summer undergraduate research opportunities database

Office of Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Summer undergraduate research opportunities database, the summer undergraduate research opportunity database includes a list of primarily off-campus summer research opportunities available for undergraduate students..

Please note - This is not an exhaustive list of all summer opportunities. Though we actively manage and update this database, there are likely many opportunities, both on-campus and external, that our office has missed.

This database is maintained by the Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research . If you have any corrections, suggestions, or would like to add an opportunity to our database, please email [email protected] .

Most students choose to filter by "Research Area" and leave the "Keywords" field blank. You can also search using keywords; however, we recommend the use of general keywords (broad search terms) for best results (e.g., "chemical" instead of "crinine and haemanthamine alkaloids".)

Press "Apply" to apply these filtering criteria and update the list of opportunities shown.

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Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database

Our database is a great resource in helping students find exciting undergraduate research opportunities at Penn State.

To get the best results, we recommend that you select all of the research areas that interest you. We also recommend that you conduct multiple searches.

Campus – Select the campus(es) where you would be interested in participating in research. Depending on the time of year when you are using the database, consider whether your location changes. For example, do you spend your summers closer to a different campus than where you regularly attend school?

Research Area – Select the area(s) of research that interest you most, keeping in mind that research is often interdisciplinary so it might be appropriate to select more than one area. For example, if you are interested in health you might want to search for opportunities in the physical sciences, life sciences, and nursing and health sciences, because these research areas could all be relevant to your interest in health.

Position Type – Select the position type(s) that are most appealing to you. If you prefer whether you earn credit versus being paid, be sure to narrow down the search results using this field.

Note : You may not receive academic credit and be paid for the same research experience in a given semester.

• “Work Study” is only available to students who have received a federal work-study (FWS) award . You can verify if you have an FWS award by visiting LionPATH and reviewing your "Financial Aid Summary.” If you do not have a federal work-study award, your mentor can also inquire with the Office of Student Aid - 814-865-6301 - to determine if you are eligible to be awarded one.

Mentors interested in creating an account or posting an opportunity should visit the Posting Undergraduate Research Opportunities section.  

Opportunities Database

Faculty, Post-Docs, and Graduate Students: Click here to post a research opportunity.

NOTE : If you are eligible for Federal Work-Study (FWS), you can find hundreds of research opportunities on the FWS website. To find out if you are eligible or if you are new to having a FWS award, visit the UNC FWS website . If you are a returning student who already completed the mandatory training and has access to JobX , log in and click “Find a Job” under the student menu. From there, click the “Research Jobs” button in the middle of the page.

Students with or without FWS can use the database below to look for opportunities.

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Availability

Research Assistant for the Social Neuroscience and Health (SNH) Lab

The Social Neuroscience and Health (SNH) Lab is currently recruiting undergraduate research assistants for the Spring 2025 semester. Our lab explores the intersection of social factors and health outcomes, focusing on how systemic inequalities shape physiological processes. The SNH Lab is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from students of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in research.

Research assistants will gain hands-on experience in all phases of research, including participant recruitment, data collection, literature reviews, and analysis. You will work closely with graduate students and faculty, learning key skills in social neuroscience and health psychology.

We are looking for highly motivated students with strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a passion for understanding the psychosocial determinants of health. Prior research experience is a plus but not required.

We have two roles available for undergraduates: (1) Academic Year Research Assistant-RA (2) Phlebotomist

Due to specific project needs, we are seeking RAs and phlebotomists who have availability on weekdays between 12 PM and 5 PM.

This is an excellent opportunity for students considering graduate school or careers in psychology, neuroscience, or public health. To apply, please visit the Carolina SNH Lab website and fill out the application form.

Undergraduate Researcher (Foundation Models and Generative AI)

The AIMING Lab is led by Dr. Huaxiu Yao at UNC-Chapel Hill. AIMING stands for Adaptive Intelligence through Alignment, Interaction and Learning. We aim to develop adaptive intelligent agents with strong generalization and adaptation capabilities, achieved through precise alignment, efficient interaction, and continuous learning. We are now working on generalizable and reliable foundation models (e.g., LLMs, VLMs, Diffusion Models), and applying these models to biomedicine, robotics, and social science.

We are hiring unpaid undergraduate researchers to work with us on a bunch of exciting topics related to foundation models and generative AI. Prior undergrads have published papers in top AI venues (e.g., ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, CVPR, EMNLP, ACL). Please refer to my website for our recent research (https://www.huaxiuyao.io/).

Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP)

The Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP) is a collaborative research and professional development program funded by the National Cancer Institute. Applications will be accepted from highly motivated UNC-CH, NCA&TSU, and NCCU undergraduate students to participate in our 10-week summer research program. The Program’s goal is to increase the participation and representation of students from medically underserved areas in cancer research, contributing significantly to the growth of the biomedical workforce. For program details and application information, please visit the below website.

DEPENd Lab Computer Science Research Assistant

The Developmental Personality Neuroscience (DEPENd) Lab is looking for talented computer science students interested in ongoing programming projects. Our research focuses on the development of neurobehavioral systems underlying personality and individual differences. We are interested in how the maturation of emotion regulation and behavioral inhibition in adolescence and young adulthood supports self-regulation and social functioning. Work in the lab involves neuroimaging projects in the emerging field of decision neuroscience, which combines computational models of decision-making with model-driven analyses of fMRI data. Our research also incorporates latent variable models, including structural equation, graphical/network, and mixture models.

We are looking for students with strong interests in programming and neuroscience to join our lab as research assistants. Competitive applicants will have at least some experience in Linux shell scripting (esp. bash) and R or Python languages. Undergraduates will have the opportunity to extend a large research codebase in the lab and to contribute to new projects in fMRI data preprocessing and analysis, and Bayesian modeling.

Preference is given to undergraduate students that commit to working 2 semesters or longer in the lab. Interested students should fill out the application here: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0xptQOYVokIhvpP

The lab website can be found at dependlab.unc.edu.

Contact us at [email protected] with any questions!

Research Assistant Opportunity for Political Science Dissertation (Game Theory)

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science seeking a highly motivated undergraduate student with advanced understanding of multivariate calculus to assist with a game-theoretic research project. This is an unpaid position but offers valuable research experience, including assisting with a dissertation that applies mathematical tools to political science.

Responsibilities include working with game-theoretic models and helping refine and solve complex mathematical expressions in the context of political science.

Ideal candidates will have:

1) Strong background in multivariate calculus 2) Interest in political science or game theory 3) Ability to work independently and meet deadlines

This is a great opportunity to gain research experience and strengthen your CV for future academic or professional pursuits.

Research Assistant

This undergraduate research opportunity involves hands-on experience with human joint specimens, including tissue collection, processing, and paraffin embedding. Students will perform tissue sectioning and staining, single-cell isolations, nucleic acid and protein extractions, and data processing and analysis. Responsibilities will be tailored to individual availability through discussions with the principal investigator. In addition, students will have the opportunity to conduct literature reviews, assist with daily lab activities, and contribute to ongoing projects. Lab members are encouraged and supported to present their research at various forums, including poster presentations and journal publications.

research assistant/coder

This research opportunity involves working with a graduate student in sport administration (and his advisor) on a research project that examines the inclusive/exclusivity of Olympic sport transgender athlete participation policies. You will be trained on how to do document coding. You will review the transgender athlete participation policies of various national governing bodies and code the statements according to a code book that will be provided for you. On a regular basis, you will meet with the supervisor and other coders to compare code books and reconcile the coding. You can participate as a volunteer or for research credit through the EXSS 395 undergraduate research course.

Undergraduate research opportunities in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) in low- and middle-income countries

Background The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the world’s leading research and learning institutions for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH). We conduct qualitative and quantitative research across the entire WaSH sector and play a major role in advancing evidence-based policies and practices in national, regional, and international fora. Our mission is strengthening global WaSH through research, policy, and practice. Our core focus is producing policy and practice-oriented science. We target our research to address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations to ensure that people have sustainable access to WaSH to meet their health, economic, social, and environmental needs. The Water Institute has several openings for undergraduate students to participate in research related to WaSH in low- and middle-income countries. The Water Institute addresses these challenges through research that identifies problems, develops solutions, demonstrates that solutions can work in the real world, and scales up action. Current opportunities Students who complete research through the Water Institute will receive hands-on training and mentoring from our core faculty and staff. Students will have opportunities to network with WaSH professionals, apply quantitative, qualitative, and project management skills, collect and/or analyze data, and learn about programmatic approaches used by major non-governmental and multilateral organizations (e.g., WHO, UNICEF). Opportunities are available for the following topics: • Reviewing and analyzing water system data to understand the occurrence of toxic metals in drinking water in low- and middle-income countries • Analyzing school, healthcare facility, household, and water system data to understand enablers and barriers to WaSH service delivery in LMICs • Reviewing the effectiveness and evidence of the impact for WaSH in healthcare facility interventions and programmatic approaches • Documenting knowledge management systems and diffusion of learning within the WaSH sector • Evaluating WaSH infrastructure sustainability and operations and maintenance We are particularly interested in students with the following skills: • Statistical analysis/epidemiology • Environmental modeling • Qualitative interviewing and analysis • Systematic literature review • Technical writing and policy analysis

Interested students should complete the Qualtrics form at https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_efJVIZgTH6m49am When prompted for the keyword for this posting, please enter the keyword “general interest.”

Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogs with Walking Droplets

The Physical Mathematics Lab (PML) ( Intro Video ) offers a wide range of interdisciplinary problems that find motivation in very diverse fields, including soft matter, fluid mechanics, biophysics and quantum mechanics. One of PML’s themes is the study of new Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogs (HQAs) with walking drops ( Video ). Millimetric liquid drops can walk across the surface of a vibrating fluid bath, self-propelled through a resonant interaction with their own guiding or ‘pilot’ wave fields. These walking drops exhibit features previously thought to be exclusive to the quantum realm. This system has attracted a great deal of attention as it constitutes the first known and directly observable pilot-wave system of the form proposed by de Broglie in 1926 as a rational, realist alternative to the Copenhagen Interpretation ( Video & Read ). At PML, we work to unveil and rationalize new HQAs, thus challenging the limits between the quantum & classical worlds. Our investigations blend experiments & mathematical modeling (theory & simulations), we can thus tailor your project according to your interests & skills. Prior research experience is not necessary, you just need to be eager to learn!

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Summer research, summer research experiences.

Summer undergraduate research experiences provide College students the opportunity to engage in immersive, intensive mentored research. It gives them the opportunity to explore something new or to take current research to a more advanced level.

Summer research experiences often provide an opportunity to work with a community of research scholars and to present your work. CCRF advisors are available to help College students identify relevant summer research experiences, apply for programs and funding at the University of Chicago and beyond. 

College students are encouraged to attend a CCRF Planning for Summer Research  session for further guidance on finding and preparing for summer research experiences. 

Ccrf summer research experiences.

The College Summer Institute in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CSI):   The College Summer Institute in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences provides selected undergraduates the opportunity to undertake intensive intellectual training and research with accomplished scholars and peers at the University of Chicago. 

The University of Chicago and University of Sussex International Junior Research Associates Program: The UChicago-Sussex IJRA program provides selected College students the opportunity to participate in a summer of intensive, faculty-mentored research in the Humanities at one of the UK’s leading institutions of higher education, the  University of Sussex . As members of the IJRA program, College students in the arts and humanities will have the opportunity to undertake a fully-funded research experience as part of a dynamic community of scholars researching and living together at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK. This program is distinct from other opportunities for UChicago Humanities undergraduates to pursue international research because it invites students into a collaborative research experience, apprenticing with and contributing to the work of a leading scholar in an international context. 

CCRF Summer Research Funding

Quad Summer Undergraduate Research S cholars

Summer Research Experiences at UChicago and beyond

There are a number of University of Chicago Summer Undergraduate Research Programs, including NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) and departmental or divisionally-supported programs. Students are encouraged to search the CCRF Research Opportunities Database for a comprehensive list of opportunities. Use the search options "UChicago Research Opportunity" and "Summer" to refine your search.

There are hundreds of summer research programs hosted at other universities that may be of interest to College students. We also include these programs in the CCRF Research Opportunities database . Many of the opportunities we list as US Research Opportunities and International Research Opportunites are summer experiences. STEM students are encouraged to search the NSF REU database for summer research experiences at other US universities. There are additional opportunities included in other databases listed on our site. 

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Reu site: research & training in multidisciplinary field of regenerative sciences for undergraduates, ireu site: building networks for u.s. and international materials science undergraduates in germany, italy, singapore, and the united kingdom.

Students will conduct research in Germany, Italy, Singapore, or the United Kingdom for 10-12 weeks under the guidance of faculty and graduate students

REU Program in Earth Sciences and Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History

Reu site: systematics, evolution and conservation for the 21st century.

Additional contact: Maria Rios [email protected]

REU Site: Research in Radio/Radar Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences at Arecibo Observatory

Research experiences for undergraduates in sustainable chemistry and catalysis, reu site: quantitative research for the life and social sciences (qrlss), reu site: research experience for undergraduates in algebra and discrete mathematics at auburn university.

Previous Award 1560257 and 1950563

REU Site: Fall Semester Student Research in Oceanography and Marine Science at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

This REU program is conducted during the FALL SEMESTER and takes place entirely at BIOS in Bermuda. Online applications are due by May 31 each year.

REU at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

The application website usually opens in January with due dates in mid-February.

REU Site: Microbial Biofilm Development, Resistance, & Community Structure

Reu site: renewable energy generation and storage.

Join an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers in state of the art facilities at Binghamton University for a hands-on summer research and professional development experience. This REU program addresses scientific, technological, and training needs in the energy sector with research opportunities ranging from battery materials to photovoltaics and energy efficient systems.

REU Site: Multidisciplinary Underground Science at the Sanford Underground Research Facility

Reu site: blockchain technology for a secure data and communication future, reu site: cloud computing security and privacy, fundamental research in chemistry addressing problems in biology, reu site: boston university physics research opportunities (bu-pro), integrated nanomanufacturing, reu site: control of gene expression for biological effect.

program email: [email protected]

REU: Training Globally Engaged Undergraduates in Food Security Research at Egerton University in Kenya: A focus on Emerging/Unforgotten Tropical Food Crops, the key to Feeding the Future.

Reu site: plant genome research.

Program Coordinator: Delanie Sickler, [email protected]

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Summer Research Programs

Welcome to our database of summer research programs for undergraduates!

Research experiences for undergraduates (REUs, also known as SURPs or SURFs) are paid summer internships, usually for 6-8 weeks (sometimes including housing) at research institutions. Undergraduates are paired with a lab and gain valuable research experience. These are extremely helpful for obtaining post-graduate jobs in STEM and applying to graduate or professional schools.

  Our database contains more than 500 SURP programs! We encourage you to explore all columns, search and filter to help find a program that is right for you.

If information is out of date, check the program's website to be sure. Deadlines are approximate and in MM/DD format. They are usually around the same time each year.   If a webpage appears non-functional, it could mean that the program's website URL has changed - if you are interested in a specific program, try googling it to see if there is a more current website.

​For prospective Physician-Scientists (MD-PhD/DO-PhD), check out this additional list by the American Physician Scientists Association .

We welcome new submissions! To submit an entry to this database, please click here .

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Is there a change we should be aware of? Please contact us and let us know!

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Summer Research

Explore summer research opportunities at harvard, resources listed here are not exhaustive, but they highlight some key residential summer programs and independent funding options to start..

See additional options at the end of this page to expand your search for summer opportunities!

Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village (HSURV) Programs

HSURV is a collection of residential summer undergraduate research programs for Harvard College students and students from other colleges and universities across the U.S.. The village programs that run for 9 weeks to 10 weeks over the summer from June through August (summer dates to be confirmed in January of each year). Students conduct research, participate in professional development workshops, program cohort meetings, and program-specific and Village-wide social activities. Students showcase their research achievements in the final week of their summer program through research presentations. Students from the programs of the Research Village live together in the same River House on campus, creating a robust and exciting living, learning, and social community of undergraduate researchers. Students admitted to Research Village programs receive a stipend, housing, and meals; each program may have additional support for their particular student cohorts. 

Programs that comprise the Village are led by URAF and other partnering offices and academic departments at Harvard. The composition of the Village may vary from year to year. Below is a list of programs from the previous summer (2024). Each program has specific application, eligibility and participation requirements and deadlines.   For application instructions and deadlines, see each individual program page. 

• Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE)  - led by URAF, find a research position on your own, and apply to PRISE separately .  
• Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science (SPUDS ) - led by Harvard Data Science Initiative , seek a research collaboration with a Harvard faculty host, and apply to SPUDS directly .  
• Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH) Program - led by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) , apply directly to faculty-led project.
• Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program (SHARP) - led by URAF , apply into project designed by specified Harvard faculty or in collaboration with partnering libraries and museums .     
• Building Learning Inquiry for Social Sciences (BLISS) - led by FAS Social Sciences , apply into faculty-mentored research projects and positions.  
• Kempner Research in Artificial & Natural Intelligence for Undergraduates with Mentorship (KRANIUM)  - led by the Kempner Institute , s tudents must identify a Kempner faculty mentor, work with them to identify a project, and apply to KRANIUM separately.  
• Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF)  - led by the Salata Institute , students select from research assistantship positions .  
• Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO) - led by Harvard Business School , apply into existing positions. Faculty members develop research projects for undergraduates and mentor them throughout the process.  
• Harvard Amgen Scholars Program - led by URAF, a pplicants should select up to three potential faculty hosts from the departments, institutes, and schools listed on application site. Students are matched.  
• Harvard Systems Biology Internship Program - led by Harvard's Quantitative Biology Initiative and the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School . S tudents are matched with projects and mentors.  
• Harvard SEAS Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)  - led by the The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Office of Education Outreach & Community Programs. Students work on a project that is funded through a specific source, outlined by the program. Applicants can indicate a preference. Students and projects are matched.  
• Harvard Stem Cell Institute Program (HIP)  - led by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) , hands-on research in the laboratory of an HSCI faculty member. Students are placed into projects.  
• Dubois Scholars Program - led by the Office of the Vice President for Special Projects - (select HBCU institutions only). Each applicant will have the chance to select a research focus area that aligns with their current studies.  

Want to get a glimpse of past work from HSURV program fellows? See here: HSURV Abstract Books  

Additional Summer Research Programs to consider

• Generative AI Research Program - opportunity to work on a faculty-created project in Generative AI.  

Independent Project Funding Programs 

URAF provides funding for Harvard College students to pursue their independent summer research projects. Independent funding programs typically do not offer organized housing and meals as part of the award; instead they offer larger stipends for use towards accomodations arranged by awardees themselves. Unlike residential programs, these funding programs offer the flexibility to set start and end dates over the summer, and to do research in the field and/or remotely, outside of Cambridge, Massachusetts. There are no obligations to attend workshops and other on-campus programming over the summer. To be considered for funding through these programs, students must have the autonomy and independence over the design, implementation and execution all aspects of the research project proposed. Independent funding awards administered by URAF are: 

• Harvard College Research Program – independent project mentored by Harvard faculty 
• Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program – independent projects mentored by Harvard OR non-Harvard faculty 

There are many more independent research funding options offered through academic departments and research centers. Explore the following resources: 

• CARAT  - database of funding opportunities at Harvard, including department based thesis research funding, funding at research centers and more  
• Microbial Sciences Initiative Fellowship  - a research fellowship program for Harvard College students administered by the Microbial Sciences Initiative 
• Research Centers and Institutes

Want to expand your search for more summer opportunities, see here:

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