Research

Research opportunities for students in high school allow them to gain valuable work experience, develop valuable skills in a subject of interest, and stand out on college or scholarship applications.

What should you know about Research Opportunities in high school?

Prerequisites & Eligibility

Most high school students can start finding research opportunities, usually to be completed in the summer months.
This can be especially useful for those interested in STEM fields, since it provides valuable experience for lab or research courses in a vareity of fields, but especially for science and engineering classes

Where can you start looking?

Passion is important above all else
Be prepared: start early
Reference letters
BE CAREFUL!
Reach out to university researchers by email
- They all have their own University webpages that describe their research
- Supervisors can also be found through topics of interest
  - For example, here is a list of topics for the Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta: Research | Biological Sciences
Opportunities for High School Students | University of Alberta
20 Research and Summer Programs in Canada | Polygence

Application Process

Passion is everything: summer research programs want to see that students are genuinely interested in research, and that they are going to thrive in a research environment
- For example, if applying to HYRS, you might demonstrate passion for medical research by volunteering in a medical lab
Programs like WISEST & HYRS have lengthy applications & require reference letters, so start early, and be prepared!
Be careful! Lots of research opportunities that you find on the web aren’t what they seem, so make sure you research everything you apply for very carefully, especially if there’s an application cost → most credible research programs are volunteer work, or paid
Researchers can be contacted directly and students can ask if they have volunteer positions open for high school students
- Just search for research in “blank” department at “blank” university
  - Example: research in biological sciences at the University of Alberta
- Find professors and click on their webpages to learn about their research
- This can be done for any field of interest: physics, engineering, sociology, etc.
Students most likely won’t get a reply! Since they are in high school, the chances of being taken are lowered and researchers are very busy so many do not accept volunteers
Boost your chances by sending an email that shows you’re motivated and passionate about their research
The University of Alberta has compiled a list of programs for high school students interested in research
- Some popular ones are TeamUp Science and STEM Fellowship

Benefits

Gain valuable experience in a lab or research environment and understand what work in this field may look like
Contribute to meaningful projects
Work collaboratively with a team
Especially ideal for students pursuing STEM careers
Paid work experience (usually)
Network with experienced profs/researchers
Looks great on a CV or university application
Develop key skills and critical thinking

Drawbacks

Generally takes up a lot of time in the summer
Some research opportunities can be intense and very information dense
Depending on the payment (volunteer or paid work) it may not be financially feasible to complete a summer research job.