Indigenous Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program

About the Program

The Indigenous Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program (IURMP) is an opportunity for Indigenous undergraduate students interested in academic research in any field to be paired with a faculty member on campus.

Students in IURMP will gain insight into the variety of research being conducted at UBC, as well as the opportunity to contribute to research that interests them.

In addition to being paired with a faculty member, students will have access to the following through IURMP:

  • Dedicated UBC Staff support from Enrolment Services and the Graduate Student Coordinator
  • Opportunities to meet and connect with fellow Indigenous undergraduate students in a program cohort
  • Workshops and learning opportunities with your IURMP cohort throughout the program, such as applying for an Undergraduate Student Research Award, and connecting your pathway to Graduate School

Time Commitment & Student Activity

Students in IURMP can aim to spend about five hours per week as an active participant. These hours could be spent on the following, and more:

  • Meeting one-on-one with your mentor
  • Participating in your mentor’s research activities such as lab meetings, lab work, field excursions, and social events specific to your mentor’s field of work
  • Meeting and learning from other lab members such as graduate students, post-docs, and other research staff
  • Attend IURMP events
  • Reading literature, email correspondence, etc.
  • Writing weekly journal entries reflecting on your experience

To learn more about the student experience in IURMP, see the section “Past Mentee’s” below.

Eligibility Requirements

Undergraduate students in any faculty who self-identify as Indigenous and are interested in academic research. This program is especially suited to students interested in graduate studies or other research-related opportunities.

Note: Students must self-identify as Indigenous on the UBC Student Service Centre (SSC) for their application to be accepted.

How to Apply

Applications for IURMP are accepted starting September and the application period closes in October or November. Final details will be published in The Talking Stick newsletter (email fnhl.assistant@ubc.ca to subscribe).

Online application form: IURMP Application

Contact Us

If you have any additional questions regarding the program, please feel free to contact us. Email: indigenous.mentorship@ubc.ca


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For Students:

How do I select mentors? /How are mentors selected?
The application has an optional field to write names of professors that you would like to work with. If you indicate a desire to work with a specific professor, we will ask them directly – there are no restrictions to the names that can be written here, but sometimes professors decline. If you do not have professors in mind, that is okay, and very common. Leave this section blank and write about your research interests in the application so we can find a mentor that best matches your interests.

How many hours per week do I have to commit to the program?
We ask that you commit a minimum of 5 hours each week. However, these 5 hours can be spent doing any number of things related to the program. For example, meeting over coffee with grad students in the lab, reading papers, lab work, or even writing emails.

Can I get credits for participating?
Unfortunately, we cannot award credits for participation.

Am I paid to participate?
You are provided with a stipend to offset the time you spend participating in the program.

Does this program support Arts students?
Absolutely, we consistently have as many arts students as science students in the program. All disciplines are eligible.

What kind of opportunities are available?
Our program is built on student-driven experiences. It is important that you communicate with your mentor and Graduate Student Coordinator so you can have the experiences you want. For example, some students want to pursue a research project. Other students just want to meet and chat with their professor about academia.

When will I find out if I am accepted for the program?
Shortly after the applications close, the IURMP team meets with academic advisors to select students. This process usually takes a few weeks, and you will receive an email indicating our decision.

I am a first-year student, am I eligible?
Yes, everyone is eligible to apply.

I have already participated in the program, can I apply again?
Yes, you may apply again.

For Faculty:

How can I sign up to be a mentor?
A call for mentors is sent to many UBC departments during the fall semester with a link to add your name to the pool. If your department does not receive the email, you can email us at indigenous.mentorship@ubc.ca to express your interest.


IURMP in the Media

Here are some stories that talk about the program.


Past Mentors

IURMP has had many different mentors, ranging from Microbiology to Marketing to Behavioural Psychology.
Below are website links to a handful of the many amazing past mentors from our UBC faculty:

Jennifer Kramer
Connor Kerns
Darren Dahl
Michael Gold
Jörg Bohlmann
Mark Halpern
Simone Castellarin
Darren Warburton


Past Mentees

IURMP’s past mentee’s have come from various fields and approached their experience with IURMP from different angles. This is what a few of our past Mentees said about their experience participating in IURMP:

* * * *

James Shaw
Anishinaabe
Computer Science Major

What specific fields of research are you interested in?
Materials Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science.

Who was your mentor when you participated in the program? What is their research focused on?
Dr. Ian Mitchell, whose research is focused on algorithms and embedded systems.

Did you work on any projects during IURMP? If so, give us a brief overview on what they involved.
During IURMP, I worked on setting up a self-driving vehicle that can navigate to way points using sensors.

In what ways did your time in IURMP and the project(s) you worked on relate to your research interests in your field?
At the time, I was studying Materials Engineering so it gave me a chance to explore my research interests in the computer science field.

What are some reasons you would recommend this program for other Indigenous undergraduate students?
I would recommend this program to other students because the IURMP team makes it incredibly easy to set up research in a desired field. I had requested to work with Dr. Ian Mitchell through a quick Google search of his research and the support team did the leg work to make it happen.

Advice to share with any incoming or prospectively incoming IURMP students?
To get the most out of the experience, I would suggest that incoming IURMP students create a schedule with specific dates and times that they will do work on the project so that it becomes a priority.

* * * *

Connor Keane
Mi’kmaq
Microbiology and Immunology Major

What specific fields of research are you interested in?
Immunology, Neurology, and Virology.

Who was your mentor when you participated in the program? What is their research focused on?
Dr. Michael Gold, whose research is focused on understanding the role of cytoskeletal dynamics in B cell activation and signalling.

Did you work on any projects during IURMP? If so, give us a brief overview on what they involved.
My experience taking part in the program began with training in the general lab and biological safety as well as learning immunology lab theory in meetings with my mentor Dr. Michael Gold. Soon after, I was shadowing graduate students to develop the practical skills to carry out a variety of experiments used to understand how B cells (immune cells in our bodies that make antibodies) function and respond to invading pathogens. Once my training was complete, I started on my project which was to determine the role of the protein CLIP-170 in B cells’ ability to become activated and produce antibodies. CLIP-170 is a protein that is important in the interaction between parts of the B cell cytoskeleton, specifically actin and microtubules.

In what ways did your time in IURMP and the project(s) you worked on relate to your research interests in your field?
My time in the program presented me with a foundation in immunology lab techniques and theory and has opened doors to continue my research through NSERC USRAs as well as Work Learn opportunities. I am very passionate about my research on B cell function which directly aligns with the research interests that I have had since my first year at UBC.

What are some reasons you would recommend this program for other Indigenous undergraduate students?
This program is excellent for Indigenous undergraduate students who are interested in starting a journey in research in any field of study. The IURMP presents students with a firsthand introduction to how research labs are run, produce data, and publish results. Furthermore, this program can open doors to continue pursuing your individual research interests.

Advice to share with any incoming or prospectively incoming IURMP students?
The IURMP coordinators were great and supported me when I was having difficulties being the token Indigenous person in my field, which I expect will happen to many people.

* * * *

Chelsea Harris
Dene
Food Science

What specific fields of research are you interested in?
I’m interested in wine and other fermented beverages.

Who was your mentor when you participated in the program? What is their research focused on?
My mentor in IURMP was Simone Castellarin, whose research is focused on Wine.

Did you work on any projects during IURMP? If so, give us a brief overview on what they involved.
I worked on incorporating Indigenous traditional knowledge with wine.

In what ways did your time in IURMP and the project(s) you worked on relate to your research interests in your field?
I am passionate about connecting Indigenous ways with modern technology. With Dr. Castellarin and his lab I was able to explore these concepts.

What are some reasons you would recommend this program for other Indigenous undergraduate students?
IURMP is a lot of fun to participate in, and truly opens doors for networking. It also prepares you for professionalism in the field you are heading into.

Advice to share with any incoming or prospectively incoming IURMP students?
IURMP allows you to observe and ask questions that may otherwise not be possible. As an experience it can help you choose a path forward, as well as open other opportunities in your field.

* * * *

Danilo Caron
Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation
Civil Engineering

What specific fields of research are you interested in?
Project and construction management, construction materials.

Who was your mentor when you participated in the program? What is their research focused on?
Dr. Christina Zanotti, Materials Engineering.

Did you work on any projects during IURMP? If so, give us a brief overview on what they involved.
I worked on researching concrete aggregate alternatives during my time with Dr. Zanotti as a mentor.

In what ways did your time in IURMP and the project(s) you worked on relate to your research interests in your field?
I’m interested in both materials research and project management. IURMP allowed me to get lab experience in materials research. I also got research experience in project management through a directed study. After doing both of these I was able to choose what field I was interested in when it came time to apply for my masters.

Were you able to meet other Indigenous students in the program during workshops and other learning opportunities? What was the community like within IURMP?
Personally, I didn’t interact with other Indigenous students as part of my research process, but we did form a community outside of the program. The kickoff event and final gathering were opportunities to learn and share from each other.

What are some reasons you would recommend this program for other Indigenous undergraduate students?
The IURMP allows one to gain research experience from your mentor and their other students. I spent my lab time with one of Dr. Zanotti’s MASC students and it was an influential experience for me. Having access to lab meetings and getting hands on lab experience can be challenging for students looking for ways to enrich their undergraduate degree and strengthen their resumes.

Advice to share with any incoming or prospectively incoming IURMP students?
I encourage those who are interested in IURMP to try something new. This is a great opportunity to work outside your direct field of study if you’d like to expand your horizons.


Updated: September 24, 2021