SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program

To be hired as a Research Summer Student you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in a university/college undergraduate program in the fall following SSuRE. This includes high school students in their last year. 
• Be enrolled in medical school. 
• If you are in your final year of undergraduate studies, you must be, or have applied to be, enrolled in a university/college program in the fall.

You must also be working on a research project under the supervision of a researcher with an appointment in the SickKids Research Institute. 

If you’re a high school student but not in your last year, you may be eligible to participate in the Student Advancement Research (StAR) internship program.

To apply to be a Summer Research Student, you need to:

1. Find a position that interests you.
   • Review posted positions (available in late fall/early winter)  
   • Or reach out directly to a scientist – some scientists do not post positions and hire through direct applications 
   • Use our list of SickKids researchers to identify scientists working in areas that interest you  

2. Complete the SSuRe application form.
   • Submit your application through the official form 
   • If applying to multiple scientists, submit a separate application for each 
   • Applications sent directly to the Research Training Centre or Human Resources will not be accepted or forwarded, so make sure you use the application form  

The U of T Student Life blog has a handy post with advice on applying for summer research positions. 

In the SSuRe Program application, students will be asked to provide the contact information for their referee. 

The hiring supervisor will ask students to provide a reference letter during or after the interview stage. 

The reference letter should come from an individual who is familiar with your skills and is best able to describe your past and/or current work/school experience (e.g., a professor, high school teacher, previous employer, volunteer supervisor, etc.).

• To ensure that it remains confidential, the letter should not be sent to you or included in your application package. Your referee should email the reference letter directly to the hiring scientist(s) with the subject line: SickKids Summer Research Reference Letter - <Candidate’s Last Name>, <First Name>.  
• There are no specific criteria your referee should address, but you can suggest that your referee consider describing your educational background, academic performance, relevant research training or work experience, characteristics, and abilities. Your referee should also highlight your achievements to date. Make sure that you provide your referee with a copy of your application and CV to refer to when writing your letter!  

A Research Summer Student placement can be of any duration (except for the Lunenfeld Summer Studentship and the Opportunity Summer Studentship, funded positions which must be 15 weeks) and the start dates and end dates, as well as hours per week, can be negotiated between each student and supervisor. Research Summer Students must be paid the minimum hourly rate + 6% vacation.

Students and their supervisors will negotiate working hours at the time of hire or start. 

Summer Research Project

Children with MS and other neuroinflammatory conditions have high levels of disease activity. Current therapeutic options include anti inflammatory agents, which can lead to changes in the trajectory of disease outcomes. We have identified associations between social determinants of health and outcomes in this population, but little is known about the intersections between genetic ancestry and deprivation in brain and optic pathway structural outcomes in this population. The summer student would focus on this specific question within the Yeh lab. The role of the student would be in data curation and cleaning, creation/manual correction of MRI lesion maps and volumetric data, and basic statistical analysis. The student would be expected to attend weekly meetings with the supervisor together with weekly lab meetings and meetings with team members. This is an onsite work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate ann.yeh@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 17, 2026

Summer Research Project

The Mouse Imaging Centre at the SickKids Research Institute is seeking a summer student to contribute to ongoing research projects over the course of a 4-month term. The primary project is motivated by improving quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. Many survivors experience impairments in cognition or behaviour that affect their academic success and daily activities. The applicant will participate in a large study screening genetically diverse mice to isolate genetic loci that result in brain resilience or sensitivity to cancer treatment.

Through this position, the successful candidate will:

• Conduct research under the direction of a Principal Investigator.
• Work with a dynamic team of researchers to carry out a large research project.
• Plan and conduct a series of experiments and analyze resulting data.
• Evaluate results critically.
• Prepare and present findings.
• Participate in all lab activities.

To apply, please provide a curriculum vitae, unofficial academic transcript and a cover letter (maximum one page). This is an onsite work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV, unofficial academic transcript and cover letter (max. one page) to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate nieman.ssure@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 30, 2026

Summer Research Project

The Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is seeking one SSuRe trainee to work alongside the Pharmacogenetics (PGx) Team at SickKids. The Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology focuses on clinical issues of children's medications, diagnoses and treatment of adverse effects and toxicities of drugs, overdoses and poisoning, and early-life exposures to drugs and environmental toxins. Within this scope, PGx plays a central role as part of the Division's precision medicine efforts, focusing on how genetic variation influences drug metabolism and response. This knowledge supports individualized treatment approaches, such as dose adjustments or selecting alternative medication to optimize drug safety and effectiveness. The SSuRe trainee will primarily support a research project examining how liver transplantation influences PGx expression and downstream medication outcomes. This work will involve comparing PGx profiles of liver transplant recipients pre- and post-transplant to evaluate how donor liver genetics may alter drug response. The project aims to generate a clearer framework for interpreting PGx results in the transplant population and to inform more individualized medication management strategies.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop familiarity with the literature on current standards and practices of clinical PGx testing.
• Collect and organize clinical and genetic information from liver transplant patients.
• Compare patient and liver donor PGx profiles to see how the donor liver may affect medication response.
• Participate in team discussions.
• The SSuRe student may be assigned other duties or projects as needs and priorities unfold.

This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate sierra.scodellaro@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 30, 2026

Summer Research Project

The candidate will be part of a research group affiliated with The Hospital for Sick Children, focusing on Neuroimaging. We are seeking a student to assist in developing image analysis tools for data acquired using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, the student will support the analysis, and management of research data for our research projects. Our lab is currently investigating haemodynamic, metabolic, and structural mechanisms of cerebrovascular diseases in children with sickle cell disease, stroke, diabetes, and sleep disorders. In addition, pre-clinical models of these diseases are being investigated. The student will aid the team by improving and expanding our current tools used to analyze MRI data. These tools are typically implemented in MATLAB and Python scripts. Literature search is also an important component as the student will need to have a solid comprehension of current published research related to their project. We expect summaries of current work progress to be presented on a regular basis during team meetings. This is an onsite work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate daniel.sare@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 30, 2026

Summer Research Project

The student will contribute to a translational neuroscience project investigating how neuromodulation techniques, such as deep-brain stimulation (DBS) and focused ultrasound (FUS), influence developing brain circuits in models of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. This work aims to identify mechanisms and biomarkers that can guide future therapies. Roles & Responsibilities: Assist with neuromodulation procedures (DBS/FUS) under supervision and support behavioural testing to assess treatment effects Help acquire and organize high-resolution MRI data to study structural brain changes Contribute to post-mortem brain specimen processing, including histology, immunostaining, and basic molecular analyses (e.g., Western blotting) Perform data entry, quality control, and basic quantitative analysis using established pipelines Participate in team meetings, maintain accurate lab documentation, and prepare scientific figures and an oral presentation for the Summer Student Symposium By working within the Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), the student will gain hands-on training in cutting-edge neuromodulation, in vivo imaging, and histological techniques, while building foundational skills in translational neuroscience and collaborative research. This is an onsite work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your letter of interest, CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate flavia.venetuccigouveia@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 30, 2026

Summer Research Project

Depression and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Early onset of depression during childhood and adolescence is linked to increased risk for metabolic conditions, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, premature atherosclerosis, and early cardiovascular mortality. Our clinical research program investigates the shared pathways that connect depression with cardiometabolic health in adolescents, to identify targets for innovative interventions that support both mental and physical well-being. The summer student will work with quantitative data from the Children's Integrated Mood and Body (CLIMB) depression program at SickKids. The project offers hands-on experience with physiological and lifestyle data to deepen understanding of cardiometabolic risk in adolescents with depression. The student will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary research team composed of investigators, graduate and postgraduate trainees, research staff, and collaborators. Mentorship is embedded in the team structure, fostering a supportive environment for developing research skills and scientific judgement. Experience with quantitative methods is important for this position. Completion of at least two university-level statistics courses is strongly recommended as the student will be actively engaged in data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation. The student will participate in weekly team meetings, carry out an analytic plan, and disseminate their findings through a scientific poster. This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate Korczak.Team@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 31, 2026

Summer Research Project

"Screen Use among Children and Youth with Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Disorders". Since the spring of 2020, our team has followed children and their families longitudinally to examine the impact of the pandemic on children's mental health, both during and after the pandemic. Our research has identified factors that are important in the improvement and/or deterioration of children's mental health symptoms. These data are needed to inform policy and care decisions in Ontario and beyond. One area of research interest is in screen use and it's effect on children's mental health symptoms. The student will examine a research question related to understanding the use of screens among children and youth with mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, in the context of the Ontario COVID-19 and Kids Mental Health Study, performed at The Hospital for Sick Children. The student will work within our highly productive, established team of cross-disciplinary researchers in child health, graduate and postgraduate trainees, research staff, and collaborators. Students can expect to gain greater knowledge of the research process. Mentorship is embedded in the functioning of the team. Students are expected to have taken at least two undergraduate courses in biostatistics and have preliminary statistical coding experience using R or SPSS. Students will be expected to participate in weekly meetings, execute their analytical plan, and summarize their results for oral and written dissemination in the form of a scientific poster and manuscript. This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate Korczak.Team@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 31, 2026

Summer Research Project

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents, often causing significant functional and interpersonal impairment in a child's life. While both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments are available, the evidence on the most effective approach remains unclear. One major barrier is the lack of consistency in outcomes measured across clinical trials to date. This variability limits the ability to compare findings or synthesize data effectively. The Measuring Outcomes Suitable for Children & Adolescents to Improve Clinical Care & Trials (MOSAIC) Lab is addressing this challenge by developing core outcome sets (COS), which are standardized minimum sets of outcomes that should be measured in all trials for a given health condition. COS initiatives in other fields have improved research quality, reduced research waste, and ensured inclusion of patient-centered outcomes. Our aim is to bring similar benefits to pediatric mental health research, including pediatric anxiety disorders, where no COS currently exists. Students joining the MOSAIC Lab will gain hands-on experience in scoping reviews, COS development, patient and caregiver engagement, and evaluating outcome measurement tools. Responsibilities may include extracting and synthesizing data, supporting stakeholder interviews, assessing the properties of outcome measures used in pediatric anxiety trials, and contributing to consensus-building processes such as Delphi studies. Such skills are essential for advancing evidence-based care. Ultimately, this work will promote greater standardization and patient-centric outcomes in pediatric mental health trials, paving the way for clearer insights into which treatments work best for which patients. This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate yasmeen.aldouri@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

January 31, 2026

Summer Research Project

The student will participate in a CIHR-funded project aimed at developing a predictive model for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children through smartphone photographs. OSA is a prevalent sleep disorder that involves intermittent airway blockage, leading to low oxygen levels and sleep disturbances. Currently, diagnosis relies on overnight sleep tests (polysomnograms, or PSGs), but less than 15% of children with OSA symptoms undergo this due to a shortage of PSG facilities across Canada. Consequently, many children remain untreated, risking long-term effects like poor academic performance, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health issues. In this study, we will enroll children suspected of having OSA who are scheduled for PSGs. We will capture 2-D facial photographs using smartphones and use 3-D facial photogrammetry to reconstruct the 3-D facial surface. Key geometric features will be extracted and compared between children with and without OSA. A predictive model will be created based on features that significantly differ between the two groups and will be externally validated in another cohort. If successful, this research could lead to a mobile app that enables healthcare professionals to diagnose OSA more easily and quickly, facilitating earlier treatment and improving long-term outcomes for affected children.

Role and responsibilities:

1. Recruit patients and obtain consent.
2. Collect data by simple anthropometric measurements and questionnaires.
3. Enter data and check data for accuracy and completeness.
4. Perform data analysis and prepare an abstract for presentation.

This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate marilou.alforque@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

February 6, 2026

Summer Research Project

There is an opportunity for a challenging summer placement in the laboratory of Dr. John Brumell at the Hospital for Sick Children. This is a basic research laboratory that focuses on the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes are being studied in tissue culture and animal models of infection. The function of their secreted virulence proteins and the cellular defenses to overcome are being examined. Our research utilizes many techniques that draw from the fields of biochemistry, microbiology and cell biology. There are several projects in the lab, and duties may involve some or all of the following:

• Mammalian cell culture: growth of cell lines, harvesting cells for biochemical analysis
• Protein sample preparation and analysis by western immunoblotting
• Plasmid preparation (PCR, ligation reactions, DNA electrophoresis)
• Transfection of mammalian cells
• Analysis of bacteria infected mammalian cells by fluorescence microscopy

The summer student will be expected to participate in an independent research project. He/she will also be required to participate in day-to-day maintenance of the laboratory, restocking of media, etc. All students will be expected to attend weekly presentations by other scientists at the Summer Student Seminar series hosted by the Hospital for Sick Children. Students will also be expected to present their findings at weekly laboratory meetings and at the Summer Student Symposium at the end of the summer. Students will be supervised by Dr. Brumell and will meet with him at daily/weekly intervals, as needed. Students will be supervised in the laboratory by a senior graduate student/postdoctoral fellow with research training experience. It is expected that the student will become more independent and self-directed in their research as the project progresses. Participation in the Occupational Health and Safety training courses for chemical, biological and radiation safety at the Hospital for Sick Children will be mandatory. Members of the laboratory also receive individual instruction on proper laboratory techniques. Students with Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Microbiology or related courses to their credit will be given preference. Their experiments will involve tissue culture, bacterial invasion/replication studies, immunofluorescence and analysis of human/bacterial cells using advanced microscopy equipment. Students with training in the desired fields will have the academic background to understand and employ these laboratory techniques. This is an onsite work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate john.brumell@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

February 15, 2026

Summer Research Project

The student will assist with one or more research projects aimed at adapting and evaluating cognitive interventions (e.g., executive functioning interventions) in clinical populations (e.g., lupus, neurofibromatosis, type 1). The student may assist with literature reviews, analyzing focus group data, analyzing quantitative measures administered pre and post pilot group participation, manuscript preparation, and creating knowledge mobilization materials (e.g., social media posts). This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application. Include a cover letter describing why you are interested in the project and highlighting relevant experience. Experience with qualitative analysis is an asset.
• Indicate priya.odedra@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

March 15, 2026

Summer Research Project

The main project the student will work on is a Priority Setting Partnership project that aims to identify and prioritize research questions that matter most to patients, caregivers, and clinicians in the field of Neurofibromatosis, Type 1. This collaborative initiative ensures that future research aligns with the needs of those directly affected. The student will be involved in liaising with partner organizations, literature searches, preparing surveys on Redcap, publicizing surveys through email listserves and social media, and analyzing responses. Experience with qualitative analysis is an asset and should be clearly highlighted in the cover letter. This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application. Include a cover letter describing your interest in the position, and detailing your experience with qualitative analysis, Redcap, and literature reviews.
• Indicate priya.odedra@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

March 16, 2026

Summer Research Project

Exploring the relationship between the actionability of clinical practice guideline recommendations and adherence to recommendations. This is a hybrid work arrangement.

How to Apply

• Attach your CV and transcript to your SSuRe program application
• Indicate fairuz.karim@sickkids.ca as the email of the lab/supervisor you're applying to
• Submit your completed application form

Application Deadline

March 16, 2026

The SSuRe Program runs two research summer student-specific orientation sessions in May prior to the commencement of the program’s curricular activities — in the first and last week of May. Orientation includes a welcome address from our SSuRe Program committee chairs, information about clinical research services and research ethics, fire safety training, and occupational health services, including your occupational health appointment. You’ll get auto enrolled into the appropriate session, depending on your start date.

You’ll also get priority access to lab safety training sessions. The first sessions are held over the second week of May and the second sessions are held over the first week of June. 

If your start date does not correspond with these orientation and training dates—no problem! You’ll just attend the usual SickKids’ orientation and training, and we’ll post the orientation slides on our internal summer program pages. 

Each week, a leading SickKids scientist provides a dynamic, engaging talk intended to teach you something about a different area of research happening in the hospital and research institute. By the end of the summer, you'll have a better understanding and appreciation of the key roles basic and clinical research have in advancing our knowledge of human health and disease.  

This year, the program will also run skills-focused seminars such as “How to write effective abstracts and create winning posters”, “How to effectively present your research” and “Creative writing”. These seminars will teach you how to present your research in a clear, engaging and inspiring manner. You will learn best practices for writing strong abstracts and gain design tips and software recommendations for creating dynamic and visually appealing posters. You will receive hands-on training and expert guidance which will help you develop the confidence to present and discuss your work.

Wondering what you might do with your science degree? 

Come to Career Night to meet and network with current and SickKids Research Institute individuals who work in a variety of science careers. Learn about what they do, how they got there, and how they balance their work and home lives.   

Symposium Day gives you the full conference experience! You will submit an abstract, create a poster, present your work, and network with colleagues and scientists.

All non-graduate research summer students at SickKids are invited to participate. The top abstract from each of the seven Research Institute programs will be chosen and the author will be invited to give an oral presentation at the Symposium. From these presentations, the top three will be given a prize. Those who are not chosen to give an oral presentation will be invited to present for the poster competition. The top poster presenter/s from each Research Institute program will also receive a prize.

Symposium Day will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

The SSuRe program is grateful for support from the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) for underrepresented undergraduates to pursue summer internship opportunities at SickKids. IBRO has provided full funding for five eligible students in summer positions in neuroscience and brain research to support their career development. The SSuRe program has partnered with the Neuroscience and Mental Health program and the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Brain and Mental Health to ensure IBRO funded summer students receive specialized opportunities to network with scientists and health professionals in neurosciences and mental health and engage in seminars and workshops that display advances in research and patient care. 

The SSuRe Program began a partnership with the Community of Support Research Application Support Initiative (COS-RASI) at the University of Toronto to help support students who are Indigenous, Black, Filipino, economically disadvantaged, or who self-identify as disabled. This program targets students who are interested in finding summer positions in health science research to help support their career development in the field of medicine. The partnership includes support in applying to centralized positions, mentorship opportunities and access to all SSuRe Program initiatives.  

The Opportunity Summer Studentship will be awarded to top-ranked applicants to the COS-RASI program. For more information, visit the COS-RASI page on the University of Toronto website.

The Garron Family Cancer Centre Survivor Scientist Program provides a limited number of 15-week full-time student stipends for incoming SickKids summer students who are childhood cancer survivors.

For more information about the program and/or to apply, contact garronfamily.cancercentre@sickkids.ca and use “Garron Family Cancer Centre Survivor Scientist Program” in your email subject line.

The deadline to apply is January 30, 2026. 

The SSuRe Program provides $2,000 for up to 35 SickKids Research Institute scientists to support Research Summer Student salaries. The funding is generously provided from the Lunenfeld Summer Studentship and awarded directly to the scientists. The deadline for scientists to apply is January 31, 2026.

Research Summer Students supported by this funding will be required to participate in Symposium Day by submitting and abstract and presenting a poster/oral presentation.  Your hiring scientist will let you know if you are a Lunenfeld Studentship funded student.  

BioCanRx Summer Studentships provide funding for undergraduate and college students to gain work experience in the Canadian cancer biotherapeutics research sector. This funding opportunity is open to undergraduates and college students attending Canadian institutions, and to BioCanRx network investigators. Note – at the time of the application deadline, students must have found an investigator to work with. The deadline to apply is February 13, 2026.

To learn more about this opportunity and to apply, please visit the BioCanRx Summer Studentship site.

The SickKids First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Summer Studentship provides a full 15-week full-time summer student stipend (approximately $9,000) to three incoming SickKids summer students who are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. The deadline for students to apply is February 27, 2026.

Apply on SlideRoom

For external funding information, please visit the Award Explorer page on the University of Toronto's website.

Yes, non-degree students are eligible to apply to Research Summer Student positions, if they resume their undergraduate program in the fall. See eligibility criteria above. 

Students in their final year of high school and entering a college or university undergraduate program in the fall following the SSuRe program are eligible for Research Summer Student positions. For example, a student graduating high school in June 2026 and starting an undergraduate college/university program in September 2026 will be eligible to apply for the 2026 SSuRe program. 

Yes, as long as you have applied to, or have been accepted into, a research degree program in the fall following the SSuRe Program, you are eligible to apply to Research Summer Student positions.  

No, you are not eligible to be hired as a Research Summer Student. However, you may be eligible to be hired into a different research student or research staff position. Please contact the scientist(s) you are interested in working with to see if they have any open research student opportunities available. 

Yes, international students are eligible to apply to the program. The international students and their respective hiring labs are responsible for ensuring that the proper immigration documentation is in place. Students must be living in Ontario during their summer placement. 

The SSuRe Program activities officially start at the beginning of May and run for 15 weeks until Symposium Day, which is held in mid-August. Depending on how much later you can begin work, this may not be enough time for you to conduct sufficient research for your abstract presentation on Symposium Day.   

Most students will begin on the first day of the SSuRe Program and will have ample time to work on their projects, which may put you at a disadvantage when submitting your abstract for Symposium Day. Please consider this before applying to the program. Please contact the scientist(s) you are interested in working with to ask if they would be willing to accept your application under these circumstances.  

If you are a medical student, your Research Summer Student position will begin June 1, or the first business day after June 1.  

We suggest that you limit your applications to five researchers. Send your applications to those you are most interested in and best suit your interests. View a list of SickKids researchers.  

If a scientist’s name is no longer on the SSuRe Program website, they are no longer accepting applications for a Research Summer Student. They are either conducting interviews or have already selected a student. 

The SickKids Research Volunteer Program is entirely separate from the SickKids Summer Research Program (SSuRe). All SSuRe students must be paid at least minimum wage plus vacation.  

Yes! Please see applying to positions above. 

All summer students are required, as a condition of employment/placement to:

• provide acceptable documentation of TB surveillance
• provide acceptable proof of immunity against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (Chicken Pox)

All summer students are strongly recommended to: 

• provide documentation of Hepatitis B immune status
• provide documentation of most recent tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis immunization
• provide documentation of most recent annual influenza vaccine

Yes! We suggest that you limit your applications to five researchers.

All SSuRe program activities (orientation, seminars, career day, and symposium) are expected to take place in-person. A hybrid format may be used for some seminars and workshops. Please keep an eye on this page for any updates.

Depending on your summer project, you may be working onsite or remotely to conduct your research. Please connect with your supervisor for more information.

You'll need to discuss remote work arrangements with your supervisor(s). Please note, summer students working remotely must be located within Ontario to connect to the SickKids network. 

If you do not have university transcripts available, one from high school would be acceptable. First semester marks or mid-term marks are also acceptable, if available from your institution. 

If you do not have a transcript from your current year, one from your previous year would be acceptable (i.e. you are in third year but send second year marks).

Yes. A reference should be from someone who can best speak to your past or current work/academic experience and relevant skills.  If you are unsure whether a letter from a particular individual would be appropriate, please contact the researcher(s) you wish to apply to for clarification. 

This is at the discretion of each researcher. Please contact the researcher(s) in advance of submitting a full application to ask. 

You may address your reference letter to: SickKids Hiring Manager. 

Due to the number of applications scientists receive each year, only those applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted by the hiring labs. If you have not heard about your application by the end of April, you likely have not been selected.  

No enrollment necessary! Once you’ve been offered a Research Summer Student position, you’ll complete the onboarding package sent to you. From there, we’ll auto-enroll you onto our SSuRe Program newsletter mailing list—so make sure you check the email you provide in the RTC Registry!  If you have any questions during the onboarding process, please reach out to the person who coordinated your interview or provided your onboarding package. 

Due to the volume of applications received by each researcher, only applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted. We suggest you wait until after the application deadline to inquire with the researcher or their hiring manager. If you haven't heard back by early April, it is likely that the position has been filled.  

Please complete the SSuRe program application form and attach your cover letter, CV/resume, transcript(s) and your referee’s contact information when applying to SSuRe program positions. You do not need to send a separate email to the researcher.