Simon Fraser University

The Translational Neuroscience Lab combines basic science and clinical research to understand how sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances contribute to the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. Lab Policies: The Translational Neuroscience Lab is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse research environment and following the guidelines outlined by the San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment (DORA). We strive to publish our work in open access journals and through preprints (e.g., BioRxiv). Preprints expand the audience for papers and enable feedback from the community beyond traditional peer-review mechanisms, and are particularly helpful for trainees who can use preprints to demonstrate a track record of productivity more quickly than journal publications.

Interested trainees are always invited to contact us! Our lab welcomes diverse professional goals and aim to facilitate your career progression as much as possible. Broadly speaking we are interested in projects involved with: Mammalian DNA repair and its role in cancer therapeutic sensitivity Genomics approaches to monitor DNA processing Factors mediating CRISPR-based gene editing outcomes In vivo and in vitro biochemistry of nucleic acid-associated proteins Computational methods to predict protein binding and dynamics What we offer: Expertise in mammalian cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, cell biology assays, genomics (wet and dry), CRISPR-based techniques, protein purification, and nucleic acid biochemistry approaches A dynamic and interdisciplinary team working together in pursuit of excellent science A commitment to working with trainees to both pursue world-class research and cultivate soft skills necessary for individual career goals

There are a number of research assistants and volunteers who work in my lab. Opportunities are often available to get involved in projects that involve the research areas described on the Research Areas page. Volunteers can be involved in activities ranging from supporting activities (i.e., protocol preparation; data entry) to data collection (either for on-campus studies, or studies within forensic, prison, or psychiatric settings).

Plants host a plethora of root-associated microbiota. These microbes can both help or harm the plant under different conditions. The Chen lab uses a combination of in vivo experiments and bioinformatic analyses to understand (1) what effect different microbes have on plants, (2) how plant-microbe relationships change given environmental factors, and (3) what ecological or evolutionary traits differentiate beneficial and harmful bacteria. Each semester,there may be projects for BISC 498 / ISS/ USRA / Work-Study students under any one of these topics. Projects may include either/both wet-lab (isolate culturing, molecular techniques) and dry-lab (bioinformatics, statistics) components.

Are you interested in shaping the student learning experiences at SFU? Are you interested in gaining valuable research experience and working closely with faculty members? Do you have a passion for improving teaching and learning at SFU? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, we invite you to apply to join our team as a SoTL research assistant (RA). We are looking for 1-3 individuals who are passionate about research and want to apply their skills to teaching and learning inquiry and scholarship. Our goal is to build a team with a range of expertise to support SFU instructors in their evidence-based teaching journey. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) refers to a multi-disciplinary scholarly process of systematic inquiry into teaching and learning and relates to other forms of applied education research. TILT RAs work closely with instructors from all disciplines on teaching and learning inquiry research projects. These projects are managed and supported by TILT and focus on evaluating innovative pedagogies and learning technologies. As a member of the team, TILT RAs are expected to contribute expertise in SoTL design, data collection, and analysis (often using social science and/or behavioural research methods) to complement faculty expertise in their own discipline and disciplinary teaching practices. Training and support are provided by TILT’s Educational Research Developer. This includes just-in-time support, participation in the TILT group development, and collaboration on projects. Supporting all elements of the research process on 1 to 5 projects, RAs will collaborate and consult with faculty. Successful candidates will join an existing group of staff, faculty, and other students invested in teaching and learning at SFU. What we offer: Opportunities to learn and develop research skills. A first-hand view of teaching and learning inquiry’s impact on student learning. A fun and collaborative work environment.

The Mooers Lab (part of the HartGonMoo collective, which itself is the rump of the recently-decomissioned FAB-lab) is always open to supervising independent undergraduate research projects. We are generally involved in comparative (multi-species) studies on the value of biodiversity, with current interests in conservation phylogenetics and conservation genetics. Recent undergraduates have enumerated the “lost” species of cichlid fish globally, have tested the dilution effect of biodiversity on tree disease, have estimated extinction rates of amphibians based on changes in IUCN Red List data, and have calculated population prioritization metrics based on neutral genetic variation: for a list of recent publications, see https://arnemooerssite.wordpress.com/publications/ (click website URL button to be taken to the publications site).

Vision is of fundamental importance in the lives of many animals. We are interested in cellular specializations and physiological mechanisms that determine the ability of animals to detect and process the colour and polarization of light, as well as the ecological functions of such visual capabilities in nature. Our research ranges from identifying cellular mechanisms that control visual pigment protein (opsin) expression in photoreceptors of the vertebrate retina to ecological investigations of ultraviolet and polarization sensitivity in aquatic animals. Please visit the linked website for publications.

Please review the website for publications and information.

Please review publications on the website.

Opportunities are available for undergraduate students to gain experience and conduct research at the GSC. Co-op Programs Students enrolled in university co-op programs such as those at University of British Columbia, University of Victoria or Simon Fraser University may apply to the GSC. These are usually decided in early January for May (Summer), May for September (Fall) and September for January (Spring). Summer Studentships A limited number of summer positions for undergraduate students are usually available. Most of these are dependent on the receipt by the candidate of a competitive summer Studentship funded by the BC Cancer Foundation, the UBC Faculty of Medicine or NSERC. Students should check with the different agencies for eligibility and deadlines. Directed Studies It is also possible for advanced undergraduate students at UBC to do a directed studies project or honours thesis during the academic year (eg. Medical Genetics 448) under the supervision of GSC faculty.

I am always looking for self-motivated students at all levels. See research highlights on linked site or watch my AAAI-21 New Faculty Highlights talk below to learn more about my research. The SFU main campus is located on the Burnaby Mountain, 12 miles from downtown Vancouver.

This role provides hands-on experience in research, including participant interaction, data collection, and project coordination.

Are you interested in shaping the student learning experiences at SFU? Are you interested in gaining valuable research experience and working closely with faculty members? Do you have a passion for improving teaching and learning at SFU? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, we invite you to apply to join our team as a SoTL research assistant (RA). We are looking for 1-3 individuals who are passionate about research and want to apply their skills to teaching and learning inquiry and scholarship. Our goal is to build a team with a range of expertise to support SFU instructors in their evidence-based teaching journey. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) refers to a multi-disciplinary scholarly process of systematic inquiry into teaching and learning and relates to other forms of applied education research. TILT RAs work closely with instructors from all disciplines on teaching and learning inquiry research projects. These projects are managed and supported by the TILT and focus on evaluating innovative pedagogies and learning technologies. As a member of the team TILT RAs are expected to contribute expertise in SoTL design, data collection, and analysis (often using social science and/or behavioural research methods) to complement faculty expertise in their own discipline and disciplinary teaching practices. Training and support are provided by TILT’s Educational Research Developer. This includes just-in-time support, participation in the TILT group development and collaboration on projects. Supporting all elements of the research process on 1 to 5 projects. This includes collaborating and consulting with faculty. Successful candidates will join an existing, group of staff, faculty, and other students invested in teaching and learning at SFU. What we offer: Opportunities to learn and develop research skills; A first-hand view of teaching and learning inquiry’s impact on student learning. A fun and collaborative work environment.

The Jaumouillé lab is interested in immunotherapies that promote the elimination of cancer cells through professional phagocytes. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms that restrict the anti-tumoral capacity of phagocytes to develop more effective therapeutic strategies. Our approach is to employ genetic engineering techniques to study and manipulate immune cells, including CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, chimeric antigen receptors, retroviral and transposon expression systems. Interested students should e-mail Dr. Jaumouillé with a brief description of their research interests and include a current transcripts and CV. (Posted 03JULY2025)

Multiple bioinformatics projects: Antimicrobial gene mobility; Pathogen-associated gene analysis; Data curation and visualization of integrated microbiome, clinical, environmental data.

Molecular mechanisms underlying asymmetric cell division

The Paetzel laboratory has research opportunities for undergraduate students interested in structural bioinformatics. A computer science background is helpful, but not always essential. (Posted 03JULY2025)

Molecular mechanisms underlying asymmetric cell division

The Hawkins lab studies the role of asymmetrically localized proteins and the Wnt signaling pathway in asymmetric cell division in C. elegans. We have focused on the protein HAM-1, that is asymmetrically localized at the cell cortex in many dividing cells in the embryo. This protein also has a DNA binding domain and localizes to the nucleus. We proposed that the asymmetric localization at the cell cortex is one mechanism to specifically distribute the protein to one of the two daughter cells during division. The goal is to watch the segregation of HAM-1 in living embryos during cell division. To accomplish this goal, the directed research project will involve generating a plasmid construct that fuses the ham-1 gene to a gene encoding a photoconvertible fluorescent protein (Dendra2). This construct will then be used to generate transgenic C. elegans. A series of experiments will then be undertaken to visualize Dendra2::HAM-1 localization and segregation in transgenic embryos.

15-credit Direct Research opportunities are available in the Choy lab for individuals interested in studying how immune responses contribute to transplant rejection and autoimmune disease. Interested students should e-mail Dr. Choy describing their research interests along with a copy of transcripts and CV.

The CHART Lab is led by Dr. Hasina Samji, Associate Professor in the Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences. Lab activities are headquartered on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō, Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations, also known as Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Outstanding undergraduate students may also consider applying for SSHRC or NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) if appropriate for their research interests. Please contact Dr. Samji well in advance of grant application deadlines to discuss your research interests and develop a funding proposal. Please review this lab's linked website for more information on research interests.

The CHATR lab runs under the leadership of Dr. Meghan Winters, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, located in Burnaby, BC, Canada. Lab members also commonly work out of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute’s Centre for Aging SMART. We are always looking for talented trainees at all stages of their academic journey (undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral). It is highly recommended that potential graduate students apply for external sources of funding (e.g. MSFHR, CIHR). Outstanding undergraduates are also encouraged to apply for an SSHRC or NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award. Please contact Dr. Winters well in advance of funder deadlines with with a current CV, transcript, and a statement of research interests to allow adequate time to discuss your interests and develop a funding proposal.

Every undergraduate student is welcome to apply for research opportunities that are available in our bustling lab. If you make a substantial contribution to research, you may earn yourself a co-authorship on a published paper! This is a large feather in your cap and a great way to kick-start a career in research and beyond. Volunteering: Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and opens the door to additional opportunities (listed below). In fact, many of our current graduate students started in our lab as undergraduate volunteers! Volunteering can range in weekly time commitment anywhere from 1 hour and up, so if you don’t have large windows of time, we still encourage you to reach out! Furthermore, if part-time jobs or other financial responsibilities are preventing you from exploring volunteering, please contact us and we will see if there is anything we can do, such as a work study position. If you’re already volunteering, make sure to ask your graduate student mentor about any/ all of the following opportunities! Directed Studies Courses (BISC 298/497W/498/499): In a directed studies course, you essentially get credit for doing research! Expect to spend the same amount of time doing your research as you would for a 3-credit course (~10 hours/week). You will be in charge of collecting your own data, reviewing the literature, and writing your own (mini) manuscript! Don’t worry, you will be guided all along the way, and you will acquire new skills in the process. Independent Study Semester (ISS) (BISC 490/491/492): An ISS is similar to the courses listed above but it is more intensive. An ISS is worth 15 credits and involves studying full time with a faculty supervisor for one semester. To complete the requirements for an ISS, you will write a research proposal, carry out research, present your findings in a thesis, and defend it to your advisory committee – similar to a mini-MSc project. More information and how to apply here. Summer USRA: Ask us about applying for an undergraduate student research award (USRA). As an award winner, you will do research in our lab for a 4-month term (typically in the summer). Guided by a graduate student mentor, you will experience the many thrills of research: collecting data, trouble-shooting experiments, and presenting findings in our weekly lab meetings. The deadline to apply for these awards is in January each year. What to expect when you are in the Lab as an Undergraduate Researcher: All students in our lab are very friendly and helpful! So, no need to be shy! Introduce yourself to other graduate students (pro tip: they love being asked about their research). Join our group lunches or Friday beers. Introduce yourself to Regine, our lab manager and chemistry wizard, as she is the most helpful and knowledgeable of us all. Things to ask us about when you are here: Friday lab meetings Presenting your work at a local conference Letter of recommendations Career advice Statement on our undergraduate recruitment strategy: As we recruit a significant number of graduate students from undergraduate student researchers in our lab, we strive to make this recruitment equitable. To that end, we try to widely advertise undergraduate research opportunities through the departmental web page and through recruitment drives in large introductory biology classes that tend to have the widest breadth of students before they specialize in their studies. In an effort to not exclude those with less familiarity with academia and scientific research, we also strive to fully describe the nature of research positions and how to apply for them (see below).

PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS We are sometimes looking for motivated volunteers who would like to gain experience with working in the outdoors! Please contact me if interested. I also accept ISS students on a case-by-case basis.

Students will be involved in fabrication of magnetic multilayers and micrometer size pillars and study of their structural, magnetic and electric properties.

Quantum materials are being widely explored for their novel and fascinating electronic, magnetic and optical properties that emerge from underlying exotic collective properties of electrons, and are already leading to innovative technologies and advanced applications. The use of the muon as a sensitive local probe of internal magnetic fields through a collection of techniques known as muon spin rotation/relaxation/resonance (µSR) has evolved into a powerful research tool for the study of quantum materials. This project primarily involves µSR studies of quantum materials (e.g., superconductors, topological insulators, magnetically-frustrated heavy fermion systems) at TRIUMF's Centre for Molecular and Materials Science. Between scheduled experiments, preliminary sample characterization and data analysis will be worked on at SFU.

This undergraduate research position is at Quantum Photonic Laboratory led by Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Prof. Thomas Jennewein at SFU’s Department of Physics. The group’s focus is to build Canada’s first quantum network in Metro Vancouver. As part of our effort, we are conducting outdoor experiments with flying qubits in satellite communication channels to assess the impact of air turbulence in degrading time-bin entangled photons. Another area of research focuses on development of quantum light sources that are incorporated in photonic integrated circuits based on lithium niobate, as part of quantum repeater nodes in a quantum network. We are also developing metasurfaces (engineered nanophotonic structures for controlling light-matter interaction) to develop the next generation of photodetectors. The undergrad researchers will also have the chance to be mentored by Prof. Jennewein and learn more about quantum communication and quantum networking protocols. Job Descriptions: UG 1 - Assist building the Quantum Photonic Laboratory - Assist the Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) in building photonic probe station used for characterizing quantum photonic waveguides - Assist the PDF in characterizing optical and photonic test setups - Assist the PDF in testing photonic integrated circuits UG 2 - Assist building the Quantum Photonic Laboratory - Assist and participate in outdoor testing of quantum link between SFU Burnaby campus and Cypress Mountain - Assist graduate students in preparation for outdoor testing or in lab testing UG 3 - Assist building the Quantum Photonic Laboratory - Assist graduate students with modeling of semiconductor metasurfaces using Ansys Lumerical FDTD solver (no prior experience is required) - Support theoretical investigation of metasurface perfect absorbers

*NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2025, WHEN APPLICATIONS REOPEN, WE WILL ANNOUNCE HERE* As a research assistant or volunteer, you will support our research team with ongoing projects (e.g., our provincial evaluation of an attachment-focused intervention). Candidates must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in a social science discipline. A minimum of one year of research experience in a related academic field (e.g., psychology, sociology, education) is preferred. Location: - You will be working remotely or in an office on the SFU Burnaby Mountain campus. Typical Responsibilities: - Coordinate data collection and participant follow-up for large studies implementing and evaluating interventions for at-risk families. - Prepare materials for community/professional presentations, manuscripts, and other knowledge translation activities. - Data entry, transcription of interviews, coding, and related works. - Opportunities to participate in/or launch new research.

In the Gates Research Group, there are a range of opportunities available in assisting to developing new electrocatalysts and new battery materials, and studying the performance of these materials towards achieving more active, more durable, and more sustainable solutions for clean energy technologies. The specific areas of our work include synthesis of nanomaterials, preparation of coatings, and fabrication of textured materials, and the characterization of these materials using techniques that span from electron microscopy to elemental analysis to electrochemical analyses.

Zinc oxide is a semiconducting material that is under active investigation for a variety of potential applications including visible and UV LEDs and laser diodes, UV optical detectors, gas sensors, etc. Recently it has been shown that donor spins in ZnO can be optically addressed as possible quantum bit (qubits). In order to investigate the feasibility of this approach we are studying the growth of single nanowires as a platform to ultimately address a single donor spin. The candidate will assist in the growth of ZnO nanowires and their characterization by optical techniques as well as electron microscopy.

We have known the laws of quantum mechanics for nearly a century, however we have yet to fully harness these physical processes to build quantum technologies. Quantum technologies such as physically-encrypted quantum communications (as opposed to todays computationally-encrypted schemes such as RSA), and powerful quantum computers (able to exponentially outperform todays computers at specific key tasks) are still under construction. The worldwide race is on. Our lab is working to build these technologies using silicon, the very material used for modern CMOS semiconductor chips. Not only is this to benefit from the large and highly successful semiconductor industry - one could readily imagine a quantum co-processor - it is also the material of choice because the quantum bits embedded in silicon are arguably the best solid-state quantum bits ("qubits") available. Our team aims to link silicon spin qubits using photons by using carefully engineered integrated photonic circuits in silicon. There is a lot to do, and there are a number of projects that motivated students could fit into a summer which will hopefully lead to a publication. Particular projects will be chosen to match the capabilities and interests of the successful USRA applicant(s). These projects could include a selection from: Software (simulation and application of quantum algorithms, development of our quantum control software package) Hardware (engineering of custom cryogenic quantum equipment able to deliver pulsed and CW optical, microwave and radio quantum-control signals to the qubits, qubit measurement tools) Design (integrated photonic circuit simulation, design, testing and analysis, chip screening, fabrication, and quality assurance).

Our group is focused on the discovery and synthesis of novel materials with unusual magnetic and electronic ground states as well as the coupling between them. We are particularly interested in, however not limited to, magnetism, superconductivity, and quantum criticality. Our research is more fundamental than applicable. Why is this important? Materials synthesis is a milestone, to a certain extent, because it provides objects to any further studies. If new compounds are synthesized, new properties could be found, leading towards new directions of research. Exploratory synthesis of materials and their characterizations contribute to building a large body of knowledge. Fundamental research and materials discovery ultimately affects the strength of industry and therefore the economy. From the earliest days of condensed matter physics to the latest 21st century initiatives, the pioneering ideas and technologies of materials physics have transformed every aspect of society. Nature has many surprises and has provided an abundance of exotic properties for researchers in structurally complex materials. The exploration of phase-spaces will reveal more unexpected phenomena. The student will synthesize a range of magnetic and electronic materials, and characterize the grown samples by means of XRD, magnetization, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements.

We are always looking for self-motivated and friendly students (summer/undergraduate intern and graduate) and postdoctoral fellows to join our diverse team.

We are routinely recruiting undergraduate students for volunteer or paid positions, as well as graduate trainees in clinical neuropsychology! The CORTECH Lab is a new and fast growing lab at SFU. We are always looking for undergraduate students for volunteer and paid positions. These positions include research support, research assistants, work-study program, and honors thesis students. If you are interested in joining the team, please complete the form below.

My research focuses on the theory of condensed matter systems and cold atom analogues of condensed matter systems which are out of equilibrium or in which disorder plays an important role. These studies involve a broad range of analytical and numerical techniques. There are currently opportunities to investigate: i) topological states in graphene and related Dirac materials that can arise due to strong magnetic fields and/or electron-electron interactions; ii) out of equilibrium dynamics in models of bosonic cold atoms, such as the Bose Hubbard model; iii) the interplay of magnetism and disorder in strongly correlated electron materials; and iv) transport measurements in organic superconductors.

This is a general research opportunity, the lab will pair you up to an opportunity best fit for you following accepting your application. Feel free to apply even if you do not meet requirements or see current postings, they will do our best to match you with projects as they come. If you are interested in a particular posting please note that in the application form. Volunteer postings are recognized on the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), an official university document that tracks your co-curricular involvement at SFU. Learn more about the Co-Curricular Record at www.sfu.ca/students/get-involved/recognition/co-curricular-record.

The laser applications group at TRIUMF - Canada's particle accelerator centre - provides intense beams of radioactive isotopes for user experiments. This is done by using element selective resonant laser ionization. To this end we investigate the relevant atomic states, i.e. Rydberg and autoionizing states in the elements of interest. Students will be introduced to atomic physics and laboratory principles, instrumentation, and techniques to conduct laser resonance ionization spectroscopy on an element of interest (current elements of interest: Hg, Ga, Au, Bi) at our laser ion source test stand facility. Data taking and data evaluation will close off the research project - which aims to identify new ionization schemes with improved efficiency. In parallel, students will experience research at a large scale user facility for nuclear and particle physics, and will be embedded in the TRIUMF undergarduate and coop-student program training, seminar and lecture series. Research will be conducted at TRIUMF's Isotope Separator and Accelerator facility, located on the UBC campus in Vancouver.

Many models of physics beyond the Standard Model predict the existence of new particles that travel significant distances before decaying. In the high-energy physics experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), these so-called “long-lived particles” (LLPs) produce unconventional detector signatures that are challenging to identify and require specialized reconstruction techniques. To address these challenges, the ATLAS experiment employs a range of bespoke algorithms throughout the data processing chain. Recent advances in machine learning have revolutionized particle physics, significantly enhancing our ability to detect potential signs of new physics. This USRA project will focus on the development and application of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to address one of two key challenges: 1) Reconstructing Displaced Tracks with Graph Neural Networks and Transformers: This project will explore using both Graph Neural Networks and transformers to identify displaced tracks with high efficiency. The work will involve generalizing existing machine learning-based tracking algorithms to reconstruct displaced tracks and comparing their performance to conventional algorithms. 2) Identifying LLP Signatures Using Anomaly Detection: LLP decays can produce highly unusual event signatures that may not fit any pre-defined search strategy. Anomaly detection techniques, which identify deviations from expected patterns, are a promising approach to uncover such events. This project will focus on developing unsupervised anomaly detection algorithms, such as variational autoencoders, to flag events that may correspond to LLP decays. Particular emphasis will be placed on ensuring robustness against detector defects and understanding the algorithm's sensitivity to different LLP models.

The Forde lab specializes in molecular biophysics, specifically focused on the relationship between chemical composition and mechanical properties of biological macromolecules. We utilize a range of techniques from physics, chemistry and biochemistry to manipulate and characterize these systems. This project focuses on collagen, the predominant structural protein building block of our connective tissues and extracellular matrices. In spite of its key importance to our physiology and health, and its wide use in a variety of biomaterials, fundamental questions remain unanswered regarding its structure and mechanics at the molecular level. Summer projects focus on characterizing the mechanics of this protein at the single-molecule level, using the imaging technique of atomic force microscopy (AFM) or with a high-throughput force spectroscopy technique, centrifuge force microscopy (CFM), both established techniques in our lab. Alternative project possibilities may involve instrumentation design and calibration of new microscopy and force spectroscopy instruments, and/or development of new image analysis algorithms.

We are always looking for self-motivated and friendly students (summer/undergraduate intern and graduate) and postdoctoral fellows to join our diverse team.

The prospective students will get familiar with fundamental concepts on subatomic particles, particle accelerators, radioactive/unstable beams and nuclei, radioactive decays, quantum mechanics, interaction of radiation with matter, nuclear instrumentation and detectors, computers and simulations, etc.

In the Siahrostami group, there are opportunities for CHEM 296, 396, 481-484, Summer NSERC/VPR USRA, and other research experiences - come and get involved with a wide range of projects involving Computational Material Design for Clean Energy. We use first-principles calculations to design catalyst materials for electrochemical devices such as fuel cells and batteries that are critical for a clean and sustainable energy society. Great opportunity to learn computer simulation of chemical processes on catalyst surfaces and learn about virtual and in-silico design of materials. Depending on the project, you will gain hands-on experience and training using a variety of amazing computational techniques, such as Atomic Simulation Environment, Materials Studio, Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package, and Quantum Espresso.

Our group uses time-domain terahertz spectroscopy to determine the terahertz-frequency conductivity of semiconductors, metals, and superconductors. With this information we can experimentally determine the mobility of semiconductors, the carrier scattering lifetimes of metals, and the superfluid density of superconductors. Generally, we try to choose materials that are not well understood within the current frameworks of condensed matter physics, particularly metals in which magnetic fluctuations play a role in determining the electrical conductivity. An NSERC USRA would take on the responsibility for measuring the temperature-dependent terahertz conductivity of one or two materials that we are studying, and analyze the resulting data in light of current condensed matter theory. Materials currently under study include the high temperature superconductors LSCO and YBCO, as well as the low-temperature superconductor TiN.

The IRSJ Lab usually has a number of undergraduate students working as volunteer research assistants (RAs). These RAs play a vital role in our research and can be involved in many aspects throughout the research process. Some tasks that our RAs perform include: library research, assisting with the design and development of research materials, data collection and running participants, and data entry and coding. We also regularly organize our Making Ends Meet (MEM) Poverty Simulator, which requires 20 RAs to act as service providers. MEM RAs are required to attend training meetings where they learn about the poverty simulator and the specific tasks they will perform during the simulator. In addition to these tasks, MEM RAs may also assist with room setup, participate on the MEM organizational committee, and engage in debriefing discussions about their MEM experiences. See Poverty Simulator (https://mempovertysimulation.wordpress.com/) for more information on Making Ends Meet.

This opportunity is looking for one new undergraduate research team member to join the lab in January 2026 as the knowledge translation liaison, leading a project that uses mini robots to foster positive social and emotional development in young children. Students who will commit to the above lab responsibilities until June 2027 are welcome to apply, although hours may be variable in this specific role (up to 15 hours per week in Spring and Summer 2026).

The generation of a negative He ion beam (35 keV) is being pursued for implantation applications by the semiconductor industry. Our approach is to send a focussed He+ ion beam through materials with low ionization energies and test their percentage electron uptake. The student will participate in the manufacture of nanomembranes, the measurement of their effects on electron uptake, and the simulation of ion beam optics and scattering propabilities.

Profs. Corina Andreoiu and Chris Charles are looking for a motivated and curious student who will develop a tin (Sn) ion beam at the Off-Line Ion Sources (OLIS) facility located at TRIUMF. Tin is element 50 in the periodic table, has 50 protons and that makes it an extra stable (magic) nucleus. Tin has the largest number of stable isotopes (10!) and this fact makes it one of the most studied isotopes. Having an intense and reliable tin beam is essential to perform fundamental nuclear structure experiments at TRIUMF. For example, we can accelerate a tin ion beam to velocities of 3-5% of the speed of light and collide it with carbon targets to study new nuclei produced in that reaction. The project will involve characterizing Sn+ emission from a dedicated oven heater inside the ion source, as a function of temperature and supporting gas bled into the ion source. The goal is to find optimal source parameters to produce beams of Sn isotopes for fundamental nuclear structure research.

Please see the linked website for current publications and information on what a volunteer position would look like in this lab.

The Group The SFU experimental particle physics group (hep.phys.sfu.ca) currently consists of four faculty (Matthias Danninger, Dugan O'Neil, Bernd Stelzer, and Mike Vetterli), four postdoctoral fellows, and 7 graduate students. We are actively involved in the ATLAS experiment and have openings for ATLAS students this summer. The ATLAS Experiment: This experiment is running at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva (atlas.ch). The accelerator is colliding 2 beams of 6.5 TeV protons in order to study, among other things, the mechanism of electro-weak symmetry breaking. The biggest physics breakthrough of 2012 has been the discovery of the Higgs boson by the ATLAS and CMS experiments. Our group contributed to the this milestone discovery and is very active in determining other properties of the Higgs boson. In the past 5 years, our group has helped determine the spin/CP properties of the Higgs boson and identified two additional Higgs boson production modes (VBF and ttH production). Most of these measurements were enabled by the use of advanced analysis techniques (Matrix Element Method, Machine Learning). We are also searching for phenomena that cannot be explained by the Standard Model of particle physics. Such phenomena would point the way to new theories that would extend the already impressive predictions of the Standard Model. Looking to the future, our group has taken on substantial responsibility in the development of the New ATLAS Inner Tracking detector (ITk) increasing the number of space points measurements 50-fold. We are leading the ITk activities in Western Canada, developing ITk silicon detector modules in cleanroom facilities at SFU and TRIUMF. Summer Projects on ATLAS at SFU: In your summer project, you will be able to contribute to determining the properties of the Higgs boson. In particular, we analyze the data that show evidence of Higgs boson decays to two massive W bosons. We are developing novel analysis techniques to increase the sample of Higgs events that lead recently to the first observation of VBF production in H-->WW event using the full LHC Run-2 dataset. We are adding additional physics interpretations to existing results.

This research develops materials and analytical methods to assess and maintain safe working environments across healthcare, manufacturing, and research settings using data science and chemometrics.

Research in the Williams group focuses on soft materials such as polymers and liquid crystals, as well as materials that change their properties in response to stimuli such as light, heat or chemical species. In this project, the student will examine reversible light-induced changes in liquid crystalline materials.

All living organisms face several fundamental physical challenges in their everyday existence. Among these are: the maintenance of order despite the propensity of everything to eventually get messy (a.k.a., the Second Law of Thermodynamics); and the performance of mechanically demanding tasks with the incredibly jiggly materials at hand (a.k.a., proteins). My group’s theoretical and computational biophysics research focuses on determining in this context the design principles for effective operation of molecular machines (proteins that convert between different forms of energy, but are 100 million times smaller than the car engines that engineers already know how to design). More specifically: what are the physical limits on how well these machine can operate; what kinds of designs achieve these limits; and (in collaboration with experimentalists) do real, evolved biomolecular machines actually conform with these theoretical predictions? We have a few projects (either working independently or in collaboration with a graduate student or postdoc) that involve computational simulation of the behavior of model molecular machines, such as ATP synthase (an ingenious crankshaft that makes the basic chemical currency in all living things) and kinesin (an equally ingenious bipedal ‘walker’ that transports cargos along the cytoskeletal tracts that criss-cross every cell). With this simulation data we can examine the soundness and usefulness of recently developed theoretical frameworks (our own and others’) to understand how molecular machines can maximize their miles per gallon. A successful summer would produce theoretical ideas to be tested in later experiments, and (with some follow-up during the next school year) would produce a paper for publication. The day-to-day work involves writing computer programs to simulate dynamics (typically in Python, Matlab, or C/C++, but we are flexible), debugging (sad but true) and testing your programs to make sure they do what you intend, and analyzing the data you generate.

We are currently testing first test structure of novel 4D detectors, which are silicon based tracking detectors with extremely good timing resolution (pico seconds) and very good spatial resolution (micro-meters). These sensors will be needed for future collider experiments like the 100km Future Circular Collider at CERN but will also find application in other areas of fundamental physics like medical imaging, material science and possibly neutrino physics. The research will take place in SFU's newly built particle physics detector lab, SFU's 4D lab and at TRIUMF.

We are always looking for self-motivated and friendly students (summer/undergraduate intern and graduate) and postdoctoral fellows to join our diverse team.

Feedback can regulate the temperature of our homes or our bodies, the flow of fluid in a pipe, drive autonomous cars on a road, and more. But there are more creative uses, too: we can use feedback to create entire new dynamics for particles. Placing a small silica bead in water in a “virtual potential” created by a feedback loop gives us nearly complete freedom to implement what had been only thought experiments: Maxwell’s demon, Szilard’s engine, Landauer’s bit erasure, and more. At SFU, we have several setups for exploring such questions. Previous undergraduate students who have visited the lab have worked on projects ranging from the technical development of new techniques for trapping to new ideas for controlling effective damping (dissipation) to new versions of the classic thought experiments described above. We also explore new ways to make the control of systems more “robust”. Depending on your interests and experience, you can work on a project that will be interesting, challenging, and fun.

TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC is building a next-generation source of ultracold neutrons (UCN). These very slow (5 m/s) neutrons are an ideal laboratory to study fundamental interactions and symmetries. The flagship experiment with ultracold neutrons is the search for the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron, which has intrigued researchers worldwide for decades. A non-zero EDM implies a time-reversal (T) violation, and thus a charge-parity (CP) violation if CPT holds. CP is an essential ingredient in prevailing models to explain the apparent matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. The TUCAN collaboration is also developing a spectrometer to search for the neutron EDM. A USRA student can significantly contribute to the commissioning, experiments and data analysis of the cryogenic UCN source at TRIUMF and to the development of the EDM experiment. We are providing a stimulating research environment in a group that includes 4 post-docs, 5 graduate students, typically 3-4 undergraduate students, 2 senior researchers, 2 engineers and a technician.

The quest to develop a fundamental understanding of the nuclear interaction is aided greatly through measurements made with complex, multi-detector systems. As these systems allow for both an increase in total efficiency due to greater angular coverage as well as correlation measurements in both time and space, the information which can be probed using these detectors is greatly increased over single-detector systems. With an increase in both number of detectors and complexity of detector systems comes challenges in data acquisition. As each detector can obtain data independently, the required throughput of the data acquisition system also increases. To address this problem, real-time event filtering can be performed on the data to only process and store events with certain characteristics. Traditional methods for event filtering require large arrays of electronics to perform logic on unprocessed data, which can be both cost and space prohibited for small laboratories in addition to being difficult to scale to larger systems. At the Nuclear Science lab at SFU, we implement a single unit, computer controlled XLM72S universal logic module to perform real-time event filtering. Specifically, the XLM72S logic module has been implemented in the data acquisition system for the CUBE spectrometer, a detector system consisting of 6 Compton Suppressed Spectrometers at the faces of a cube. The USRA student will be working to maintain, optimize, and operate both the event filtering and CUBE detector systems in order to perform experiments. The student will develop and utilize skills in gamma ray spectroscopy, data acquisition, and general nuclear physics.

Profs. Corina Andreoiu and Chris Charles are looking for a motivated and curious student with an aptitude for hands-on experimental work, who will help design a quartz high-temperature oven for stable ion beam production for the Off-Line Ion Sources (OLIS) facility located at TRIUMF. This project is necessary to replace the commercially available ovens that are very expensive and can only be used for a single element, significantly reducing the cost associated with beam development. The new ovens will be used to produce stable isotope beams from nearly all elements with high intensity and reliability. The project will involve designing and building prototype ovens, testing with different stable element samples at the OLIS facility, and repeating those tasks to find an optimal oven design.

Our research group studies unconventional superconductivity in materials such as cuprate high temperature superconductors, heavy fermion systems, organics and ruthenates. On the experimental side, we use microwave spectroscopy to measure superfluid density and quasiparticle dynamics and to look for order parameter collective modes and states that break time reversal symmetry. On the theoretical side, we carry out phenomenological studies of these systems using models based on realistic parameterizations of electronic structure and disorder potentials. We then use Greens function techniques to calculate experimental properties such as superfluid density and optical conductivity, allowing us to compare with experiment. The goal of the project will be to carry out a complete investigation of a particular unconventional superconductor, using our powerful and easy-to-use dilution fridge system. The student will have the opportunity to work on subprojects that include some or all of the following: theory of superconductivity and correlated electron systems; mechanical design and construction of low temperature apparatus; microwave electronics and signal processing; experiment automation and data acquisition; and data analysis and modelling.

A Medical image analysis lab (Computing Science, SFU). Our research focuses on developing artificial intelligence technologies for healthcare and biomedical applications, with a focus on computer vision and machine learning (and deep learning) techniques for automated interpretation of biomedical images.

Please see the linked website for current publications and information on what a volunteer position would look like in this lab.

The `strange’ behavior of quantum mechanics provides exceptional opportunities for humanity to build much more powerful devices. There have been many ideas of using quantum physics to make computers faster, communication more secure, sensors more sensitive, and many more. Our group focuses on a particular type of quantum devices that built with harmonic oscillators, such as light, quantum motion, a large collection of spins, etc. Through theoretical investigations, we want to look for the origins of problems in currently imperfect quantum devices, and explore strategies to get rid of the problems. USRA projects are expected to be sub-projects from graduate students' research in my group. However, students are also welcome to bring in topics and develop the research project together with me.

We have openings for motivated students interested in gaining experience in research in the area of experimental nuclear physics. Our projects use radiation detectors to study the nuclear decays of various beams to investigate nuclei with an unbalanced number of protons and neutron that are created in laboratory.

Plastics introduced into the ocean can bind with toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper — potentially affecting marine ecosystems and human health. To better understand these interactions, our group has developed a MATLAB model that simulates the kinetics of metal adsorption and desorption on plastics and sediments under varying environmental conditions. We are seeking an undergraduate student to assist with running and refining this model to fit experimental data. The goal is to determine the binding and release rate constants and their temperature dependence by systematically comparing model predictions with measured results. This will involve running simulations for different metals, adjusting parameters, and quantifying how changes affect the model’s fit to the data.

Interested in medicine, public health, and evolution? In my lab, we use combinations of evidence from evolutionary biology, genetics, endocrinology, and neuroscience to address outstanding questions in the understanding of human health and disease. In doing so, we determine the roles of trade-offs, genomic conflicts, and Darwinian natural selection in the evolution of human psychological and physiological adaptations and disease risks. We are currently focusing especially on reproductive disorders (such as endometriosis and PCOS) and mental disorders (such as autism and schizophrenia). Research on other topics of interest is also a distinct possibility! See my Google Scholar page for recent publications, and check out my talks that are available on Youtube.

Interested in extending your BPK408W research project? This project is open to BISC and BPK students who have successfully completed BPK408W and the independent hands-on research project. This works well if you are curious about research, interested in taking next steps on your project (or something related), and reasonably independent. Note that this is slightly different than joining a research lab group, as we don't have any graduate students in these projects. I'm happy to support 1-3 students, to form a group that can help each other out. This project is not available in the summer, because we don't have our cell culture on the go.

Phthalocyanines also have unique redox properties are very stable. Projects in this area in the Leznoff lab (www.leznoffchemistry.ca) include metal-containing phthalocyanine (PcM) use as catalysts for CO2 electroreduction or synthesis of biodegradable polylactide plastics; organometallic chemistry with PcM from across the periodic table; preparation of rare non-blue/green PcM dyes; and harnessing the redox-active ring system for a range of applications. You will get hands-on experience and training with lots of cool characterization equipment, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-visible-NIR absorption and fluorescence, MALDI-MS and more, depending on the project.

The Unrau laboratory has research opportunities for motivated undergraduate students interested in RNA research that includes RNA diagnostics, RNA biology and origins of life research.

Coordination polymers are multi-dimensional materials that are held together with metal-ligand bonds, which can be self-assembled – like lego pieces - from judiciously chosen building blocks, and their structures and properties tuned to target a range of applications. Areas of exploration include colour-changing (vapochromic) sensors for toxic gases; light-emitting materials; materials with unusual thermal expansion or contraction properties; highly birefringent or refractive materials for optical applications; and magnetic complexes. You will get hands-on experience and training with lots of cool characterization equipment, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction, fluorescence, IR/Raman spectroscopy and more, depending on the project.

2025/2026 (498/499/497 students) Please note that pedagogical projects do not qualify for lab credit. I am looking for 6-8 students to work collaboratively on a project aimed at the gamification of or design of a game for the Bisc 202 course (Intro genetics). The project will be divided into several sections that will somewhat vary depending on the skills and interests students bring to the project. We will begin with a literature search on the topic of the use of games in education and the production of an annotated bibliography, followed by the development of a set of best practices in game use/gamification. You will then design a game or gamification strategy for intro genetics, describing the format the game should take, which learning outcomes are best suited for this purpose, how mastery of the outcomes can be rewarded in the game, and how achievement in the game can be connected to course credit (or not). There is a variety of models or forms this can take - you may work in teams or on your own. You will present your work in written form, but may also make an oral presentation if you wish. Note that if the cohort has interests in the development of other educational resources for undergrad biology courses, bring your ideas and we can modify this outline to suit the interests of the participants Skills you will develop or improve: Reading the pedagogical literature Teamwork skills Personal management, organization, meeting deadlines etc. Collaborative writing of rationale, report, and/or proposal CREATIVITY/Design Oral presentation skills (if you wish; most of our recent grads say they didn't have enough chances to develop oral communication skills during their undergrad) Note that these courses don't result in an automatic A. But you'll have lots of feedback and practice that should lead to you improving greatly, especially in writing, so that you can produce work you are proud of. Not a straight A student? Who cares? I am looking for a variety of students, who are looking to develop skills and use some creativity. The more diverse our group, the better it will be. If you are enthusiastic, hardworking, reliable and willing to explore some unknown territory, that is good enough for me. Also, please note that this project does not count as a lab course. And I cannot run it as designed without a large enouch group. I need at least 6 participants!

We are designing and synthesizing new metal complexes that selectively target and kill cancer cells. Our research is multidisciplinary, including synthesis, spectroscopy, and biological studies. My laboratory provides a welcoming and inclusive environment to learn new skills and be part of an active research group.

We use high-end HPLC and MS systems to characterize a variety of proteins sensitively and accurately for disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Students will work closely with other members in the lab on various projects. Together, the student will assist sample preparation and necessary data analysis. Qualified candidates will have opportunities to be supported for undergraduate fellowship applications and conference travel and presentations. Participants will have good opportunities to learn cutting-edge high throughput proteomics techniques, quantitative analytical skills, and applied biological knowledge. Our lab cultivates both team and independent research experiences, in which each member will interact closely and broadly to other students, and will sharpen problem solving and critical thinking abilities.

This group-based pedagogy research project investigates teaching and learning in biology or related disciplines. Students collaboratively choose a course or curriculum element to study, collect and analyze data, and make evidence-based recommendations for improvement. Work is typically completed through BISC 298, 498, or 499.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES The Pantophlet Laboratory at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Health Sciences is seeking up to two undergraduate volunteers for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Our research explores immune responses to viral pathogens and the discovery of antibodies for emerging infectious diseases. Volunteers will support lab operations and gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge virology and immunology research.

AI is artificial intelligence, which mimic human intelligence. One application of AI in bioanalytical chemistry is on the detection of fraud in sesame oil with the help of artificial intelligence combined with chemometrics methods and chemical compounds characterization by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A part of AI is machine learning (ML), which includes principal component analysis (PCA) that is unsupervised ML. Students will learn PCA and generate results and plots using R programming.

Early-life environment can have lifelong effects on phenotype, and there is increasing recognition that these effects may differ between males and females. In placental mammals, it has been hypothesized that male and female fetuses follow different strategies, whereby males take a riskier approach in the face of adversity to prioritize growth (but risk short-term survival), whereas females are more responsive to challenges, reducing growth to increase survival. My lab uses animal models as well as human birth records to explore questions in this area, considering both molecular mechanisms and evolutionary perspectives. I am also beginning a project to examine the epigenetics of gender, distinct from sex. Please see my Google Scholar page for recent publications.