NSERC USRA 2014

1. NSERC USRA 2014 Application Deadline: February 24, 4:00 pm (this is earlier than Career Services says because we must process the applications by the APSC deadline)

2. What is a NSERC USRA? NSERC is the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Federal government granting agency for science and engineering Supports research by university students, postdocs, and professors USRA is the Undergraduate Student Research Award program Offered by NSERC to undergraduate students Provides opportunities for students to get research experience Two options – based at a university (focus of this session) or in an industrial setting (some restrictions apply) $4,500 subsidy to a Professor so they can hire you (total salary minimum $5,740 but most positions pay more) A funding program that subsidizes wages for students on research-related work terms (university-based or otherwise)

3. Why Should You do a USRA? Excellent chance to get paid while getting research experience in a University setting Discover whether research is for you before entering graduate studies Looks good on a grad school application and a great way to meet a prospective supervisor – or get hooked into a network that can recommend you to one Counts towards your co-op work terms (except for very unusual situations) Fun to be on campus and not in classes – whether summer, first term, or second term Opportunity to apply through a different university if you want to travel there for the summer instead An opportunity to create a high-quality work placement related to research and your interests where one may not otherwise exist

4. What are the requirements to apply? Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident Must be registered as a full-time undergraduate student at the time you apply You can hold a USRA for the term directly after your graduation requirements are met Completed all required first year courses Have not started graduate studies Can only hold 3 USRA or IUSRA in your life An overall average (all courses, all years) of 68% (B-) But the competitive average is usually over 80% There has to be a catch, right?

5. How does this work? You put in a joint application with the professor you want to work with in the professor’s department and university Please contact other schools and departments directly – procedures vary Professors will select the students with whom they will put in a joint application based on their own criteria – some posting are on the web. Start early! In the Faculty of Applied Science, applications will go through two rankings: Faculty-wide ranking (1/2 of the awards) – based on academic average (/100%) Department ranking (our share of the other half) – broad based on full application (academic average still counts). And how are the award winners selected?

6. What goes into an application? NSERC requirements Create an account at www.nserc.ca for Online System Login (reference number) Complete and submit an online Form 202 part I. Forward your reference number to your supervisor Ask your supervisor to complete form 202 part II – they will need your reference number – and print it and sign it You must upload a copy of your official transcripts (request via SSC, pick up at Brock Hall. Small fee) Department requirements Letter of application* Curriculum Vitae All 5 documents must be submitted together by February 24 at 4:00 pm

7. What should my application letter include? Statement of intent Why are you interested in research, why do you want to hold a USRA Area of interest What area will you be looking at, how does it relate to your interests Evidence of research ability Why will you be successful in a USRA position Special considerations Is there anything that has affected your ability to compete for the awards (eg, prolonged health concerns affecting grades, caring for a child full-time) This is an application to the award, not the one you give the faculty member to secure a position

8. How to not win a USRA You didn’t read the instructions on the NSERC website You have not used the online system to complete the form / something has been added in handwriting / a .pdf editor You forgot to sign part I The Prof didn’t hit submit to get the signature box to appear or didn’t sign part II The Prof put an invalid account code on part II (NSERC Discovery code suggested) You didn’t get an official transcript for every post-secondary institution you have attended You missed the deadline Or, the mistakes we see the most often

9. You said something about an industrial award? Basically exactly like a regular USRA except held at one of the R&D facilities of an eligible organization in Canada Partner Organization Eligibility Guidelines: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Eligibility-Admissibilite/org-org_eng.asp Apply directly through NSERC’s website Generally a lot less competitive, but the company / position must be eligible See NSERC’s website for more details Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards

10. Specific postings Dr. Elizabeth Croft – Human Robot Interaction Research Assistant Dr. Mike Van der Loos – Gaming Controller for Rehabilitation Therapy Dr. Ian Friggard – #1: Mixing and Displacement in Pipe Flows #2: Gas Migration in Viscoplastic Fluids Mustafa Kaymakci – Virtual Machining Dr. Murray Hodgson - Measurement and Prediction of Sound Fields in Rooms with Diffracting Edges Using Beam-Tracing Details at http://mech.ubc.ca/undergraduate-students/research-opportunities/nserc-usra-information/

11. Specific Projects, continued Dr. Steve Rogak - #1: Particle and Jet Instrumentation #2: Nanoparticle Sampling and Analysis Dr. Boris Stoeber - Boiling Heat Transfer Enhancement using Structured Surfaces http://mech.ubc.ca/undergraduate-students/research-opportunities/nserc-usra-information/