Research
Get involved in Neuroscience research during your undergraduate degree.
Over 100 faculty members have been identified at UBC with specializations in Neuroscience.
Students in the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience have the opportunity to get involved in these research labs, both as part of the Neuroscience Program (such as in NSCI 400, the capstone course) and as part of extra-curricular activities such as Summer Research Awards or Research Assistant Positions.
- NSCI 400 Neuroscience Capstone
- NSCI 448 Directed Studies in Neuroscience
- Undergraduate Research Funding
NSCI 400 Neuroscience Capstone
Course Description: A capstone course to provide students with a rigorous neuroscience research experience under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Integrated support and feedback is provided by peers and faculty.
This course is taken by Neuroscience Majors in the fourth year of their degree.
Application procedures will be added to this page in advance of the first offering of NSCI 400.
NSCI 448 Directed Studies in Neuroscience
Course Description: Directed investigation of a neuroscience research question requiring a report of the findings.
Prerequisite: at least a 70% average in the preceding 30 credits, permission of the supervisor, and permission of the director of the neuroscience specialization.
NSCI 448 is only available to students in the Neuroscience Major.
Application Procedure:
- Arrange supervision with a UBC faculty member doing neuroscience research. The graduate neuroscience faculty list is a good starting point for your search for a supervisor.
- Submit a NSCI 448 Directed Studies Application Form.
- Receive approval of your project from the Course Coordinator
- Register in NSCI 448.
NSCI 448 Directed Studies courses are either 3 credits (single term) or 6 credits (Term 1 and Term 2 during a Winter semester). Students are expected to work 9 hours per week on an NSCI 448 Directed Studies project.
Undergraduate Research Funding
Some of the most common sources of funding for undergraduate research are listed below.
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards
Apply together with your research supervisor, through the department of your supervisor. These awards are for full time positions in the summer.
Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Awards
Intended to be similar to NSERC USRAs, for full-time positions in the summer. Available with researchers from the faculty of Science, most likely Zoology for a neuroscience research project. If you apply for an NSERC USRA, you will be automatically considered by the department for a SURE (if the department of your supervisor is in Science). Otherwise, apply directly to the department (Zoology info page).
Quinn Research Assistantship Award (Psychology only)
Only available with faculty members from the Psychology department. Summer research positions, full-time only. Apply together with your supervisor.
Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program
For summer research positions, full-time only. Apply together with a faculty member from the faculty of Medicine only, but the awards are open to all undergraduate students.
Faculty of Medicine Multidisciplinary Research Program in Medicine
For summer research positions, full-time only. Faculty of Medicine professors pair with professors from other faculties to create research project positions for undergraduate students. Students view available projects on the MRPM website in March and submit their applications.
Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Awards
For summer research positions, full-time only. Either apply together with a faculty member for the award in late January or apply for a posted position on CareersOnline in March.
Work Learn Program
Work Learn research positions are part time. Typically, the best opportunities for a Work Learn research position are the ones you create by contacting a faculty member directly about working in their lab, but positions are posted on CareersOnline. See the Work Learn site for information about how to organize a Work Learn research position.