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.
Value of the awards:
URA
$11,000 salary (inclusive of benefits).
IURA
Salary TBD, but equivalent to at least minimum wage (inclusive of benefits; check with fosawards.ubco@ubc.ca in January 2023 for an updated salary amount), 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 18th annual Undergraduate Research Awards Symposium took place on Friday, September 8, 2023. The Symposium featured presentations from the 2023 recipients of the Undergraduate Research Awards (URA/IURA/USRA) Programs. View the abstracts.
Sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Endowment Fund, the International Student Initiative and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
2024 Applications
Deadline:
The application package must be received no later than 4 p.m. on January 31, 2024. 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
2024 URA/IURA Information Session
The 2024 Undergraduate Research Award Information Session will be held in-person on Monday, October 30, 2023. To register for the information session, please click the link below:
Register for the URA/IURA Information Session – Monday, October 30, 2023
The location of the Information Session will be sent to registered participants before October 30th, 2023.
URA/IURA PROPOSAL WRITING WORKSHOP
Jessica Lowry from the Centre for Scholarly Communication will hold a writing workshop on Monday, November 27, 2023. Space is limited, so be sure to register early.
Register for the URA/IURA Proposal Writing Workshop – Monday, November 27, 2023
Contact
For information regarding the URA application, contact:
URA Advisor
TBD
For all other questions, contact:
fosawards.ubco@ubc.ca
recent Recipients
| 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) | |||
URA 2022 Recipients
| 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(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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) | |||
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elinor Binson* | Biology | Study of transcription factor genes that control flower development in lavender | Soheil Mahmoud |
| Athena Ranger | Biology | The role of histone deacetylases in brain glial cell signaling | Andis Klegeris |
| Sophia Russo | Biology | Effects of Nicotine Transport on insect renal transcriptome profiles: qPCR validation of mRNA-mRNA | Mark Rheault |
| Lucas Starchuk | Biology | Effects of SAMe in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids induced toxicity in the heart | Sanjoy Ghosh |
| Taylor Gray | Chemistry | Investigating milk glycoprotein digestion in order to create more human-like infant formulas | Wesley Zandberg |
| Yuen Yee Leung* | Chemistry | Oxidation of camptothecin (CPT) backbone through the use of oxidative enzymes | Thuy Dang |
| Nina Mohtarundin* | Chemistry | Developing a screening tool for identifying methods to block the growth of gut pathogens | Wesley Zandberg |
| Sydney Neumeier | Chemistry | A novel elctrophoresis assay to quantify single moelcule interactions | Isaac Li |
| David, Theo Hallinen* | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Student Response to Various Teaching Methods in Frist Year Physics at UBCO | John Hopkinson |
| Matthew Saurette | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Modeling Urban Dispersal of Mountain Pine Beetles Influenced by Low-Level Wind Currents | Rebecca Tyson |
| Tianhao Wang* | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | Mobile-Based Solution for Senior Citizens to Improve Their Technological Skill | Khalad Hasan |
| Marcus Savery | Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences | Quantifying fugitive emission of methane from the Glenmore Landfill | Edward Hornibrook |
| Nicholas Tochor | Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences | Spatial-temporal sampling approaches for wildlife occupancy modeling | Mathieu Bourbonnais |
| Shaniya Anand* | Community, Culture and Global Studies | Vile Biimo Le’shaha (We Share The Same Understanding): Inspiring Healing Through a Conlang | Christine Schreyer |
| Eric Douglas | Community, Culture and Global Studies | North Okanagan Analysis of Consumer Food Behavior | Mary Stockdale (Eric Li – MGMT) |
| Madelaine Lekei | Community, Culture and Global Studies | The Enabled Environment: Understanding Bathrooms as Sensory Inclusive Public Spaces in the Okanagan | Fiona McDonald |
| Keeley Lainchbury | Psychology | Bias in the Legal System: How Race and Confessions Impact a Verdict | Paul Davies |
| Ross St. George | Psychology | Utilizing Smartwatch Technology to Prevent Substance Use Disorder Relapses | Marvin Krank |
| David Shifflett | Psychology | The Space-definedness of the Blind, Blindfolded, and Sighted | Paul Gabias |
| Maxine Van Zyl | Psychology | Comparison of WCST and ToH in Assessing Executive Function and Predicting MPAI Scores | Harry Miller |
| Joanne Scofield | History and Sociology | To Help or Harm: Optimizing International Support of Pro-Choice Activism in El Salvador | Jasmin Hristov |
| Daniyal Mirza* | Economics, Philosophy and Political Science | Decriminalization Model for Canada | Carey Doberstein |
| Michaela Sullivan-Paul | Economics, Philosophy and Political Science | Are Canadian Provinces Drunk on Power? A Look into the Effects of the Interprovincial Trade Barrier | Carey Doberstein |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||
| Student Name | Department | Project Title | Supervisor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Figura | Biology | How Specific Fatty Acids Impact the Inflammation and Disease Processes in the Mammalian Heart | Sanjoy Ghosh |
| Clerissa Heck (Copeland) | Biology | Allopregnanolene’s effect on the progression of neurogensis | Bruce Mathieson |
| Makoto Kishida* | Biology | The effects of organic cation transporter CRISPR gene knockdown on xenobiotic excretion in insects | Mark Rheault |
| Emily Manzer | Biology | Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Sensory Neurons Undergoing Trophic Deprivation | Philip Barker |
| Nora Melisa Perea Garcia* | Biology | Detection of Caspase Activity using Genetically Encoded Sensors | Philip Barker |
| Gabriel Zavala* | Biology | Determining expression of lavender transcription factors through qPCR | Soheil Mahmoud |
| Simon Edelmann | Chemistry | Synthesis of a fluorescent dye with application for Kainite Receptor Imaging | Frederic Menard |
| Sydney Fearnley | Chemistry | Traction force microscopy and fluorescent live cell imaging to quantify cell adhesion forces | Isaac Li |
| Alexander Garner | Chemistry | Development of chemical tools to sequence plant pectin to understand plant fungal reistance | Wes Zandberg |
| Sylvain Gretchko | Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics | The Effects of Climate Change on Spatial Predator-Prey Dynamics | Rebecca Tyson |
| Georgia Taylor McRae | Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences | Influence of Flow Regulation on Stream Temperature: Mission Creek, BC | Bernard Bauer |
| Amy Doricic | Community, Culture and Global Studies | Nesolat Kijinosi Tiholat (To Learn Thus to Understand:) Constructing Compassion through Dothraki | Christine Schreyer |
| Karen Coppock | Psychology | Investigating Gender Bias with Relation to the Sentencing Gap in Homicidal Sentencing | Michael Woodworth |
| Timothy Nemet | Psychology | Relationship between intimate partner violence and cannabis use | Zachery Walsh |
| Victoria Scotney | Psychology | Creative Influences and Smile Diffusion | Liane Gabora |
| Diya Wala* | Psychology | Gratitude and Well-Being: A Mediator Analysis | Derrick Wirtz |
| Zoe Howell | History and Sociology | The Social Experience of Low Income Single Mother’s in Kelowna’s Changing Economic Market | Luis Aguiar |
| Danielle Tataryn | History and Sociology | Impact of Technological Changes on the Canning Industry in BC’s Southern Interior | James Hull |
| An-Noura-Zen-Nab Compaore | Economics, Philosophy and Political Science | Do you prefer foreign aid or direct foreign investment for tomorrow Madame? | Ross Hickey |
| Shamarthi Ghosh* | Economics, Philosophy and Political Science | Night Lights and First Nation’s Governance | Ross Hickey |
| Daniel Kandie* | Economics, Philosophy and Political Science | Municipal Amalgamation in the Okanagan: Greater Vernon | Carey Doberstein |
| Adam Newton-Blows | Economics, Philosophy and Political Science | The Period That Time Forgot: Exploring Consumer Demand In The Very Short Run | Julien Picault |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||
| Student Name | Major | Project Title | Supervisor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Ashley Alford | Biology | Cathepsin B as a regulator of microglial immune responses | Andis Klegeris |
| Megan Amy Buers | Biology | How the use of biosolids affect American kestrel nest site selection and foraging behavior | Karen Hodges |
| Mackenzie Campbell | Biology | Modeling wildlife habitat in the Canadian environmental assessment process | Adam Ford |
| Norbert Eke | Statistics | What a customers really saying? A modern approach to feature-based customer review mining | Jeff Andrews |
| Michael Gauld | Sociology | An oral history of organized labour & activism in the Okanagan Valley | Luis Aguiar |
| An Goto* | Chemistry | Making beets blue: A multi-disciplinary approach to the chemical modification of betanin | Gino DiLabio |
| Anton Hsu* | Biology | Mycorrhizal fungi species involved in nitrogen distribution in lodgepole pine germinants | Melanie Jones |
| Margaret Kate Ingram | Psychology | Assessment of psychopathy expression by gender | Brian O’Connor |
| Hogun Kang | Biology | The expression of an insect organic cation transporter in an Sf9 insect cell line | Mark Rheault |
| Brianne Newman | Microbiology | Evaluation of wine yeast viability in chemically defined grape juice medium | Dan Durall |
| Adriane Peak | Anthropology | The Royal Canadian Legion: A community and organization at a crossroads | David Geary |
| Jaclyn Salter | History | Voluntary organisations, municipal governments, and their relationship to the provincial government | James Hull |
| Shaharyar Syed | Statistics | Novel statistical approaches in the analysis of environmental impacts | Jeff Andrews |
| Adam Bryce Yasunaga | Chemistry | The effects of molecular tension on integrins and cell spreading | Isaac Li |
| Sara Vicaretti | Chemistry | Improving infant formula through addition of complex carbohydrates found in human milk | Wesley Zandberg |
| * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) | |||
| Student Name | Major | Project Title | Supervisor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louise Araujo | Chemistry | Synthesis of a compound to identify the binding site of calcium channels in the brain | Fred Menard |
| Guiseppe (Jesse) Crescenzo | Chemistry | Green chromium catalysts: Using bipyridine to stabilize mixed-aryl complexes | Kevin Smith |
| Anthony Culos | Computer Science/Math | Data mining a large health database | Jeff Andrews |
| Brody James Geoghegen | Biochemistry | Characterization of a novel enzyme from an opportunistic pathogen | Kirstin Wolthers |
| Lauren Hotchkiss | Psychology | Predictors of Hope: An experimental study of the relationship between gratitude and hope | |
| Tracy Marie Janzen | Psychology | Investigating mental health care services for rural older adults | Carolyn Szostak |
| Andrew Kennedy | Chemistry | Development of mass spectrometry techniques for the relative quantification of mucin-type glycans | Wesley Zandberg |
| Justin King | Biochemistry | How do neurosteroids control the “birth” of new neurons in the adult brain? | Bruce Mathieson |
| Trina Kushnerik | Psychology | Impact of directional implicit theories on well-being and intervention efficacy | |
| Carolyn Lee | Biology | Analyzing the neuroprotective properties of oleamide on astrocytes | Andis Klegeris |
| Tiah Lee | Chemistry | Comparison of chemical compounds in a medicinal plant and its loose-leaf commercial tea | Susan Murch |
| Heather Joanne McIntyre | Anthropology | Expression of social identity through grave and tombstone analysis at the Vernon Municipal Cemetery | Diana French |
| Benjamin Drew Noyovitz | Biochemistry | Breadfruit latex biopolymer as a replacement of petroleum-based polymers | Susan Murch |
| Ashleigh Parker | Psychology | The New Normal: Developing an updated corpus of normative data for five neuropschological measures | Maya Libben |
| Christopher John Paterson | Chemistry | Synthesis of sugar-bearing cobalt complexes for use as anti-tumor agents | Stephen McNeil |
| Dakshitha Ranatunga | Biochemistry | Regulation of monoterpene synthesis in lavender through RNA interference | Soheil Mahmoud |