Hands-On Research Experience
The SBME Synergy Undergraduate Summer Research Program is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain paid hands-on research experience in one of UBC’s world-class biomedical engineering labs; partners include researchers from the Genome Science and Technology Graduate Program (GSAT), the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH), Care Anywhere Program part of the Centre for Aging SMART, ICORD, the Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, and of course, SBME.
During the program, students will work on a defined research project with a UBC supervisor, participate in professional development programming, network at student socials, and present their research at our Synergy Research Day (August).
The program takes place May 1 – August 31 in-person at UBC’s Point Grey Campus and affiliate Vancouver-based laboratories. Studentships are $9,500 for the 16-week program.
Curious about the types of research Synergy students conduct? Check out our past students’ projects.
MEET OUR PARTNERS
About our partners
SBME is thrilled to partner with Genome Science and Technology Graduate Program (GSAT), the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH), CareAnywhere Program, ICORD, and the Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging to provide the Synergy program. With their support, Synergy is able to support more students by providing more awards. Their involvement enriches the program by diversifying the types of research projects students can work on, and reflects the interconnectedness of our disciplines. Students interested in the Synergy program may work with a PI from any of these participating partners.
Interested in Applying?
STEP 1: CONFIRM YOUR ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to apply to the SBME Synergy Summer Program, students must:
1. Be a current undergraduate student during the program period: May 1 – August 31
2. Be under the supervision of a PI/PDF/RA from one of our partner organizations
3. Be able to work 30 hours/week in the lab of one of our partner organizations in Vancouver. Successful applicants will be offered a stipend of $9,500 for the 16-week program duration.
4. Be able to participate in all Synergy programming, which takes place in-person at UBC SBME Vancouver
Students who accept an SBME Synergy Summer Studentship award may not hold any other awards or be paid through a co-op position during the funding period (May to August 2026)
STEP 2: FIND A SUPERVISOR
Find the right supervisor for you. Best practice is to send them a polished resume, cover letter, your transcript and/or a statement of interest.
SBME Supervisors GSAT Supervisors DMCBH Supervisors Care Anywhere Supervisors ICORD Supervisors Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging Supervisors
STEP 3: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Have you reviewed the program guide, application criteria, made sure you’re eligible and locked-in a supervisor? Then you’re ready to apply. Your application will include:
1. Project title and Description
One page summary, size 11, Times New Roman, 1″ margins. Must include project title, the name of the supervisor, how the student will participate and what the student is expected to learn for the duration of the project.
2. Student Resume
Two-pages maximum (any format) including all relevant contact information.
3. Signed Award Agreement
Participants (PI included) must sign the 2026 Synergy Award Agreement.
4. Optional: Travel award
The School of Biomedical Engineering is committed to facilitating equitable access to the Synergy program. Travel awards (up to $1000 for airfare) are available for students travelling to UBC from out of province or country. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need. See the 2026 Synergy Description & Eligibility for more information.
APPLICATION
KEY DATES
February 2, 2026: Applications open
March 31, 11:59PM: Application deadline
Mid-April: Results
May 1: Synergy program starts
FAQ
I am an international student at UBC. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes! International students who are currently registered at UBC are eligible to apply.
I am a student studying outside of UBC. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes! Students who are currently registered at a recognized university are eligible to apply. Students must be eligible to work in Canada for the entire duration of the award and must hold a Canadian bank account to receive their stipend. Students travelling from out of province or country are eligible to apply for a Travel Award (up to $1000 for airfare). Reminder: the program takes place at UBC, not your home university. Remote participation is not permitted
I received a Summer Synergy Studentship award in the past. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes, students who previously participated in the Synergy program can apply again, but may find some of the content of the workshops similar or repetitive.
When will successful applicants be announced?
Funding decisions will be announced mid-April.
Can I accept the Synergy Summer Studentship award in addition to another summer research award?
Although students are encouraged to apply for all eligible funding competitions to maximize their funding chances, students who accept an SBME Synergy Summer Studentship award may not hold any other awards (e.g., NSERC USRA, UBC SSRP, WLIURA) or be paid through a co-op position during the funding period (May to August).
What if I applied for UBC SSRP funding and won’t get those results until April/May?
We recognize that the timing of the UBC SSRP award doesn’t align well with the SBME Synergy award. We will hold your Synergy spot for you until you receive your SSRP results. At that point, you will need to notify us of which award you want to accept. We just ask that you notify us as soon as you can so that we can offer your spot to another student if you decline the Synergy award.
Do I have to attend all of the Synergy events? Will they be offered virtually? Can I participate in the program remotely?
Attending all of the Synergy events is a requirement of the Synergy award. This year the events will be held in-person, not virtually or hybrid. Remote participation in the program is not permitted. If you unexpectedly need to miss an event due to a personal emergency, please just let us know.
I am graduating in May. Can I still apply?
Unfortunately no. The SBME Synergy Undergraduate Studentship program is specifically for current undergraduate students. You must be an undergraduate student for the duration of the program (May – August).
Do I need to provide a backup remote project plan?
No, this year we don’t require a backup remote project plan.