2025鈥�26 Undergraduate Summer Research Projects Biology
These scholarships support undergraduate students wanting to do research with a Faculty member. They include Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) as well as Endowed awards administered by the Faculty of Science. The scholarships are valued at approximately $9,000 (inc. supervisor contribution).
Student Eligibility:
- Have completed (by May) at least 52 credit hours of university courses
- Have no more than one PASS grade for credit-bearing courses during Winter and Summer 2020, and no more than one PASS grade during Fall/Winter 2020-21
- Note that you will be asked to submit transcripts for all post-secondary institutions that you have attended.
The Faculty of Science deadline for applying is January 24, 2025.
Information is available and application can be made via the following links:
Faculty of Science general Information:
Direct link for student application:
Direct link for supervisor application:
List of Projects:
Project Supervisors: Dr. Ram贸n Filgueira & Dr. Eric Ignatz
Project Title: Navigating MSX: Assessing parasitic infection in oysters across Maritime provinces
Project Description: We aim to improve our understanding of the relationship between Haplosporidiun nelsoni [causative agent of Multinucleate Sphere Unknown X (MSX) disease] and the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). H. nelsoni can cause significant (>90%) mortality among severely affected oyster populations within months of exposure. With the detection of H. nelsoni in Cape Breton 2002, PEI and New Brunswick in 2024, with further spread possible along the North shore of Nova Scotia, the long-term viability of oyster fishing and farming in the Maritimes is greatly threatened.
To address this, we are looking for a student to help assess non-infected and infected oysters located in PEI and the Bras d鈥橭r Lake from the beginning of May until the end of August 2025. While the position(s) will be based in Halifax, travel will be required to assist in monitoring and sampling oysters monthly. The student(s) will gain valuable experience in tissue sampling, environmental monitoring, molecular lab techniques and data analysis. The ideal candidate(s) will extend this project into their Honour鈥檚 thesis by enrolling in BIOL/MARI 4901 & 4902 in the 2025/2026 academic year.
Interested students should email their CV and academic transcripts, along with a short explanation of why they are interested in the position to Ram贸n Filgueira (ramon.filgueira@dal.ca) and Eric Ignatz (eric.ignatz@dal.ca).
Project Supervisors: Dr. Erin Bertrand
Project Title: Examining protein allocation patterns in arctic diatoms
Project Description: Proteins make up a large proportion of biomass in all organisms including phytoplankton. We can examine protein allocation to different core functions (photosynthesis, growth, nutrient acquisition etc) in order to help us understand how phytoplankton respond to their environment. We have the ability to measure these protein allocation patterns in field and in lab cultures, and we require additional information about how phytoplankton, grown in carefully controlled conditions, change how they allocate their protein resources. The successful student will work with the Bertrand Lab to cultivate key arctic phytoplankton strains and investigate how they allocate their protein resources under different conditions.
The student will gain valuable experience in phytoplankton cultivation, protein extractions, and protein expression data analysis. The ideal candidate will extend this project into their Honour鈥檚 thesis by enrolling in BIOL/MARI 4901 & 4902 in the 2025/2026 academic year. Interested students should email their CV and academic transcripts, along with a short explanation of why they are interested in the position to Erin Bertrand (erin.bertrand@dal.ca).
Project Supervisors: Boris Worm and Cindy Stacier
Boris Worm and Cindy Staicer are interested in recruiting one or two students to conduct an honours project in 2025-26. The student(s) will need to spend the summer in Halifax to conduct听field work at a nearby conservation area, near Williams Lake. The project will听focus on the Common Nighthawk, a species at risk, and potentially other species of conservation interest.听
The student(s) will conduct their research between mid-May and late-August 2025, supervised by Drs. Cindy Staicer and听Boris听Worm in collaboration with a local conservation organization, the Backlands Coalition听. Due to the location and the need for extensive field work, access to a vehicle would be useful.听
The student(s) should be in their third or fourth year and meet the GPA and course requirements for acceptance into the Biology honours program for 2025-2026. The successful student(s) will be encouraged to apply for a Summer Research Award early in the new year (deadline Jan 24, 2025).
Interested students should send a copy of their CV, academic transcripts and a short cover letter explaining why they are interested to Cindy Staicer:听听Cindy.Staicer@dal.ca
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