Research Programs

Youreka Canada

Youreka Canada

A 10-week research and mentorship program where students create and contribute to a citizen science project guided by an undergraduate student mentor. Students develop research skills, collect real data, and present findings.

ELITE Program for Black Youth

University of Alberta

Paid STEM research internship creating experiential learning opportunities for Black youth in science and innovation.

Paid internship

TeamUP Science

TeamUP Science (Alberta-based)

Alberta-based mentorship and experiential learning for students underrepresented in STEM.

SHAD Canada

SHAD Canada

Month-long STEAM program on a Canadian university campus. Solve real-world problems in teams. Network with like-minded peers.

Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF)

Youth Science Canada

Canada's largest annual youth STEM event where ~400 top students present original independent research projects across all science disciplines. Alberta students qualify through their regional science fair and compete for awards, scholarships, and international placements.

iGEM High School Competition

iGEM Foundation

The world's premier synthetic biology competition for students. Teams design, build, and test an original biological engineering project over several months, presenting at the annual Grand Jamboree. Alberta has had teams from Edmonton and Calgary.

Tate High School Internship Program (HIP)

Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta

Paid 6-week summer internship in UAlberta's Computing Science department. Projects span AI, game development, and machine learning. Students work alongside graduate researchers and faculty.

Paid internship

Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship – UCalgary

Alberta Innovates + University of Calgary

Typically for undergraduates, but high-achieving graduating Grade 12 students (85%+ average) may apply for a paid summer health research position at UCalgary before starting university. Competitive and highly selective.

Paid studentship

Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship – UAlberta

Alberta Innovates + University of Alberta

Typically for undergraduates, but high-achieving graduating Grade 12 students (85%+ average) may apply for a paid summer research position at UAlberta before starting university. Competitive and highly selective.

Paid studentship

STEM Fellowship Research Exploration Program – Edmonton

STEM Fellowship

Intensive 5-day spring break research experience hosted in University of Alberta labs. Students are introduced to university-level research methods and academic culture. Distinct from the STEM Fellowship Big Data & AI Challenge.

Future Creators – University of Alberta

Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta

Free program connecting high school students with UAlberta engineering students for virtual mentorship. Project materials are shipped to participants' homes for hands-on engineering projects guided remotely.

STEM Fellowship Big Data & AI Challenge

STEM Fellowship

Teams conduct original open-data and AI research on a real-world theme, producing a peer-reviewed manuscript and presenting at a national conference with a finale in Calgary. Builds research writing, data analysis, and academic communication skills.

MindFuel geekStarter

MindFuel

Alberta-exclusive project-based STEM innovation program where student teams tackle real-world problems using emerging technologies. Teams receive mentorship and may advance to MindFuel's national Tech Futures Challenge.

MindFuel Tech Futures Challenge

MindFuel

National innovation challenge where youth teams design and prototype STEM solutions to real-world problems. Teams receive access to industry mentors, workshops, and MindFuel's Connect2Innovate platform. 13+ years running with 5,000+ alumni.

Cybermentors – University of Calgary

Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary

Program connecting high school girls with women in science and engineering at UCalgary. Fosters research and tech-focused development through mentorship, networking, and industry exposure.

Destination Exploration – University of Lethbridge

University of Lethbridge

Intensive summer STEM camps and programs at ULethbridge that introduce high school students to university-level research facilities and methodologies. Covers science, technology, and campus life.