Domestic students who accept the offer of admission into one of our graduate studies programs are also offered a Summer Research Fellowship.
- Apply by the early deadline of February 1 and accept our offer of admission by April 1 in order to be considered for this great opportunity.
- This is a chance to work for any chemistry graduate faculty member during the summer but may choose a different thesis advisor after officially registering in the graduate program in September.
- Contact a research faculty in chemistry about working in his or her lab over the summer right after receiving the letter of offer.
- Experience gained from the summer research program will tend to reduce time to obtain degree and increase chances of producing publications in the near future. These publications are important for future scholarship applications and prospective career goals.
- Repayment of an award is required if a student is in full-time attendance fewer than 12 weeks in the program, withdraws from the summer program or fails to register in the graduate program in September.
- Application procedures can be found here. Further information will also be forwarded by the Chemistry Graduate Office in the first week of April.
Our Students' Experience
Name:: Sonia Mulgund
Research Group: Team Tran
The summer research program was a great opportunity to get used to both work and life as a chemistry graduate student before the busy semester started.
Being new both to Canada and to working in a synthetic chemistry lab, there was certainly a lot to adjust to! In addition to being able to complete instrument trainings and familiarize myself with lab skills efficiently, the most valuable part of the summer for me was being able to build up a support system within my research group. It is so much easier to get to know people when the weather is beautiful and nobody is busy teaching or taking classes, and those relationships in turn made it so much easier to ask for help when I needed it (scientifically or otherwise).
I was also able to build up a good foundation in the basics of my research project. This allowed me to make steady research progress even once my time was split up between coursework and TAing in the fall. From a personal perspective, I also appreciated the slower transition to graduate school, where I was able to explore different neighborhoods before signing a yearlong lease and I got to enjoy the city before the long Canadian winter started.
Overall, I would recommend the summer research program as a great way to ease into research and acclimate to graduate student life.
Name: Logan Fagu
Previous Institution: University of Guelph
Area of Study: Organic Chemistry (Yudin Group)
Program: Direct Entry PhD
Testimonial: The summer research program was an amazing opportunity for me to start my graduate studies earlier than expected. Since the start of my undergraduate degree I always knew I wanted to continue studying chemistry through to graduate school. It had always been a dream of mine, and what better than to start that dream a little bit earlier than previously promised.
What I most valued about the summer research program was the ability to dip my foot into graduate school slowly and controlled. Beginning in the summer allows you to learn what the research role of a grad student is without the added stress of learning your new role as a teaching assistant, or student taking classes. I also very much appreciated the opportunity to start building a community by putting names to faces through interactions with professors and upper-year graduate students.
The city of Toronto is significantly larger than my previous institution’s town, Guelph. The opportunity to experience the city during its active and beautiful season was wonderful. I really appreciated the time I had to become comfortable with the transit systems, local food spots, and exercise outlets. Additionally, the summer allowed me to build a routine that I enjoyed before arrival of the busy semester.
All in all, beginning your graduate studies immediately after finishing your undergraduate degree is not for everyone, nor do I think it should be. However, if you are passionate about chemistry I would highly recommend this opportunity.
Name:: Sophia Alonzi
Previous Institution: University of Toronto Mississauga
Area of Study: Analytical Chemistry (Montenegro Burke Lab)
Program: Direct Entry PhD
Testimonial:The Summer Research Program was an excellent introduction to my graduate studies. Although I completed my undergraduate degree at UofT, I was at the Mississauga campus and only visited St. George a handful of times. The fellowship gave me time to learn my commute options, figure out housing, and explore the city. By the end of the program I felt accustomed to working downtown (and got to enjoy the nice shops and cafes nearby!)
The fellowship also allowed me to get trained on major techniques before my PhD officially started. Between orientation events, courses, scholarship applications, and TAing, September can be a busy time. I was extremely glad to have already eased myself into the lab’s research and have a clear vision of my goals for the term. I was also able to apply for CGRS-D (due early Sept.) since I already developed a strong basis for the proposal over the summer.
I believe that the Summer Research Program is especially valuable for direct entry PhD students. It allowed me to explore a new lab without officially joining and be confident in my decision come September. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about a particular lab/campus or wants a smoother transition into their graduate studies.
Name: Serena Zuyun Qiu
Undergraduate Degree: University of Toronto
Area of Study: Polymer & Materials Chemistry
Group: Team Tran
Testimonial: The summer program was a great way to get to know the lab and ease into graduate school. When I first joined Team Tran, I had the chance to spend time with the group at the summer retreat, (many) birthday celebrations, and picnics at King’s Circle, which made the summer feel especially welcoming and memorable. Starting research early also gave me time to adjust before the busy semester began. I was able to learn new techniques, become familiar with lab instruments, and gain experience with research presentations without feeling overwhelmed.
Name: Syrus Kenyon
Previous Institution: University of Toronto Mississauga
Area of Study: Inorganic Chemistry (Korzyński Lab)
Program: MSc
Testimonial: The summer research program provided me with an easy transition into the graduate program and into a new lab. While my undergraduate studies were at UTM, I knew that things would be very different during my graduate studies, even if I was familiar with the campus, staff, and faculty. Without the stress of graduate courses and TAing, the summer months allowed me to become familiar with my prospective lab and labmates and be introduced to my research project.
During the summer, I was trained on new and complex techniques necessary for the air-free chemistry that I would need to do for my research, such as using Schlenk lines and gloveboxes. I was also refreshed and trained on a multitude of characterization techniques. Overall, the summer research program was highly beneficial to my studies, preparing me for the start of my research and helping me decide if this was the path for me (it is!).
Name:: Mina Stefanovic
Previous Institution: McMaster University
Area of Study: Analytical (Wheeler Group)
Program: MSc
Testimonial: Having the opportunity to participate in the Summer Research Program has made my transition to graduate school a lot smoother. Adjusting to a new lab environment takes time. This program allowed me to focus solely on familiarizing myself in the lab, while completing much of the administrative tasks/training, without the overlap of TAships and graduate courses. Additionally, this program gave me a chance to get to know my supervisor and my colleagues, as well as learn the dynamic of the lab, an important factor when selecting a research group for your program. By the end of my three months, I felt very confident in my decision to pursue my master’s degree in this lab, and I even got a bit of a head start on my research project. I encourage all incoming graduate students who apply early to enroll in the Summer Research Program. I found that establishing those early relationships with members in the lab eased my transition into my program in September.
Name:: Marvick Lee
Previous Institution: McMaster University
Area of Study: Organic Chemistry
Program: Master of Science
Testimonial: The Summer Research Program is an extremely beneficial experience that new students should take advantage of. As a student who spent half of my undergraduate degree online, being part of this program had provided me an opportunity to improve on my research and lab skills. Without the workloads from courses and TAship during the year, this program had given me sufficient time to learn and get used to conducting full-time research and using the equipment in the lab. I was also able to familiarize myself with the lab environment and how the lab functions during this program. More importantly, I was able to understand the background of my research project and my supervisor's expectations on research progress. Overall, the summer research program is a great experience where you can get yourself a comfortable head start and transition into grad school.
Name:: Nahil Al Zuhaika
Previous Institution: University of Toronto
Area of Study: Inorganic (Stephan Group)
Program: MSc
Testimonial: Being able to participate in the Summer Research Program was extremely rewarding. While it allows you to get a head-start on your research, it also benefitted me by giving me the opportunity to brush up on some of my research and laboratory skills that I did not get to practice as much due to the pandemic. It is truly a game-changer, as you get to focus completely on research without the interference of other graduate responsibilities such as your grad courses or TAships. The Summer Research Program was also a great way to get familiarized with a lab's environment, a commute, and the campus before officially committing to joining a lab in September, which is one of the most important decisions you need to make when you pursue your graduate studies. Overall, submitting my application to grad school by the early deadline and participating in this program was one of the best decisions I have made and I would recommend anyone considering joining our program to follow in those footsteps!