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Research Office

 

Schulich Research Opportunities Program

 

**THE SROP match for 2013 has CONCLUDED**

 

Purpose: The aim of the Schulich Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is to enrich undergraduate medical and dental education by enabling students to conduct research under the supervision of a Schulich faculty member.

The program is intended to foster an appreciation for and proficiency with the research process. It will complement other existing programs to foster student research, including Schulich's Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) and student research opportunities in Dentistry. It is hoped that this program will provide an opportunity for students to learn how research is conducted and will encourage medical and dentistry students to incorporate research activities into their future career plans.

Program Scope: SROP will provide funding for Schulich medical and dental undergraduate students to undertake a research project under the supervision of a Schulich faculty member. Projects may be in any area of biomedical, medical, or dental research including basic, clinical, health services or education research. Requests may be for new projects, or for projects which build on prior research activities. The project must be located at the University of Western Ontario, its affiliated hospitals and institutes, Schulich-Windsor, or at a SWOMEN site.

SROP will also provide support for international research projects under the auspices of the Global Research Opportunities in Health (GROH) program. GROH projects must be supervsied by a Schulich faculty member, and must meet SROP and GROH guidelines. For specific requirements related to GROH projects, click here.

Projects that are primarily public service in nature, while worthwhile, are not eligible for this student research support. Funding will also not be provided for projects required for existing courses.

Eligibility: Undergraduate medical and dental students, excluding MD/PhD students, currently enrolled in their 1st or 2nd year within the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, are eligible to apply.

BMSc students, postgraduate trainees, and graduate students in Schulich departments are not eligible for this program. Undergraduate medical or dental students who hold a M.Sc. and wish to apply may not work in the same laboratory where they received their graduate training. Faculty members are not eligible to submit applications by themselves.

Award Amount: Awards will range from $1,000 to $5,000 in total amount.

Award Duration: In most cases, awards will be 18 months in duration.

NOTE: Students should be realistic when estimating the amount of time they will be able to devote to SROP projects during their academic year, especially if they want to conduct SROP work in their clerkship year.

Applications: A complete application package will include:

  1. Application cover sheet (click here for Word file)
  2. Project summary (1 paragraph)
  3. Project description (2 pages maximum)
  4. Budget justification (1 page maximum)
  5. Project Time Line (1 page maximum, describe in detail how the project will be accomplished within the specified period, given the student's other workload)
  6. Student CV (2 pages maximum)
  7. Supervisor mini-CV (5 pages maximum, NIH or CIHR biosketch format recommended)
  8. Letter of support from supervisor specifically indicating his/her role and commitment

Acceptable Format: Applicants have to use the following format to prepare their application package:

Font: Times New Roman or Arial

Font Size: 12

Line Spacing: Single

Minimum Page Margin in Top, Bottom, Right and Left: 1"

 

Applicants should design a research project which may be accomplished within the timeframe of no more than 18 months. The project description should include the following components: background, rationale, hypothesis, methodology and data analysis, and student's role. The project description should describe any anticipated problems and the extent of faculty supervision.

The role of the student in the project should be clearly described. Students should be involved in a literature search, the formulation and understanding of the methodology, collection of data, and in the interpretation, writing, and presentation of findings.

The project description should include a paragraph describing the student's background, particularly in relation to experience or course work that will be useful for this project, and how the project relates to or builds on any prior experience the student has had with research, for example through undergraduate work or through an existing project funded through SRTP. The project description should also include possible venues for presenting this research (for example, department research days).

Note: If the supervisor is currently or has previously supervised an SROP project, the supervisor should be prepared, upon request, to provide a brief update to the adjudication committee on the results of the prior project(s).

Note: If for unforeseen circumstances the research project cannot be completed within 18 months, an opportunity will be provided for the student and the faculty member to submit a request to the Committee for an extension providing satisfactory reasons and a revised budget.

Application Submission: To apply, submit 1 ORIGINAL, and also email one PDF copy (to vicki.vanstrien@schulich.uwo.ca) of the complete application package to the Schulich Research Office (RRI 1240) by 4:00 pm on January 14, 2013.

 

Adjudication Process: Applications will be adjudicated by Schulich's SRTP Committee, with assistance from additional faculty members.

Criteria for Adjudication: Applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Description and feasibility of the project
  • Strength of the student, including the commitment to the project
  • Strength of the faculty member, including the commitment to the project

Mechanism of Support: A Western research account will be established under the name of the supervisor for administration of the awarded funds. Further instructions will be provided when the awards are announced.

Eligible Costs: Funding may be requested to cover the costs of research. Examples of items that may be requested include, but are not limited to: supplies, computing costs, statistical consulting costs, costs of pulling charts, postage, and travel to present the research at a conference, poster costs, or survey costs.

Funds may not be used to cover expenses incurred prior to June 18, 2012.

A portion of the requested funds may be used as a stipend for the student. However, the maximum amount of student stipend that may be requested is $2500. The $2500 assumes that the student works on the project full-time for at least six weeks during the summer. If the student will be working on the project for a shorter period of full-time or will be working only part-time on the project, the stipend request should be reduced proportionately. Stipends should only be requested for work during the summer. No stipends will be paid for activities during the academic year.

NOTE: Students may not receive other stipend/payment from Schulich/Western for the same period that they are receiving the SROP stipend for full-time work. 

Students receiving a stipend through SRTP for a summer may not receive a supplemental stipend through SROP for the same period. In addition, students who may also receive salary or stipend funding during the same period from another UWO source should consult with the Research Office prior to submitting an SROP application.

A maximum of $1000 may be requested for travel to meetings to present this research. This amount is to meet travel, accommodation and food expenses. The registration fee for conference/meeting can be requested separately.

SROP will not fund the costs of capital items (i.e. permanent equipment).

Approvals: All projects will be required to meet Research Ethics Board (REB) or animal care review requirements, as applicable.

Number of Awards a Student may hold: A student will be limited to one SROP award over her/his career at Schulich.

Additional Program Requirements: Students will be expected to submit a brief report on their project within one month following the end of the award period.

Students will also be expected to present their research at poster sessions or venues such as:

  • London Health Research Day
  • department research days
  • institute research days
  • regional meetings
  • national or international meetings 

Finally, students will also be expected to complete a brief evaluation form (click here for SROP Student Evaluation Form) at the end of their project.

Expected Number of Awards: It is expected that approximately 8-12 awards will be made in each competition.

Schedule:
January 14, 2013- Applications due 
March 2013 - Applicants/supervisors notified of results
June 10, 2013 - Start date for new SROP awards

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Are 3rd and 4th year students eligible for SROP?
No, SROP is open only to current 1st and 2nd year students.

2. I am applying to Schulich Medicine for admission in Fall 2011. Can I submit an SROP application in anticipation that I will be accepted?
No, SROP applications will only be accepted from medical or dentistry students currently enrolled in Schulich.  

3. Can groups of students submit an SROP application?
No, the program is not intended to fund group research projects.  

4. Will SROP fund projects in Windsor?
Yes, SROP will fund projects that are based at Windsor-Schulich.  SROP projects must be supervised by a Schulich faculty member. Schulich faculty members located in Windsor, or elsewhere within SWOMEN, are eligible to serve as supervisors.

5. Will SROP support research projects in Toronto, Vancouver, or other sites outside Southwest Ontario?
SROP projects must be supervised by a Schulich faculty member. Projects supervised by a researcher from another institution will not be accepted.

6. Will SROP funds be provided directly to students? Will successful applicants receive a cheque for their award?
No, for each project funded through SROP, a Western research account will be established under the name of the supervisor. All the standard requirements,  procedures and policies for Western research accounts will apply.

7. How many SROP students can a faculty member supervise?
A faculty member may only serve as supervisor for one SROP project per competition.

8. How many SROP awards will be made?
We anticipate funding 8-12 awards, depending on the number of applicants and the specific projects requested. Included within this amount are any GROH awards for international research projects.

9. Can I submit applications for both SROP and SRTP at the same time?

Yes, first year medical and dental students can submit applications for both SROP and SRTP at the same time. If you are awarded with both SROP and SRTP, you will be allowed to accept one award only.

 

For further information contact:

Research Office

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Don Rix Clinical Skills Learning Building, Room 3730
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario N6A 5C1
Telephone: (519) 661.2111 X87908

Email: vicki.vanstrien@schulich.uwo.ca

last modified 5-July, 2011