Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Research Awards (NSERC USRA)

 Please review the details regarding the USRA provided by:

• NSERC:
  • general information about the awards
  • application instructions etc.
• University of Waterloo, Office of Research

The USRA are allocated from the home department of the research supervisor. The USRA holder will work in the research supervisor's lab.

The USRA offers a few students per year (based on availability) the opportunity to work as a paid research assistant on a full-time basis for one school term (i.e., 16 consecutive weeks for a minimum of 35 hours per week) for a research supervisor in Psychology who currently holds an NSERC research grant, or who will have an NSERC research grant by the beginning of the term when the student holds the USRA. 

The USRA are intended to stimulate the recipients' interest in research and to encourage them to undertake graduate studies and careers in a 'natural science' area of Psychology (e.g., behavioural neuroscience, cognition/perception, cognitive factors of development  etc.).

If a Co-op student receives a USRA, the research term counts as a work term unless all work terms have already been completed.

NSERC permits the University of Waterloo to set stricter criteria for selecting USRA candidates than the minimum standards set by NSERC, to give higher priority to UWaterloo students applying for the USRA for tenure at UWaterloo, and to establish procedures and deadlines for the USRA competition.

Details specific to the NSERC USRA competition in the Department of Psychology are provided on this website.

The scholarship for the research term comes from two sources.

NSERC USRA

The USRA provides $6,000 per term. Additional details:

• Recipients must work a minimum of 80 days (excluding statutory holidays) in order to receive the full value of the USRA (i.e., $6000.00). For applicants who propose to work less than 80 days, pro-rated awards may be approved in truly exceptional circumstances where the situation is beyond the student's control, only if the request for approval is submitted in writing to the Office of Research at the time of the application. The request must be supported in writing by the potential research supervisor. If you intend to seek a prorated award, please consult with the potential research supervisor prior to stage 2 of the application process.
   
• The USRA program makes no provisions for sick leave, vacation leave, or other interruptions after the research term begins. Should the research term be interrupted or terminated for any reason, the research supervisor must notify the Office of Research immediately.

Financial supplement

In addition to the scholarship provided by the USRA, the award holder will receive a financial supplement from the research supervisor. 

Notes regarding the financial supplement:

Although the supervisor is required to have an NSERC grant, the supplement does not have to be paid from the grant account. At the appropriate time, the Administrative Officer, Psychology Department will handle the Temporary Employment Authorization Forms required by payroll. 

Are USRA available to non-University of Waterloo Students?

The Department of Psychology will not be accepting USRA applications from students registered at other universities at this time.

The Department of Psychology reserves the right to match students with research supervisors.

The faculty members listed below are eligible research supervisors for USRA holders:

1. Britt Anderson
2. Derek Besner
3. James Danckert
4. Stephanie Denison
5. Mike Dixon
6. Colin Ellard
7. Myra Fernandes
8. Ori Friedman
9. Jonathan Fugelsang
10. Roxane Itier
11. Derek Koehler
12. Colin MacLeod
13. Evan Risko
14. Dan Smilek
15. Katherine White

For the research interests of supervisors go to our people. 

Notes for faculty members in the Department of Psychology:

• You must hold one of the following NSERC research grants by the beginning of the USRA term: Discovery, CREATE, Strategic, Research Partnerships.
• You are not eligible to supervise a USRA holder if you hold only NSERC Research Tools and Instruments, and/or only NSERC Infrastructure Grants.
• If your research grant will not be active for the full duration of the USRA applicant's research term, go to the NSERC website for further details regarding your eligibility to be a potential research supervisor before completing NSERC Form 202 part 2.  Also consult with the departmental USRA coordinator immediately.

NSERC encourages qualified Indigenous students to apply for this award. Institutions may recommend applications from self-identified Indigenous applicants to the USRA competition beyond their academic quota.

Applicants must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), as of the deadline date for applications at the institution.

NSERC specifies that a student can receive only one USRA per fiscal year (i.e., over Spring, Fall, Winter) and no more than three USRA in a university career. However, given the limited number of USRAs available per year in the Department of Psychology and the level of interest by students in these awards, the Department of Psychology may limit students to no more than two NSERC USRA in their university career so that as many students as possible will benefit from the experiences that these awards provide. 

Other eligibility criteria are listed below including program status, grades and academic standing, course enrolment restrictions (e.g., PSYCH 499), and required training.  The Psychology department reserves the right to change eligibility criteria within the constraints outlined by NSERC.

Program status

Must have successfully completed at least 5.0 units (i.e., 10 term courses).

Must be enrolled (i.e., part-time or full-time enrolment status) in an Honours Bachelor's degree program in a natural science (e.g., Honours Psychology) or engineering area at UWaterloo as of the deadline date for applications at the university as well as the term preceding the proposed research term.

An applicant who is pursuing a second Bachelor's degree is allowed to apply for a USRA. If they hold a degree higher than an Bachelor's degree in the natural science or engineering field they are not eligible to apply.

Grades and academic standing

A cumulative overall average of at least 80% is required (Department of Psychology policy).

Must be in satisfactory academic standing (i.e., satisfactory, good, or excellent standing) in your program of study at the end of the term preceding the USRA term.

Course enrolment restrictions

USRA holders are not permitted to take courses during working hours throughout the USRA term unless special arrangements to make up the time have been made with the research supervisor. Those doing so may take a maximum of 2 term courses during the USRA term with the written permission of the research supervisor. In particular, USRA holders are not permitted to do thesis research during the term of the award.

Training required for USRA holders

Ethics clearance and training required for all USRA holders

Stage 1: Documents required from the student

Stage 1 part A: Complete the on-line NSERC Form 202 Part 1

No printing of the form or hard/wet signatures are required.

Before completing the form, read carefully the 'general information' provided by NSERC (e.g., the terms that you accept by applying for the USRA such as ethical conduct, notes regarding the content and presentation standards for completing the form, help using the on-line system, etc.)

Login to the NSERC website as either a previous user or a first time user. Locate and complete NSERC Form 202 Part 1. If you recorded a Form 202 Part 1 for an earlier USRA competition, access that form and edit it for the current cycle. Do not create multiple forms

The PIN number requested is your NSERC PIN number not your UWaterloo ID number. All USRA applicants have an NSERC PIN. It can be found on any official correspondence received from NSERC. Refer to your PIN each time you apply for a USRA and in future correspondence with NSERC. If you have not previously applied for a USRA, or if you cannot remember your PIN, leave the field blank.

Leave the reference number blank. The system will assign this number automatically.

Regarding current and previous academic background, only list current and past universities (e.g., do not list colleges that you attended).

Review Form 202 Part 1 carefully for accuracy and completeness before finalizing it because revisions after stage 1 of the application process are complicated and time consuming. Further details regarding corrections are provided in stage 3.

You must upload a copy of your unofficial UWaterloo transcript or the system will not verify and confirm Form 202 Part 1. Access your unofficial transcript on Quest and create a pdf of the transcript. Then upload the pdf to Form 202 Part 1. Follow up with the official transcript requirement only if instructed to do so by the Office of Research.

After you have completed Form 202 Part 1 and uploaded the unofficial transcript, go to My Portfolio and select 'verify'. Once verification is confirmed, make note of the reference number (see the top of Form 202). If invited to stage 3 of the application process, give the reference number to your potential research supervisor. Do not give them your NSERC ID number or password.

The departmental NSERC USRA Coordinator cannot view or print Form 202 Part 1 until after the potential research supervisor completes Form 202 Part 2 during stage 3 of the application process.

Stage 1 part B: Submit all of the following documentation

Submit the Department of Psychology supplementary information for the NSERC USRA application

The document that you submit containing the supplementary information is for use in the Department of Psychology only and will not be forwarded to the Office of Research or to NSERC.

List a maximum of 2 potential research supervisors (in priority order) that you would be willing to work for if you receive a USRA. Please speak (e.g., email) to those you are ranking regarding your background (e.g., research experience, grades, etc.), the activities in their labs, the role that you would play if you are offered a USRA to work in a particular faculty member's lab, the amount of financial supplement that they are willing to pay you, etc. Please do not ask potential research supervisors to make a firm commitment to you at this stage of the application process.  

Requests for approval of a reduced award (i.e., less than 80 days) must be approved. Go to Scholarship for the USRA term for further details.

Transcripts for post-secondary studies:

You are required to upload a copy of your unofficial UWaterloo transcript (the same one as submitted with your NSERC Form 202 in part 1).

If you attended any post-secondary institution(s) other than UWaterloo (college or university), that official transcript is also required. In that case, ask the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor as soon as possible to inquire if the UWaterloo Registrar's Office has a copy of that official transcript. If so, NSERC will accept a pdf of the original if created by the Registrar's Office. Include your last name and "NSERC transcripts" in the subject line of the inquiry to the Psych advisor. If the Psych advisor obtains that document for you and you are nominated for a USRA, The Office of Research will follow up with you regarding uploading the document to your online USRA application.

If it is necessary to obtain the official transcript directly from the institution attended, please include an unofficial copy of the transcript with your application and follow up with the hard copy of the official transcript.

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Stage 2: Ranking of applicants by Departmental NSERC USRA coordinator and matching with potential research supervisors.

Ranking the applications for the USRA

The departmental NSERC USRA coordinator will rank and attempt to match with a potential research supervisor the applications taking into consideration the following factors:   

• grades,
• information provided in the stage 1 application documents,
• consideration of the ranks provided by students for supervisors and vice versa,
• equity, diversity, inclusion.

While there are a small number of awards for interdisciplinary applications (i.e., a student in the Science faculty doing a USRA in the Arts faculty) available, preference will be given to students enrolled in the Psychology program for students doing a USRA in the Psychology Department.

Decisions and notification

Applicants will receive one of the following 2 decisions:

Group 1 will be nominated for a USRA:

These applicants will be given the name of their potential research supervisor and the amount of financial supplement that the supervisor is willing to pay if they receive a USRA. Applicants will not be given information regarding their ranks on the nomination list. Candidates wanting to withdraw from the competition at this stage should notify the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator of their decision as soon as possible.

See final selection and notification of decisions for further details.

Group 2 will not be nominated for a USRA. Reasons may include, for example:

• the number of applicants who meet the minimum eligibility criteria exceeds the number of awards available.
   
• the applicant does not meet all of the eligibility criteria for the USRA.
   
• the applicant has not demonstrated an aptitude for doing research through prior experience.
   
• the applicant was not matched with a potential research supervisor.

Potential research supervisors will also be informed of the decisions. 

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Stage 3: Documents required from the research supervisors for applicants nominated for a USRA 

Complete/submit the following documentation to the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator.

Complete NSERC Form 202 Part 2 (Proposed location of tenure and research project):

No printing forms or hard/wet signatures are required.

Read the general information on the NSERC website. Note the section near the bottom of that page titled "The signatures of the proposed host organizations certify that the organization".

Obtain the student's reference number (top of Form 202 Part 1).

Login to the NSERC website. Use the same userid and password you created for your own NSERC grant. If you forgot your userid or password, contact NSERC On-line Services Helpdesk for assistance (Ph 613-995-4273). To access and complete the form:

1. select 'forms-researcher' under the heading 'forms management',
2. select 'Form 202 Part 2'
3. enter the student's reference number.

If there is a warning that the student previously applied for a USRA, the system won't let you create a new Form 202 Part 2. In that case, access the previous Form 202 Part 2 and revise it appropriately.

Your active NSERC grant number and PIN number must be on the form. If you don't know the numbers, consult with Sarindra Andrianasolo (Office of Research) at extension 39104.

The title of the research project may be used for publication purposes and therefore, should describe the subject of the research. Do not include symbols, acronyms, company or trade names. Details regarding the project must involve research and development activities in a 'natural science' area of Psychology.

Research subject codes for Psychology research

NSERC does not support clinically-oriented research. See the Guidelines for the eligibility of applications in Psychology.

The form must include a few points regarding the responsibilities of the student researcher.
 

Regarding joint supervision: NSERC allows USRA holders to work under the supervision of two NSERC grantees as long they work on a 'genuine' research project allowing them to be exposed to all aspects of the research process. However, students must not move between laboratories on different projects because this would dilute the value of the experience. One NSERC grantee must be designated as the student's official supervisor. Co-supervision by a non-NSERC grantee is not allowed. If joint supervision is necessary, put only one (primary) supervisor's name on Form 202 Part 2 and send an email message to the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator explaining why joint supervisor is necessary.  The coordinator will follow up with the Office of Research administrator.

Review the application carefully for accuracy and completeness. When complete, go to My Portfolio and select 'verify'. Once verification is confirmed, the status of the application will change to 'completed'. Then select 'submit to LO' (LO means Liaison Officer)  Notify the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator by email when the transaction is completed and they along with the Office of Research will have access to view and process the form. Put the student's last name and `NSERC' in the subject line of the message.

Corrections to Form 202 Part 2 (Supervisors): If after you  'submit to LO' (LO means Liasion Officer) corrections are needed, notify the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator. Please put the student's last name and `NSERC' in the subject line of the email message. The form will be returned to you to give you access again to Form 202 Part 2. You will be notified when the access coding is complete and you may then login to Form 202 Part 2 to make the corrections.  When finished, repeat the 'verify' and 'submit to LO' steps for Form 202 Part 2. When finished, reply immediately to the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator to confirm that the corrections and verification are complete.

Corrections to Form 202 Part 1 (Students): If corrections are required to Form 202 Part 1 after Form 202 Part 2 has been submitted, contact  the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator regarding the problem. Put your last name and 'NSERC' in the subject line of the email message. The form will be returned to give you access again to Form 202 Part 1. You will be notified when the access coding is complete. Login to Form 202 Part 1 to make the corrections (upload again your grades), and go to My Portfolio and select 'verify'. When finished, reply immediately to the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator to confirm that the corrections and verification are complete.  You must also notify the potential research supervisor that they must login to My Portfolio as soon as possible to repeat the 'verify' and 'submit to LO' for Form 202 Part 2.

Email the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator the following information

Research supervisors must email the following information to the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator:  subject line e.g., Jones - NSERC supplementary information.

1. student's full name
2. if the applicant plans to take a course during the USRA term you must confirm whether or not they have your permission to do so and that the course will not interfere with applicant's work obligations. See eligibility criteria for further details.
3. confirmation of the amount of financial supplement that you will give the individual per month if they receives a USRA.

Requests for approval of a reduced award

Go to Scholarship for the USRA term for details and consult the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator

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USRA nominations submitted to the Faculty of Arts

The departmental NSERC USRA coordinator  will confirm that all documents have been received. They will submit a rank ordered list of nominees for the USRA and the waiting list name(s) for the USRA, including names of the potential research supervisor for each individual, to the Faculty of Arts. A representative from the Faculty of Arts will review the nominations and forward the final nominations to the Office of Research.”

The Office of Research will review the applications, verify eligibility, and contact the successful candidates. They will also notify the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator  and the research supervisors of the decisions.

If you are offered a USRA (check your email frequently), please accept or decline the offer as soon as possible in case your decision affects the status of another applicant (e.g., someone on the waiting list for an award) or rankings for co-op positions in the case of a student in the co-op system of study.

Warnings to those in the co-op system of study who are applying for a USRA

• If you have already been matched with a co-op position at the time that you are offered a USRA, you cannot turn down the co-op position in favour of the USRA. If you were to do so, you would receive a 'failed grade' for your Work Term. You have two choices:
  a) decline the offer for the USRA.
  b) if you are interested in deferring the USRA to the next Work Term , consult the departmental NSERC USRA coordinator whether or not this is possible. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• If you have not been matched yet with a co-op position at the time that you are offered a USRA, accept the USRA offer and contact the appropriate Faculty Relations Manager in the Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) Department immediately to inform him/her of your decision. 

NSERC USRA payment

Office of Research will provide the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office with your name, identification number, and the value/type of award that you are receiving. The full value of the USRA will be paid to your UWaterloo student financial account through Quest in one lump sum the second week of the second month of the USRA term. A cheque will be sent to your home address shortly thereafter if you do not have any fees owing to the University. If you owe fees to the University, those fees will be paid first and then the remaining balance will be sent to you by cheque.

If you need funds for living expenses (e.g., rent) until the USRA payment is received, see details regarding emergency loans from the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office.

Payment of the financial supplement for the USRA term

The departmental NSERC USRA coordinator will provide the Administrative Officer, Department of Psychology with the list of USRA recipients, the names of their corresponding supervisors, and the amount of financial supplement that each individual will be receiving. Those receiving a USRA must meet with the administrative officer the first week of the USRA term to sign the appropriate paperwork for payroll to initiate payment of the financial supplement.

The supplement will be paid monthly.

The application deadlines you are given are firm.  However, the Department of Psychology reserves the right to extend the application deadlines and/or the deadline for making the nomination decisions.

Stage 1: Friday, Feb. 11th

• complete and submit NSERC Form 202 Part 1 online,
• submit the Department of Psychology supplementary information for the NSERC USRA application

Stage 2:  Friday, Feb. 25th

Departmental NSERC USRA coordinator ranks the applications and attempts to match applicants with potential supervisors.  The Departmental NSERC USRA coordinator will forward the departmental application forms and students' transcripts to the potential research supervisors for evaluation.

Stage 3:  Friday, March 4th

Potential research supervisors complete NSERC Form 202 Part 2 for matched applicants.

Departmental NSERC USRA coordinator will submit the nominations for the USRA to the Faculty of Arts for review. 

The Faculty of Arts will confirm whether or not the Psychology USRA applications can go forward to the Office of Research for processing. The Office of Research will notify the USRA applicants and their potential research supervisors if they have been approved for the award and the deadline for accepting or declining the award.

Ethics clearance and training required for all USRA holders

Meet with the Administrative Officer, Psychology Department, the first week of the USRA term to sign the appropriate paperwork for payroll.

Departmental NSERC USRA coordinator: psychology.nserc.usra@uwaterloo.ca

Administrative Officer, Psychology department:  Janice da Silva (email:  janice.dasilva@uwaterloo.ca)

Office of Research NSERC USRA administrator:  Sarindra Andrianasolo (email:  sandrianasolo@uwaterloo.ca)