Go Research - connecting students to researchers
Go Research (www.goresearch.ca) is an online platform designed to help students land roles as voluntary research assistants or helpers in university labs
About You
About You
First Name
Japreet
Last Name
Lehal
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Go Research
Organization Website
Organization Country
Canada, BC, Surrey
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Canada, BC
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver.
Is your organization a
For‐profit
How long has your organization been operating?
Less than a year
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Start-Up (a pilot that has just begun operating)
How long have you been in operation?
Operating for less than a year
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
There are thousands of students and research professors across British Columbia and the world. Research professors did not have access to a single platform where they could post paid/volunteer opportunities in their lab or research facility. Similarly, students were not able to visit a single consolidated platform where they could find research positions in their respective universities or neighboring universities/colleges. In BC alone, there are around 15 post-secondary institutions with thousands of students and researchers. Worldwide, there are nearly 7.1 million researchers.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Go Research (www.goresearch.co or www.goresearch.ca), a platform launched in the July of 2012, is an online platform that allows research professors and current university/college students to connect. It is one of the only sites in the world which has such a purpose. Research professors can post any research position vacancies for free. Similarly, students can access these postings for free. Go Research wishes to make research accessible to all. Go Research is available in more than 60 languages and students simply need to enter their location to find postings at their respective universities.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Jim, a SFU research professor wants to recruit a research assistant for his biology lab work. He simply visits www.goresearch.co or www.goresearch.ca to post the specific details of the position, such as the time commitment and location. SFU students who are interested in research visit the Go Research website to see if they can find a posting of interest. They simply enter their location and find Jim’s posting. They upload their CV and resume and await a response from Jim. This model would apply to students from all universities across the world.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
Currently, Go Research is the world’s only platform which facilitates the connection between university researchers and students. There are no competitors at this time.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
Upon entering university last year, I discovered that although the world of research is vast in universities and colleges, oftentimes students do not know how to get involved in this amazing field of discovery. I wanted to break the barriers that exist between a researcher and a student. When I asked how I should get involved in research, most advisors told me that I should Google professors at my university and call them up. I knew that in this world of technology, I had to create a platform that would allow university researchers and students to connect, so that they can work together to solve the pressing problems that we face today.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Once many students start using this platform, researchers will have a large talent pool to choose from, and this will advance research worldwide. Likewise, students will have many research opportunities available for them, and they will strive to choose a research position that intrigues them. This will advance research worldwide, in universities across the globe. In the future, this platform may even allow students to move across borders and conduct research in different countries with different university researchers.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
My projected impact is that thousands of researchers and students will be using the Go Research platform to connect and the world of research will progress. I want students from all walks of life getting involved in research, so that they can experience the joy of discovery and exploration.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Building a solid user base.
Task 2
Informing people in academia.
Task 3
Using social media to approach students.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Stay connected with current users.
Task 2
Task 3
Using social media to approach students.
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
I am currently targeting researchers and students.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
A factor that makes my innovation successful is that it is geared towards an ultimate goal of making research more accessible. Furthermore, the “free” model makes it easier for researchers to post their opportunities.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
| Attachment | Size |
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| go_research_logo.jpg | 27.41 KB |
 | 45 weeks ago Japreet Lehal updated this Competition Entry. |
| 46 weeks ago Japreet Lehal updated this Competition Entry. |
| 46 weeks ago Japreet Lehal submitted this idea. |
