Bamfield Research Internships – Program Description
Bamfield Research Internships (BRIs) link motivated students with research mentors to collaborate on marine science research projects. The program takes advantage of the pristine marine environment, remarkable biodiversity, and the scientific and technical resources at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC).
The BRI program offers fully immersive research placements for motivated undergraduates and recent graduates. Interns will learn both the process and the substance of scientific research through direct exposure to the life and work of a marine science research laboratory. The program will incorporate workshops, seminars and training sessions in addition to hands-on research.
BMSC seeks 8-10 interns of diverse backgrounds and interests to participate in a 3- or 6-week summer research project in the marine sciences during July and August.
Both the mentors and projects will vary annually according to the developing research interests of on-site research teams. Research projects will be designed by mentors to be achievable projects which dovetail with their research plans. Interns will work semi-independently with mentor supervision for approximately 40 hours per week. Interns may have the opportunity to obtain university credit through a Directed Studies course.
Interns will participate actively in BMSC community activities, e.g. attend seminars, eat in the Cafeteria and live in the student dorms. Early in the summer session, there will be a meeting of student participants with graduate students and mentors to share perspectives on graduate programs and participation in academic life, with a brief description of ongoing projects, and a question/answer session. At the end of their internship, interns will present their research to one another and the BMSC community. Interns may also write a final report describing their work, with input from their mentor. These reports will be bound and published in the BMSC library.
Questions? Contact the BMSC University Programs Coordinator:
Email: university@bamfieldmsc.com
Phone: 250-728-3301 ext. 219
BMSC Setting
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre is a world-class teaching and research facility located on the outer west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, situated in the traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, a Nuu-chah-nulth Nation and member of the Maa-nulth Treaty Society.
BMSC supports diverse coastal and marine research of the highest calibre and is recognized as among the very best research and training facilities in the world.
Explore the diversity of this dynamic coastal environment, from exposed rocky shorelines, expansive sandy beaches, productive estuaries, and ancient coastal temperate rainforests.
2025 Bamfield Research Internship Fees
BMSC fees includes accommodation, meals, and user fees. These fees do not include tuition at your home university if you are interested in obtaining Directed Studies credit through a BRI.
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- Internship deposits must be received by May 1st to hold your place.
- Deposits are not refundable.
- Deposits are applied towards your BMSC fee.
Financial Support
Details coming soon about financial support to meet costs of room, board.
Eligibility
BRIs are available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, with priority given to undergraduate students registered at one of BMSC’s member universities (UVIC, UBC, UAlberta, SFU, UCalgary), or recently graduates from one of the member universities. This opportunity is also open to international students with the appropriate student visas.
The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre is committed to providing equality of opportunity and an environment that fosters respect for all members of the BMSC community.
How to Apply
- Fill out and submit the 2025 Summer Course Online Application Form, and check the ‘Bamfield Research Internship‘ box.
- Prepare a statement of interest, a maximum of 300 words. Include your statement in the application form. Tell us who you are and what you have accomplished to date, and who you want to be and how you want to get there. If appropriate, mention how your project choices relate to your goals.
- Obtain pdf copies of all your university transcripts (unofficial is acceptable). Change the file name for each pdf to your “last name, then first name, e.g. “SmithJohn_Transcript1.pdf.”
- Save your CV as a pdf with a file name starting as noted above, e.g. “SmithJohn_CV.”
- Provide the name of a professor or employer who can comment on your qualifications. We suggest you contact them to ask whether they would write a letter of recommendation for you. Letters of recommendation are due by April 18th, 2025. Your references must submit reference letters directly to BMSC, they should NOT send the letter to you.
- Email your transcripts, CV, and reference(s) to the University Programs Coordinator (university@bamfieldmsc.com).
- All BRI applications completed by March 31, 2025 are eligible for scholarships and will be evaluated equally. Applications submitted after this deadline are not eligible for scholarships and will be assessed in the order they are received.
Choosing a Mentor
We will provide a list of the available BRI mentors to all applicants after the March 31st scholarship deadline has passed. All BRI mentors are active researchers who will be working at the BMSC in the summer. Please see this list of BMSC researchers for examples of the kinds of research the BMSC supports. Applicants will then indicate their first, second, and third choice of mentor from the provided list based on their own academic goals and research interests.
Once all applicants have indicated their preference for mentors, the available mentors will be matched with interested applicants. All applicants will be contacted by the BMSC in mid-April to let them know whether they were matched with a mentor.
Did you conduct a Summer course or Fall Directed Studies project that you’d like to pursue to publication?
Check out our Undergraduate Research Fellowship opportunity!