1. Finding meaningful undergraduate research October 16th, 2015
Research Seminar
Finding meaningful undergraduate research
October 16th, 2015

2. What will we cover? What is undergrad research like?
Benefits of research
Finding opportunities/a supervisor
Research institutes
Funding sources
How to pick a supervisor/lab
Process of getting a position

3. What is Undergrad Research Like?
Varies depending on the lab
Can be very independent or very supervised
Reading scientific papers
Attending lab meetings
Expect failure…repeating experiments, troubleshooting
Meeting amazing people
And less than amazing people
Presenting your work
Publishing??

4. Benefits of Research Builds your CV
Relevant to grad school, professional schools, industry, etc.
Medical school also value this – many people want to be clinician scientists and many med students also do research!
Gain real life laboratory/clinical experience
Beyond the textbooks
Learn the latest techniques
Close supervision and mentorship
Usually work on a project alongside a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow
Get to be involved with cutting edge discoveries
Meet amazing people
It’s just a great experience!

5. Benefits of Research Learn Connect Discover Lab techniques
How to read scientific literature
Critical thinking
Poster/Oral presentations
Connect
Grad students/ Postdocs
Faculty or your department
Professionals
Build your Resume and your social circle
Discover
Novel findings
Help your fellow man advance its knowledge
Publications
Future opportunities

6. Research Opportunities – Research Courses
ROP299Y1
Great first opportunity to get into research
Offered in the summer after 1st year or during 2nd year
Summer deadline: Early March
Fall/Winter deadline: Early August
Other departmental courses
Ex. IMM450Y1, BCH473Y, MGY480Y, HMB395Y…etc. check course calendars!
Independent Study Courses with Colleges
Ex. NEW390Y/490Y
Deadlines for these courses are usually at least 1 semester before you aim to start

7. Research Opportunities – Work Study
Positions begin posting early August
You get paid
Typically work around 12 hours/week
No project typically, but gain various technical skills
Great exposure to a research setting
Key is to apply early!

8. Research Opportunities – Departmental Summer Programs
Department of Immunology
12 weeks (May-June), with a $4800 stipend
Successful candidates typically have a B+ average or higher
Oral presentation at the end
Application (1 page), Deadline: Mid January
Department of Biochemistry
12 weeks (May-June), with a stipend
Must have a cGPA average of at least 3.3 (B+)
Students must have completed or be currently completing BCH210 or BCH242Y, and/or a Biochemistry laboratory course.
Weekly seminars and a presentation at the end
Application (1 page), Deadline: Early February

9. Research Opportunities – Departmental Summer Programs
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology
12 weeks, minimum $4,000 stipend
Must have at least a B+ (GPA of 3.3) average
Submit an application, but also must find your own supervisor
Poster presentation at the end
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
12 weeks (May-August), stipend
Competitive candidates should have an average of B+ or better
Poster Presentation at the end
Find your own supervisor first, then submit an application together
Application deadline: Late March

10. Research Opportunities – Departmental Summer Programs
Department of Physiology
12 weeks, stipend of $4800
minimum B+ average in the most recent two terms of undergraduate studies (to receive the funding)
Must find your own supervisor then apply for funding
Many other departments offer summer programs
Typically you do not need to be from that department to apply
May need to contact and confirm a supervisor before applying to the program

11. Research Opportunities – Hospital Research Summer Programs
Mt. Sinai Hospital – Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
$5000 for a 12-week period
Need to have (or will have) completed 2nd year of undergrad
Need to pick 3 potential supervisors and include a cover letter with application
Application deadline: mid February
SickKids Summer Research Program
$6000 for 15-week period
No minimum grade point average (GPA) is required, but positions are highly competitive
Need to submit a reference letter with application
Poster presentation at the end

12. Research Opportunities – Hospital Research Summer Programs
St. Michael’s Hospital – Keenan Research Center
Minimum $11/hour wages, 12 weeks
Applicant much seek their own supervisor
Poster presentation at the end
Application Deadline: end of March
Sunnybrook Research Institute
$4800 -$7300, 12 weeks
Must hold at least a B+ average in their most recent year of study

13. Research Opportunities – Others (summer)
Banting & Best Diabetes Center
– Charles Hollenberg Summer Studentship
$4,800 for a 12-week period (May-August)
Only 15 positions available
Must find your own supervisor first, then submit an application
Application Deadline: End of Jan.
Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS)
12 weeks in the summer
Applicant much seek their own supervisor
 Average of B+ Cumulative GPA or higher
For IMS funding, must hold a Cumulative GPA of A-
Application Deadline: mid-Feb.

14. Research Opportunities - Others
Baycrest Research Training Center
12 weeks in the summer, minimum of $4,620
Can be in any year of undergrad
Need to submit an application with a cover letter and name of interested supervisor
Selections made on an ongoing basis, so apply early
Undergraduate Research Fund (for summer and during the year)
Applicant much seek their own supervisor
This is not a request for stipend, but rather a funding proposal to conduct your own original research project
No minimum GPA is required
Two deadlines a year: November 24 and March 3

15. Research Opportunities - Others
International Research (typically summer)
Generally done through the Center for International Experience (CIE)
Programs such as the Ontario-Rhone Alps program may require you to find a PI before applying
try ing professors you know to see if they have contacts, many are happy to help
Credit based ones:
Immunology Department Scholarship, more details to come
lab work in India and Kenya
Deadline in Jan/Feb
Sometimes they will include a stipend or room/board
Often will have cultural/sight-seeing components build in

16. Funding Sources
Many times if you find a PI who cannot pay you, they will suggest funding sources for you to apply for
Sometimes you may also find a funding program before contacting the PI, and then the Professor and ask if they would like to apply with you for the funding
NSERC-Undergraduate student research awards
Various departmental summer programs
Specialized grants for students e.g. MS Canada
Institution based grants

17. How to Pick a Supervisor or Program
Look at their publications & biography online
Pick based on your own interests
What did you enjoy learning about in class?
What do you want to learn about?
The techniques you want to learn and the setting you are interested in
Dry bench? Wet bench?
What does the program have to offer?
Seminars
Presentation opportunities
Do not be too picky if you are not getting many opportunities
Every opportunity allows for growth and will open the door for you to other opportunities

18. Picking a Big vs. a Small Lab
Big Lab
More funding
More freedom with what you could study
More people to learn from, but you might never see your PI
More likely to work closely with a grad student
Small Lab
More intimate
PI is more likely to be there to give you guidance/support daily
Might be more restricted with resources and the direction you can take your project
Can be high pressure with PI watching you in the lab

19. Emailing Potential Supervisors
Tailor your s to every supervisor
Do not just copy and paste
Do some research on them first – don’t sound generic
Address their specific research
Attach your CV and transcript
Include a cover letter elaborating on your:
Interests
Relevant experiences
Enthusiasm about their research
Work ethic and devotion

20. Emailing Potential Supervisors
Personalize your cover letter
Tell them who you are
What you have learned about their research topic
What you hope to learn and gain
What techniques you have learned and how you can contribute
Be honest!
Use professional language
Address them as Dr. / Prof. ______
Do not leave grammatical errors
Do not lie about past experiences

21. After Emailing…No Reply?
Give them time
They are busy people who may not even be in the country half the time
Give them at least 2 weeks to reply
Send a polite follow up
CC their other accounts
Some have UofT s as well as hospital based ones
CC their administrative assistant (if they have one)
Drop by their office
Stop by for a quick visit or ask to set up an appointment

22. Interview!! Be presentable, dress professionally
Be respectful and polite
Bring copies of your CV, transcripts, application…etc.
Read up on their research beforehand
Ask meaningful questions
Be able to answer questions like:
What do you plan on doing after undergrad?
What interest you about my research?
Something specific about their own research
Why do you want to work in my lab?

23. Meaningful Research?
How do you find a research opportunity you care about and enjoy?
Research is hard work, but the right position will be worth it!
You might get lucky with the first position you find but…
Most likely you will have to try several things out (different projects, PIs, labs)
Start early! Get into research as soon as possible to figure out what you like and don’t like
Try different techniques if given the opportunity
Talk to friends you have in research – are they doing something you think you would like?
What about your professors? Are in you a genetics lab when you would rather be hiking through the Sierra Nevada with Barrett & Thompson?
Talk with your PI or supervisor – they have experience and want to help you!

24. But…be careful
Often supervisors don’t think of their undergraduate students first. This is normal, they are busy people.
But some students can be taken advantage of…
If you are working on a project independently and not receiving a stipend or a credit, you should consider asking about some sort of compensation
You are a student! You should not be asked to do the job of a technician, post-doc, or graduate student if you do not want to
You should never do something you are uncomfortable with (e.g. animal work if it’s against your ethics) or that you feel is unsafe (e.g. the professor works without gloves or with dangerous substances outside the hood and encourages you to do the same)

25. Hopefully Success?
Good luck! If you don’t succeed, keep trying!

26. Additional Tips
Start contacting profs EARLY
As early as RIGHT NOW
The more you contact, the higher your chances
But still personalize each
Try talking to your own profs and TAs
TAs are usually grad students already in labs
Volunteering or shadowing in a lab is a way to get started too
Don’t be discouraged by rejection s
Many opportunities available!
Almost all research opportunities available are listed here:

27. Thank you!! Any Questions? Contact us: immsa.immunology@gmail.com