histology, as well as learn how to appropriately synthesize data obtained from research into scientific literature. The laboratory work that I have been undertaking is part of a larger study that we hope to complete in the upcoming months. Being given the chance to write a literature review regarding the effects of early life dietary interventions on the intestinal, brain and microbial development of preterm infants, has taught me a great deal about the scientific writing process. I will also have the opportunity to submit this review article for peer review and publication, which is an exciting opportunity for an undergraduate student! The skill set I have obtained this summer has prepared me well beyond my years and will be of great use moving forward in my academic career. Dr. Connor’s area of expertise was in perfect alignment with the subject matter I wish to study in the future. Her hands-on, collaborative approach teaching of research was an incredible experience and has ignited a deeper passion in me for scientific investigation.
~Claudia Sendanyoye, 2016 DSRI recipient
How You Can Help
The Dean’s Summer Research Internship program provides an invaluable learning experience for students while earning income to support their university education. This very special opportunity is made possible through the generous support of our donors. To contribute to this program, please visit the Dean’s Summer Research Internship section on FutureFunder.