by Karen Kelly

“What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing” - Aristotle

Many 21-year-olds don’t have the opportunity to contribute to projects that could one day save us from infectious diseases but Alex Rhee isn’t daunted. The fourth-year chemical engineering undergraduate student is busy helping to develop a device that could one day scan blood for diseases such as malaria.

“My supervisory professor has put me in charge of proving a concept in bar-coding,” said Rhee. “I’m working on a system to uniquely identify pathogens flowing through the device using nanotechnology.”

It’s not easy work but well worth it, according to Rhee. “I’ve met a lot of talented people who have advised on my career path,” he said. “I’ve been exposed to very big ideas and the experience has really improved my analytical skills.”

Expanding opportunities for undergraduates like Rhee to get involved in hands-on research projects is one of the objectives of the Stepping Up academic plan under its goals to improve the student experience at U of T. Following on the plan's objective, Professor John Challis, vice-president (research) and associate provost, has announced two new programs supporting undergraduate research: the University of Toronto Excellence Award in the Social Sciences and Humanities (UTEA-SSH) and the University of Toronto Excellence Award in the Natural Sciences and Engineering (UTEA-NSE).

“These programs will be magnificent additions to the undergraduate research opportunities already available at the university,” said Challis. “In the case of the social sciences and humanities, this is the first time we are able to offer a grant-based research experience that was not available in the past. With the sciences and engineering, we can increase the number of students already participating in undergraduate research.”

The new programs will build on the successes of programs already underway at the university to involve undergraduates in the research experience. These initiatives include the Faculty of Arts and Science’s Research Opportunity Program (ROP). ROP is designed to provide opportunities for students in their second year in the faculty to work in the research project of a professor while receiving a 299Y1 credit.

Challis believes undergraduate research opportunities are crucial to enhancing the student experience. “Programs such as these help students to become more connected to their areas of study. By providing them with hands-on experience, students are able to take theories from the classroom and apply them to real-life problems.” He added that undergraduate research experience is an excellent way of preparing Canada’s next generation of scholars.

One student who has benefited from hands-on exposure to research is Phuoc Tran, who began working on research initiatives with Professor Barry Wellman in sociology during his third year. Tran, who has since completed his studies in sociology and psychology, is participating in Wellman’s Connected Lives study, which examines how Canadians communicate. Tran said his research experiences as an undergraduate and today have exceeded his expectations. “It’s more than I anticipated,” he said. “At the moment I’m working on data, managing surveyors, coordinating with interviewers and providing backend technical support. It definitely challenges my abilities.”

Second-year student Natalie Zinko, an undergraduate research assistant who is also part of the Connected Lives team, agrees. “I found that the skills this job provides me with are really useful for my studies as well as any future opportunities I may pursue,” said Zinko. “Working alongside a professor and graduate students has shown me a world of research.”