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The University of Lethbridge and Alberta Innovates are pleased to offer a summer research program to exceptional Grade 11 students currently registered in an Alberta high school. The High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) program is designed to give selected Grade 11 students from around the province first-hand experience of biomedical and health research, and introduce them to research career opportunities. We invite you to pass on the news about HYRS to your students and encourage them to apply.
Applicants require at least an 85% standing in each of math 20-1 or math 20-2, biology 20, and one other Grade 11 science class, which is the minimum requirement to work in a university laboratory (grade 12 courses will not be considered for eligibility to the HYRS Program). We require the submission of the applicant's most recent grade reports stamped by the school office.
Each student must have two reference forms completed by two of their science teachers, or one math and one science teacher, and one community reference form completed by an adult who is not a relative and is from outside their school. To ensure equal consideration of all references, only two teacher references per student will be accepted and the information must be provided on the enclosed reference forms. It is important for referees to return their completed reference forms to the students in sealed envelopes. Please note that the HYRS program will not accept applications from Grade 10 or 12 students. Only students currently enrolled in Grade 11 may apply.
HYRS is not just a laboratory work experience. It is a well-rounded program focused on Grade 11 students as they have a year remaining of high school in which to consider their future university studies in light of their HYRS experience. A maximum of two students will be chosen from each school in order to allow students from all over the province to participate.
Because the students will be working alongside university researchers who are volunteering their time to be mentors, we want to ensure that the students selected are not only bright, but curious about science, willing to ask questions, and show a genuine interest in the possibility of scientific research as an educational and career direction.
During the program, HYRS participants will meet at least once a week for a variety of activities to broaden and enhance their research experience. Activities include safety and introductory training sessions and discussions with guest speakers about their careers in research. Each participant is required to prepare and present a research poster about his or her project and commit to giving a presentation about his or her HYRS experience to a science class of younger students at his or her high school in the school year following the program.
All references must be submitted by March 24, 2023. As the HYRS program is open to all Grade 11 students across Alberta, only successful applicants who live in Southern Alberta Region (Claresholm and all schools south) will attend the University of Lethbridge program. If applicants live north of Claresholm and still wish to apply, they will need to contact the University of Calgary (residence between Red Deer and Claresholm) or the University of Alberta (residence north of Red Deer). HYRS positions are very limited in number - approximately 50 in total for the province - so we suggest that you encourage students who are exemplary achievers. Applicants must demonstrate strong evidence of their interest and ability in sciences and mathematics and be sincerely interested in discovering more about a career in research.
The submission deadline for REFERENCES (Teachers (2) and Non-Academic/Community) is Friday, March 24, 2023, at 4:00pm MT.