Common Questions
Hopefully we have helped you understand our local research context. At this point, you may have specific questions about how you, as a student, can become involved in a research project – or possibly even lead one.
Q: Let’s start with the Centre of Research & Innovation. What is CRI?
A: CRI is the central administrative office for funded research at Fanshawe College.
- We provide access to funding opportunities for college employees (e.g. government grants)
- We help researchers prepare proposals, build project budgets, and administer funds if the application is successful.
- We provide training to prospective researchers, including students.
Q: How does CRI involve students in research activities?
A:
- Many projects involve students as Research Assistants. This means that CRI will hire a student and pay an hourly wage for project work. This toolkit outlines key project roles, including the RA role, so you can have an idea of responsibilities and common tasks that successfully take a project from start to finish.
- We also hire co-op and work study students to work in our various Research Centres and Facilities. For instance, a student may work in a lab and assist a technician or faculty researcher in that setting.
- Occasionally we provide in-class instruction as well, particularly for programs that have capstone projects.
Q: Are there specific skills that I need?
A: As our focus is on supporting projects that are research-driven and innovative, curiosity and creativity are valuable skills to have. Additionally, we value data and digital literacy skills, good time management and organization and, of course, social and emotional skills that will help foster an inclusive research environment.
Aside from that, most funded projects include time in the budget for student training, so you will have a chance to pick up many valuable skills along the way.
Q: How can I express interest in working with CRI as a student?
A: There is an online form available on the CRI website which you are welcome to complete. When a student opportunity becomes available (e.g. a research project provides funding for a student position), if you are considered a good match, you may be contacted for an interview.
When a co-op position becomes available it is posted on the Career, Co-Op and Employment Services page.
Q: Can a student receive funding to lead a project?
A: Much of the funding that is made available to colleges is for affiliated researchers, usually faculty members. The internal funding program offered by CRI also requires an applicant to be an employee.
Students typically work on projects as Research Assistants. While a Research Assistant does not lead the project, they may be involved in research design, data collection and analysis, and knowledge dissemination. These experiences can prepare you for research after college, and even enable you to serve as a Principal Investigator yourself in the future.
If you have or are thinking about starting a small business, LEAP Junction runs a Business Incubator Program that provides seed funding to Fanshawe students and alumni. This program could result in a collaboration with CRI and potential additional funding for you.
Separate from Fanshawe, Mitacs helps college, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows access funding.
Q: I may want to get involved in a research project but don’t feel quite ready yet. What steps can I take to build my knowledge and skill set?
A: Hopefully this toolkit will provide you with a good foundation, but there are other options as well.
Each semester, CRI offers a series of research webinars. Students are welcome to attend, so contact CRI if you would like to be added to our mailing list. We can also share resources we have created (in addition to the ones listed in this toolkit) or direct you to external options.
Mitacs has created several training resources, free of charge, for eligible students.
CRI is continually creating new resources, so check in with us if you don’t see what you need in this toolkit. As well, if you have an idea for a research topic, resource, or training session that you feel would be useful, we would love to hear from you.
