All AES USRAs have the same overall minimum total award value (derived from the award and the supervisor鈥檚 contribution). The Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences offers undergraduate students every opportunity to expand their learning experience through participation in research projects. Eligibility begins with a student鈥檚 desire to participate in faculty research, supported by an excellent academic record. AES USRAs extend eligibility to include international students registered full-time in one of our faculty programs.
We encourage students interested in assisting with research, either during summer or the academic year, to reach out to a professor whose research interests match their own.
Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs)
Full-time undergraduate students with an excellent academic record in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have a variety of opportunities to participate in faculty research. Students and supervisors come to an agreement for a 15 or 16 week full-time research project. All AES sponsored USRAs have the same overall minimum total award value (derived from the award and the supervisor鈥檚 contribution).
NSERC USRA
The听Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) USRA听program aims to inspire student researchers interest in natural sciences and engineering, and the pursuit of research careers in these fields. Recipients engage in a research and development activity under the supervision of a professor holding an NSERC grant. It is an opportunity to gain research experience in an academic setting, while receiving financial support to do so.
Value and duration
Value: $6000 from NSERC
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $2950 (15 weeks) or $3550 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
Student eligibility
Students must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- Be registered in a Bachelor's degree program at the time of application
- Have completed all course requirements for at least two full academic terms
- Have a minimum CGPA of 3.0
The NSERC USRA program actively encourages women applicants in their pursuit of graduate studies and careers in science and engineering. The program also encourages eligible Canadian Indigenous and Black students to apply. Please make sure that you self-identify on the NSERC application form and听let the听research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca (Macdonald Research Office)听know that you have done so.
You may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your university career.听Students participating in a USRA program may take a maximum of one course during the tenure of the award. A second course may be permitted on a case-by-case basis only with supervisor鈥檚 approval.
Please consult the听听for additional requirements. This award is competitive: individual departments may set higher application cutoffs than NSERC's minimum requirements.
How to apply
The required checklist, forms, and instructions are available on the听Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage for NSERC USRAs.
To submit a complete application on the NSERC USRA portal, you need to听identify and meet with an eligible researcher (download 2025 list) who will serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you.
Each Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences unit has a quota of available awards and its own selection process. Apply through the academic unit where you wish to hold your award (i.e., your proposed supervisor's school or department, not necessarily your own).
If you are interested in an NSERC USRA with a supervisor from another faculty, please check their faculty's USRA webpage for deadlines and procedures, which may vary.听
Deadline and contacts for听Summer 2025
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
Please submit your application directly to the contact person for your supervisor's unit (see below).
|
Unit |
Contact person |
|---|---|
|
Animal Science |
roger.cue [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. R Cue) |
|
Bioresource Engineering |
viacheslav.adamchuk [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. V. Adamchuk) |
|
Human Nutrition (School of) |
chelsia.gillis [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. C. Gillis)听 |
|
Food Science & Agricultural Chemistry听听听听听听听听听 |
yixiang.wang [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Y. Wang)听 |
|
Natural Resource Sciences |
sebastien.faucher2 [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. S. Faucher) |
|
Parasitology |
reza.salavati [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. R. Salavati)听 |
|
Plant Science |
valerie.gravel [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. V. Gravel) |
Supplemental funding
The听Fonds de recherche du Qu茅bec听鈥� Nature et technologies (FRQNT)听听by awarding an extra $1,500 to the USRA scholarship holders enrolled at an eligible university in Quebec. To receive the FRQNT supplement, the USRA award holder must complete the FRQNT online form after having received his or her NSERC letter indicating that he or she is eligible to the supplement.
The听听provides financial support to high-calibre students working towards degrees in forestry sciences and other fields relevant to Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Forest Service. Natural Resources Canada offers a maximum of 30 $5000 supplements.
SSHRC USRA
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council听(SSHRC) USRA听program aims to inspire the interest of self-identifying Black student听researchers in the social sciences and humanities, and the pursuit of research careers in these fields. Recipients engage in a research and development activity under the supervision of a professor holding a SSHRC grant. It is an opportunity to gain research experience in an academic setting, while receiving financial support to do so.
Value and duration
Value: $6000 from SSHRC
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $2950 (15 weeks) or $3550 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
Student eligibility
Students must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- Self-identify as a Black student researcher
- Be registered in a Bachelor's degree program at the time of application
- Have completed all course requirements for at least two full academic terms
- Have a minimum CGPA of 3.0
Please make sure that you self-identify as Black on the NSERC application form and let the research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca (Macdonald Research Office) know that you have done so. The NSERC USRA program actively encourages women applicants in their pursuit of graduate studies and careers in social sciences and humanities.
You may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your university career. Students participating in a USRA program may take a maximum of one course during the tenure of the award. A second course may be permitted on a case-by-case basis only with supervisor鈥檚 approval.
Please consult the for additional requirements. This award is competitive: individual departments may set higher application cutoffs than NSERC's minimum requirements.
How to apply
The required checklist, forms, and instructions are available on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage for USRAs.
To submit a complete application on the NSERC USRA portal, you need to identify and meet with an eligible researcher (download 2025 SSHRC USRA list) who will serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you.
Each Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences unit has a quota of available awards and its own selection process. Apply through the academic unit where you wish to hold your award (i.e., your proposed supervisor's school or department, not necessarily your own).听
Deadline and contact for听Summer 2025
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
The Department of Natural Resource Sciences is the only unit in our Faculty accepting applications for the 2025 SSHRC USRA program. Please submit your application directly to sebastien.faucher2 [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. S. Faucher).
CIHR USRA
The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) USRA听program aims to inspire the interest of self-identified Black student researchers in the health sciences, and the pursuit of research careers in this field. Recipients engage in a research and development activity under the supervision of a professor holding a CIHR grant. It is an opportunity to gain research experience in an academic setting, while receiving financial support to do so.
Value and duration
Value: $6000 from NSERC
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $2950 (15 weeks) or $3550 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
Student eligibility
Students must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- Self-identify as a Black student researcher
- Be registered in a Bachelor's degree program at the time of application
- Have completed all course requirements for at least two full academic terms
- Have a minimum CGPA of 3.0
Please make sure that you self-identify as Black on the NSERC application form and let the research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca (Macdonald Research Office) know that you have done so. The NSERC USRA program actively encourages women applicants in their pursuit of graduate studies and careers in the health sciences.
You may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your university career. Students participating in a USRA program may take a maximum of one course during the tenure of the award. A second course may be permitted on a case-by-case basis only with supervisor鈥檚 approval.
Please consult the for additional requirements. This award is competitive: individual departments may set higher application cutoffs than NSERC's minimum requirements.
How to apply
To submit a complete application on the NSERC USRA portal, you need to听identify and meet with an eligible researcher (download 2025 CIHR USRA list)听who will serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you.
Apply through the academic unit where you wish to hold your award (i.e., your proposed supervisor's school or department, not necessarily your own).
Deadlines and contacts for Summer 2025
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
Please submit your application directly to the contact person for your supervisor's unit (see below).
|
Unit |
Contact person |
|---|---|
|
Parasitology |
reza.salavati [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. R. Salavati) |
|
School of Human Nutrition |
chelsia.gillis [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. C. Gillis) |
Brown Martlet USRA
The听Brown Martlet USRA听provides support to听undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences听who are participating in summer research projects. The professor supervising the research project must provide matching funds. This award is administered by the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Value and duration
Value: $5,400 from the Faculty
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $3550 (15 weeks) or $4150 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
The value of this award varies depending on the endowment's rate of return for the given year.
Student eligibility
Applicants must be:
- Full-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at time of application
- In听good academic standing (CGPA of 3.0 or higher)
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student
The research must relate to the students鈥� academic field of study and should be conducted with the intention to advance knowledge.
How to apply
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
To submit a complete application, you need to identify and meet with an eligible researcher in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who is willing to serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you. They must provide funds matching the monetary value of the award.
The application form below has two parts: the student completes part 1 of the form and the proposed supervisor completes part 2. The completed form must be submitted to听research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca听along with the student's unofficial transcript.
Rudi Dallenbach USRA
The听Rudi Dallenbach USRA听provides support to听one undergraduate student in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences听who is participating in a summer research project. The professor supervising the research project must provide matching funds. This award is administered by the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Value and tenure
Value:听$3600 from the Faculty
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $5350 (15 weeks) or $5950 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
The value of this award varies depending on the endowment's rate of return for the given year.
Student Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- Full-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at time of application
- In good academic standing (CGPA of 3.0 or higher)
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student
The research must relate to the students鈥� academic field of study and should be conducted with the intention to advance knowledge.听Preference will be given to students pursuing research at the Macdonald Farm in the area of Plant Science, Animal Science, Bioresource Engineering, or Environmental Sciences.
How to apply
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
To submit a complete application, you need to identify and meet with an eligible researcher in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who is willing to serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you. They must provide funds matching the monetary value of the award.
The application form below has two parts: the student completes part 1 of the form and the proposed supervisor completes part 2. The completed form must be submitted to research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca along with the student's unofficial transcript.
AES Black Students USRA
The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (AES)听Black Students USRA provides support to self-identifying Black undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who are participating in summer research projects. The professor supervising the research project must provide matching funds. This award is administered by the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Value and duration
Value: $6000 from the Faculty
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $2950 (15 weeks) or $3550 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
The value of this award varies depending on the endowment's rate of return for the given year.
Student eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be full-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at time of application
- Self-identify as Black
- Be in good academic standing (CGPA of 3.0 or higher)
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student
The research must relate to the students鈥� academic field of study and should be conducted with the intention to advance knowledge.
How to apply
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
To submit a complete application, you need to identify and meet with an eligible researcher in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who is willing to serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you. They must provide funds matching the monetary value of the award.
The application form below has two parts: the student completes part 1 of the form and the proposed supervisor completes part 2. The completed form must be submitted to research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca along with the student's unofficial transcript.
AES USRA
The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (AES) USRA听provides support to eligible undergraduate students to work full-time under supervision on a summer research project that complements the student's program of study. This is an opportunity to experience research activity first hand as a member of a lab team.
Value and duration
Value: $5000 from the Faculty
Supervisor鈥檚 contribution: minimum of $3950 (15 weeks) or $4550 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
The value of this award varies depending on the endowment's rate of return for the given year.
Student eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be full-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at time of application
- Be in good academic standing (CGPA of 3.0 or higher)
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student
The research must relate to the students鈥� academic field of study and should be conducted with the intention to advance knowledge.
How to apply
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
To submit a complete application, you need to identify and meet with an eligible researcher in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who is willing to serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you. They must provide funds matching the monetary value of the award.
The application form below has two parts: the student completes part 1 of the form and the proposed supervisor completes part 2. The completed form must be submitted to research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca along with the student's unofficial transcript.
听
Lallemand USRA
The Lallemand Undergraduate Student Research Award provides support to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences participating in summer research projects related to the development of yeast, bacteria, or specialty ingredients.听The professor supervising the research project must provide matching funds. The award is administered by the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Value and duration
Value: $6000 from the Faculty
Supervisor鈥檚 Contribution: minimum of $2950 (15 weeks) or $3550 (16 weeks)
顿耻谤补迟颈辞苍:听Summer research project (May to August); 15 or 16 weeks on a full-time basis
Student eligibility
Applicants must be:
- Full-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at time of application
- In good academic standing (CGPA of 3.0 or higher)
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student
The recipient of this award is expected to work on projects related to the development of yeast, bacteria, or specialty ingredients and their applications in agriculture, agri-food processes, animal nutrition, and health solutions.
How to apply
Application deadline: February 28, 2025
To submit a complete application, you need to identify and meet with an eligible researcher in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who is willing to serve as your proposed supervisor and submit a project proposal with you. They must provide funds matching the monetary value of the award.
The application form below has two parts: the student completes part 1 of the form and the proposed supervisor completes part 2. The completed form must be submitted to research.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca along with the student's unofficial transcript.