Summer Undergraduate Research Program introduces students to the world of medical research
This summer, 60 undergraduate students gained first-hand experience in medical research through the Institute of Medical Science’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).
Alongside scientists at IMS-affiliated research sites, students contributed to projects across a range of medical science fields. Each student led a research project from conception to culmination, allowing them to address a gap in the literature they identified at the start of the summer.
While their individual research formed the program's foundation, students met each week for the SURP seminar series. Faculty members from different health science fields and career stages shared their research and spoke about the paths that led them to establish their own research programs.
The seminars introduced students to areas of medical science beyond their own projects, giving them direct access to researchers and clinicians who could answer questions about graduate education, academic career paths, and everyday life as an academic.
The seminars introduced students to areas of medical science beyond their own projects, giving them direct access to researchers and clinicians who could answer questions about graduate education, academic career paths, and everyday life as an academic.
“The weekly seminars were one of my favourite parts of the program,” says Lavendar Lo, SURP student and this year’s podium presentation winner.
“Each week featured a different guest speaker and introduced us to a new area of research. It was interesting to learn about the work being done in different labs and gain perspectives that I wouldn’t necessarily encounter through my regular coursework.”
As the summer drew to an end, the seminar series allowed students to reflect on their own professional and academic development. During the final session, students participated in a professional development workshop led by Pamela Plant, Director of Graduate Professional Development at IMS, and also heard from a panel of current graduate students.
The panelists reflected on their paths to graduate school, their experiences in higher education, and how they found their place within IMS’ large and diverse research community. As students often plan to pursue careers in medical science, the conversation with panelists offered a chance to ask questions and hear directly from those currently navigating graduate training.
The annual SURP Research Day, held on August 12,, marked the culmination of the program, where students presented their work to the IMS community.
The day began with a keynote lecture by Mamatha Bhat, a hepatologist and co-lead of the University Health Network’s Transplant AI Initiative. Her talk explored how artificial intelligence can support personalized care for transplant recipients and promote equitable clinical decision-making.
The keynote was followed by trainee podium and poster presentations. Sharing their research with doctoral students and faculty members at IMS gave the undergraduate students an opportunity to reflect on their projects and articulate its significance.
Over the course of SURP, students went from developing research questions and carrying out their projects to discussing their findings with faculty, graduate students and peers. By bringing together hands-on research, weekly seminars and opportunities for scientific presentation, SURP allowed students to experience both the practice and community of medical research.
