Research at Dalhousie Medical School

Faculty of Medicine

Undergraduate Summer Research Awards and Summer Student Research Program for Non‑Medical Students

Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 (5:00pm AST)

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) and the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) are scholarships offered to support undergraduate students in gaining valuable research experience.  USRAs and SSRPs help students develop essential research skills, foster a passion for innovation, and prepare them for future graduate studies or careers in research.

Undergraduate students working with faculty members in the Faculty of Medicine are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program administered by the Tri-council granting agencies and for the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program (SSRP). These programs award funding that supports undergraduate students to conduct research in university laboratories throughout the summer (May 1st, 2025 - August 31st, 2025).

This competition will distribute:

  • NSERC-funded USRAs in the Faculty of Medicine, which are available to all students who are Canadian Citizens or Permanant Residents
  • CIHR-funded USRAs, which are protected for Black student researchers and open to all Dalhousie faculties
  • Faculty of Medicine undergraduate SSRPs, which are available for Black Maritimers/Canadians, African Nova Scotians, and Indigenous students interested in medicine and/or health research.

Undergraduate students who choose a potential supervisor who has a primary appointment with the Faculty of Medicine can apply via our online application form below.   Be sure to enter the supervisor email correctly as they will receive a notice to complete the supervisor portion of the application.

Current Dalhousie Student Application (SharePoint - Active NetID is required)

Application guide for Dalhousie students  
Student Application - Students from other Institutions

Application guide for students from other Universities

Prepare your documents for upload before you begin your application!
Students - electronic copy of your academic transcripts
Supervisors - Tri-Agency CCV Biosketch

Students Applications:
Current Dalhousie students can apply in SharePoint
Students applying from other Universities, please use this application

Supervisor Applications:
When a student names you as a supervisor, you will receive an email with a link to complete your portion of the application.  The email will be from Medicine SharePoint.  The application guidelines can be found here: Supervisor Application Guide

About these programs

Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA)
The USRA program at the Faculty of Medicine is designed to immerse students in research activities, fostering interest in graduate programs and research-centered career paths. Through this full-time summer program, students have the opportunity to work alongside leading faculty and researchers, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field of medicine.

Summer Student Research Program for Non Medical Students (SSRP)
Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine’s Summer Research Program for Non-Medical Students aims to open new doors of opportunity to African Nova Scotians, Black, and Indigenous students interested in medicine and/or health research. The program is open to undergraduate students from these communities who are confident that health research will be part of their professional careers.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a summer research award, you must:

  • Be a currently enrolled undergraduate student in at least the second year of your program
  • Be available to work full-time for at least 16 weeks from May through August
  • Have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0

  • You must have identified a faculty member whose primary appointment is in the Faculty of Medicine and who is willing to act as a research supervisor and who will provide additional funds

Application Process

Undergraduate students who choose a potential supervisor in the Faculty of Medicine will apply via our online application form.   

Students:
Current Dalhousie students can apply in SharePoint
Students applying from other Universities, please use this application

Supervisors:
When a student names you as a supervisor, you will receive an email with a link to complete your portion of the application.  The application guidelines can be found here.

All applications will be received by the Medicine Research Development Office.

Selection Process

All applications will be reviewed and ranked by the Scholarship Committee following the selection criteria provided by NSERC - https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/students-etudiants/ug-pc/usra-brpc_eng.asp

Following the review, each department will be informed about the number of applications received for their department, applicant information, and their rankings. Successful applicants and their supervisors will be notified via email.

Please direct any questions regarding the USRAs to MRDO@dal.ca.