URI Undergraduate Researcher Stipend

The Undergraduate Researcher Stipend enables undergraduate students to carry out mentored, interdisciplinary research projects and creative activities. The URI Stipend allows undergraduate students to enrich their university experience through hands-on discovery and skill development in a research-intensive university.  

The URI is committed to supporting opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. The URI Stipend is open to students in any year of study, and any discipline, including full-time or part-time students, domestic and international students. The URI Stipend is not adjudicated on the basis of GPA, and demographic information is not provided to adjudicators.  


URI Stipend Funding Streams

The URI Stipend application process is used to allocate funding from a variety of sources.  ALL applicants to the URI Stipend are considered for the general pool of Stipends funded by URI.  

In addition to the general pool of Stipends open to students in any discipline, several targeted pools of funding are also available. These funding partnerships provide a mechanism for students to be considered for funding from various sources through a single application and adjudication process. Proposals for targeted funds are subject to the same adjudication process as general URI Stipend proposals and are not treated preferentially. 

Note: the number of awards in each category will vary depending on the availability of funding for each application cycle.

General URI Stipends - open to all applicants

All applicants are considered for the general pool of URI Stipends, which are open to undergraduate students in any year of study, and any discipline. The following basic eligibility applies to the URI Stipend: 

  • students must be registered in a University of Alberta undergraduate degree program at the time of application, and must not hold a previous degree. 
  • students must have satisfactory academic standing to apply.  The URI Stipend is NOT adjudicated based on grades/GPA
  • students must not have held the URI Stipend previously. 

For additional information about student or supervisor eligibility, please consult the URI Stipend program guide. 

Campus as a Living Lab (sustainability-focused projects)

The URI is pleased to support sustainability-focused research projects through the Campus as a Living Lab program. Campus as a Living Lab describes a collection of experiential learning opportunities linking learning, teaching, and research to the campus and broader community through sustainability-focused projects. These projects use the natural, social, and built environment of the campus as a testing ground to develop solutions to address sustainability goals on campus and beyond. 

Funding is available through URI to support undergraduate research projects advancing campus sustainability. These stipends are funded by Energy Management and Sustainable Operations, and are administered by URI.

Applications for Campus as a Living Lab projects submitted through the URI Stipend program will be reviewed for eligibility and adjudicated according to the URI Stipend criteria. Applications meeting these criteria for funding will then be shared with the University of Alberta Sustainability Council and Energy Management and Sustainable Operations for further adjudication.

Future Energy Systems

The URI is pleased to continue our partnership with Future Energy Systems (FES), to provide targeted funding for eligible students to work with FES researchers. FES focuses on multidisciplinary research that develops the energy technologies of the near future, integrates them into today's infrastructure, and examines possible consequences for our society, economy, and environment.

In support of FES' goals to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in research, FES is sponsoring targeted Stipends for the following groups:

  • Women
  • Students with disabilities
  • First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) students
  • Visible Minorities

To be eligible for FES sponsored URI Stipends, applicants must self-identify with one or more of these groups, and have a primary supervisor who is, or is directly affiliated with, an FES Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI (e.g. graduate student, technical staff, post-doctoral fellow, etc.). The proposed project must align with the scope of the supervisor's FES funded project. Students and supervisors must also meet the basic eligibility requirements for the URI Stipend.

To explore projects and potential supervisors with Future Energy Systems, please visit the FES Researcher Directory.

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)-affiliated projects
Targeted funding is available through the URI Stipend for arts, social sciences and humanities projects supervised by current Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant-holders. Supervisors must indicate their SSHRC-holder status in the application form to be considered for this pool of funding (subject to verification by URI).
Val & Morley Blanch URI Stipend (ALES-affiliated projects)
Targeted funding is available through the Val & Morley Blanch Undergraduate Researcher Stipend for projects affiliated with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES). The student or supervisor must be affiliated with the Faculty of ALES and the project must align with ALES research themes.
Connie Varnhagen URI Stipend (first year students)
The Connie Varnhagen Undergraduate Researcher Stipend will be offered each year to the top-ranking URI Stipend applicant who is undertaking a mentored, interdisciplinary research project in the summer immediately following their first year of study at the University of Alberta.
Targeted funding for FNMI students
Targeted funding is available for First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) undergraduate students. To be eligible for this funding, students must be Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.  Applicants must indicate their status on the applicant
Targeted funding for projects undertaken by BIPOC students at the forefront of STEM research
The URI Scotiabank Stipends support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students at the forefront of STEM research. To be eligible for the Scotiabank URI Stipend, students must self-identify as BIPOC and be enrolled in a STEM program and/or undertaking a STEM research project.
Targeted funding for projects related to Ukrainian studies or the Ukrainian experience in Canada or Internationally
Targeted funding is available through The Peter & Doris Kule Undergraduate Stipend for Ukrainian Studies Related Research. This partnership with the Kule Institute for Advanced Study will provide targeted funding for eligible students to engage with a research project related to Ukrainian studies or the Ukrainian experience in Canada or internationally.

Program changes for 2023

  • The value of the URI Stipend award will increase to $7,500. 
  • The Google Form has been redesigned. The wording of some questions has been revised. Previous applicants, please take care to review the revised wording and ensure you are addressing what is asked. 

Program Guide & Resources

Please review the program guide for detailed information about student and supervisor eligibility, award conditions, adjudication criteria, and application instructions. If you have any difficulty accessing the documents via the links below, please contact the URI office (uri@ualberta.ca).

  • 2023 Application Cycle URI Stipend Program Guide (Google Doc
  • URI Stipend Adjudication Rubric (Google Doc

Please carefully review the Program Guide and Rubric prior to submitting your application, to ensure your application meets the criteria. Applicants are encouraged to attend a URI Stipend information session and/or contact URI to book an appointment for feedback on your application prior to applying.  


HOW TO APPLY

The URI Stipend application must be submitted online. Paper or email applications will not be accepted. We recommend that students and supervisors complete the application using the offline template provided, then students submit the final, completed version through the Google Form. 

Deadline

The deadline for applications to the URI Stipend for the 2023 application cycle has now passed. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by late March.

Summer 2023 Recipients

URI Stipend Evaluation Report Summary

URI Stipend Evaluation Full Report

Donate to the URI Stipend