About
As a research intensive university, Queen’s University offers students many opportunities to participate in the research process. Research is one of the most powerful learning strategies for students as it reinforces critical and creative thinking, encourages problem solving and discovery, and instills curiosity and collaboration. Additionally, undergraduate research is vital to the university as it serves as the foundational stage for cultivating a diverse and skilled academic community. It enables faculty to impart essential knowledge, foster critical thinking, and contribute to the intellectual development of students, while also enhancing the university's reputation and fulfilling its broader mission of enabling knowledge mobilization and increasing research impact.
Resources
In 2023, the Principal's Undergraduate Leaders developed a Guide to Undergraduate Research at Queen's. Developed by students, for students, this guide highlights the benefits of undergraduate research, provides insight into the wide variety of research opportunities available at the university, and offers practical advice on how to get started.
- Choose from courses with integrated research components within your program of study.
- Engage in coursework to discover research areas that interest you. Utilize our resources to find a supervisor and master email outreach.
- Assist faculty or grad students on research projects that match your interests and goals.
- Complete an undergraduate thesis or capstone project in your final year of study.
- Learn more about research resources within your faculty.
- Become an Undergraduate Researcher this summer! Visit USSRF and NSERC to apply and learn more.
- Consider a 12-16 month opportunity with the Queen's Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP).
- Want to travel? Study abroad through the International Exchange Program.
- Unleash your potential with Mitacs student mobility opportunities: Globalink Award, Accelerate, Research Internship, and international collaborations like DAAD and JSPS.
- Browse SWEP and Work Study postings for valuable work and research opportunities.
- Access comprehensive support from Career Services with job searching, resume development, interview skills, grad school applications, and more.
- Get involved with clubs and design teams. Browse a fill list on the AMS website.
- Browse profile of Queen's researchers on Queen's Research Discovery Network.
- Uncover a variety of student opportunities and programs at Queen's 22 research centres and institutes like the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, Carbon to Metal Coating Institute, Ingenuity Labs, Institute for Sustainable Finance, and more.
- Stay up-to-date on upcoming workshops, networking events, and conferences happening around campus.
- Browse research stories through platforms like the Queen's Gazette and QSURJ.
- Ready to share your own research journey? Explore opportunities, including the Queen's Art of Research Photo Contest and more.
Funding
Undergraduate students at Queen’s can develop their research skills under the guidance of a faculty researcher. USSRF projects are 16-weeks of full-time work. The fellowship value is $9800, plus vacation pay and fringe benefits.
View Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowships (USSRF)
Funded mainly by the Tri-Council, USRA provides financial support to engage students in research, with a goal of nurturing their interest and fully developing their potential for a research career in the natural sciences and engineering.
This competitive initiative invites international undergraduates to participate in a 12-week research internship under the supervision of Canadian academic institution faculty members in a variety of academic disciplines.
Established in February 2024 by the Vice-Principal Research. Awarded on the basis of research contributions at Queen’s University to students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. The Vice-Principal Research Undergraduate Prize will award $1000 each to the recipients of the top two prizes at the Inquiry@ Queen’s conference. Applicants are to submit a research proposal to the Inquiry@Queen’s conference held every March and present their work at this conference.
ASURF, a partnership with ASUS and the Faculty of Arts and Science, aims to foster community amongst undergraduate scholars and promote investment in undergraduate research. ASURF assists in funding research projects at the undergraduate level. This fund is open to undergraduate research of all kinds.
Discover a variety of awards designed to support undergraduate students wishing to conduct field research at the Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS).
Opportunities
At Queen’s, we value the holistic growth of our students. To better equip our participants for their research experiences and their future careers, we are proud to introduce a professional development program: Queen’s Summer Undergraduate Research Growth Experience (Q-SURGE). This program is designed to nurture skills as a complement to course based and faculty-supported disciplinary training.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 7, 2024
The Global Undergraduate Awards (UA) is the world’s leading academic awards programme which recognises top undergraduate coursework, shares this work with a global audience, and connects students across cultures and disciplines. Students submit their work for free online and it is judged by a panel of international judges, consisting of leading academic experts and industry leaders.
Queen's Work Study program provides eligible students the opportunity to receive priority for certain part-time positions during a specified period of study.
SWEP provides Queen’s undergraduate students with engaging, challenging and rewarding summer work experiences.
QUIP provides students with a 12-16 month paid internship experience. Internships provide an opportunity for students to learn about current practices, advances, and technologies in business and industry.
Discover the Queen’s Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP)
The Office of Professional Development and Educational Scholarship (OPDES) offers up to 2 first- or second-year undergraduate Queen’s Health Sciences students a mentoring experience that develops their educational research skills. It offers students an opportunity to become a valued member of a collaborative research team.
Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award (for Faculty)
This award is meant to honour the contributions of professors that have encouraged undergraduate research at Queen’s.
View the Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award (for Faculty)
Promoting Student Inquiry Teaching Award (for Faculty)
The Principal’s Teaching and Learning Awards are conferred annually to educators and staff who show outstanding leadership and innovation in teaching and learning.
View the Promoting Student Inquiry Teaching Award (for faculty)
Discover everything you need to know about participating in the 18th Annual Inquiry@Queen's (I@Q) Undergraduate Research Conference, taking place March 7-8, 2024.
Publications
The inaugural special edition of the Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowships (USSRF) and the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) abstract proceedings, held in 2023, showcases the broad disciplinary participation in undergraduate research.
This second edition of the USSRF and USRA abstract proceedings showcases the broad disciplinary participation in undergraduate research. Some examples include impact of wildfires on structure, isolation of novel antibiotics, thought patterns during movie watching, acute sleep deprivation, barriers to healthcare access for black communities, optimizing hospice care, housing market analysis, adaptation to environmental stressors, and several other significant contributions.
Contacts
Special Advisor, Undergraduate Research
Research Program Coordinator
Resources by Faculty
Discover research resources available within your faculty.