Academics at Women’s College Hospital offers research opportunities for students interested in scientific and health research. Read below to see if you qualify and for application instructions.
Post-Secondary Summer Student Research Program
The Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) places undergraduate, graduate or health professional program students with faculty within Academics at Women’s College Hospital.
The SSRP is designed to introduce students to the world of scientific and health research. Our program is uniquely tailored to give students a hands-on experience that helps them take the next step in their academic careers and learning journeys.
In conjunction with the Emily Stowe Scholar Program, the Summer Student Research Program is committed to establishing relationships that support, mentor, and advance the wholistic development of diverse persons that self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, two-spirit, trans, non-binary or as a person with a disability, who have been systemically and historically excluded in health care and health science career trajectories.
**Funding may be available for individuals who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, two-spirit, trans, non-binary or a person with a disability. If you self-identify as any of the above, ensure you ONLY apply for the J1123-1102 (Emily Stowe Scholar Program) job posting on the WCH Career Website. Your application will still be considered for ALL SSRP job opportunities. **
Student positions are, paid full-time roles (37.5 hours a week) for a minimum of 12 weeks to a maximum of 16 weeks. In addition to the specific project tasks, students in the SSRP attend a series of panels and mentorship sessions exploring different aspects of the research process and focusing on the skills necessary for successful women’s health research, as well as social and networking events. At the end of the program, each student is expected to present based on their summer research project and the work they were assisting with.
Applications for the Summer 2024 are now closed.
Women’s College Hospital is reaching out to undergraduate, graduate or health professional program students in the formative stages of their education who may be considering the option of a research career. The Summer Student Research Program is a training program designed specifically for these groups of students.
** Applications closed on January 31st, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Applications must be submitted by the deadline to be considered.
The Emily Stowe Scholar Program has been established to engage, retain and support the advancement of diverse persons by developing pathways that respect diverse experiences, knowledge systems, and skill-sets from early learning throughout their career trajectories. As part of this mission, the Program will be supporting students through the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP). Funding has been allocated for SSRP students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, two-spirit, trans, non-binary or a person living with a disability.
The High School Summer Student Research Program is open to high school students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, trans, two-spirit, non-binary or a person living with a disability. This opportunity will offer high school students first-hand experience in the research currently underway at Women’s College Hospital over six full-time (35-hour) weeks in the summer. Public transportation costs to and from Women’s College Hospital and/or partnership sites will also be covered, if needed, for your position.
Students will also be invited to attend seminars, panel discussions and networking events to learn more about health sciences. Each week, students will attend a group session to talk about what they’re doing and will share their learnings by presenting their projects at a Research Symposium at the end of the program.
To be eligible for this program, high school students must be:
- Enrolled in grade 11 or 12 of high school and/or will be graduating in June 2024
- At least 16 years old by the program start date of July 8, 2024
- Must have previously taken grade 11/12 Biology and Chemistry
- Self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, trans, two-spirit, non-binary or a person living with a disability.
**Now accepting applications (submission deadline is February 29th, 2024). Please visit our WCH careers page to apply to Job posting J1123-1337.
Applicants will be asked to provide:
- A copy of their most recent high school transcript
- A written letter of reference on official letter head with contact information of referee (from a current/past teacher or employer)
- A brief resume including contact information (phone number and email address), current address, high school they are attending and past work and volunteer experiences
- A short essay (500 words max.) and/or creative project (for example, video, painting, drawing, song, poem, etc.) that answers the following question: How would you use science to impact your community?
You are very STRONGLY encouraged to apply well before the application deadline. High volumes of applications at one time my cause a server problem, and your application may not be collected.
** Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on the designated deadline. Applications must be submitted by the deadline to be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions about the SSRP can be found below
At the time of application, post-secondary students must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, medical or health professional program, or they will be graduating their program in Spring 2024. At the time of application, high school students must be currently enrolled.
In conjunction with the Emily Stowe Scholar Program, the Summer Student Research Program is committed to establishing relationships that support, mentor, and advance the wholistic development of diverse persons that self-identify as Black, Indigenous racialized, two-spirit, trans and non-binary, a person with disability and who have been systemically and historically excluded in health care and health science career trajectories. Funding has been allocated for individuals who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, two-spirit, trans or non-binary.
The post-secondary applications are now closed. Please visit Careers at Women’s College Hospital to view any additional employment opportunities that may be posted.
Please visit Careers at Women’s College Hospital to view the application.
If you self-identify as Black, Indigenous racialized, two-spirit, trans and non-binary, or person with a disability and are a post-secondary student, please ensure you ONLY apply for the ESSP SSRP Job Posting JOB ID: 1123-1102 on the WCH Career Website. Your application will still be considered for ALL SSRP job opportunities. **
As a condition of your employment, you are required to submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (more than 14 days since your second dose), satisfactory documentation of a 2-Step Tuberculosis Skin Test, and any additional immunizations as required by the Hospital’s Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness department.
In conjunction with the Emily Stowe Scholar Program, the SSRP is committed to establishing relationships that support, mentor, and advance the wholistic development of diverse persons that self-identify as Black, Indigenous racialized, two-spirit, trans and non-binary, who have been systemically and historically excluded in health care and health science career trajectories. If you are a post-graduate student and self-identify as any of the above, ensure you ONLY apply for the ESSP Post-Secondary SSRP Job Posting on the WCH Career Website. Your application will still be considered for ALL SSRP job opportunities. If you are a high school student and self-identify as any of the above, you are invited to apply for the ESSP high school program.
Cover letters are optional for both post-graduate and high school applications. You will have an opportunity to write about your qualifications and express your interest in WCH and the SSRP within the job application. It is STRONGLY encouraged that you provide a meaningful, reflective, and concise answer to the questions within the application. It is encouraged that you review the WCH Vision prior to applying. Your answers will be used as screening tools in the job application process.
You can review our faculty and their research programs here
Post-graduate students work 37.5 hours per week. Contracts will run for a minimum of 12 weeks up to a maximum of 16 weeks. You must be available to work the entirety of your contract.
High school students work 35 hours per week. Contracts will run for six weeks.
Applicants will be notified in late March to early April if they have been selected for an interview. Due to the volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Yes, international students may apply to the program if they are legally eligible to work in Canada.
The application deadline will be provided within the job description. The application will be open for several weeks.
Post-graduate and high school student salaries are determined by Human Resources, and should you be selected as a successful candidate, compensation will be outlined in your offer letter.
If you have any additional questions, please contact: Kristen Dileo (Kristen.Dileo@wchospital.ca) , Research Operations Coordinator.
For applicants that self-identify as First Nations, Inuit and Métis who have additional questions, please contact: Emily Simmonds, Researcher at Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health