Proposed Training

Reporting directly to Director of the McMaster Biology Greenhouse, the research assistant will learn the responsibilities of caring for greenhouse plants, including day-to-day plant care, ensuring that plants receive the correct level of water, nutrients, light, etc. The student will assist with certain project set-ups, data collection, insect/disease management and equipment maintenance. In this role, the assistant will also coordinate the schedule of volunteers who are assisting with plant care. Two times a year, the assistant will also be involved in the sale of plant propagated by volunteers, with the proceeds used to increase the collection and to pay for biocontrol of plant pests. The assistant will be trained to give tours of the greenhouse to visitors.

Required Health and Safety Training on Mosaic which includes WHMIS 2015, Violence and Harassment Prevent AND Fire Safety, Ergonomics OR SAFE training. Students should enroll in these courses and complete the tests on Avenue.

To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 2RP3  Application Form.

Deadline: April 3, 2026 at 11:45 pm

Due to the large number of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted and given permission to enrol in the course. If you do not hear back by the end of the drop/add period, you have not been chosen. 

Course Description

The intent of the course is to engage students in partner-defined projects which in this case students will work on research projects defined by the ST JOSEPH’S HEALTH SYSTEM – Ethics Office, developing research and knowledge translation skills in response to real-world inquires. Through structured course instruction, mentorship, site visits, and ongoing partner feedback, students contribute to the development of research-informed reports, frameworks, and educational resources that support ethics-informed practice. Their work directly informs organizational processes, including education, policy considerations, and decision-making within a professional healthcare environment.

Central Project Questions

• What ethical issues arise in the context of caring for patients who use substances who are receiving care in the hospital, community, long-term care, or their home? 

• What are relevant ethical concepts, principles, values, and considerations for addressing these ethical issues? 
• What ethics tools exist to support resolution of issues arising in the context of patient substance use and staff employment rights and occupational safety? 

Course Assessment

Students will be assessed through a combination of individual and group-based evaluations aligned with course learning outcomes and partner-defined deliverables. Assessment components include participation in weekly sessions, team-based project work, research progress updates, and final deliverables such as reports, presentations, and educational materials.

Students will also complete individual assignments and reflective components that assess their understanding of ethical concepts, application of research methods, and engagement with real-world challenges. Ongoing feedback from the course instructor and the Ethics Office at ST JOSEPH’S HEALTH SYSTEM will inform student progress.

Registration in Level II, or above, of a program in the Faculty of Science

Please keep in mind that this course may be offered as a Work-Integrated Learning opportunity only if it receives funding from CEWIL Canada. To be eligible under CEWIL funding, students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with protected refugee status. If the course does not receive CEWIL funding, all students will be eligible to take the course. We will not know the results of the funding approval until the final week of April. If the funding is approved, only eligible candidates will be allowed to register for the course. Regardless of the funding, the course will be offered during the spring/summer 2026.

The course will follow MSAF and SAS policies as prescribed by the University.

Fill out the SCIENCE 2RP3 application form online.

Applications are due by April 3, 2026.

Due to the large number of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted and given permission to enrol in the course. 

Course Description

Students will gain practical research experience, as directed by a faculty member, in a wide range of scientific lab/field settings or as part of a faculty member’s research program. During this course, the student will learn introductory research skills/techniques and will use these techniques to make a meaningful contribution to the supervisor’s research program. Students are expected to commit to approximately 5-10 hours per week (on average) for one term. Students will also be required to attend departmental seminars/colloquia of their interest (3 seminars per term)

Click to read the full Course Outline.

Learning Outcomes

Given the nature of this course, the exact breakdown of the learning outcomes will vary. Both the student and the academic supervisor must agree on the final learning outcomes to be defined.

At a minimum, in this course, the student will:

• Work in conjunction with the academic supervisor to identify one or more learning outcomes in each of the following categories, with methods of evaluation, and target completion date for each.
  • Academic learning and application related to the ideas, concepts, or theories of your field of study.
  • Skill development: e.g., oral and written communication, problem-solving, decision-making, teamwork, skills specific to the occupation.
  • Personal development: e.g., career exploration, self-confidence, sensitivity, appreciation of diversity, clarification of values.
• Reflect on their own experiences and relate these experiences to the current literature.

Project Requirements

• Students must keep a journal to record meetings, progress of their work, what was learned in the project, and the nature of the research in general. This is to provide the supervisor with an ongoing record of the students’ progress in the project and aid in evaluation at the end of the project.
• Students must meet with supervisors to schedule regular meetings. At minimum, students are to meet with their supervisor twice a month and are to keep record of these meetings in their journal.
• Students are required to attend all demonstrations, orientations, and training sessions that the supervisor may require.

Course Assessment

Given the nature of this course, the exact breakdown of the assessment may vary. Both the student and their faculty supervisor must agree on the final breakdown. The assessment below has been used by past students and is suggested: Please note: A reflection essay is mandatory for this course.

The faculty supervisor’s assessment is broken down as follows (or similar):

• Faculty supervisor’s report and evaluation of student’s work – 50%
• Two-page interim/mid-term report – 15%
• Daily log/Journal student keeps a log of their research activities; 20%
• REQUIRED: Final reflection essay (500 words); 15%

Assessments: the supervisor will complete a written assessment of the student’s progress and discuss with the student BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO DROP COURSES WITHOUT PENALTY.

Final grades will be numeric and there is to be no final exam.

• Registration in Level II of a program in the Faculty of Science; and
• Agreement of the academic supervisors; and,
• Approval from the OUR office.
• Not open to students with credit or registration in any Level III or IV department- or program-based applied placement, internship, practicum, thesis, or independent study/project course.

The course will follow MSAF and SAS policies as prescribed by the University.

Step 1: Find a Supervisor.

Step 2: Complete SCIENCE 2RP3 Application Form.

If you are unsure with where to start or having trouble finding a supervisor, the Office of Undergraduate Research also offers specific 2RP3 courses such as:

• SCIENCE 2RP3 – Greenhouse Research Assistant under the supervision of Dr. Susan Dudley
• SCIENCE 2RP3 – Research Project Challenge: St. Joseph’s Health System Ethics Office under the supervision of Dr. Lee de Bie & Ali Solhi, PhD candidate

Deadlines

Applications are due by April 3, 2026.

Due to the large number of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted and given permission to enrol in the course. If you do not hear back by the end of the drop/add period, you have not been chosen.