Research Catalogue

What is the Research Catalogue?

The Research Catalogue is the University of Toronto's central online repository of co-curricular research opportunities available to undergraduate students. The catalogue profiles faculty and institutional research, outlining the areas of study, primary location of research, qualification or skills required to participate in research, deadlines and application process.

The Research Catalogue is not a job board however it links to the Career Learning Network job portal, where faculty and staff are able to post advertisements for open research positions.

Click here for a Quick Guide to using the Research Catalogue

FAQ

Why should I participate in the Research Catalogue?
The Research Catalogue will raise the profile of your research and will expand the diversity and quality of students applying to your research positions. It is envisioned that the Research Catalogue will be one of UofT's most comprehensive portals for active research on campus, cutting across disciplines and departments. The Career Learning Network, which houses the Research Catalogue currently has more than 35,000 subscribers, which means your research will be viewed by more students from across the University. If you want to build awareness among students about your research, then this is the place to post!

Why was the Research Catalogue created?
The Research Catalogue supports the Presidential Priority to re-imagine and reinvent undergraduate education. Under the direction of Susan McCahan, Vice-Provost, Innovation in Undergraduate Education, the Research Catalogue was created to: increase student awareness of research opportunities, simplify the process for application to research positions and expand the diversity of students applying for research.

Furthermore, undergraduate research with a faculty member is a high impact practice that contributes to increased rates of student retention and student engagement. The Research Catalogue helps undergraduate students at UofT understand the breadth and depth of research opportunities available to them.

I already have a webpage for my research. Why should I use the Research Catalogue?
The Research Catalogue will enable students to find you and your research projects more efficiently. Currently, there are more than 56 UofT websites where students can look for research opportunities. The Research Catalogue simplifies the search.

The Research Catalogue also encourages interdisciplinary research. Most likely the students who find your webpage are those who already know you, or know of you.   Through the Research Catalogue students from other disciplines and departments will learn about your research.

What is difference between the Research Catalogue and the Job Portal?
Both the Research Catalogue and the Job portal are on the CLNx. The Research Catalogue is an online repository of current and future research that undergraduate students may have the opportunity to participate in, whereas the Job portal offers four job boards where you can advertise all current research positions, whether paid, Work Study or voluntary. You can link your Research Catalogue Profile to your Job portal advertisement.

How will students find my research?
When students log on to the Research Catalogue they can search by keyword, by area of study or by "kind" of research opportunity (i.e. research abroad, Work Study, summer studentship, etc.). If you have an open research position, you can link it to your Research Profile.

I already get a lot of emails from students. If I activate my Research Catalogue Profile will I receive even more emails and applications?
We anticipate that more students will learn about your research as a result of the Research Catalogue, so you may find heightened interest in your research positions. You have the option to manage applications through the CLNx job portal, which will decrease the number of emails in your inbox. We are also advising students to focus their search and tailor their emails and applications to each unique position. We hope this means more diverse and improved quality applications to choose from, not just more emails!

What is the difference between a Faculty Profile and an Institutional Profile?
The purpose of the Faculty Profile is to describe your own research projects whereas the purpose of the Institution Profile is to describe research happening within programs, departments and other institutions that are affiliated with U of T, for example, UHN. Your research might be listed under both your Faculty Profile and within an Institutional Profile.

Should I create a new Faculty Profile for each research project that I am working on?
No, you only need one Faculty Profile. You can list multiple research projects on your Profile.

Do I need to have a current opportunity available to create a Profile?
No, you do not need to have a current undergraduate research opportunity in order to post your Faculty or Institutional Profile. Your Profile will describe the research you are engaged in and once an opportunity becomes available, you can advertise it on the CLNx job portal (or your own website) and link it to your Research Catalogue Profile. By keeping your Profile active all year, students can see what positions you've hired for in the past, and plan to apply in the future.

Can I include research that is funded through a grant or is part of a co-curricular program in my Faculty Profile?
Yes. We encourage you to include any research that is funded through grants, Work Study, summer studentship programs, NSERC and/or USRA awards. You can also post research that is supported by the University of Toronto Excellence Award program, Engineering Science Theses, research abroad and volunteer positions.

Can I post my research positions (paid and unpaid) on the Research Catalogue?
No, the Research Catalogue profiles the scope of your research but it is not a job board. The Research Catalogue offers a live link to the CLNx job portal, where you can advertise paid, Work Study or volunteer research opportunities for up to thirty days. You can also link to other websites, such as your department website.

Are opportunities funded through a grant considered paid research opportunities?
Yes. As long as students are receiving regular pay (bi-weekly or monthly), these opportunities are considered paid. You can post grant-funded research positions on the CLNx on-campus job portal and link to your Profile.

I only accept students through Work Study positions. Can I link Work Study opportunities to my Profile?
Yes, you can link your current Work Study position to your Research Catalogue Profile.

Can I advertise my research class on the Research Catalogue?
No. The Research Catalogue only features undergraduate co-curricular research. Research that happens as part of coursework is not currently included in the Research Catalogue.

How do I access the Research Catalogue?
You can access the Research Catalogue through the CLNx by using your UTORID and password.

I noticed I have a Faculty Profile in the Research Catalogue, but it appears to be inactive. How do I activate it?
A Profile was created for many of the Faculty and Staff who had CLNx accounts. Please email researchcatalogue@studentlife.utoronto.ca to activate your account. You will receive an email confirmation once it is activated.

Can I appoint someone else to edit my Profile or post a research position on the CLNx?
No. Currently the only way that someone else can post your Profile on the Research Catalogue is if you share your log-in information with them, and this poses a privacy risk. We are working with our service provider to find a solution to this.

I have a question about/suggestion for the Research Catalogue. Who should I contact?
Email researchcatalogue@studentlife.utoronto.ca. A staff member at Career Exploration and Education would love to hear from you!