Classes may have concluded for the academic year, but that doesn’t mean that many students aren’t busy on campus learning new skills and gaining valuable experience. Every year, hundreds of Queen’s students take part in summer employment opportunities through the university that build practical skills, explore potential career paths, and create connections within the academic community.

There are various pathways to summer employment at the university, as well as support resources, through Queen’s Career Services in Student Affairs, to help guide students in their job search.  These opportunities can provide unique and valuable experience in the lab, in the field, and in the community. 

As the fall semester approaches, many students are reflecting on their summer work experiences, what they’ve learned, and contributions on-campus.

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program lets students explore what it’s like to pursue a career in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences or humanities. Introducing students to the day-to-day operations in a research environment can be a great way to explore different fields, and potential graduate study programs for the future.

Emma Wiggins is a third-year Health Sciences student who is gaining first-hand experience as a Research Assistant in a chemistry lab. Wiggins is currently working on a project that attempts to combat antibiotic resistance.

“Being in the lab every day learning new techniques that have practical applications has led me to consider different career paths,” says Wiggins. “After this summer, I am going to be a lot more motivated to learn course content and think about how it can be used to benefit society.”

Undergraduate Student Research Fellowships (USSRF)

Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowships (USSRF) are providing up to 16 weeks of full-time work for 70 students this year. Students interested in the USSRF are required to seek out academic supervisors and determine a project in their area of interest. Over the course of the fellowship, students will receive mentorship that will help prepare them for future work experiences.

Izabel Brucaj is a third-year Economics student working on a project of great interest to students and Canadians alike – An Analysis of Housing Market Dynamics: Evaluating Potential Bubbles and Their Implications on Affordability.

“The mentorship I’ve received this summer has helped show me what goes on behind the scenes when conducting research,” says Brucaj. “Housing and affordability are topics on every student’s mind, and applying my data collection and analysis skills makes me feel like I’m contributing to solutions that could help people in the future.”

Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP)

The Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) is among the largest employment programs on campus and has been helping undergraduate students find work since 1995. SWEP offers full-time employment for 160-170 positions each year across numerous faculties and departments.  The Experiential Learning WrapAround ensures students develop meaningful skills with real-world applications. 

Some recent SWEP positions include:

• Solar Array Manager 
• Aquatic Biomonitoring Researcher 
• Research Assistant
• Gender-Based Violence Awareness & Bystander Intervention Education Training and Development Student Lead

Oliver Statham is a third-year Economics student who is spending his summer working as a Digital Insights Summer Student on University Relations’ Digital Strategy Team. In this role, Oliver delivers insightful trend analyses that inform decision making, marketing initiatives, and user experience. 

“This summer I’ve had the unique experience of supporting and collaborating with various units, departments, and faculties across the university,” said Statham. “Having access to industry experts, and technologies at this stage in my education has allowed me to further hone my skills and feel confident about extracting the narratives and stories behind the data” 

Fall and winter student employment

In addition to summer employment opportunities, on-campus student work opportunities continue year-round.  

Housing and Ancillary Services currently has 141 casual administrative and hands-on positions available to students. During the academic year, the number of positions can increase to nearly 220 positions with the inclusion of residence Dons. 

Throughout the summer, Athletics & Recreation employs 368 students who provide the community with access to university facilities and programming.  The number of positions more than doubles during the fall/winter to more than 800 casual student staff. 

Over 225 students are also involved in preparing and serving healthy and nutritious meals on campus through Hospitality Services and Event Services, including catering and retail opportunities.  

To learn more about student employment at Queen’s, including the Work Study program that creates experiential learning opportunities for students with financial need, visit the Career Services website.