On Monday, the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and the Association for Undergraduate Research on Aging (AURA) co-hosted Meet Your Supervisor, a trainee and researcher networking event in the Farncombe Atrium in McMaster’s Health Sciences Centre. Connecting undergraduate trainees from all six McMaster Faculties with MIRA members offering training and research opportunities, this annual event invited trainees in the beginning of their careers to explore opportunities in aging research.
Eleven potential supervisors, from early-career researchers to seasoned project leads joined over 45 trainees seeking hands-on research experience with MIRA researchers, cultivating collaboration across the diverse McMaster academic landscape.
From opportunities in robotics and humanlike technologies to the co-design of virtual clinics and the experiences of informal caregivers, the event offered unique opportunities in various areas of research. Trainees and supervisors connected over pizza and refreshments, engaging in a lively discussion.
Offering information on funding and trainee events, the Meet Your Supervisor event further aimed to showcase the strong and supportive network supporting aging research at McMaster. Trainees gained valuable insights into research funding opportunities, including the MIRA Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship (USRF), NSERC and CIHR Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA), and McMaster USRA programs. This exclusive opportunity allowed trainees to inquire about the funding application process. More information on these and other funding opportunities is available at MIRA’s funding page. Check back often—the page is frequently updated!
“MIRA’s networking event was an excellent opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of aging and learn more about unique approaches professors use in aging research” – Devlin M. AURA Faculty Representative
Among the supervisors and their representatives present were:
Michael Carter – Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Science
Evelyn Durocher – School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences
Lucy El-Sherif – Department of Peace & Social Justice/ Gender & Social Justice, Faculty of Humanities
Qiyin Fang represented by Hailey Wang – Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering
Lauren Griffith – Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences
Sheila Boamah represented by Hoda Herati – School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
Matiar Howlader – Department of ECE, Faculty of Engineering
Kyla Sask – Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Shane Saunderson – Information Systems, Degroote School of Business
Ada Tang represented by Lovisa Cheung – School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences
Li Wang – Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Health Sciences
“This event helped connect me with supervisors whose research focuses on the aging population, which perfectly aligns with my academic interests! Hearing about all the new research opportunities sparked more of my interest and passion for exploring advancements that aim to support older adults” – Sheeza K. AURA Executive Member
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our attendees and supervisors who made this event possible! If you enjoyed this event, make sure to sign up for our MIRA Trainee Network to stay updated on all things aging research and future events.
For more details and registration on our upcoming events:
Register for Pitch Your Project
