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Faculty of Agriculture

Undergraduate Student Research Awards

Summer research awards provide paid employment opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in scientific research at the Faculty of Agriculture during the summer. If you would like to gain research experience in an academic setting, these awards can provide you with financial support. Eligibility requirements for students and supervisors are listed under each award.

Procedures

  1. Review carefully the eligibility criteria below for different awards.
  2. Find a potential faculty supervisor. Contact and meet with the professor to discuss a potential research project and details related to an employed summer research position. Some potential projects (this is not an exhaustive list) are listed below.
  3. Complete, with your prospective supervisor, the Summer Research Awards Application. Only one application is needed. You will automatically be considered for multiple awards.
  4. Submit the form and other documents to Jolene MacEachern (jmaceachern@dal.ca). Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file. Ìý

If you have questions, contactÌýJolene MacEachernÌý(jmaceachern@dal.ca)

Deadline

16 February 2024

Selection

Award winners are selected mainly based on the student's academic record and research potential. Members of the Faculty of Agriculture Research Subcommittee complete the selection process in late February. Applicants and prospective supervisors are informed of the results by e-mail.

Awards approved for Â鶹´«Ã½ may not be transferred to another institution.

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NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) sponsors a program of Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) for outstanding undergraduate students who are interested in research. USRAs are meant to nurture and encourage undergraduate students towards graduate studies and a research career in the natural sciences and engineering. These awards provide financial support through your host university and allow you to gain research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting. NSERC encourages qualified Aboriginal students to apply for this award.

NSERC no longer requires professors to hold an active grant when applying to supervise a USRA student. NSERC considers anyone who is authorized by their university to independently supervise students to be an eligible supervisor. The suitability of the supervision will be evaluated by the university as part of their award selection process.

Number of Awards:

TBD

Value, duration, matching requirements

$6,000 from NSERC for 14-16-weeks, full-time basis. Professors are required to supplement the award, in compliance with provincial employment standards. This translates into a ‘top-up’ of at least $3500 over 16 weeks.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

§  Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

§  Registered in a bachelor’s degree program at the time of application

§  Must have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor’s degree.  Students graduating in May are eligible to hold an award.

§  Have obtained, over the previous years of study, a cumulative average of at least second class (a grade of "B" or "B-," if applicable) as defined by your university.

§  You may hold only one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)

§  You may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your undergraduate career (regardless of the granting agency).

Additional details on USRA eligibility and application process are on the 

Sobey Agricultural Undergraduate Research Award

Sobey Agricultural Undergraduate Research Awards (SAURA) support outstanding students enrolled in a degree or diploma undergraduate program at the Faculty of Agriculture, with preference given students enrolled in the Honours stream of an undergraduate degree program. These awards provide financial support for undergraduate students to gain research work experience that complements their program. 

Number of Awards:

TBD

Value, duration, matching requirements

$6,000 from SAURA for 14-16-weeks, full-time basis. Professors are required to supplement the award, in compliance with provincial employment standards. This translates into a ‘top-up’ of at least $3500 over 16 weeks.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

§  Enrolled in a degree or diploma undergraduate program at the Faculty of Agriculture. Preference to students enrolled in the Honours stream.

§  A cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 (A-).

§  Students in a degree program will have completed at least 30 credit hours of course work. Students in a diploma program will have completed at least 20 credit hours of course work and be enrolled in a Bachelor program for the semester following receipt of the SAURA.

Descriptions of Available Projects for 2024

Dr. Ghader Manafiazar
Animal Science and Aquaculture
manafiazar@dal.ca

Understanding Animal Vocal Pattern Using Machine Learning

This research aims to explore and understand the vocal patterns exhibited by dairy cows and calves using machine learning and deep learning techniques. There will be a computer science student working on the machine learning or deep learning part of the project. However, another undergrad student could be involved either in ML development and/or setting up the experiment in RAC and collaborate with computer science student.

Face Recognition in Dairy Cattle

The primary objective of this research is to create an algorithm capable of accurately recognizing and identifying dairy cows based on their facial features. There will be a computer science student working on the machine learning or deep learning part of the project. However, another undergrad student could be involved either in ML development and/or setting up the experiment and collaborate with computer science student. May require to a couple of farms for picturing

Dr. Sophia Quan He
Engineering
Quan.He@Dal.Ca

Biomass valorization

We are dealing with turning biomass waste (agricultural residues, waste treated wood, food processing waste, marine biomass, etc.) into bio-based materials, fuels, and chemicals.

Dr. Rebecca Meagher
Animal Science and Aquaculture
rebecca.meagher@dal.ca

Nest box use by juvenile mink

This is part of a project investigating how mink welfare could be improved through changes in pen design while avoiding practical behavioural problems.

Responsiveness to stimuli in young dairy cattle

This project will be investigating emotional responses to stimuli to develop methods of studying emotional states in cattle.

Dr. David Barrett
Animal Science and Aquaculture
david.barrett@dal.ca

Development of a point-of-care rapid test to determine vaccination status against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in Canadian beef cattle

Cattle are susceptible to various production diseases- BVDV is prevalent in beef populations. Antibody testing is a valuable tool for establishing immunity status. However, laboratory-based assay testing is not often an option for producers. A point-of-care antibody test, however, would be a convenient/inexpensive tool. Additionally, these tests would allow producers to tailor more precise vaccination protocols. 

The student will gain skills in: animal handling; collection, processing, and storage of blood samples; develop and conduct assays.