Summer Undergraduate Data Science (SUDS) Research Opportunity

Summer Undergraduate Data Science (SUDS) Research Opportunity is sponsored by Data Sciences Institute (DSI), University of Toronto. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Summer Undergraduate Data Science (SUDS) Research Program - DSI Summer Undergraduate Data Science (SUDS) Opportunities Through SUDS Opportunities, undergraduate students, who are interested in exploring data science as a career path have an exciting opportunity to engage in hands-on research led by Data Sciences Institute member faculty and scientists across the three campuses.

Applications for 2027 SUDS Opportunities will open in September.

Birch Hill Equity Partners supports new Data Sciences Institute pathway for data science and AI projects aimed at social good 12 weeks from May to mid-August The minimum award is $7,200, for up to 25 students All SUDS students are invited to participate in SUDS professional development activities Highlight projects at the SUDS Showcase Day in August SUDS Opportunities are an ideal way to get involved in a high-quality and enriching data science opportunity and to experience applications of data science and AI methods and tools in a range of application areas.

SUDS includes a Data Science & AI for Social Good stream for projects addressing societal challenges through data science and AI. The stream provides students with opportunities to apply their skills to research with meaningful social impact.

See the 2026 Scholars & projects SUDS research opportunities are solicited from UofT faculty members and DSI external funding partner scientists that are focused on data sciences and AI methodology applications in any research area. Faculty members and principal investigators who have a position available for a summer student submit their research opportunities.

Research opportunities can include any aspect of basic, applied, or clinical research. The approved list of research opportunity descriptions and supervisors is posted on the DSI website in early December. Interested students apply and rank their top 3 choices.

The DSI Office reviews and assesses the student applications. Eligible applications are sent to the supervisor for consideration and identification of a SUDS Scholar for their research opportunity. SUDS Scholars work on their data science research opportunities and, in addition, the SUDS Scholar cohort are provided with a full set of data sciences and AI professional development, networking, and research opportunities.

Research Supervisor Application The supervisor must have a budgetary appointment either at the University of Toronto OR a DSI external funding partner institution. Faculty budgetary appointments for the University of Toronto are continuing, full-time academic appointments with salary commitments from a University of Toronto academic unit.

Proposed research should be focused on data sciences or AI methodology or innovative applications in any research area. Research opportunities can include any aspect of basic, applied, or clinical research. Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a foreign student with a valid student visa for the full summer term.

Registered (at the time of application) as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree or professional undergraduate degree program at a Canadian university/college. There is no required minimum GPA to apply for a SUDS program, but we recommend that students have above 3. 3/4.

0 as the SUDS program is competitive. As SUDS awards are limited, previous students who have held a SUDS Scholarship in the past are not eligible to apply. $7,200 CAD at minimum provided by the Data Sciences Institute to the supervisor for the student.

Any supplement above this level may be set at the supervisor’s or department’s discretion. 12 full weeks in the summer term, between May 1, 202 7 and mid- August, 202 7 . Start dates and end dates are agreed upon for each student and supervisor.

Students interested in applying to posted opportunities are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as we receive a high volume of applications, and positions are filled quickly. Positions will be posted in early December. As part of the application process, you will need to upload your resume/CV, unofficial transcript, and the name and contact info for your academic reference.

We will hold an info session in early January, as well, for any questions. Applications are submitted via the DSI Good Grants application portal . Register an account and select “Start Application” for “ SUDS Student Opportunity Program ”.

The application is divided into tabs; each tab includes a set of instructions and fields to fill out. These instructions are also highlighted below. Applicants will need to complete the following fields.

The title for your application has been autofilled with your name. Please do not alter or change this field in any way. Tab 2: Application Information Enter your information as the form requested: Tab 3: Supporting Documents We do not have a required minimum GPA for the SUDS program; however, we recommend minimum GPA of 3.

3/4. 0 for applicants as the program is competitive. Upload your resume or CV in PDF format.

Upload your unofficial transcript(s) for review. If you have multiple transcripts, please save them in a single PDF file. Contact information for an academic reference who will fill out the form.

An academic referee could be your course instructor/professor, lab PI, research supervisor, or your research employer who can speak for your academic excellence and/or research potential. We recommend that you notify your referee in advance of submitting your application, ensuring you can submit their email address as part of your application. Please keep note of the email address that you submit for your reference.

In odd cases where the reference request email is filtered out or ends up in a spam folder, note that the email itself is not required to complete the reference request. As long as your referee creates an account in our system at https://apply. datasciences.

utoronto. ca using the email address you submitted (or logs into an existing account with that email address) the option to submit their reference can be found under “Action tasks” in the lefthand menu. Tab 5: Demographic Survey You will have the option to select ‘Prefer not to Answer’ for all questions.

Once you have submitted you application on or before January 25, 2027, the following things occur: 1) Rank the Opportunities : You will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to rank the top 3 SUDS research opportunity choices. The deadline to rank your opportunities is also January 25, 2027.

2) Reference Form : After the student deadline, your referee will be notified and asked to submit their letter of reference via a survey link. The deadline to fill out the reference form is February 1, 2027.

The academic referee will fill in a reference form with three questions as below: Describes the applicant’s data analysis skill and research potential Describes whether the applicant will be a good candidate for SUDS scholar Identify and comment on one area of growth for the applicant And each question should be in approximately 150 words (no more than 200 words) Once all the components of your application are complete – application, ranking of opportunities, and your referee submission, the DSI office will review student applications for completeness, eligibility, matching of skill set, and will forward student applications to the supervisor for selection and approval.

The Referee indicated on the application will receive an email requesting that they fill out a reference form after the January 25th candidate deadline. The deadline to fill out the reference form is February 1, 2027. Referees will be asked to fill out basic identifying information and to comment on the following: Describe the applicant’s data analysis skill and research potential.

Describe whether the applicant will be a good candidate for SUDS scholar. Identify and comment on one area of growth for the applicant Each question should be in approximately 150 words (no more than 200 words). Research opportunities will be posted in early December.

An online info session for students will be hosted in early January 202 7 (TBC date). The deadline for student applications is January 25. All students and supervisors will be notified in early March.

All SUDS Scholars are warmly invited to participate in the SUDS cohort programming . See the 2025 program as an example . Successful students cannot accept more than one summer studentship regardless of the funding source.

All selected summer students must attend a minimum of 75% of the weekly seminars and will be invited to present at the SUDS Showcase. Successful applicants must acknowledge support from the “Data Sciences Institute, University of Toronto” in relevant presentations and publications arising from the supported research.

Failure to acknowledge this support will result in the future ineligibility of both the student and supervisor for DSI funding programs. Selected students, supervisors, and opportunities will be posted on the DSI website.