When some people hear the word ‘research,’ they picture lab goggles, test tubes or academic journals. At TRU, research is far more than that—and it’s definitely not just for graduate students or science majors. Here, research is about asking meaningful questions. It’s often about exploring the unknown, solving real-world problems and building skills that can stay with you after graduation.
Even if you have never thought of yourself or seen yourself as a researcher, there’s space for you. In fact, many students begin their research journey without even realizing it; just ask the TRU’s director of student research, Sukh Heer Matonovich, who has first-hand experience on the topic.
“I am a first-generation learner, my parents are immigrants, so English is not my first language,” Matonovich said. “When I came to the university, I came from a very traditional home, and it was a way to get me out of a challenging space to get to a place where I would have a different and better life.”
Matonovich said that she came from a background “where women were seen in a particular way,” and navigating university while breaking those expectations wasn’t easy.
At the time when she was a student at TRU, her passion was basketball.
“I got through university because of my coach,” Matonovich says. “I had to take care of my parents.”
But that path eventually opened doors she hadn’t planned for.
One of the most approachable entry points into research at TRU is the Strike the Match event, where students rotate between faculty members in an academic speed-networking format. Participants learn about exciting research opportunities on campus—and maybe even walk away with a supervisor.
Another option is the Research Rookies program, designed for students new to research. Participants are paired with mentors, learn how to develop research questions and build their own small projects, all while being paid to do so.
Additionally, students may also apply to be research assistants, individuals who support faculty members in various disciplines, including economics, finance, nursing, law, and more. Interested parties need not be experts; they simply need to be open to learning and willing to explore.
For full-time Canadian students balancing school and finances, the WorkStudy program offers part-time, paid positions that support research while accommodating class schedules. Some roles even allow students to design their own mini projects.
For Indigenous students, the Knowledge Makers program provides space to explore research from Indigenous worldviews. Through workshops, mentorship and publication, students contribute to a growing body of Indigenous-led academic work.
Matonovich didn’t always see herself in the research world.
“I got a job in 2009 and I got to work on the retention of students, and I registered for master’s research here,” Matonovich said. “I didn’t know that was my passion—to look at student research as a graduate student. And my research was, ‘At TRU, how do students academically engage themselves?’ That research informed me about a lot of different ways of how students engage academically, how to retain them and [how to identify] engagement practices.”
TRU also provides students with the chance to share their work. Each spring, the Undergraduate Research & Innovation Conference showcases student-led projects through presentations, performances and posters.
Funding is available through programs like the Undergraduate Research Experience Award Program (UREAP), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the TRUSU Conference Attendance grant. Whether you’re creating your own project or travelling to present, there’s support available.
If you’re ready to take on a leadership role, consider applying to be a research coach or undergraduate research ambassador. Research coaches support lower-year students through course-based research, while ambassadors help grow research culture across campus.
There are more research opportunities available to both undergraduate and graduate students. If anything to do with research sparks your curiosity—even just a little—visit the Research Office on the second floor of OLARA or email studentresearch@tru.ca. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start somewhere.