Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The FIMS Undergraduate Fellowship Program provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to obtain research experience by working with faculty members who are undertaking new, innovative and collaborative research projects.

The program gives students the chance to acquire advanced research skills and experience while collaborating with an intellectually vibrant community of peers, professors, and research professionals.

Undergraduate students who participate in the program will be invited to participate in research-focused workshops and activities, and will receive the designation of “FIMS Undergraduate Research Fellow.”

Grants are awarded yearly to FIMS faculty members to support undergraduate and graduate students on a collaborative research project.

2024-2025 Research Projects:

There are currently no research projects accepting applications.

Western's Undergraduate Summer Research Internships (USRI) Program provides undergraduate students with engaged learning experiences and opportunities to learn new research methods and techniques alongside faculty mentors.

• FIMS-Specific USRI Program Information for 2025 and how to apply (pdf)
• Applications Open: February 1, 2025, 8:00 a.m.
• Deadline for Applications: February 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in health, natural sciences and engineering, or social sciences and humanities. These awards are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting.

The NSERC, CIHR & SSHRC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA) program offers undergraduate students a valuable opportunity to engage in research during the summer term. This program provides $9,632 stipend to undergraduate students to work under the supervision of a faculty researcher on projects that align with SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR mandates in fields such as the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and health research.

How the FIMS USRA Application Process Works:

• Faculty Initiated: FIMS faculty researchers are invited to apply for USRA funding for research projects aligned with SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR mandates in areas like social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and health research. Students cannot directly apply; instead, they can approach FIMS faculty members to express interest in participating in a research project.
  
  
• Faculty Responsibility: It is the responsibility of faculty researchers to recruit eligible students and invite them to apply. Faculty will then submit the applications for consideration.

SSHRC & CIHR USRA Student Eligibility Requirements (exclusively for Black student scholars):

• Must self-identify as Black.
• Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person.
• Must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program (not completed all degree requirements).
• Must have completed at least the first year of studies by the time of application.
• Can only hold one USRA at a time and a maximum of three throughout their undergraduate career.

NSERC USRA Student Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person.
• Must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program (not completed all degree requirements).
• Must have been registered students in either Fall 2024 or Winter 2025, or both.
• Must have completed at least the first year of studies by the time of application.
• Can only hold one USRA at a time and a maximum of three throughout their undergraduate career.
• May self-identify as Black or Indigenous to be considered for supplementary award allocations for Black and/or Indigenous student scholars.

Important Dates for 2025:

• Deadline for Faculty to Submit Application:
  • For SSHRC & CIHR USRA: February 14, 2025
  • For NSERC USRA Only: February 21, 2026
• Adjudication by FIMS Research Committee: February 14-28, 2025
• Final Application Submission for Students (via Faculty Supervisor): By March 21, 2025

If you are an interested student, we encourage you to contact a faculty member to see if they are applying and to discuss potential research opportunities. For any questions, please reach out to Chantal Lemire (clemire2@uwo.ca) or Isola Ajiferuke (iajiferu@uwo.ca). For general USRA program information, please contact usra_info@groups.uwo.ca.