Summer Student Program Overview

From as early as the 1960s, the Department of Medical Biophysics has run a Summer Student program for undergraduate students interested in interdisciplinary biological, medical and cancer research. This program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience in biomedical research and to learn about the graduate program offered by the department. Students who are chosen to participate in the program are highly motivated to return to Medical Biophysics for graduate studies and serve as ambassadors, promoting the Medical Biophysics graduate program to their peers.

The program runs from the second week of May to the end of August. An orientation meeting for all Medical Biophysics Summer Students is held at the beginning of the program to introduce students to each other and to provide an in-depth overview of the program.

Throughout the summer, selected students are involved in a research project and are expected to attend weekly lunchtime seminars. At the end of the summer, students are required to present their work in the form of a poster at the Summer Student Poster Day. All staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and summer students are invited to participate in these presentations. This public forum has traditionally been well attended, and has allowed the students to gain valuable experience in presenting their work to others, and in developing their skills in engaging in vibrant scientific interchange.

Awards are available in specific areas of research and students can work with their future supervisor to apply for CIHR and NSERC awards.