Carleton’s I-CUREUS program provides undergraduate students with hands-on experience in their discipline or an area of interest, access to research scholarships, and mentoring.
Eligibility
All participating Carleton faculty members must belong to an academic unit and must also hold a research grant at the time of application. This opportunity is not available to contract instructors.
The program is restricted to part-time or full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a Carleton program. Students must remain in good academic standing throughout the duration of the internship and must not be completing a co-op work term simultaneously.
Please note: There are limited spots available and applications are not guaranteed to be accepted. Due to the increasing popularity of the I-CUREUS program, there is a two student per faculty member maximum. Only one application per student per academic year shall be accepted.
Funding
Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) and the faculty supervisor will equally fund student interns for up to 150 hours of work at $15.50 per hour (up to a maximum of $2,250). All hours must be completed before the end of the term.
The payment will be administered by the supervising professor’s academic department. The schedule of payment may vary depending on the department and work schedule.
A final payment transfer of $150 will be withheld until TLS receives a testimonial or report of the research activity from the student. This may include participating in the annual I-CUREUS showcase event, or submitting a written report or video.
Please note: Effective Oct. 1, 2023, minimum wage will increase to $16.55 in Ontario. For students applying to I-CUREUS for the Fall or Winter terms of the 2023-2024 year, should your I-CUREUS application be approved, HR will adjust the pay accordingly to meet the general minimum wage in Ontario.
Selection Criteria
Faculty members and student applicants should jointly complete the online application below. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Appropriateness of the proposed research work
- The level of supervision and mentorship
- Potential output, such as research papers
- Anticipated learning outcomes from the experience
I-CUREUS positions will be filled in a timely manner on a first-come, first-served basis.
Presenting Your Research
Internships are not considered complete until the research has been presented. Student participants are expected to present their research at the annual I-CUREUS showcase event. If a student is unable to present at the showcase, they will need to complete an end-of-year report or video of their work.
Applying for the Program
Faculty members interested in this program are encouraged to identify an undergraduate student they feel they can collaborate with. This may be a student who has successfully completed a course they’ve taught, a student they’ve worked with before or a student who has expressed interest in collaborating with them. TLS will not vet or select student interns – this is the sole responsibility of the instructors.
Both the student and faculty supervisor are responsible for reviewing the Acknowledgment of Understanding and jointly completing the online application form.
The instructor should prepare a brief statement of the specific work the student will undertake and the benefits they will gain by engaging in the research. Standards of work should be set, outlining the responsibilities of the instructor and the student. A work plan and timeline should be agreed upon at the beginning. When possible, the pair should meet once per week.
For more information, please see our FAQ below or email tls@carleton.ca.