Faculty-Led Research

WHAT IS IT?

By supporting a faculty-led research project (e.g., Research Opportunity Program), you will have the opportunity to work with a faculty supervisor on their research. In some instances, you will work one-on-one with a faculty member and in others you will contribute to a larger research team as you learn about new research directions and methodologies. Students will take part in various aspects of research and have the opportunity to build a collaborative and collegial relationship with a faculty member.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

Eligibility:

Eligibility for faculty-led research that takes place outside a course will vary depending on the requirements outlined by the lead researcher.

Duration:

Faculty-led research opportunities vary in duration but would typically be part-time and would last anywhere from a few months to a number of years, depending on the needs of the research project.

Recognition and / or compensation:

Many co-curricular, faculty-led research opportunities will be paid.
You will receive course credit for participating in curricular faculty-led research opportunities.

Accessibility:

Inclusion in EL is achieved when an experience supports learning for all students. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the University of Toronto has a commitment to an equitable learning environment for people with disabilities. It is important to engage in an interactive process to determine the optimal and most appropriate accommodations for individual students engaged in experiential learning.
If a student requires an accommodation related to an faculty-led research opportunity, you may wish to connect with one of the accessibility services offices at the University of Toronto. Staff at these offices will advise you on the disclosure of accommodation requirements as well as support you through the process of determining and negotiating effective accommodations for the student’s individual circumstances.
Student support offices strive to create a safe and comfortable community where students have opportunities to discuss navigating barriers, find peer support and learn about various academic and social opportunities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Students engaging in a co-curricular faculty-led research project will typically enter into an employment agreement with a faculty member or an academic unit. If a student is being paid as an employee of the University, then they receive workplace insurance coverage through the University.
Students engaging in a curricular faculty-led research project (for credit), receive workplace insurance coverage through the University or Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Students engaging in a curricular faculty-led research project (for credit) have general liability coverage through the University.

BENEFITS

Engaging in research with a faculty member contributes to increased rates of student retention and student engagement.
Students learn new skills in research and practice through supporting faculty research.
Faculty can identify students with potential for future positions (e.g., work-study or research assistantships) or study opportunities (e.g., graduate or post-doctoral work).

Ideal time to participate:

Faculty-led research opportunities exist across the University and in almost every faculty. When students look to participate in this opportunity will depend on their academic, professional and personal goals. Students may want to discuss further with their academic advisor or registrar’s office.

Below are some sites that can provide a starting point when considering research-based opportunities at the University of Toronto:

The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering offers Summer Research Opportunities, providing the opportunity for hundreds of Engineering students to work with faculty in their labs.
The Faculty of Arts & Science offers various ways to access research opportunities, students can look at the broad Overview of Research Opportunities and review some key questions related to research opportunities.
The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education offers a full list of their Research Units, Labs & Centres.
The Faculty of Music is home to several Research Centres and Institutes.
The University of Toronto Mississauga offers a Research Opportunity Program for University of Toronto Mississauga students.
The University of Toronto Scarborough’s Office of the Vice-Principal Research offers information for students.
Jackman Scholars-in-Residence (SiR) offers residency in interdisciplinary humanities and humanistic social-science research for upper-year undergraduate students
Some of the available Work Study roles may include research opportunities; if students have a particular interest in research, they can review these opportunities with this in mind.

Resources for Faculty, Staff and Librarians

Faculty can connect with their faculty, academic unit and / or divisional experiential learning office (as applicable) to explore the resources available as they seek to develop a faculty-led research opportunity.
Visit the Research & Innovation website to review the services and tools for faculty and staff.
Please review the eModules to learn more about intellectual property and non-disclosure agreements arising from faculty-led research.
Advancing Equitable & Inclusive Experiential Learning Opportunities: A Five-Stage Framework for Change: created by Arts & Science’s Experiential Learning and Outreach Support Office, this guide aims to support EL practitioners in providing EL opportunities that are accessible, inclusive and engage students in meaningful ways.

Next Steps for Partners/External Organizations

Faculty-led research experiences are not partnered experiences. If an organization wishes to engage students in research at their organization, please review the information on the Organization-Partnered Project page or the Academic Internship page. Organizations may also wish to connect with the Blue Door for support and advice.

Experiential Learning Hub

Learning Type: