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jobs/volunteering at SFU

sammwich
edited January 2013 in General
I was just curious about jobs and volunteering in labs at SFU. Anyone who has done this, how did you come about it? Did you look online or just ask a professor you had an interesting class with? How would you get started? Whats all the benefits? Please let me know everything you know about it, or have done in the past...im really interested!

Comments

  • labtricks
    There are many labs willing to take in undergrads for paid or volunteers positions. Don't feel afraid to email the profs and ask them if they have any positions available. Also check their website to learn more about what research they do, and sometimes they will advertise jobs on the site too.

    *Note that many labs prefer that you have completed certain lab courses, so make sure you at least have your 1st and 2nd year lab courses done.

    A few other things in case you didn't know:
    • you can do an individual study semester (ISS) or honours thesis project where you work for a semester in a lab on your own research project, under the supervision of a grad student. This is an actual course and you get a grade in the end. Check your department's website for more info, and talk to your advisor too.
    • you can apply for awards/scholarships to work in a lab. One common one is the NSERC award (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/UG-PC/USRA-BRPC_eng.asp) which funds your research in a lab for one semester. Get more details from your department's office - the undergrad secretary should have the application deadlines, and will walk you through the process.
    **I've done both ISS and the NSERC funded semester - they were great experiences. It can be intimidating to approach profs, but don't worry because many of them are looking for students like you!

    Good luck!

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