Engineering Undergraduate Research Initiative (EURI)

increasing STUDENT AWARENESS OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES:

The Engineering Undergraduate Research Initiative (EURI) supports students’ academic, professional, and career development through hands-on research activities in the Faculty of Engineering. The role of EURI within the faculty is to assess and promote pre-existing opportunities, and develop new programming to expose co-op and traditional undergraduate students to research-based work-integrated learning experiences.

 

New initiatives:


Research Engineering Mentoring Triads (REM3)
October 16, 2024  to March 19, 2025

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Faculty of Engineering, through the office of the Associate Dean for Experiential & Professional Education, is piloting a mentoring program for undergraduate students who are interested in research and graduate student researchers who would like to be mentors. Research Experience Mentoring Triads,  also known as REM3, will ideally match undergraduate students in their first and second year with those in year three or four with research experience, and a graduate student. Final group formations will be dependent on applicants’ research experience. Participating graduate students may receive one hour of professional development, per GPS guidelines.

Timeline: 
September 23, 2024 - Application closing date 
September 25, 2024  - Email notifications of enrolment 
October 4, 2024  - Triads formed and announced via email
October 16, 2024 - REM3 Virtual Kick-off event (5pm-6pm)
March 19, 2025 - Closing event 


Panel Discussion: Conversations with Researchers
Date: October 30, 2024; 5pm - 6pm ; virtual;  register here.

EURI will host a panel discussion for undergraduate students interested in research. Panellists will be research professionals from different disciplines and with varied experiences. The objective is to give undergraduate students an opportunity to hear from researchers regarding their path into research careers, including their challenges, achievements, and insights regarding research fellowships and funding applications. 

 

Workshop: Informational interviews with Research Engineers
Date: November 20, 2024; 4pm - 5pm ; virtual;  register here

Informational interviews are an excellent way to gather information about an organization or an industry sector, yet, it is usually a tool for career development and exploration that eludes many undergraduate students. The purpose of this workshop is to educate students about informational interviews: What are they? Who should conduct them? When should they be done? And, how should they be done? Students who complete this workshop will gain more insight and practical skills to conduct informational interviews with professors, post-docs, graduate students, and industry-based researchers.  

Research-focused Mixer: Meet the Groups
Date: January 15, 2025; 4pm - 6pm; in-person; registration details TBD

Have you considered working with one of the research groups and labs in the Faculty of Engineering, but have questions about whether it would be a good fit with your skills and interests? Meet the Groups is an event that provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to learn more about research groups in the faculty, and chat with members of the team regarding current projects and  potential research opportunities. In the week following the event, researchers will have the opportunity to meet with students who are interested in working with them in the subsequent summer.


Workshop: Engineering Your Research Career
Date: February 12, 2025; 4pm - 5pm; virtual; registration details TBD


What are the opportunities available to research engineers? How can students explore the options to find the best fit for them? In this workshop, students will learn about the vast array of opportunities available across multiple industries and sectors. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about the research possibilities, as they explore  available tools and resources for career exploration. The aim of this workshop is to help students create a plan of action to identify a research pathway that best fits their career interests.


Panel Discussion: Conversations with Industry Researchers
Date: March 5, 2024; 4pm - 5pm ; virtual;  registration details TBD

EURI will host a panel discussion for undergraduate students interested in industry research. Panelists will be research professionals from different disciplines and with varied experiences. The objective is to give undergraduate students an opportunity to hear from researchers regarding their path into research careers, including their challenges, achievements, and insights regarding research fellowships and funding applications.


REM3 Closing Event Workshop:
Date: March 19, 2025; 4pm - 5pm ; virtual;  registration details TBD

After months of engaging with other engineering students who are interested in research, REM3 participants will debrief their mentoring experience and discuss what they learned in the process. Mentors and mentees will share highlights of their experiences, including wins and areas for improvement. What are their next steps, and what lessons would they share with aspiring undergraduate researchers?

 

A community of undergraduate researchers: 


Professional Development Seminars (Summer 2025)
All undergraduate students who participate in research will be invited to attend professional development seminars aimed at helping them to improve their knowledge and skills as researchers. Presenters will be sourced from industry and academic work settings. The primary goal is to build a community of undergraduate researchers. The final session will be a debriefing session with highlights of students’ research goal achievements.

 

Interested in undergraduate research? Email EURI@ualberta.ca