The Indigenous Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program (IURMP) is a UBC initiative for Indigenous undergraduate students who wish to gain a glimpse into the world of research by being paired with a faculty member on campus. This is the fourth year the program has run. Past students have credited their ability to obtain paid undergraduate research work, employment opportunities after graduation, and enrolment in graduate programs, to their participation in the IURMP.
This term, 45 Indigenous students applied to the program at the Vancouver campus. Of these applicants, 24 were selected, including 1 student based in Prince George who is piloting an e-mentorship.
The program involves a four-month mentorship program (January-April) in which students receive guided experience in a research setting related to their field of interest. The students are expected to complete approximately 4-5 hours/week of research activity in their mentorship – this includes a wide variety of activities including meeting with their mentors, participating in lab training and onboarding, and reading academic publications. They are also required to submit weekly reflections on their mentorship – journaling their experience in the program.
The UBC School of Kinesiology is one of 8 other UBC Vancouver Schools and Faculties participating in the program. On January 16, 2020, the Indigenous Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program held a Kick-off Event at the Great Hall of the UBC First Nations Longhouse to which IURMP Students, Faculty Mentors, and supporting staff academic advisors, and FNHL Leadership were invited and welcomed into the program. The evening was meant to set the participants up for success and was an opportunity to meet each other and to provide an overview of timelines and activities over the course of the program.
We are happy to say that three of the 24 participating students are in the School of Kinesiology and they have been paired with KIN faculty mentors Drs. Bill Sheel, Darren Warburton and John Kramer. Congratulations to our students! Students and faculty mentors will have a mid-term meet-up to check in with each other about their mentorship experience. We look forward to hearing how the program went for both students and professors at the end of April.