Clinical Exercise Physiology Student Placement: Young Adult Cancer Physical Activity Program

Placement Type: Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum/Placement

Duration & Commitment: Six months (with the potential for extension depending on program requirements and student interest); Approx. five hours/week

Location: Hybrid (British Columbia)

Compensation: This is an unpaid position, with a small stipend available. Students will be given authorship on papers, conference presentations, and forthcoming grants.

We are seeking a motivated clinical exercise physiology (CEP) student to join an interdisciplinary research and clinical team focused on developing and implementing a cognitively enriched physical activity program for young adults affected by cancer.

The placement is co-supervised by Amanda Wurz, Assistant Professor (University of the Fraser Valley), and Naomi Dolgoy, Occupational Therapist (University of Alberta), and offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience delivering exercise programming within a supportive interdisciplinary environment. The student will also receive mentorship from a CEP, return to work specialists, and psychosocial oncology researchers.

Our team brings together expertise in occupational therapy, return to work, exercise psychology, behaviour change, clinical exercise physiology, and exercise oncology.

Placement Responsibilities

The successful student will have opportunities to:

·         Deliver a cognitively enriched physical activity intervention for young adults affected by cancer.

·         Work directly with a clinical population (young adults affected by cancer) virtually and in-person.

·         Conduct exercise assessments and support exercise prescription under supervision, as appropriate to training and program requirements.

·         Support participant recruitment, screening, scheduling, and program coordination.

·         Assist with research data collection and study documentation.

·         Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and case discussions.

·         Contribute to program refinement and quality improvement activities.

·         Depending on interest and experience, assist with program evaluation, knowledge translation, and research dissemination activities.

Learning Opportunities

This placement provides experience in:

·         Exercise oncology and supportive cancer care.

·         Clinical exercise physiology within an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

·         Behaviour change and exercise counselling.

·         Exercise program implementation and delivery.

·         Applied research methods and data collection.

·         Patient-centred and evidence-informed care.

·         Collaboration with occupational therapy and rehabilitation professionals.

Students interested in research careers may also have opportunities to contribute to conference presentations and manuscript preparation, depending on project timelines and interests.

Qualifications

Applicants should:

·         Be enrolled in an accredited CEP program or recently completed their CEP training/certification.

·         Have strong communication and interpersonal skills.

·         Demonstrate professionalism, initiative, and attention to detail.

·         Be interested in working with clinical populations.

·         Have an interest in exercise oncology, rehabilitation, behaviour change, or interdisciplinary healthcare (preferred but not required).

Supervision

The student will receive regular mentorship and supervision from Amanda Wurz and Naomi Dolgoy.

Ideal Candidate

This placement is well suited for a student interested in pursuing a career in clinical exercise physiology, rehabilitation, exercise oncology, research, or graduate studies. Students will gain meaningful experience working directly with young adults affected by cancer while contributing to an innovative interdisciplinary program.

For additional information regarding this placement opportunity, please email either Amanda Wurz (amanda.wurz@ufv.ca) and Naomi Dolgoy (dolgoy@ualberta.ca) with “CEP Placement: Question” as the subject.

To apply for this placement opportunity, please email both Amanda Wurz (amanda.wurz@ufv.ca) and Naomi Dolgoy (dolgoy@ualberta.ca) by September 15, 2026 with “CEP Placement: Application” as the subject and include your:

·         Resume

·         Transcripts

·         Cover letter outlining motivation for applying

·         Names and contact information for 3 references (2 professional/academic and 1 personal)