2022 Lassonde Undergraduate Research Awards Competition Now Open

For the seventh year in a row, students have the opportunity to develop their research skills over the summer while working on cutting-edge projects and getting paid with the Lassonde Undergraduate Research Award (LURA) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC USRA). 

Lassonde will host more than 60 summer positions with two different awards run in one competition and valued at approximately $10,000 per award. Over the summer, students will be able to work under the supervision of a Lassonde faculty member for 16 weeks on a research project. From AI-powered autonomous robots to tracking objects in space, studying the impact of geothermal heating on bioremediation, to designing software for a wearable brain EEG monitoring device, there are many exciting projects for students to choose from! 

To highlight Lassonde’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), these summer positions will address a variety of UN SDGs, including SDG 9 – Industry Innovation and Infrastructure (79% of posted projects), SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities (40%), and SDG 13 – Climate Action (33%), along with many others. 

Finally, at the conclusion of the program, students will have an opportunity to showcase their hard work and present at a conference held in August.  

Applications are now open with a deadline of February 21, 2022. They are highly competitive with limited spots available. 

Detailed application procedures are outlined on the Lassonde Undergraduate Research website, including student eligibility, how to find a supervisor, and some of the available projects.  

The awards are open to full-time undergraduate students, enrolled in the Lassonde School of Engineering, York University or any school across the globe. 

This experiential learning program is a great opportunity for students to gain hands-on research experience and leverage it towards future grad studies, co-op opportunities or their career. Many LURA and NSERC USRA graduates have gone on to conduct research as graduate students, acknowledging the integral role that LURA and NSERC USRA played in their career choices. Listen to what past student participants think of the LURA program! 

Open information sessions will be held for all interested students (no registration required): 

Or for specific questions, please contact resday@yorku.ca. 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion  

Lassonde School of Engineering values the diversity of research teams and the importance of an inclusive research environment. We encourage applicants from diverse groups to apply.