The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) offers Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) to nurture undergraduate students’ interest and develop their potential for a research career in natural sciences and engineering. These awards are meant to encourage students to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements their studies in an academic setting. The John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design has been allocated one award this year allowing students the opportunity to participate in research with an eligible faculty member.

In addition, to address system barriers and make Canada’s research culture more equitable, diverse, and inclusive, self-identified Indigenous undergraduate student awards are funded above and beyond this allocation by NSERC, subject to the USRA program’s eligibility requirements and approved by NSERC.

 

NSERC USRA are valued at $7,500 in total (with $6000 from NSERC and a mandatory top-up of a minimum of $1,500 from the faculty supervisor), and is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and Protected Persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).  In addition, applicants must have completed a minimum of two terms at the time of submission of the application, and their GPA must be at least B at the time of taking up the USRA award. Please review the NSERC USRA website for all eligibility criteria.

The award period is 16 full consecutive weeks on a full-time basis beginning no earlier than May 1, 2025, and ending no later than September 1, 2025.

All undergraduate students must contact a potential supervisor on their own and together will complete the application process. NSERC USRA applicants will also be automatically placed into consideration for a University Toronto Excellence Award, provided all eligibility requirements are met.

 

Eligible Faculty Members:

Supervisor Profile
John Caspersen John Caspersen Bio
Daniel Chung Daniel Chung DiscoverResearch Profile
Alstan Jakubiec Alstan Jakubiec Bio
Patrick James Patrick James DiscoverResearch Profile
David Martell David Martell DiscoverResearch Profile
Brady Peters Brady Peters DiscoverResearch Profile
Danijela Puric-Mladenovic Danijela-Puric-Mladenovic DiscoverResearch Profile
Sandy Smith Sandy Smith DiscoverResearch Profile
Sean Thomas Sean Thomas DiscoverResearch Profile
Maria Yablonina Maria Yablonina Bio
Rasoul Yousefpour Rasoul Yousefpour DiscoverResearch Profile

 

Please visit the NSERC USRA website for more details on the application procedure for students and supervisors to complete the appropriate forms.

NSERC USRA applications consists of the following:

  1. NSERC USRA Cover Sheet and Checklist
  2. A copy of the student’s completed (Form 202, Part I) online NSERC form
  3. A copy of the supervisor’s completed (Form 202, Part II) online NSERC form
  4. A copy of the student’s transcript (most recent ACORN academic history report is acceptable)
  5. A copy of the student’s CV/resume, and
  6. A written paragraph by the student, indicating:
    • Any relevant courses taken.
    • The student’s link/connection to the supervisor.
    • Why the student is interested in a summer research project.
    • Student’s future research plans

 

Deadline for applications for the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design is 4:00PM, Friday, March 14, 2025. Applications must be emailed with “NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award” in the subject line to shirley.chan@daniels.utoronto.ca.