Initiative to provide undergraduate students who have experienced structural disadvantages based on their identities or lived experience and who are interested in research have access to additional supports during the job application process
Since its launch in 2006, the Bloorview Research Institute’s Ward Family Summer Student Research program has provided more than 180 undergraduate students across Canada the unique opportunity to work alongside some of the world’s leading scientists in the field of pediatric disability and developmental differences to gain invaluable knowledge and first-hand practical experience.
Within this program, which is generously supported by the Ward Family Foundation, students who have experienced structural disadvantages based on their identities and lived experience have had the opportunity to grow their budding careers in research and contribute to the transformative research through Ward’s specialty streams.
And now, thanks to a new partnership with the Community of Support-Research Application Support Initiative (COS-RASI) run by University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, students applying to these specialty streams, now called SOAR (Sparking student Opportunities for Advancing inclusive childhood disability Research), will receive enhanced mentorship and support during their research career journey.
Once student candidates have gone through COS-RASI’s vetting process and been accepted, they will have access to resources and mentorship to support their research careers, including how to create a strong academic CV and professionalism in communicating with principal investigators, mentorship to help them develop research CVs and graduate applications as well as access to a list of paid research roles including the SOAR positions.
“We are pleased to forge this new partnership with U of T so that we can provide greater opportunities for students from structurally disadvantaged communities who are interested in exploring childhood disability and developmental differences research,” says Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, vice president of research and director of the BRI. “With diverse perspectives from top young minds shaping our research, we can better reflect the populations we serve and co-design inclusive and accessible research and therapeutic solutions with clients and families.”
“The RASI program levels the playing field by providing mentorship and research opportunities to students who are strong academic scholars with promising potential for research, who face barriers in accessing research positions,” says Ike Okafor, senior officer, Service Learning and Diversity Outreach (COS), who oversees the U of T initiative.
Applications for the 2024 Ward Family Summer Student Research program will open beginning December 11th on a rolling basis.
Applications for the SOAR positions within the Ward program will happen in two intake cycles through RASI’s online portal in January and in February 2024.
Please visit the Ward Family Summer Student Research program’s webpage to learn more the application process including the SOAR offerings.
