An innovative Kwantlen Polytechnic University program is offering students a new chance to gain research experience through real-world projects.
Emily Townsend is among the first participants in the Student Research and Innovation Grant (SRIG) program, which offers grants to KPU students to fund research projects. Following a successful pilot program late last year, grants are now being offered year-round.
"This is a great opportunity – especially if someone is passionate about a project – to move that forward, and have that support from the institution to be able to see it through," says Townsend, who is completing a graduate certificate in sustainable food systems and security at KPU.
A $5,000 grant is allowing Townsend to explore the adaptive characteristics of Andean potato cultivars. Through an analysis of spuds grown in Salt Spring Island, B.C. and Chimborazo, Ecuador, Townsend aims to understand whether these potato varieties have the potential to flourish here.
"I wanted to do something involved with Ecuador and Canada. They're my two homes. I came across native Andean potatoes and their adaptable characteristics with climate change,” she says.
"With the grant I was able to do all the planning for the project and cover the travel expenses to conduct interviews in Chimborazo and on Salt Spring Island. It provided a lot of peace of mind and flexibility knowing that I was receiving an income to go towards the planning of my research."
Deepak Gupta, associate vice-president for research, innovation, and graduate studies at KPU, says the grant program allows students to apply classroom knowledge and skills to a research project at the undergraduate level.
"When people talk about research and students, in many universities they often associate that with graduate-level programs. But here's an opportunity to provide students with that kind of exposure even at the undergraduate level, which are predominantly the programs at KPU."
KPU wants to substantially elevate student research and scholarships, Gupta adds, noting the grant program is one such opportunity.
"One of the commitments we have at KPU is to grow the number of experiential learning opportunities for students,” he says. “My hope and sense that this will set them up for success, that they can advance in their careers faster.”
Fourth-year health science student Erick Samera received a $5,000 grant to research the microbiome of cattle at KPU’s Applied Genomics Centre – a research lab at Surrey campus focused on developing solutions for agriculture and human health.
Samera says a cow stomach contains a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that help process food. These methane-producing organisms are responsible for the production of more than 16 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
"Next-generation sequencing allows for us to characterize the microbial composition of cow stomachs via genetic barcoding and to track changes as these cows undergo the new diet. My role was to work through databases of microorganisms and see if the methane-producing microbes will be captured by the barcoding."
Samera’s work is connected to a larger project at the Applied Genomics Centre focused on producing a more sustainable food source for cattle that could lower methane levels.
"This research opportunity was extremely valuable to my education and future career,” says Samera. “I recognize that this research experience is not something every student has access to, and I am grateful that the KPU grant was able to provide me with the resources I needed to support my research career.”
Kat Su, who completed a bachelor’s of science degree in June, says a $5,000 grant – funding lab equipment, materials and approximately 200 hours of research – allowed her to study toxic effects of an ingredient found in cosmetics. She presented her preliminary findings in July at the International Society of Developmental Biology Conference in Vancouver, where she was awarded a third-place prize for undergraduate research.
“For students interested in lab research, the SRIG offers a great opportunity to gain experience in the lab and in the laboratory research industry, all while getting paid for it.”
Applications for the Student Research and Innovation Grant program are accepted for projects both inside and outside of the curriculum. The next deadline for applications for curricular funding is Nov. 30.