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Vice President Research and Innovation Undergraduate Student Research Award (VPRI USRA)

Award Purpose

Available across disciplines, the Vice President Research and Innovation Undergraduate Student Research Awards (VPRI USRA) provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in a paid research project in their field of interest, supervised by a university professor.

Award Structure 

Students and supervisors apply together. The VPRI USRA operates as a matching-funds program. Supervisors propose a funding contribution, which VPRI will match for successful applications. For example, if a supervisor contributes $1,000 and VPRI matches the contribution, a total of $2,000 will be available to support costs associated with the USRA over the award period.

The total number of hours available to the student will depend on:

• The total approved funding amount; and
• The hourly rate of pay.

USRA’s must be paid at least the minimum rate prescribed by the TSSU Collective Agreement under Article 29F. Supervisors may elect to pay a higher hourly rate.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a VPRI USRA students must:

• Be registered in a Bachelor's degree program at SFU. Both domestic and international students are eligible to apply
• Have obtained a GPA of at least 2.67 or a B- average 
• Have completed at least two academic terms of a bachelor's degree 
• Will not be enrolled in a thesis course during the USRA term 
• Will have been registered in at least one of the two terms immediately before the term they will hold the award 
• Have not completed their undergraduate degree at the time of application
• Have not started a graduate studies program, including a concurrent program 
• Have not held more than two USRAs (note: only one USRA is allowed per fiscal year April 1-March 31) 

Award Terms

• Award dates are proposed at the time of application, but may not expand the duration of a semester. Proposed dates must fall within the award cycle (May 1-April 31) 
• All provided funds are meant to be used within the date range applied for, any unused VPRI contribution must be returned to VPRI.
• Students may hold no more than 3 USRAs at a maximum VPRI contribution of $6,000 each and no more than one award at a time.
• Supervisors may apply for a maximum VPRI contribution of $6,000 and a minimum contribution of $1,00 per student, unless they have obtained written approval from the undergraduate research coordinator.
• Supervisors may support no more than 3 USRA students per semester, unless they have received written approval from the undergraduate research coordinator.
• Award funds may only be used to support the approved student researcher and project described in the application.