LMP Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program (SURE)

In order to participate in the LMP SURE Program, you must:

1. have at least a B+ (cGPA of 3.3) average in an undergraduate program;
2. be registered in a full-time undergraduate program in the academic term immediately prior to the SURE program and expect to return to full-time studies at the end of the research program;
3. secure an LMP supervisor before applying (see below on how to locate and secure a supervisor);
4. be Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student with a valid student visa and social insurance number.

Students who have completed their undergraduate program by the start of the LMP SURE program (May 4, 2026) are not eligible, unless:

• they have been accepted into or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional program (e.g., medical undergraduate degree program), or
• they have been accepted into a graduate program which they have not yet begun.

Program expectations

To take part in the program, you must be able to:

• be available to work in a laboratory for a minimum of 12 weeks full time, beginning no earlier than May 4, 2026 and ending no later than Aug 28, 2026
• attend the Orientation Session, on May 11, 2026
• participate in the LMP SURE Research Day August 7, 2026

How often you are expected to be in the lab is something you will have to discuss and decide with your supervisor. There is no set schedule and your lab hours are dependent on the expectation of the supervisor, project needs, and workload to complete the project. 

Lab work requires a lot of commitment and dedication. You will have to plan your time accordingly to the needs of your experiments in order to successfully complete your project. 

The LMP SURE Program is open to international students who currently study in a Canadian university with valid student visa and social insurance number (SIN) - you are considered the same as domestic students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents).

International students who study at universities outside of Canada (ie. those without a student visa) are not eligible to apply for the LMP SURE program this year.

You may submit only one application to the SURE Program

Search the LMP Faculty Directory for a potential supervisor. Only faculty  marked ‘yes’ under Graduate Faculty will supervise students.

Tips on locating a supervisor 

• Identify the area of research you are interested in and focus on faculty in that area. 
• Speak with Teaching Assistants and upper-year students who have gained research experience or have participated in the program in the past. 
• Ensure your resume, transcript, and application form are carefully prepared and up-to-date. 
• When contacting a supervisor, learn about their research, publications and view their website. 
• Start your search for supervisors early. 

Tailor your cover letter to include: 

• your knowledge of their research work; 
• a brief description of your research interests and skills/experience and how this ties in with their lab; and
• your program, year-of-study and career goals. 

Since there are more students interested in the summer program than the number of potential supervisors, some supervisors may have more than one suitable candidate, and he/she may conduct interviews to select a student. 

You should apply the same effort to applying to this program as you would when applying for a job! 

Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions at lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca. Our office is here to help. 

Good Luck! 

All applicants (including those who will be located in a hospital) must:

• submit an online application. Deadline May 4, 2026.
• submit a transcript or a statement of results showing marks for all University courses completed (a printout from ACORN for U of T students is acceptable).  
• include an active email address as this will be used to communicate your acceptance into the program and details regarding the weekly seminars and poster day. 
• have a supervisor sponsor for the summer prior to submission of the application. 

Once you have completed your section of the form and saved it, copy the link and send it to your supervisor for them to complete their section. If there are any issues with the form e.g. the supervisor cannot see your saved information, try a different browser (Chrome and Firefox seems to work well with this form).

How you will hear if you have been accepted

Admission to the program is not competitive. If you meet the LMP SURE eligibility criteria you will be admitted into the program.

We will email you within three weeks to confirm acceptance into the program. You will receive a second email about awards and confirmation of stipend in mid-to-late April.

Student stipend 

All students receive a minimum $7,140 stipend (12 weeks) provided either by the supervisor or a combination of external awards and the supervisor. Research based at hospitals/institutes is subject to the payroll policies of that hospital/institute. 

Awards 

A number of awards are available to support summer research endeavours for LMP Pathobiology Specialist students and other students participating in the SURE program.

1. Departmental Undergraduate Awards for Pathobiology Specialist students only

LMP SURE Early Awards and the Linda and Avrum Gotlieb Summer Research Award are available to Pathobiology Specialist students to help them secure a supervisor match and support their summer research experiences.

Awarded to Pathobiology Specialist students based on grade and application package. Preference will be given to top students who will be carrying out summer research for the first time.

Application deadline: January 19, 2026

Award value: $3,000 (from university) plus a minimum supplement of $4,140 provided by the supervisor (Total to student: $7,140) 

Duration: 12-weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 4, 2026 and ending no later than August 7, 2026

Eligibility: to be eligible, you must

1. be in your 2nd or 3rd-year of study, registered in the Undergraduate Pathobiology Specialist Program;
2. have at least a B+ (cGPA of 3.3) average;
3. be enrolled in the LMP SURE program by May 4, 2026 (separate application) and your supervisor should hold a SGS graduate-faculty appointment. 

Conditions:

• The $3,000 award will be paid as part of the LMP SURE student stipend, which requires a minimum matching contribution of $4,140 from the supervisor (for a total stipend of $7,140 to the student);
• You cannot hold another award concurrently with the LMP Early Award or the Linda and Avrum Gotlieb Summer Research Award;
• The award must be held with a LMP faculty member and be used in the 2026 summer;
• LMP SURE Early Award cannot be combined with any other scholarship, thus if you receive another major summer scholarship (e.g., UTEA, or NSERC USRA), you will be required to decline the LMP SURE Early Award;
• You cannot have previously held an LMP SURE Early Award, Linda and Avrum Gotlieb Summer Research Award, UROP, USRS, UTEA or NSERC USRA;
• The LMP SURE Early Award cannot be deferred;
• Recipients of the LMP SURE Early Award must attend an orientation meeting in late January 2026, which provides guidance on securing an appropriate LMP graduate faculty supervisor.

How to apply: via the online form You will be considered for both awards automatically using this form.

You do not need to have a supervisor match to apply to the LMP SURE Early Award or Linda and Avrum Gotlieb Summer Research Award. These awards are designed to provide funds to help you find a lab in a research area you are interested in.

We will notify winners by email in late January. Winners will be paid the award amount plus a supplement from the supervisor.

Students who are not selected for a LMP SURE Early Award or Linda and Avrum Gotlieb Summer Research Award remain eligible for UROP, UTEA, RHSE USRS and NSERC USRA. For UROP, RHSE USRS and UTEA, students must apply via the Temerty Faculty of Medicine SumRAMS scholarship application portal. For NSERC USRA, students will need to submit a separate application to the LMP department. For more information on summer student awards, please see below.

2. Temerty Research & Health Science Education (RHSE) Awards

The Temerty Faculty of Medicine Research & Health Science Education office offers several undergraduate summer research awards to support summer research experiences.

a) Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

This award was established in 1973 and its aim is to foster advanced research experiences for undergraduate students at the University of Toronto. Based on generous donations to the University, UROP Awards are allocated to the following research thematic areas: 

• General Medicine
• Cardiovascular, heart
• Epilepsy or Muscular Dystrophy
• Cancer and cancer-related diseases  
• Kidney and kidney-related diseases
• Respiratory disease 

Award value: $3,000 (from university) plus a minimum supplement of $4,140 provided by the supervisor (Total to student: $7,140) 

Duration: 12-weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 4, 2026 and ending no later than August 7, 2026

Eligibility: 

• You must have at least a B+ (cGPA of 3.3) average;
• You must have successfully completed term in a full-time undergraduate program directly prior to the award period;
• If you have completed your undergraduate program, you are not eligible unless you have been accepted into or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional program (medical undergraduate degree program) or have been accepted into a graduate program which you have not yet begun;
• University of Toronto and non-University of Toronto students may apply, including international students (with valid student visa for the full summer work term);
• You cannot hold another summer research award concurrently with a UROP award. 
• You may submit only one application to UROP. Departure from this rule will result in the application being accorded a lower priority or being rejected;
• Supervisors can be named as primary supervisor for a maximum of two students through one department to this Program. Departure from this rule will result in the application being accorded a lower priority or being rejected;
• You must have applied to the LMP SURE Program and be enrolled at the start of the program.

b) University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA)

This program is to provide opportunities for research experience at the undergraduate level in the Natural Sciences & Engineering (NSE), Social Sciences & Humanities (SSH) or Health & Life Sciences (HLS).

Award value: $5,250 (from university) plus a minimum supplement of $3,080 provided by the supervisor (Total to student: $8,330) 

Duration: 14-weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 4, 2026 and ending no later than August 28, 2026

Eligibility: You must

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or international student with valid visa (e.g. study permit or PGWP) for the full summer award term;
• be registered in a bachelor’s degree program at the University of Toronto either as: a) a full-time student, or b) as a part-time student only if it is your final session and part-time classes are all that are required to complete the degree;
• be registered either at the time of application, or in the term immediately before holding the award. Graduating students may hold an award in the term immediately following the completion of their undergraduate program, as long as they have not started a graduate program;
• have obtained a cumulative average of “B+” or higher. For students in higher years, this average can be applied to the best two years of study;
• already hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and be studying towards a second bachelor’s degree in NSE, SSH, or HLS;
• have applied to the LMP SURE Program and is enrolled at the start of the program.

Ineligibility: You are not eligible if you

• are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., B.Sc.N.);
• hold higher degrees above Bachelor’s;
• are enrolled in graduate studies.

Eligibility of Supervisor:

• A faculty member can hold a maximum of two UTEA awards per year.
• A supervisor must: 
  • be a full-time faculty member whose primary employer is the University of Toronto (faculty at hospital institutions are ineligible);
  • be a principal investigator (PI) on an active tri-agency (NSERC / SSHRC / CIHR) grant or have a pending tri-agency application at the time of application to the division (mid-late March)

c) RHSE Undergraduate Summer Research Studentship (USRS)

The Office of Research and Health Science Education (RHSE) in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine annually awards Undergraduate Summer Research Studentships (USRS) to support the participation of life science undergraduate students in summer research programs. Each of the eight Temerty Medicine units that engages in undergraduate life science teaching is allocated one studentship to be awarded by the unit on a competitive basis considering students’ academic excellence and interest in future graduate training.

Award value: $2,500 (from university) plus a minimum supplement of $4,640 provided by the supervisor (Total to student: $7,140) 

Duration: 12-weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 4, 2026 and ending no later than August 7, 2026

Eligibility: 

• You must have successfully completed at least one term in a full-time undergraduate program directly prior to the award period. 
• You should have a minimum B+ average in the two terms of undergraduate studies immediately preceding acceptance of the award. 
• University of Toronto and non-University of Toronto students may apply. Note that preference shall be given to University of Toronto students enrolled in a Major or Specialist program offered by a Temerty Medicine unit. 
• You are not eligible if you have completed your undergraduate program, unless you have been accepted into a graduate program which you have not yet begun. 
• You must have a genuine interest in pursuing graduate studies in the life/health sciences. 
• You may be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or foreign student with valid student visa for the full summer work term. 
• You may submit only one application for a USRS award. Departure from this rule will result in the application being accorded a lower priority or even denied. 
• You cannot hold another summer research award concurrently with a USRS award.
• You must have applied to the LMP SURE Program and be enrolled at the start of the program.

Supervisor eligibility and responsibilities: 

• Only one USRS application per faculty supervisor is permitted. Departure from this rule could result in an application being accorded a lower priority or even denied. 
• It is the responsibility of the supervisors and the participating unit to ensure that their students receive the appropriate safety training and are covered by the appropriate protocols as required by regulations and the applicable University of Toronto safety offices and/or those of the hosting site (e.g., hospital or institute). 
• A continuity of supervision for each student for the duration of the summer program is required. 

How to apply for UROP, UTEA and RHSE USRS awards

You must first secure a LMP faculty supervisor and submit your LMP SURE program application before applying for UROP/UTEA/USRS scholarships. 

The UROP, UTEA and RHSE USRS summer research awards are now administered by the Temerty RHSE office and can be applied through an online application via the SumRAMS portal.

Application deadline: February 25, 2026 at 5 pm for students (includes submission of transcript to rhseundergrad.awards@utoronto.ca). Supervisors have till March 4, 2026 to complete their part of the application form. 

Those who receive an award will be notified by email in April. Winners will be paid the award amount plus a supplement from the supervisor.

3. NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA)

NSER USRAs are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in natural sciences and engineering. These awards are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting.

Internal departmental application deadline (including the official transcripts): February 25, 2026 5 pm

Award value: $6,000 from NSERC plus a minimum $3,520 top-up provided by the supervisor (total to student: $9,520 for 16 weeks)

There is a limited number of NSERC USRA available to the LMP SURE Program. 

Duration: 16-weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 4, 2026 and ending no later than August 28, 2026. Note: University of Toronto administers NSERC USRA only in the summer term. 

Eligibility: You must

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the application deadline date; 
• be registered in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible university; 
• have completed, at the time of application, a minimum of two academic terms/semesters; 
• have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study; 
• have a faculty supervisor who holds an appropriate university academic faculty appointment;
• must engage in research in the natural sciences or engineering;
• have obtained, a cumulative average of “B+”, as defined by your university;
• have applied to the LMP SURE Program and be enrolled at the start of the program.

Your supervisor does not have to hold an NSERC-research grant, but the proposed summer research project must engage in research in the natural sciences or engineering.

In addition, you may: 

• not defer or transfer the award; 
• hold only one university USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31); 
• hold a maximum of three USRA throughout your undergraduate university career. 

You are ineligible if: 

• you are enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (eg. MD, MD/PhD, DDS, BScN), or 
• you hold higher degrees in the natural sciences or engineering, or 
• you have started a program of graduate studies at any time. 

How to apply:

You must first secure an LMP faculty supervisor and submit your LMP SURE program application before applying for the scholarship. 

The NSERC USRA award requires a separate application package from the RHSE UROP and UTEA applications. Please consult the NSERC USRA program detail and guidelines webpage. 

• Step 1: Register on the NSERC Online System  You (student) should register on the NSERC Online System. NSERC USRA applications MUST be completed by students and their supervisors online. 
• Step 2: You (student) completes Form 202, Part I- Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award. When this form is completed online, a reference number will be generated. Please forward this reference number to your proposed supervisor to complete Part II. 
• Step 3: Supervisor to complete and submit Form 202, Part II- Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award.  
• Step 4: You (student) requests official transcript (hard copy or e-copy) and send to lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca. For U of T students, the most recent academic history report from ACORN is acceptable. In addition to submitting the transcript to the department, you will also need to upload the transcript or the most recent academic history report from ACORN to your NSERC Form 202 Part I.  
• Step 5: Once Form 202, Part I and Part II are completed, supervisor submits Form 202 electronically to NSERC. You (student) should email a copy of Form 202, Part I and II to: lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca.

Please contact lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca if you need help. 

A successful NSERC USRA application will include your supervisor submitting Form 202 via the NSERC Online System and the student emailing Form 202 Part I and II and Transcript to lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca by February 25, 2026 5 pm.

We will notify winners by email in April/May. Winners will be paid the award amount plus a supplement from the supervisor.

4. NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA) for Indigenous Students

Students who self-identify as Indigenous should apply for this award. As there are no quotas, it is expected that all applicants who meet eligibility criteria will be awarded the NSERC USRA for Indigenous Students. 

Please follow the same instructions as above for the regular NSERC USRA, but when you email your application to lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca, please clearly state in your email that you wish to be considered for the NSERC USRA for Indigenous Students program.

5. NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA) for Black Students

Students who self-identify as Black should apply for this award. There is a change to this program, as NSERC no longer provides an unlimited number of NSERC USRAs for students who self-identify as Black. Instead, NSERC has placed a limit on the number that each institution can award. As a result, the department will forward the application from any student who applies under the NSERC USRA for Black Students program to the University-wide competition. An adjudication committee will then select the NSERC USRA for Black Student award winners across the university.   

Please follow the same instructions as above for the regular NSERC USRA, but when you email your application to lmp.undergrad@utoronto.ca, please clearly state in your email that you wish to be considered for the NSERC USRA for Black Students program.