• The Undergraduate Biomedical Research Award (UBRA) is intended for full-time first, second, third-year students from the University of Ottawa or other universities. Eligible students must be conducting studies in various areas of biomedical sciences.
• UBRA is a training opportunity and is neither work nor employment.
• Training during the UBRA program occurs in the research laboratories of regular professors of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Time frame and commitment 

The program period is 16 weeks during the summer and students are expected to be present for training on a full-time basis (35 hours per week) during the summer except for statutory holidays. The 16-week training period includes one week of vacation.

• Complete a 16‑week full‑time summer training placement (35 hours/week), which includes one week of vacation.
• Attend the program orientation covering good research practices, safety requirements, and expectations. 
  • The date for the 2026 orientation session is to be determined.
• Complete all mandatory training, including safety and research ethics (additional lab‑specific training may be required).
• Participate actively in the lab: attend meetings, mentorship sessions, and regular check‑ins with your supervisor.
• Deliver at least one oral presentation on your summer research experience.
• Coordinate start and end dates (and your vacation week) with your supervisor.

Note: Students can only apply to UBRA paths after reaching an agreement for summer training with a specific researcher. Note that a large portion of the funding connected to the USRA path comes from a competitive scholarship program managed by the Tri-agency (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) office of the Government of Canada. In contrast, funding for the UBRA comes from uOttawa (Faculty of Medicine and Researchers’ lab funds), hence the separate application streams for USRA and UBRA.

Full details are available in the UBRA application form (see application process).

Important: By participating in the program, students agree that this research opportunity is neither work nor employment.

International students 

If you are an international student, you must ensure that you continue to meet your visa requirements while participating in the training. If not, you will need to ensure that your visa allows you to remain in Canada for the duration of the training. 

Find a Mentor

To apply, you need to identify a Faculty of Medicine Mentor who will accept you in their laboratory for the summer and cover the cost of your award.

Mentors who offer the UBRA bursary are regular professors in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology or the Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine.

Submit your application

There are two ways students can be funded through the Undergraduate Biomedical Research Award (UBRA):

1. Competitive UBRA
Students apply through the open competition.

• UBRA award: $4,000
• Mentor contribution: $4,750
• Total: $8,750 for a 16‑week summer research placement

2. UBRA – Mutual Agreement (Non‑competitive)
Students and mentors may arrange a summer research placement directly, without participating in the competition.

• The Mentor covers the full value of the award ($8,750).
• All standard UBRA conditions still apply.

Both options provide a 16‑week full‑time training experience in a Faculty of Medicine research laboratory with structured mentorship and required safety and research‑ethics training.