'Anyone can do research': Meaghan Edwards wants to empower undergrad students to make an impact

Dr. Meaghan Edwards says undergraduate research empowers students to be changemakers, impact society and choose their own course. For her, it plays an important role in critiquing and evaluating research processes. 

“Learning about how research works opens the door for understanding the ways that we structure the development of knowledge and evidence,” say Edwards, PhD, an associate professor (teaching) in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. 

Edwards is the new academic director of undergraduate research experiences for UCalgary's Office of Signature Learning Experiences (OSLE). The role aligns with the goal of the university's Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan to educate transformative leaders through research and creative scholarship opportunities. Edwards is ideally placed to make an impact in this area with an infectious enthusiasm for supporting undergrads in their research journey.

It was in 2018 while teaching a research methods class that Edwards found a passion for undergrad research.

“I saw how much potential students had, but how little they felt like they could do as undergraduates," Edwards says. "I want students to realize that they can do research. They can be researchers, even if they don't go on to do graduate studies, even if they go out and take on a career, in any industry or in non-profit — whatever the case may be, they can be researchers.”

In 2025, UCalgary supported more than 400 undergraduate researchers with $4.3 million in funding for summer studentships. Students from the programs have gone on to publish their research, win awards at conferences and build prototypes. Undergraduate research also inspires many students to pursue academia further and go on to grad school.

Partnering with community

Students need support to participate in undergraduate research, not just from a supervisor, but from peer mentorship and community. Edwards emphasizes how students can mentor each other as they develop their research skills. Beyond that, she says that we can expand what we think of as traditional mentorship, including how we engage with community partners.

“It’s incredible what folks in the community can teach, whether that's elders or folks who work in the non-profit sector. There’s so much rich, deep knowledge in community,” she says.

The possibilities are endless

Edwards sees countless possibilities for undergrad research at UCalgary. For her, collaboration and transdisciplinary scholarship are at the heart of it, and undergrad research and entrepreneurial thinking go hand in hand. She says there are opportunities in problem-based research and non-traditional pathways for students to have an impact on the world.

Her vision for the future of undergrad research is inclusive, and Edwards see so many ways to innovate within academic pathways to research.

“Some students don't imagine themselves as a summer research intern, but there are so many who can make incredible contributions to research," she says. "I would love to break down some of those barriers, making sure that everyone is given the opportunity to get a summer studentship.”

Above all, Edwards just wants students to see themselves as researchers, and is excited for the opportunity to hear about their experiences.

“One of the strengths of undergraduate students is that they're learning so much so quickly, and they're excited to share with each other," she say. "They’re just ready and eager to innovate.”

Applications for undergraduate research summer studentships are open until Jan. 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Students and faculty can get full details on the UCalgary Summer Studentships website.