To maintain its reputation as a world-class research institution, McGill University has a responsibility to encourage scientific innovation. Our researchers have discovered the basis of radioactive elements, studied the functions of different parts of the brain, and even helped mold the foundations of modern medicine. With the advancement of technology, funding, and time, the realm of discovery is expanding at McGill. Though most of the focus is placed on the research done by postgraduates, for many students research at McGill can begin at the undergraduate level.
In 2013, 47 percent of Bachelor of Science students were enrolled in an undergraduate research course. Within Science, all honours students are required to take a research course, and an additional 36 percent of non-honours students enrolled in these research courses last year by choice. This demonstrates a ten percent rise in students enrolling in these courses since 2006. “These numbers are impressive; plus, students also participate in other extracurricular research activities, such as volunteering or summer research studentships, which are not captured in these numbers,” stated Chisholm.
Research-based courses place undergraduate science students in the laboratories of leading researchers for credit and allows students to gain practical experience. “Students become engaged in creating knowledge and figuring things out rather than just memorizing the facts,” Chisholm noted.
Through work in a laboratory, undergraduate researchers have gained exposure and have contributed to major discoveries. Jaan Altosaar, a 2013 McGill graduate and a current graduate student pursuing a PhD in physics at Princeton University partook in research at McGill in the labs of epigenetics Professor Moshe Szyf and biophysics Professor Walter Reisner.
There are several programs piloted by McGill connecting students to research opportunities, such as the Soup and Science series of presentations and funding initiatives available through the Undergraduate Research Office. Recently, Chisholm found that the number of students paid for research conducted in the summer is approximately the same as the number of tenure track professors doing the same thing.
A force leading the public representation of undergraduate research is the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal (MSURJ). The journal features original research conducted by undergraduate students. Submission of articles to the journal provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in the drafting and review of scientific articles.
Aside from reviewing and publishing the work of other undergraduates for the journal, the editors behind the publication are involved in their own research pursuits. Musharbash assists a PhD student in a biomedical engineering lab supervised by Dr. David Junkers, in which specific proteins called biomarkers are studied. The biomarker proteins, detectable through blood tests, could be used in the future to catch high mortality diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.
“Before, the only way to know that someone had a disease was through symptoms, but now they are looking to blood tests. Researchers are looking to detect the disease through blood tests, before people actually ‘get’ the disease,” stated Musharbash.
Yuhao Shi, Executive Editor of MSURJ, has had the opportunity to work in the prestigious Genome Innovation Center supervised by Dr. Jacek Majewski. At the Genome Innovation Center, the fields of computer science and biology are merged to study how the use of computers can analyze the genomes of people with genetic disorders.
Paul Wiseman, one of McGill’s most renowned researchers and leading chemist and physicist, discovered his interest and field of research in chemistry and health during his years as an undergraduate student. Now, Wiseman has discovered properties of malaria that allow for more accurate and simple diagnosis.
The research efforts of undergraduate students are showcased yearly at the Undergraduate Research Conference, occurring this year on October 10 in the Arts Building. Research featured this year spans many disciplines and delves into topics such as “the fear of missing out”, glacier melting, green pharmaceuticals, and sensory stimulation. Chisholm says that many people that attend the conference believe some of the research conducted by the undergraduates is graduate level work. Chisholm attributes the depth of the work to both the quality of the students and the willingness of professors to accept and mentor students in research.