Research Excellence

HYRS Reference Submissions

REFERENCE DEADLINE: Sunday, March 30, 2025

Please use this form only - any accompanying letters will be disregarded.
Thank you for taking the time to submit a reference for a student applying for the High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) program. Below is a brief overview of the program to provide context.

STUDENT DEADLINE: Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 11:59pm MT.

Because the students will be working alongside university researchers who are volunteering their time to be mentors, we want to ensure that the students selected are not only bright, but curious about science, willing to ask questions, and show a genuine interest in the possibility of scientific research as an educational and career direction.

Student Application Form

Teacher & Community References

HYRS at the University of Lethbridge

The University of Lethbridge and Alberta Innovates are pleased to offer a summer research program to exceptional Grade 11 students currently registered in an Alberta high school. The HYRS program offers summer job opportunities that emphasize cross-disciplinary training in health and emerging technologies such as ICT and digital innovations. Students collaborate with a UofL faculty supervisor to complete a summer project while also gaining supplemental skills development and networking opportunities through workshops, speaker series, career mentorship, and other approved events facilitated by Alberta Innovates.

Students in the program will be placed in positions of trust alongside university researchers, some handling hazardous materials. Work completed by HYRS students will directly contribute to the ongoing research of these scientists, and thus impacting their professional reputations. Because the students will be working alongside a diverse group of people, we want to ensure that students selected are not only bright, but are able to work well in a team environment. Your candid remarks are much appreciated and will be used in an appropriate and confidential manner to help us select HYRS participants. Community referees cannot be related to the applicant and must be from outside the applicant’s high school.

Your candid remarks are much appreciated and will be used in an appropriate and confidential manner to help us select HYRS participants.

Notable Points:

  • Community referees cannot be related to the applicant and must be from outside the applicant’s high school.
  • Only students currently enrolled in Grade 11 may apply.
  • Students are required to have at least an 85% standing in each of math 20-1 or math 20-2, biology 20, and one other Grade 11 science class.
  • Students must have 3 references (2 teacher & 1 community) and to ensure equal consideration, only two teacher references per student will be accepted.
  • A maximum of 4 students will be chosen from each school
  • Student must have their applications in by March 23, 2024 (a week before references are due).