INtegrated Student Program In Research Education (INSPIRE)
About INSPIRE
INSPIRE aims to provide students with research training and practical experiences in child health research during the academic year. Students are matched with a mentor and contribute to a research project.
INSPIRE is for undergraduate students who are interested in pediatric research. Students must be available four to six hours a week. Students currently registered in any undergraduate or college training program or those within three years of completion of a high school or post-secondary degree are eligible to apply.
INSPIRE provides a variety of research opportunities to encourage students to develop skills essential to conducting research. Through INSPIRE, students work alongside a research team and gain practical experience in child health research.
Why Participate in INSPIRE?
INSPIRE has a selection of research projects (clinical and basic science) available for students. Whenever possible, assigned projects are aligned with students’ interests.
INSPIRE is designed to support and enhance your learning experience at BCCHR. We provide access to seminars, workshops, and talks covering research methodology, ethics, and professional development.
Previous INSPIRE workshop topics have included statistical terms and concepts, abstract writing, preparing a scientific poster, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) basics, and literature searching tips and tricks. Other events include networking opportunities and poster sessions.
For questions, reach out to the INSPIRE team.
Possible Research Project Areas
- Brain, Behaviour & Development
- Childhood Diseases
- Evidence to Innovation
- Healthy Starts
- Quality Improvement
How to Participate
Step 1
Review the Eligibility Criteria
Are you an undergraduate student or a recent high school graduate interested in pediatric research? Students currently registered in any undergraduate or college training program or those within three years of completion of a high school or post-secondary degree are eligible to apply. Does your course schedule permit program participation? Students must be available for four to six hours every week.
Step 2
Complete the Online Application Form
The 2026/2027 calendar year intake cycle will open starting June 1, 2026 and will be ongoing till September 30, 2026. Your CV or resume, unofficial transcript, availability, and tentative course timetable are required. Upon submitting the online application form, the INSPIRE team will review your application. Once accepted, you can look under “MY PROFILE” in the Interests tab to see what studies are available for possible enrollment. Studies are removed as they are filled, so be sure to log in often to check for new studies.
INSPIRE application form
Step 3
In-Person or Virtual Interview
Interviews will be arranged between the candidates and research teams. Only successful applications will receive an interview invitation.
Step 4
Notification of Decision
The Program Coordinator will send successful applicants the list of online training modules — the first steps of the INSPIRE program. Any questions? Please contact the INSPIRE Coordinator.
email INSPIREApply for INSPIRE
Ready to apply? Complete the online application form. The application portal will open on June 1, 2026.
apply now
INSPIRE FAQs
If you don’t see your question answered here, please email the INSPIRE Coordinator.
- Completion of INSPIRE program 2025-2026: April 30, 2026
- Project intake for investigators for INSPIRE Program 2026-2027 opens: June 1, 2026
- Student applications open: June 1, 2026
- Student applications will be ongoing until: September 30, 2026
- Student/investigator project matching begins: June 2, 2026
- Student interviews: June 2 – Sept. 30, 2026**
- Notice of decision closes: October 16, 2026**
- INSPIRE project intake for investigators closes: October 2, 2026**
- INSPIRE onboarding: June 2 – Oct. 16, 2026**
- Completion of INSPIRE Program: April 30, 2027
** Dependant on number of projects requesting trainees time end dates can vary due to numerous requests.
INSPIRE Application Instructions
Please attach: 1. Cover Letter 2. Resume 3. Class Schedule 4. Marks
Please submit in the order mentioned above.
If they are not attached in the correct order or are illegible, your application will be rejected. Due to numerous requests, we will not send an email regarding the rejection.
Please make sure that your class schedule is in a daily schedule format (UBC class schedule format), as this is the easiest to read.
After attaching the required information and answering the questions, please click on Submit Application Form. (The application portal will open June 1, 2026).
Applying for an INSPIRE Project
1. Log in to your INSPIRE account
2. Click on Additonal Info
3. Scroll down until you reach the project listings *they change daily
4. Click on the project “i” for details
5. In addition to the above information, there is a Project Summary, Type of Study, Tasks to be Completed, and Trainees Required.
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