TWU

TWU announces the winners of the 2023 Undergraduate Student Research Awards

Supporting students to pursue their potential as researchers and scholars

Trinity Western University is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA).

Congratulations to 14 students who have received funding to pursue summer research alongside faculty-mentors.


Every year, students at Trinity Western have the opportunity to apply for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA). These awards recognize high-calibre students and support them to fully pursue their potential as researchers and scholars.

Award recipients gain experience in conducting research on topics relevant to their areas of interest and specialization—with the benefit of mentorship from a faculty supervisor.


Undergraduate Student Research Awards recognize high-calibre students and support them to fully pursue their potential as researchers and scholars.


This summer, 14 students have been granted USRA research funding. The students will work with faculty supervisors to pursue projects in their respective fields, which include biology, biotechnology, chemistry, mathematical sciences, geography and environment, kinesiology, business, nursing, psychology, and humanities and social sciences.

TWU
Trinity Western University Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) provides funding for students to pursue summer research alongside faculty-mentors.

'Invaluable experience' in research

"Undergraduate research is one of the main pillars of the research activity here at TWU," Associate Provost of Research Dr. Richard Chandra remarked. "The Undergraduate Student Research Awards provide Trinity Western students a unique opportunity to work closely with a TWU faculty member."

"The students gain invaluable experience in developing processes to answer key research questions, presenting the results of their research, and building connections that will help them in their future career paths.”


"The students gain invaluable experience in developing processes to answer key research questions, presenting the results of their research, and building connections that will help them in their future career paths.”


TWU
Trinity Western University Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) provides funding for students to pursue summer research alongside faculty-mentors.

Providing funding for research work

Two categories of research awards are available: the TWU USRA and the federally-funded NSERC USRA.

The NSERC USRA provides funding for students to conduct research for 16 consecutive weeks on a full-time basis, while the TWU USRA provides funding for students to conduct research between 10 to 16 weeks on a full-time or part-time basis.

All USRA researchers are then invited to present on their projects at an upcoming TWU CREATE Conference, an annual event that showcases student research to the campus community.

TWU
Trinity Western University Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) provides funding for students to pursue summer research alongside faculty-mentors.

Congratulations to 2023 USRA winners

Trinity Western University is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Undergraduate Student Research Awards.

Congratulations to each and every outstanding student!

2023 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards recipients
Student ResearchersFaculty SupervisorTitle of Research Projects
Santiago Gallo Dr. Miriam BuschhausLongitudinal variation in plant wax composition under minimalist conditions
Harrison  Goeldner Dr. Laura 
Onyango
The antibacterial efficacy of zinc oxide microparticles against mixed bacterial biofilms
Maximillian  Laurence Dr. Chadron M.  
Friesen 
Synthesis of 3,5-diamino-4-(4-difluoromethoxy) phenylazo-pyrazole & 3,5-diamino-4-(4-diflromethyl) phenylazo-pyrazole
Sean Pierce Dr. Simon Tse Predicting the Emergence of Viral Hotspots
Nicolas  Tessman Dr. Laura 
Onyango
Impacts of dairy farm practises on microbial water quality in BC watershed

 

2023 TWU Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
Undergraduate Student Research Awards recipients
Student ResearchersFaculty SupervisorTitle of Research Projects
Aidan 
Anderson  
Dr. David ClementsMonitoring post-flooding spread of invasive knotweed on the Chilliwack River and its tributaries
Jaylene  Braithwaite  Dr. David ClementsMicrosite characteristics of Reynoutria spp. along the Chilliwack River, BC
Jessie 
David  
Dr. Julia MillsILK and Abl: Therapeutic Targets in Glioblastomas

 

2023 Trinity Western University
Undergraduate Student Research Awards recipients
Student ResearchersFaculty SupervisorTitle of Research Projects
Jeremy 
Breedveld   
Dr. Lynn MustoEducating for Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Encounters
Una Chang   Dr. Lyndsay MacKayAn exploration of the concept of trust among paediatric nurses and children and their families: A scoping review
Sienna  
Hermary   
 Dr. Brian 't HartOut of Touch: Exploring the Role of Physical Touch in Smart Home Technology for Older Consumers 
Kirsten  
Kampman  
Dr. Michael 
Bodner
Sleep to Compete: A Varsity Athlete Sleep Study 
Peter Joefin    Dr. Chelsea BeyerThe effects of sociocultural factors, religiousness/spirituality, gender, and sexual orientation on sexual distress
Tayah   
Vahrmeyer   
Dr. Jaime  
Palmer Hague
Effects of women’s cortisol, testosterone, and dominance on their predicted sex-of-offspring

 

TWU
Trinity Western University Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) provides funding for students to pursue summer research alongside faculty-mentors.

Also: see some of last year's undergraduate research projects by USRA recipients:


About research at TWU 

At TWU, faculty mentor undergraduate and graduate students through a holistic approach that integrates faith with discipline specialization, research, internships, and skills training. Learn more at research at TWU


About Trinity Western University

Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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