Your Guide to an Undergraduate Summer Research Internship

https://ssc.uwo.ca/research/usri.html

If you’re like me, you are a student in psychology who wants to get their hands on some research experience but isn’t quite sure how to go about doing so. On behalf of fellow curious students, I developed a brief guide that will highlight a great way to get paid research experience over the summer by partaking in a USRI!

What is a USRI?

A USRI stands for an “undergraduate summer research internship”. It’s essentially completing a research project during the summer with a supervisor/faculty member that you’d like to work with. It includes hands-on research that enhances a student's quantitative skills, confidence in professionalism, and prepares a student for a career in research. It is completed over the summer starting in May and ending in August when the student has an opportunity to share the product of their research during a conference or virtual exhibition event. This may be in the form of an infographic, poster, blog, podcast, video presentation, and so forth! This is a paid research opportunity with a minimum of $9,632 for a four month full-time commitment and payments are received monthly. Western provides USRI workshop resources to help students understand how research is conducted and how they can strengthen their researching skills. You can find workshop recordings at https://www.uwo.ca/research/funding/students/usriworkshops1.html

Why should you do a USRI?

A USRI is great for any returning Western student (undergraduate or graduate) that wants to expand their research experience. If you belong to an underrepresented group (e.g., you identify as Black, Indigenous, a student of colour, a student with a disability, LGBTQ2S+, or a woman) you are encouraged to do a USRI as Western is dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research opportunities. A USRI is ideal for students who plan to stay in London over the summer while pursuing paid research work.

Many benefits come from completing a USRI. Research experience fosters connections between students and professors, potentially leading to continued research with them, letters of recommendation, and better preparation for a masters in psychology. Many students who complete a USRI also use it to get a head start on their thesis with a clear plan to pick up on in the fall when their thesis begins.

What is it like to do a USRI?

Thank you to Carolyn Zhu (she/her) who kindly shared her USRI experience.

How far into your degree were you when you started your USRI?

“I did my USRI the summer going into my third year.”

Who was your mentor and how were you matched with them?

“I did my USRI with Dr. Jesus Chavarria. I started volunteering in his lab the summer before and after spending a year working with him, he approached me to ask if I wanted to do the USRI with him.”

What was your research project about and how was it developed?

“My research project involved conducting a systematic review on the barriers to psychosocial treatment among Canadians with co-occurring substance use and psychological disorders. A graduate student working under Dr. Chavarria was completing this review to complement her masters thesis on a related topic, and she required a second reviewer to adhere to PRISMA guidelines. She had planned to begin the project over the summer, which made it perfect timing for me to join and contribute.”

How did you conduct your research/what were some of your tasks?

“One of my main tasks was to screen through literature in a search that the graduate student I was working with had already created herself. I spent a long time combing through and sorting over 1000 papers and excluding those that didn't meet our criteria. I also helped with writing the pre-registration for the review on OSF.”

What was your workload like? Did you partake in any extracurriculars or part/full-time jobs? “My workload was fairly light. I didn't have set working hours, just tasks to complete by a specific date. I didn't have any other jobs or extracurriculars, but I definitely would have been able to balance it. It is different depending on supervisors though, since I know of students who were going into the lab from 9-5 every day.”

How did you enjoy doing a USRI and what was your favourite part?

“I really enjoyed doing a USRI. My favourite part was the flexibility of it, although it really does depend on your supervisor and what their working style is like.”

What did you learn from doing a USRI?

“I learned a lot about academic writing outside of the classroom. It also taught me a lot about the process of research and what it requires in a more hands-on way, and gave me a lot more confidence as a young researcher.”

How did you complete your USRI and display your findings?

“We didn't end up finishing the systematic review by the end of the summer, but I made a poster with what we had completed and presented at the USRI conference in August.”

Would you recommend a USRI to another student in psychology?

“Absolutely! It’s an incredible opportunity to gain research experience while getting paid. You develop a much deeper understanding of the research process and have the time to take on greater responsibilities during the summer. This not only helps strengthen your relationship with your supervisor but also lays a strong foundation for future research opportunities.”

How do you apply for a USRI?

There are a few approaches to applying for a USRI. Western’s faculty of Social Sciences has two streams of applications: matched and unmatched. Those who are matched are students who have already connected with a professor who has agreed to mentor their USRI. In this case, the professor will fill out a form for a USRI application. If you are unmatched, you may not be connected with a professor yet and that is very common! Unmatched students can complete a form where they will list 3-5 faculty members that they are most interested in working with (ideally a professor who is in your desired field of psychology). While completing the form, students also have an opportunity to describe their research interests to help refine the connection process. It is recommended that research ideas are developed with your supervisor early so that projects can begin when May arrives.

If you want to foster a connection with a faculty member prior to applying for a USRI, this is also a great idea. You can do this many ways, some of which include connecting during a professor’s office hours or after class, participating in their lab research, or emailing to inquire for USRI opportunities. When emailing professors, you should ensure that you’ve selected a professor that matches your research interests, provided an appealing introduction of yourself, shown interest in their work, communicated your research goals, and included your CV and unofficial transcript. The WPA has excellent resources on how to email professors with a provided template:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VqADfCHlw1CAbfzuHZMuSFksnpwC9vt4F9UAwfpUjYM/edit?usp=sharing

Deadlines are typically at the end of February. Pay attention to updates on the Western Social Sciences website (https://ssc.uwo.ca/research/usri.html) for further information! Thank you for reading and happy researching!