Alberta Innovates Summer Studentships

The Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship program provides funding to support students engaging in health/medical research and innovation during the summer months (May-August). The objectives of the SRS program are to:

• Increase awareness and interest in research and innovation (R&I) careers — particularly at the intersection of health and emerging technologies.
• Create opportunities for emerging talent to acquire experience and connections in Alberta’s health R&I ecosystem.
• Increase the competitiveness of Alberta as a destination for R&I talent.
• Leverage partner relationships to advance priority area activity in Alberta.

Alberta Innovates Priority Areas

As a condition of our funding from Alberta Innovates, 80% of awards are to be directed to projects that align with one or more of the following priority areas:

Other Health Research + Innovation Projects

Up to 20% of awards may be allocated toward other health research and innovation projects that do not align with the priority areas listed above.

Eligibility

Student eligibility

• Students must have a confirmed University of Alberta faculty supervisor (see Supervisor Eligibility below). Students may apply with ONE supervisor each year.
• Students must be currently registered, as of the time of application, in an undergraduate or MD program at a Canadian post-secondary institution. Canadian citizens or permanent residents currently studying abroad who wish to do research at the U of A during the summer may also apply.
• Students must normally have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or equivalent) at the time of application. Preference is given to applicants with GPAs of 3.3 or higher. Exceptions to these thresholds may be considered for applicants who demonstrate exceptional research potential in other aspects of their application.
• Students may not hold another stipend-type award concurrently (i.e., URI stipend, Tri-Council USRA). Other awards may be used to supplement (“top-up”) the Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship, provided this does not conflict with the policies of the secondary granting agency, and that the student does not receive the full value of the second award.
• Students must be available to work a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks (2 months) between May and August. Given the diversity of Summer Studentship projects and project timelines, the URI does not prescribe specific hours of work for students. Students should discuss the expected time commitment with their supervisors prior to applying for the award, and the time commitment should be considered when determining the project scope and term of the award.
• Considering the limited duration of Summer Studentship projects (2-4 months), it is generally expected that students will not have other conflicting commitments (i.e., summer courses, exams, volunteer work). Therefore, in advance of undertaking a project, students are encouraged to discuss with their supervisors any commitments that may influence their availability, and come to a mutual agreement with their supervisors about hours of work during the project.

Supervisor eligibility

• Supervisors must hold an A1.1 or C1.1 primary faculty appointment at the University of Alberta (see definitions here). Academic staff in temporary or contract positions (e.g., TRAS category) may co-supervise an SRS applicant, but the primary supervisor identified in the SRS application MUST have an A1.1 or C1.1 appointment as defined above.
• Supervisors may apply with a maximum of FOUR students through the URI streamlined application process (which includes the Alberta Innovates SRS, URI Stipend, and all affiliated funding programs). Each student must have a separate project. Applications in excess of this limit will not be adjudicated.

Application Process *New for 2026*

Preparing your application

• Project proposals must be written by the student in plain language. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their supervisors on the development of their proposal, but must write and submit the student part of the application themselves.
• The supervisor section is completed independently by the supervisor, similar to a reference request. Once the student saves or submits their part of the application, an email will be automatically sent to the supervisor requesting them to complete their part.
• You may use the following downloadable templates to assist with the preparation of your application:
  • Student section (to be submitted by the student)
  • Supervisor section (to be submitted by the supervisor)

Getting support or feedback on your application

• Students can book an appointment with a URI advisor to get support with their funding application. Current U of A students may request an appointment via campusBRIDGE. External applicants may request an appointment via email (uri@ualberta.ca).

Selection Process

• Applications are normally reviewed by three faculty members or PhD-level researchers knowledgeable in health sciences.
• Adjudicators score each application according to the adjudication criteria.
• Adjudication decisions are not appealable. Applicants who are unsuccessful are welcome to reapply in a future application cycle, and are encouraged to contact URI for feedback regarding their application.
• Historically, the Alberta Innovates SRS program has received ~300 applications each year, and has a success rate of approximately 25-30% (subject to funding availability).