Help undergraduate science students gain research experience
Research experience brings learning to life, translates theory to the working world, builds confidence, develops supportive relationships with mentors, and helps students make the leap from the classroom to a professional setting. With your support, more UBC Science undergraduate students will gain valuable research experience through the Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) fund.
The SURE program helps create hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students across all nine UBC Science departments. Students may work in laboratories, on a boat, in the forest, or in any other context where scientific research is conducted. No matter what type of science they do, all students in the SURE program get the opportunity to work on real research questions using the tools they have been studying.
One SURE student, Alex, shared that the experience and mentorship that he gained through the program was instrumental in helping him confirm his research interest, for which he later received NSERC USRA funding.
"SURE provided me with opportunities to develop diverse skills as a researcher, from statistical analyses to applying for funding. It confirmed my interest in graduate studies," he said. "Getting involved in undergraduate research is an invaluable way to enrich the in-class learning offered as part of the biology program at UBC and provide undergraduate students with a unique opportunity to get involved in academic work."
There is far more demand for research experience than there are spaces for students like Alex. At the same time, many students have to take summer jobs to survive, and cannot commit to a summer program. SURE helps UBC labs create undergraduate research spaces and offers support to students to make sure that finances are not a barrier to participating in this valuable opportunity.
Your support of SURE helps to create more opportunities for undergraduate students, regardless of financial barriers, to participate in hands-on research.
Students interested in applying for the SURE program should contact their faculty advisor for more information.
How you can help
Support SURE to offer more UBC Science undergraduate students the valuable opportunity to work on hands-on research projects.
Contact
Valerie Titford