Summer Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity Program

Application deadline: February 25, 2022

The Department of Nutritional Sciences provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to become involved in research within various aspects of nutrition.

1. Diet and cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and aging
2. Nutrition, cognitive function, and brain development
3. Food intake regulation and feeding behaviour
4. Pediatric nutrition from neonate to teenager
5. Biochemical and physiological function of food components - fiber, fatty acids, and anti-oxidants
6. Nutrition and poverty
7. Clinical nutrition

Stipends: From $5,000 to $6,000 for 12 to 16 weeks of research.
 

Eligibility Guidelines

1. Students must have successfully completed a term in a full-time undergraduate program directly prior to the award period
2. Students must have an average of B+ (3.3 GPA) or higher in the two most recent terms to be eligible
3. Students who have completed their undergraduate program are not eligible, unless they have been accepted into an undergraduate professional program (medical undergraduate degree program).
4. Students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional program (medical undergraduate degree program) are eligible to apply.
5. University of Toronto and non-University of Toronto students may apply, including international students
6. Students may submit only one application to this program. Departure from this rule will result in the application being accorded a lower priority or even denied
7. Students cannot accept multiple summer research awards at the same time
8. Students must be supervised by a Nutritional Sciences faculty member and are encouraged to contact prospective supervisors to formally introduce themselves and indicate their interest in the faculty member's research using the following list of supervising faculty below.
9. Supervisors can be named as primary supervisor for only one application through one unit to this Program.
    

Application Procedure

Your application should include all of the following documents:

1. UROP 2022 Application Form
2. Electronic copy of your unofficial transcripts (PDF and screenshots are acceptable)
3. Letter of Intent/Cover Letter
4. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
5. A reference letter on your behalf from a professor or previous employer

Please submit all of the following documents to the Department of Nutritional Sciences Administrative Assistant by email to dns.admin@utoronto.ca with the subject: 2022 Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity Program and the student’s name. Students interested in being considered for the GLSE Undergraduate Student Leadership Award or a GLSE Undergraduate Summer Research Project Studentship should clearly indicate this in their application email (see award information below).

Supervising Faculty

When selecting prospective supervisors, you must rank them from 1 to 4 in order of preference on your UROP 2022 Application form, with 1 being your most preferred.

The following faculty are available to supervise your summer research:

1. Harvey Anderson
2. Jacqueline Beaudry
3. Elena Comelli
4. Ahmed El-Sohemy
5. Joanne Kotsopoulos
6. Mary L'Abbe
7. Jonathon Maguire
8. Vasanti Malik
9. Adam Metherel
10. Deborah O'Connor
11. Daniel Sellen (co-supervised by Mavra Ahmed)
12. John Sievenpiper

*The list will be updated when additional information becomes available.

It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that their student is covered by the appropriate protocol.
 

Summer Research Awards

• UROP Awards:
  • 2022 Dr. John P. Mitchell: 1 award
  • GM – General medicine: 1 award
  • CA - Cancer and cancer related diseases: 1 award
  • KD - Kidney and kidney related diseases: 2 awards
  • CH – Cardiovascular, heart: 2 awards
• Graduate and Life Sciences Education (GLSE) Undergraduate Student Leadership Award (2 nominees):
  • Description: GLSE will award up to three annual Undergraduate Student Leadership Awards in Life Sciences. The purpose of these awards is to provide opportunities for undergraduate students in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Arts and Science Programs to be recognized for their leadership and scholarship. GLSE is recognizing these students for their outstanding contributions to academic and student life at the University of Toronto. Each student award will receive $100 and a University of Toronto framed certificate.
  • Eligibility: Eligibility extends to all undergraduate students who hold full time enrollment in a third or fourth year major and/or specialist program in a Basic Science department and in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
  • Nomination: Two students in the Department of Nutritional Sciences will be nominated to the GLSE. Students interested in being considered for the GLSE Undergraduate Student Leadership Award should clearly indicate this in their application email for the Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity Program (deadline: February 25, 2022). The Department will select two students to nominate to the GLSE based on these applications.
    • The 2 applicants selected for nomination by the Department will be asked to submit a nomination package that includes a statement of the nominee's leadership philosophy and activity (max. 1 page), transcript and a current abridged CV. Only students who are nominated by the Associate Chair of Undergraduate Education need to submit the leadership statement. 
• Graduate and Life Sciences Education Undergraduate Summer Research Project Studentships (1 award)
  • Description: GLSE will award 8 annual summer research project studentships per summer to support third or fourth year major and/or specialist students in our Basic Science departments and in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. This is to provide mentored research opportunities for undergraduate students who undertake in depth study in one of our life sciences programs of study. Each department receives one studentship per summer to be awarded to a student the department selects based on excellent academic merit and interest in future graduate training. Support from GLSE is set at $2,500 per student and the student must be guaranteed at least an additional $2,500 in compensation from other sources managed by the sponsoring department.
  • Award duration: 12 weeks, normally between May 1 and August 31, 2022
  • Eligibility: 
    • Students must have successfully completed a term in a full-time undergraduate program directly prior to the award period.
    • University of Toronto students must be enrolled in a third or fourth year major and/or specialist in the Faculty of Medicine Basic Science departments and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology.
    • University of Toronto and non-University of Toronto students may be considered, including international students (with valid student visa for the full summer work term).
    • Student must have obtained a cumulative cGPA of 3.0 or higher
    • Students may be considered by only one application to this program.
    • Supervisors can be named as primary supervisor for only one application through one unit to this Program.
    • Be engaged on a full-time basis in research activities under the direction of an eligible supervisor
    • Interest in future graduate training
    • Has not started a program of graduate studies
  • Nomination: Students interested in being considered for the GLSE Undergraduate Summer Research Project Studentship should clearly indicate this in their application email for the Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity Program (deadline: February 25, 2022). 
• The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council University of Toronto Excellence Award (NSERC UTEA): # of awards TBA
• The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Student Research Award Program (NSERC USRA): # of awards TBA 

Once applications have been reviewed, and supervisors assigned, selected applicants will be asked to complete the NSERC 202 form found on the NSERC online system.