WINNIPEG, MB – The 7th Annual Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards Celebration was held on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 to recognize students and their advisors. The luncheon celebration brought together the outstanding group of undergraduate students from The University of Winnipeg who received NSERC funding in 2008 to present their summer research projects.
Undergraduate Student Research Awards recipients and their advisors
Students delved into a range of topics including epidemiology, Manitoba forest ecosystems and the study of multiple sclerosis in mouse spines. Associate Vice-President (Research) and Dean of Graduate Studies Sandra Kirby made note of the high quality of students who receive NSERC funds. In the last three years, approximately 75% of UWinnipeg students receiving these funds have gone on to win either the prestigious NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship-Master’s or NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s. This is a testament to the high calibre of our students and to UWinnipeg’s commitment to academic excellence in the natural sciences and engineering fields.
In 2008-09, UWinnipeg received 22 NSERC awards for undergraduate research in the departments of Applied Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics and Psychology. Students were paired with professors who also hold an NSERC grant, and whose research interested them. Professors supervised and mentored students in their exciting and innovative research projects for a 16-week period.
“The research experience these undergrads obtain is invaluable,” said Kirby. “This gives our students a stronger understanding of what may lie ahead for them in graduate studies.”
The NSERC program for undergraduate student research is highly competitive, with applications accepted annually in February. For more detailed information about undergraduate research, and to view the students presentations please visit http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/research-students.
