Applications and project submissions for the 2026 I-STEAM Pathways Program will open on October 3, 2025. Please read all the information on this page. The portal for applications will open at the link below and will close on November 30, 2025.
Key Program Objectives
- Provide opportunities for Indigenous undergraduate students to fully participate in mentored experiential environmental research and provide pathways to advanced degrees
- Provide mentors for Indigenous students as they undertake this journey
- Increase the capacity of Indigenous communities to respond to the significant environmental challenges of this time; and
- Foster the inclusion of Indigenous environmental knowledge, ethics and values in environmental research.
Project Supervisors Responsibilities
- Oversee a research project aligned with environmental education goals (e.g. environmental sciences, climate change, engineering, environmental law, policy, planetary health) and relevant to Indigenous communities
- Supervise students in a practical field/research experience (35 hours/week for 16 weeks between May-August)
- Mentor the intern(s) in their development of research knowledge and skills, as well as in their exploration of career pathways in environmental policy, practice and research; and
- Attend a seminar on mentoring Indigenous students and principles and practice of Indigenous research.
- Participate in monthly check-ins.
In case of pandemic circumstances, we ask that contingency plans be included which will as far as possible provide a quality research research experience for interns.
Key Dates and Timeline for the 2026 program.
- October 2025: The Project submission portal for the Summer 2025 internship program will open 29 October and close on November 30, 2025. Project leads and supervisors are encouraged to make project submissions as early as possible from this date.
- December 2025: Supervisors will be notified if their project has been selected after proposals have been reviewed by the I-STEAM leadership team.
- December 2025 Students applications portal will open. Selected projects will be advertised online for student applications.
- January 2026: Student applications portal will close.
- February 2026: Applicants who advance from initial screening to the interview stage will be contacted for an interview.
- February 2026: Interns’ recruitment will be completed, including initial screening, interviews, selection and matching of final student internship candidates to supervisors/projects. Supervisors will be invited to participate in the interview and process of matching students to projects.
- 28 February 2026 -Final Selection: Applicants who are successfully interviewed and matched to a project and supervisor will be informed from this date.
- May-August 2026 – Internship Placements: Project placements are generally 16 weeks in length and will take place within this timeframe.
Application deadline is November 30, 2025
If you have any questions regarding the research project submission and selection process, please contact us at isteam@ualberta.ca