Research Opportunities for Undergraduate Students | School of Kinesiology & Health Science

Overview

Research can enrich your undergraduate experience in Kinesiology and Health Science. Whether your interests are in biomechanics, exercise physiology, sport psychology, public health or the social determinants of health, 91��ɫ offers many opportunities to engage in research.

Students pursue research opportunities for a variety of reasons. For those considering research-based graduate programs, research experience during your undergraduate studies is valuable.

Research experience is not required for every career or educational pathway. Professional and course-based programs in areas such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy and medicine have distinct admission requirements, which may vary depending on the school.

Why Get Research Experience?

Research is an opportunity to explore questions and contribute to discoveries that advance health and well-being. Through research opportunities, you can:

develop technical skills in study design, data collection, statistical analysis and scientific writing.
build relationships with faculty members and graduate students who can support your academic and professional development.
gain firsthand insight into research careers and make more informed decisions about graduate studies.
strengthen applications to research-based graduate programs, where prior lab experience is often an asset.
contribute to research in kinesiology, health science, and related disciplines.

When to Start

Students can get involved in research at any stage of their undergraduate degree, although available opportunities may vary by year of study.

First and second year: Explore research opportunities and learn about faculty members whose work aligns with your interests. While positions in first year may be limited, getting involved early can help you prepare for future research opportunities.
Third and fourth year: These years often offer more opportunities for meaningful research involvement, particularly for students considering research-based graduate studies.

Tips for success

Reach out early: The winter term is often a good time to contact faculty members about opportunities for the upcoming summer or the next academic year. Many opportunities are shaped through direct outreach rather than formal postings.
Plan ahead: Some research opportunities can be competitive. Start your search early, contact faculty members well in advance and follow up professionally if needed.

Getting Started

1. Talk to faculty members

Identify faculty members whose research aligns with your interests and contact them to learn more about their work.

2. Attend research events

Attend research seminars, poster presentations and other events hosted by the School or Faculty to connect with faculty members and graduate students.

3. Learn from peers

Learn from upper-year students and student organizations. They can share their experiences and provide helpful tips for getting involved in research.

What research involvement looks like will depend on where you are in your degree and the skills and experience you have developed so far. The entry points below reflect different stages of involvement.

Early involvement in a lab can take many forms, and often includes:

Attending lab meetings.
Shadowing graduate students and more senior lab members.
Supporting data entry and basic data management tasks.
Assisting with participant recruitment or study coordination.
Learning about the full arc of a research project from design through dissemination.

Types of Research Opportunities

Volunteering in a research lab as a research assistant (RA) is the most common entry point for undergraduate students.

Most volunteer RA positions involve a minimum commitment of approximately five hours per week.

Paid research positions are limited in number and highly competitive. Most students who secure paid positions have prior volunteer experience in a research setting.

The Research at 91��ɫ (RAY) program is one of 91��ɫ's three Work/Study programs and provides eligible undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in active research projects alongside faculty members, with compensation at a competitive rate. Positions are posted through
Paid positions are also available at affiliated institutions including Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

USRAs provide funded research experience and are offered through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Awards are highly competitive and primarily based on academic standing.
Some awards are offered exclusively to Black student scholars.
Application deadlines is typically in early Winter, January or February.
Each award requires a faculty sponsor; begin building relationships with potential supervisors well in advance of the deadline.

An Individual Research Project (IRP) is a supervised research project completed for academic credit under the guidance of a faculty member. Projects may involve original data collection, literature reviews, environmental scans, or other forms of scholarly inquiry.

You are responsible for finding your own supervisor, and availability is not guaranteed.
IRPs are not typically a first research experience and are relatively competitive.
IRPs can be completed for academic credit through KINE 4060 / 4060A: Independent Studies in Kinesiology and Health Science, or KINE 4100: Honours Thesis.

Tips for Reaching Out to Research Labs

Consider the following as you reach out to faculty members about research opportunities:

Identify three to six faculty members whose research interests align with yours
Review faculty profiles, lab websites, and recent publications to understand their current work before writing to them.
Send a personalized email that includes your interest in their specific work, the time commitment you can offer, what you hope to gain from the experience, and what you bring to the opportunity along with your resume.
Check the lab or faculty member's website for specific application instructions.
Email before the start of a new term and follow up after one to two weeks if you have not heard back.
Be open to opportunities that may not look exactly like what you imagined; the skills built in any research context are transferable.
Make use of your existing networks, including student organizations in the Faculty of Health, professors from courses you have enjoyed, and peers already involved in labs.
Do not be discouraged as there are many interested students and fewer spots available.