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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Download the application template (Word download)
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.