With mentorship, awards and a dedicated research conference, York’s Undergraduate Health Research Exploration (UHRE) program is helping students see themselves not just as students, but as scholars.
At most Canadian universities, undergraduate students interested in health research rarely get the chance to present their own findings or earn recognition. The spotlight – and the awards that come with it – typically belong to graduate students.
York University’s UHRE program is changing that.
Launched in 2022 as part of a student-led Agents of Change project, UHRE began with a two-day virtual Research 101 Summit. Designed to introduce students in York’s Faculty of Health to research methods, opportunities and mentorship, the summit laid the foundation for a broader initiative aimed at making health research more accessible to undergraduates.
Today, UHRE supports undergraduate engagement through several student-driven programs. Its mentorship matching initiative pairs less-experienced students with trained undergraduate mentors who offer guidance on applying for research positions, managing responsibilities and building professional and academic skills.
UHRE also runs the annual Research Exploration Summit, a student-led event that introduces undergraduates to health research fundamentals through panel discussions featuring faculty, graduate students, alumni and mentors.
A weekly health research newsletter complements these efforts by summarizing key academic articles, sharing editorial commentary and posing discussion prompts – all designed to build research literacy, foster critical thinking and keep students informed about emerging trends in the field.
The centrepiece of UHRE is the Conference for Undergraduate Health Research (CUHR), which launched in May 2022. The annual two-day event brings together York students, faculty and community members for workshops, panel discussions and peer-reviewed presentations. Open to all undergraduates in the Faculty of Health, CUHR offers students a chance to present their work and receive feedback in a supportive academic environment. It also offers several awards recognizing students for exceptional research and presentations, including The Harvey Skinner Research Impact Award, supported by the founding dean of the Faculty of Health at York University.
For Esther Greenglass, psychology professor in the Faculty of Health, giving students the chance to conduct and present research is essential to their development as researchers.
“When students take the lead on their projects and share their findings at a conference, it gives them a sense of ownership and shows them what’s possible,” she says. “It helps them start to see themselves as researchers.”
The theme for this year’s CUHR – From Discovery to Delivery: Transforming Ideas into Impact – highlighted the program’s commitment to turning academic research into real-world outcomes that can benefit communities, clinical practice or policy.
Unlike many undergraduate conferences that focus on methods or findings alone, CUHR asks participants to reflect on the broader implications of their work. Research presented this year spanned basic science, health equity, behavioural science, neuromuscular aging and the use of artificial intelligence in mental health. This year 81 presentations were given by students.
While students were encouraged to reflect on who might benefit from their research and how it could be applied beyond the classroom or lab, the conference also offered meaningful opportunities for undergraduate participants.
Chau Nguyen, who earned the York University Bookstore Award for Excellence in Research Communication for her project on COVID-19 prevention behaviours with co-author Esther Greenglass, noted: “The conference was an opportunity to communicate my findings to people who care about health research.”
Abdulqadir Isaak, who shared findings from his study on financial anxiety in Canada during the pandemic, emphasized the value of the feedback he received. “It was helpful to hear different perspectives,” he said.
That kind of experience, says Greenglass, is at the heart of UHRE’s mission.
“We support students through skill development, engagement and opportunities that prepare them for the next step in their research journey,” says Greenglass. “What makes UHRE special is that it centres student voices. It’s not just about preparing them to undertake meaningful research, it’s about showing them their ideas matter now. Their participation illustrates to them their ability to function as a researcher while at the same time taking responsibility for their work.”
In that way, the impact of UHRE isn’t just to develop critical career and research skills in students, but nurture in them a sense of confidence and ownership they can take with them in their journey ahead.
Students in the Faculty of Health interested in participating can learn more at uhre.ca, where they’ll find details about the mentorship program, upcoming conference calls for abstracts and other opportunities.