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.
'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.”
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.
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!
| Student Researchers | Faculty Supervisor | Title of Research Projects |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago Gallo | Dr. Miriam Buschhaus | Longitudinal 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 |
| Student Researchers | Faculty Supervisor | Title of Research Projects |
|---|---|---|
| Aidan Anderson |
Dr. David Clements | Monitoring post-flooding spread of invasive knotweed on the Chilliwack River and its tributaries |
| Jaylene Braithwaite | Dr. David Clements | Microsite characteristics of Reynoutria spp. along the Chilliwack River, BC |
| Jessie David |
Dr. Julia Mills | ILK and Abl: Therapeutic Targets in Glioblastomas |
| Student Researchers | Faculty Supervisor | Title of Research Projects |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Breedveld |
Dr. Lynn Musto | Educating for Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Encounters |
| Una Chang | Dr. Lyndsay MacKay | An exploration of the concept of trust among paediatric nurses and children and their families: A scoping review |
| Sienna Hermary |
Dr. Brian 't Hart | Out 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 Beyer |
The 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 |
Also: see some of last year's undergraduate research projects by USRA recipients:
- Contributing knowledge to invasive species management: TWU researchers investigate knotweed infestations resulting from the 2021 B.C. floods
- TWU researchers conduct chemical analysis of plant surface waxes as biomarkers for solving ecological questions
- TWU students advance research into patient-centred care, support healthcare professionals in providing quality service relevant to persons
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.