Welcome back everyone!

I hope your semester is off to a great start. January means that applications are open for the undergraduate summer awards (NSERC USRA, Chinook Summer Research Award, Alberta Innovates SRS). You are welcome to forward this email and information to any undergraduates you would like to support for one or more of the following awards. Below is a quick overview of each award. Students can apply for multiple awards if they meet the eligibility criteria. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will be happy to help.

Three notable new changes for 2026:

There are two additional awards offered under the Chinook Summer Research Awards. These are called the “Life and Climate Research Award.” Projects in the social sciences, humanities, arts and sciences that are related to the climate and environment may qualify. Please see the Chinook award page for more details.

For each of the awards, a student can only hold the same award up to 3 times. For example, if they held an NSERC USRA for 3 summers, they are still eligible to apply for a Chinook or AI SRS award, but cannot apply again for a fourth NSERC USRA.

Changes to the Priority Areas for the Alberta Innovates SRS. They are expanded to include the intersection between human and animal/environmental health, along with other small tweaks. See below for more details.

PLEASE NOTE: The information below is intended as a quick overview. For more details about the opportunity, eligibility, and application requirements, please review the linked webpage.

A nationally funded program (NSERC, with limited CIHR & SSHRC) designed to foster undergraduate research experience across all disciplines.

Required minimum supervisor top-up ($2730 in 2025) to meet wage requirements

Undergraduate students at any eligible university

Canadian citizen or PR

The student should send a copy of their transcripts directly from "MyCreds.ca" to usra@uleth.ca.

Student should submit student letter online using the Student letter form

The student should ask their supervisor or chosen reference to complete the letter of recommendation form. It is the students responsibility to follow-up with their reference to ensure it is submitted before the deadline.

Supervisor Limits: 2 students per supervisor (but you can submit up to 3 applications). You may supervise more than 2 if the additional students are Black or Indigenous.

An undergraduate research award open to all disciplines.

ULethbridge students enrolled full-time

Student must plan to return to studies in the Fall (cannot be in their final semester)

Previous Chinook award holders MUST submit their final report before holding another Chinook award.

Application: Student must submit via the University of Lethbridge scholarships portal. Reference requests will be sent through the online system. Additionally, some

An undergraduate award focused on human health research. The majority of funded projects should fit into one of the named priority areas below. New this year: these have been expanded to include the intersection of human and animal/environmental health.

Application: Submitted via the University of Lethbridge scholarships portal. Reference requests will be sent through the online system.

If you have questions about eligibility, internal processes, or supporting student applications, please contact myself at oris.internal@uleth.ca. If a student is having issues with the application portal, they should contact the awards office at awards@uleth.ca.

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Nicole van Rootselaar, PhD.

(she/her)

Research Facilitator, Internal Awards, Postdoctoral Funding, and Research Management System Support

Office of Research and Innovation Services

Office B635

oris.health@uleth.ca

403-332-2002

ULethbridge|Research

4401 University Drive

Lethbridge AB, Canada 

T1K 3M4

ulethbridge.ca

The University of Lethbridge’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. The University is located in traditional Blackfoot Confederacy territory. I am grateful to live and work on the traditional land of the Blackfoot people, and continue to learn and honour their traditional ways of knowing in caring for this land, as well as all Indigenous Peoples who have helped shape and continue to strengthen our University community.

All applications/proposals/notices of intent must be approved by the Office of Research & Innovation Services (ORIS) using the Research Proposal Form (RPF) on the Bridge with a copy of the application. Therefore, applicants and co-applicants should allow sufficient lead time for a thorough review at each approval level. The RPF must be received before an application is submitted electronically to a funding agency. The faculty member's responsibility is to ensure that the ORIS receives a completed RPF well before the agency deadline. Visit this page for more information.

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