Click on the course title for more information and to find out how to apply.
BIO400Y5 Biology Internship
BIO400Y5 is available to upper-year students in any Biology program and provides students with the opportunity to apply their life science knowledge and skills in a work placement for academic credit. To learn more about this opportunity and how to apply, click here.
BIO481Y5 Biology Research
Interested in a 4th year research course in Biology? Students in BIO481Y earn a full credit while working on their own project in a Biology faculty member's lab. Students prepare a thesis on their work and present it at our symposium at the end of the term. Awards are presented to the best presentations at the end of the symposium.
Interested students should contact Biology faculty members in the winter or spring prior to enrolling in the course. An approved supervisor is required in order to take this course. If you are still searching for a supervisor when 4th year student enrollment begins, it is recommended that you enroll in back up courses in the event that you are not able to take BIO481.
Students interested in BIO481 must submit an application. Priority will be given to students in a Biology program beginning in late July each year, additional students will be granted a spot on a first come basis until all remaining spots are filled. Applications are to be submitted to utmbio.advising@utoronto.ca. The department will enroll the student into the course on ACORN. Students no longer have the ability to enroll in BIO481 on ACORN. The absolute last date to submit an application is on the Friday before the Fall add/change date. The application is posted in the UTM Biology Student Quercus page. If you do not have access and are in a Biology program, or have any questions, please connect with utmbio.advising@utoronto.ca.
BIO444H Urban Field Ecology & Evolution
This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of urban ecology and evolution using the Greater Toronto Area as a model to study the topic. The course will focus on understanding how ecological and evolutionary processes are influenced by urban development, human behaviour, and the built environment, and how the environment can feed back to shape cities and socio-ecology, including human behaviour and well-being. Students will be introduced to principles of the scientific process including making observations, stating hypotheses, experimental design, conducting experiments, data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation, and scientific writing and oral presentations. The course will focus on all major habitats in urban areas to understand how urban environmental change of air, water and land influence the ecology and evolution of populations, communities and ecosystems.
Applications are currently open for the summer offering of BIO444 which will run from June 7 to 20, 2026 and take place on the UTM Campus.
Research Opportunity Program (ROP)
The Research Opportunity Program (ROP) gives students in Biology real lab experience under the supervision of Biology Faculty while earning academic credit. Research Opportunities are available in all academic terms.
Biology students are also invited to present their ROP work at a poster session in early April. Prizes are awarded for the best posters.
For more information about the Research Opportunity Program please visit: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/rop/
Ontario Biology Day
Ontario Biology Day provides a fantastic opportunity for biology students to share and showcase their research. As student approaching the completion of their undergraduate careers, Ontario Biology Day serves as a venue to make connections, engage with other researchers, inspire others and to be inspired by current research. Ontario Biology Day is about providing a welcoming environment for students to share their passion and accomplishments.
The Department of Biology provides financial support for undergraduate students interested in attending Ontario Biology Day each year.
WISE National Conference
The WISE National Conference serves as a catalyst to inspire and empower individuals to pursue their passions, broaden their horizons, and form meaningful connections. The conference brings together delegates from all across Canada to share ideas and become inspired over the course of a two-day event dedicated to professional and personal growth, featuring inspirational leaders from a wide range of STEM fields, as well as workshops, case competitions, and career fairs." https://conference.wiseuoft.org/
The Department of Biology provides financial support for undergraduate students interested in attending the WISE conference each year.
UTM STEM Fellowship
UTM STEM Fellowship - Student chapter is a part of a larger, national, youth-led charity organization that aims to empower STEM students pursuing both undergraduate and high school education. UTM STEM Fellowship aims to create mentorship and experiential learning programs to equip students with skills in data analytics, research, and scholarly communication. With our various workshop and equity initiatives, we strive to provide accessible STEM educational opportunities to youth.
You can learn more about the national organization and the initiatives they aim to provide to STEM students here: https://stemfellowship.org/