Undergraduate Research Awards
The Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) is supported by the Irving K. Barber Endowment Fund to provide exceptional learning experiences for undergraduate science students at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Funding for the IURA comes from the ISI International Student Financial Assistance and Awards budget, which supports experiential learning opportunities for international students. The purpose of the URA/IURA program is to provide undergraduate students enrolled in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science with the opportunity to pursue innovative and original research as part of their learning experience.
You must be returning to undergraduate studies in September to qualify for an Undergraduate Research Award.
Financial Aid
Value of the awards:
URA
$11,000 salary (inclusive of benefits).
IURA
$10,000 salary (inclusive of benefits), and up to $1500 for research expenses required to support the summer research (e.g. materials, lab supplies, field expenses, but NOT publication fees).
FoS Undergraduate Research Awards Symposium
The 19th annual Undergraduate Research Awards Symposium took place on Thursday, September 5, 2024. The Symposium featured presentations from the 2024 recipients of the Undergraduate Research Awards (URA/IURA/USRA) Programs.
Sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Endowment Fund, the International Student Initiative and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
Applications
Deadline:
The application package must be received no later than 4 p.m. on January 31, 2025. Applicants should expect to hear back from the Dean’s Office if their application was successful or unsuccessful, by late March.
Prior to applying for a URA or IURA, all students must complete the TCPS Research Ethics course. Submit a copy of your certificate of completion to fosawards.ubco@ubc.ca.
Please ensure you are applying for the Undergraduate Research Award in your Faculty. If you are a BSc Psychology or BSc Economics student and are working with a faculty member within your department, you must apply to the FASS URA. If you are a BA Math or BA Computer Science student and are working with a faculty member within your department, you must apply to the Faculty of Science.
All other BSc students must complete the forms below with the Faculty of Science letterhead. Ensure that you are completing the correct form. If you complete the incorrect form your application may not be considered.
It is recommended you open and complete the form using Adobe Acrobat
- Form A: Student Application
- Form B: Supervisor Recommendation
- Guidelines and Application Procedure
- Final Report Form
2025 URA/IURA Information Session
The 2025 Undergraduate Research Award Information Session will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024. A URA/IURA proposal writing workshop will also be held later in the fall.
Contact
For information regarding the URA application, contact:
recent Recipients
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor |
| Emma Creed | Biology | Thymosin-β4: A Potential Mediator in Alzheimer’s Disease Progression | Andis Klegeris |
| Mika Mercey | Biology | A metagenomic survey of microbial communities associated with arboreal black bear dens in coastal BC’s ancient forests | Miranda Hart |
| Olivia Regush | Biology | How cattle grazing is impacting soil viruses | Miranda Hart |
| Georgia Regush | Biology | GRIN for the WIN: Digging into underutilized trait data of the cultivated sunflower | Chase Mason |
| Natalie Woo* | Biology | Drone-based monitoring of antelope brush (Purshia tridentata – Pursh) | Jason Pither |
| Ignacio Labrador* | Chemistry | Biosynthesis of Bicuculline In Fern Leaf Corydalis | Thuy Dang |
| Mary Olson* | Chemistry | Finding the Middlemen: Novel Biosynthetic Enzymes Discovered in Carolina Jasmine | Thuy Dang |
| Ryan Riopel | Chemistry | Going with the Flow: Pulling Apart DNA Hairpins with Flow-Induced Forces | Isaac Li |
| Sophia Vanslyke | Chemistry | By Learning from Nature… Can Fake Plants Help Save the World? | Conor Pranckevicius |
| James Dufresne | CMPS | Peering Behind the Interstellar Curtain | Alex Hill |
| Ruoyan Hu* | CMPS | Epidemic shutdown strategies: Finding the best shutdown strategy in a population with its own opinions | Rebecca Tyson |
| Zahra Kagda | CMPS | Searching for Differences Matricies with 5 Rows for the Groups ℤ32⊕ℤ2 and ℤ16⊕ℤ4 | Amy Wiebe |
| Lauren Baylis | EEGS | Changes in Streamflow, Stream Temperature and Fish Habitat in a Harvested Compared to an Undisturbed Watershed | Sheena Spencer |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor |
| Sofia Andreassi * | Biology | Molecular validation of dmorct gene knockout/knockdown using CRISPR-Cas9 in insect renal tubes | Mark Rheault |
| Anastasia Bernaz* | Chemistry | Identifying Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Camptotheca Acuminata | Thu Thuy Dang |
| Dhruv Bihani* | CMPS | Exploring Position-Based Pointing Performance on a Large Curved Display | Khalad Hasan |
| Juan Brussow | Biology | Bioprinted 3D vascularized model of fibroblast-embedded connective tissue to study defective mlticellular interactions in lung disease | Emmanuel Osei |
| Alexis Gauvin | Chemistry | Stealing Iron from Blood: Binding Analysis of HmuF and Mutants | Kirsten Wolthers |
| Ben Goldberg | Biology | The Pathological Role of Heme in Alzheimer’s Disease | Andis Klegeris |
| Meghan Grossman | EEGS | Water Use and Soil Characteristics in Different Aged Forest Stands: A Preliminary Assessment | Sheena Spencer |
| Erika Lin | Biology | Analytical pipeline to assess microplastic effects on soil microbes: A new frontier in conservation | Michael Noonan |
| Rekha Marcus | Biology | Predicting the Unpredictable: Incorporating changing conditions into protected area planning | Michael Noonan |
| Nasser Mohammed | CMPS | A Polarimetric Study of G137+7: “The Tadpole” | Alex Hill |
| Riya Naik* | Biology | Development and refinement of an energy metabolism knowledge assessment questionnaire | |
| Tien Nguyen* | Biology | Characterization of Cannabis CsSEP-like Genes in Relation to Flower Initiation | Soheil Mahmoud |
| Joelle Regier | Chemistry | Kynurenines and Their Impact on a Plant’s Reaction to Stress | Susan Murch |
| Manjot Singh* | CMPS | Preserving privacy of the blind in images | Khalad Hasan |
| Kennedy Wiens | Biology | Psilocin Inhibits Pro-Inflammatory Activity of Brain Immune Cells | Andis Klegeris |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor |
| Helen Chiang* | Biology | Can brain chemicals impact your gut? The investigation of kynurenine and serotonin on colitis and anxiety/depression | Deanna Gibson |
| Dylan DaSilva | Biology | Histone-Induced Neuroinflammation as a Novel Mechanism for Alzheimer’s Disease | Andis Klegeris |
| Jordan Katchen | Biology | Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Diversity within BC Forests | Jason Pither |
| Melanie Lemaire | Biology | The effects of long-term dietary TEA exposure on fruit fly morphology | Mark Rheault |
| Gustavo M. Marchani* | Biology | Life Bulb – Light production in cyanobacteria with fungal genes | Soheil Mahmoud |
| Spencer Ursel | Biology | Combating intestinal diseases with mucus producing organoids | Kirk Bergstrom |
| Sofia Ventosa* | Biology | Characterization of Alcohol Dehydrogenases from Rauwolfia serpentina | Thuy Dang |
| Krista Fulton | Chemistry | Evaluation of O-Glycan Extraction Methods for Gastrointestinal Mucin Characterization | Wesley Zandberg |
| Simona Mastroianni | Chemistry | Analysis of Kratom | Susan Murch |
| Megan Schroeder | Chemistry | Functional Characterization of Heme binding Flavodoxins in F. nucleatum | Kirsten Wolthers |
| Greta Tödtmann* | Chemistry | Computational Study of the PINOylation Mechanism at Benzylic C-H Bonds | Gino DiLabio |
| Carolina Tomiyama* | Chemistry | Characterization of Novel Milk Oligosaccharides: A Qualitative Analysis | Wesley Zandberg |
| Lilian Ton Nu | Chemistry | Using a DNA-based probe to quantify cell adhesion at the molecular level | Isaac Li |
| Amaury De Burgos | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Packings & Transversals in Tripartite Graphs | Wayne Broughton |
| Emily Mellors | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Design and Assessment of a Low-Field Tabletop MRI System | Rebecca Feldman |
| Jordan Sawchuk | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Cation ordering on a lattice of corner-sharing tetrahedra: Investigation of a simple Ising-like model | John Hopkinson |
| Paula Wong-Chung* | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Deep Learning-Based Digitization of Plains Cree Documents | Patricia Lasserre |
| Samantha Kole | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Faraday tomography: features in simulated space | Alex Hill |
* Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA)
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor |
| Christy Richards | Biology | Brain-derived signalling molecules regulate debris engulfment by astrocytes | Andis Klegeris |
| Seamus McRae | Biology | DNA-binding proteins as mediators of neurodegeneration | Andis Klegeris |
| Selina Spence | Biology | Spread of biofertilizer into natural landscapes | Miranda Hart |
| Bandy Maya | Biology | Effect of peri-natal maternal toxin exposure on their offstring’s gut-brain axis | Deanna Gibson |
| Allison Leam | Chemistry | Probing molecular force regulating cell-cell interactions | Isaac Li |
| Dyuti Raghu* | Chemistry | Conformational dynamics of DNA Holliday Junctions using Optical Tweezers | Isaac Li |
| Durvan Zandamela* | Chemistry | Structural elucidation of lichen exopolysaccharide by CE-LC-MS | Wesley Zandberg |
| Jasper Pankratz | Chemistry | Soluble 2D Nanosheets as Versatile Precursors to Photcatalysts with Different Morphologies | Robert Godin |
| Brooke Kwan | Chemistry | Genes associated with camptothecin biosynthesis in Ophiorrhiza pumila | Thuy Dang |
| Vivien Nagy | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Modelling the spread of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi through soil | Rebecca Tyson |
| Joan Brewer | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Investigation of perivascular spaces through high-field MRI | Rebecca Feldman |
| Livia Tan (Jonnatan)* | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Exploring Users’ Smartphone Usage Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic | Khalad Hasan |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor |
|
Sydney Bosetti |
Microbiology |
The role of O-acetylated sialic acid on intestinal mucus in regulating host-microbe symbiosis in the gut |
Kirk Bergstrom |
|
Sakshi Khanna |
Biology |
Studying transcription factor genes regulating flower initiation in Cannabis sativa |
Soheil Mahmoud |
|
Taryn Murray |
Biology |
Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of astrocytes |
Andis Klegeris |
|
Anusha Shivram |
Biology |
Co-operative Behaviours of Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Urban Singapore |
Karen Hodges |
|
Arantxa Da Fonseca |
Chemistry |
Electrophysical response to astrocytes exposed to kainic acid-based agonists of receptors in a2q pro |
Frederic Menard |
|
Destiny Ellenor |
Chemistry |
The Functionalization of Carbon Nitride for a Greater Understanding of its Photocatalytic Activity |
Robert Godin |
|
Ryland Todd Giebelhaus |
Chemistry |
Sifting Through the Weed: Untargeted metabolomics to discover new terpenes in Cannabis sativa L. |
Susan Murch |
|
Kaede Hirabayashi |
Chemistry |
Melatonin and Serotonin Perceive Environmental Cues in Arctic Plants |
Susan Murch |
|
Allison Leam |
Chemistry |
Characterization of serial adhesion bond kinetics and their regulation in cell adhesion |
Isaac Li |
|
Kamal Narayana |
Chemistry |
Assessment of the digestion of milk oligosaccharides by human gut bacteria |
Wesley Zandberg |
|
Amir Sardari Romina |
Chemistry |
The Role of Quantum Effects in Stability of Ribonucleotide Reductase |
Gino DiLabio |
|
Darina Vekhova |
Chemistry |
Investigation of the NOX2 enzyme inhibitor (VAS2870) – via protein labeling |
Frederic Menard |
|
Matthew Currie |
Computer Science |
Matching People in Historical Metis Records |
Ramon Lawrence |
|
Meng Tian |
Computer Science |
Improving crowd counting accuracy for deep learning architectures |
Mohamed Shehata |
|
Sarah Wyse |
Mathematics |
Modeling the effect of stochasticity on a mathematical predator-prey system |
Rebecca Tyson |
|
Jasmine Lamoureux |
Process Geomorphology |
Spatial Analysis of the Effects of Forest Roads on Water Quality in Streams |
Bernard Bauer |
|
Luke Williams |
Earth Science |
Methane transport through floodplain trees |
Ed Hornibrook |
|
Delator Hini |
Community |
Female and Homless: Exploring the Barriers and Coping Strategies of Homeless Women in Kelowna |
Carlos Teixeira |
|
Hanna Paul |
Anthropology |
Unpacking Cultural Relativism of Menstruation and Moon Time for Women in the Okanagan |
Fiona McDonald |
|
Lydia Wood |
Psychology |
A Canadian Update to Neuropsychological Normative Data |
Maya Libben |
|
Reagan Zinck |
Psychology |
Shaping opinions: An analysis of Canadian press coverage of climate change |
Carolyn Szostak |
|
Camille Morissette |
Sociology |
Support Systems in Athletes that have Suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries |
Deana Simonetto |
|
Jonathan Gilbert Romaniuk |
History |
Faith and Works: A History of Canadian Community Service in the Diocese of Kootenay During WWI & WWII |
Ben Nilson |
|
Shao Yuan Chong |
Political Science |
Evaluating Trauma from Protests in the Hong Kong Community Since 1997 |
Manfred Elfstrom |
|
Paige Kinniburgh |
Political Science |
Analysis of the Relative Effectiveness of Mobile Versus Fixed Injection Sites |
Adam Jones |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||