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Volunteer opportunities
CISUR has very limited opportunities available at this time.
Prospective students
Undergraduate studies: In the past, our undergrads have written Honours theses, done directed readings, or received Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA). If you are interested in doing undergrad work with us, you will need to have a supervisor who is one of our Directors or Scientists. See our Scientists page for a list of our scientists, their research areas and contact information.
Graduate studies: Many of our graduate students are from the interdisciplinary Social Dimensions of Health (SDH) Program, but we have also had graduates from the Psychology, Sociology, Geography and Nursing faculties, as well as many other departments, schools and programs on campus. If you think your area of research would be a good fit with CISUR's work, please see our Scientists page to connect with a potential supervisor from the Centre.
CISUR Summer Undergraduate Internships
We are now opening up applications for our 2026 summer undergraduate internship positions at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)! We have four part-time (approx. 10-15 hours/week, negotiable with supervisor) positions for current undergrads or 2026 graduates that will occur over the summer for 6-8 weeks (negotiable with supervisor) after May1st and ending by August 31st (depending on the projects as described below, the student’s schedule, and the supervisor’s schedule). These opportunities will provide students with valuable research experience at CISUR and pay a one-time honorarium of 1500$.
Interested students should email admincisur@uvic.ca with a 250-word write up for why they are drawn to working at CISUR and any of the specific projects (in pdf format please). If interested in multiple projects, please rank them 1-4 (1 being your favorite and 4 being least favorite). Applications are due by March 31st and we will let people know our decision by April 30th.
Title: Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) project
Description: For almost 15 years, the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) has provided national leadership by conducting rigorous assessments of existing alcohol policies at the provincial, territorial, and federal alcohol policies in Canada and grading these policies with respect to best public health practice. CAPE has a track record of strengthening Canada’s response to alcohol-caused harms and has been used to inform policy development initiatives in multiple jurisdictions. The project was initially developed and implemented in 2013, and updated and expanded in 2019 and again 2023. The fourth iteration of CAPE (CAPE 4.0) is currently under development and will feature a new evaluation framework and user-friendly dashboard.
Working alongside some of the leading alcohol policy experts in the world, our Summer Research Intern will help update the revised evaluation framework, collect and interpret publicly available policy data, and develop data visualization/knowledge translation products, including the new policy data dashboard.
Title: Substance use among members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans
Description: The undergraduate student intern will develop a literature review examining substance use among current (including incoming) and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The student will be responsible for gathering and synthesizing substance use data, identifying services and supports available to CAF members and veterans, and identifying gaps in research. The student may also help to design a survey to distribute to eligible participants, to attain a better understanding of lived and living experiences of substance use among CAF members and veterans.
Title: Historicizing Managed Alcohol Programs in British Columbia
Description: Managed Alcohol Program’s (MAPs) are an evidence-based strategy for reducing alcohol-related and other harms experienced by precariously housed people impacted by structural violence. While MAPs are widely accepted to have originated in Ontario in the 1990s, archival evidence suggests that housing providers and community members in British Columbia may have established “under the radar” programs prior to this point. These antecedents to MAP may provide important guidance to present-day providers. In this project, you will support CISUR’s Canadian Managed Alcohol Program Study (CMAPS) to investigate the history of one such program in Vancouver. The CISUR intern will complete a pre-reading list and begin to analyze archival documents to create a program timeline. The CISUR intern will also be encouraged to participate in at least one archival visit to retrieve and organize primary source materials. The CISUR intern is not necessarily expected to complete all these activities and will be supported to progress as much as possible. Applicants from degree programs related to Public Health, History, Nursing, and Indigenous Studies are encouraged to apply.
Title: Provincial Strategy for Safer Youth Cannabis Use (PPSYCU) for the Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines
Description: This undergraduate student internship will contribute to the third phase of the Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG), for youth by youth project - creating a Provincial Strategy for Safer Youth Cannabis Use (PPSYCU). The student intern will assist with the project’s environmental assessment, aimed at understanding the capacity of communities across BC to (1) promote LRCUG, for youth by youth, and (2) contribute to the implementation of LRCUG. The intern will be responsible for preparing a summary report of their activities and findings.