undergraduate research opportunities near me

Colleges with the Best Undergraduate Research Programs

May 4, 2022

At many universities in the United States, the bulk of student research opportunities (and funding) go to graduate students. Yet, academic studies have repeatedly found that undergraduate research in college can be one of the most meaningful and informative experiences of one’s entire bachelor’s degree program.

The list below highlights 33 colleges that are among the very best at providing undergraduates with high-quality opportunities for mentored/supervised research with faculty. This can come in many forms: capstone experiences, class-based projects, summer research apprenticeships, or original research/scholarship as part of an independent study. No matter the form(s), all colleges and universities on this list excel at ensuring that students—even as early as freshman year—have a chance for hands-on academic/scientific exploration.

For a detailed assessment of undergraduate research opportunities at 200 of the nation’s top institutions, pick up the 2023 edition of our outcomes-oriented guidebook Colleges Worth Your Money .

American University

Undergraduate research opportunities are taken advantage of by 50% of first-year students and 40% of seniors. For the last thirteen years AU has hosted an Undergraduate Research Symposium at the end of each year where students can present their research.

Baylor University

This university encourages undergraduates to collaborate with professors on research “as early as the first semester of their freshman year.” The Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Achievement (URSA) office does a superb job connecting students with a research opportunity in their field of interest.

Binghamton University

Research opportunities are available with the Freshman Research Immersion program being one shining example. This program welcomes students to college with a year-long authentic research experience in the sciences and engineering. The Office of Undergraduate Research is adept at connecting students in all fields, not just STEM, to research opportunities alongside faculty members. The school’s own undergraduate research journal, Alpenglow , gives students the chance to publish scholarly, as well as original creative works.

Brown University

Undergraduate research is a big part of the Brown experience for many students; 50% conduct research alongside a faculty member and 43% completed an independent study.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) enjoy wide participation with 80% of undergraduates partaking, and 20% of that group going on to publish their results.

Carnegie Mellon University

In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office, and many others participate through various outside arrangements

Case Western Reserve University

An exceptional 84% of students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research as the school places heavy emphasis on experiential learning.

Clark University

The average undergraduate class size is exactly 20 students. As a result, strong working relationships with faculty routinely develop. An impressive 67% of students participate in undergraduate research at some point in their four years of study.

The College of New Jersey

The Council on Undergraduate Research awarded TCNJ its signature honor, the Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishment. In addition to plenty of research opportunities in the hard sciences, this school has invested in specialized facilities that include twenty psychology research labs, a digital humanities lab, and a fully equipped quantitative studies lab for criminology and sociology students.

The College of William & Mary

Undergraduate research opportunities are widely available. In the Chemistry Department, for example, 80-90% of students complete independent/professor-assisted research with many becoming coauthors of studies alongside faculty. Across the college 80% of undergraduates participate in research each year.

The College of Wooster

A Wooster education is bookended by two highly-regarded rites of passage: a First-Year Seminar in Critical Inquiry and three Independent Study courses, one taken in junior year to learn research skills and two senior year to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor. Wooster is one of the few schools out there that can genuinely state that every graduate is afforded a supervised research experience

Dartmouth University

Undergraduate research opportunities abound with roughly three-fifths of students participating at some point. Further, close to 90% of those participants report having a satisfying experience working with a faculty member in that capacity

Duke University

The Undergraduate Research Support Office does great work connecting students with opportunities to conduct research, either over the summer or during the regular school year. All told, more than half of undergraduates conduct research.

Harvard University

Harvard offers a plethora of ways for undergrads to get involved in hands-on research. Summer research experiences facilitated by the Harvard College Research Program are taken advantage of by 37% of the student body. Also, the Faculty Aide Program helps pay undergrads to work alongside faculty as a research assistance and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programs offers stipends to 20 juniors each year for summer research.

Harvey Mudd University

Mudd prides itself on offering graduate-level research opportunities and experiential learning to all undergrads. The college backs up its philosophical stance with cold, hard cash, allocating three million dollars annually to facilitate student-faculty research. Students can participate during the school year or during the Summer Undergraduate Research Program that entails ten weeks of full-time laboratory work. The Clinic Program groups juniors and seniors and lets them work on a real-world problem for corporate or agency sponsors for 1,200 to 1,500 hours over the course of one year. It is not uncommon for participants to end up with their name on a patent.

Johns Hopkins University

Fittingly for America’s first research university, 70% of JHU undergraduates complete a research experience while working closely with a faculty member. Each year, hundreds of students receive significant funding for independent projects through the Hopkins Office for Undergraduate Research.

Lawrence University

Professors are expected to allow undergraduates access to their research studies; for example, every member of the Chemistry Department has to run an active research group. The Lawrence University Research Fellows (LURF) program offers a stipend during ten-week, research-focused terms. All told, close to two-thirds of LU students gain hands-on research experience at some point during their four years of study.

MIT is known for having one of the best formalized undergraduate research programs in the country. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) operates year-round and helps connect 90%+ of undergrads to a research experience with an MIT faculty member.

Princeton University

Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Office of Undergraduate Research, formed in 2014, assists Tigers in locating faculty members with whom they can jointly conduct research which occurs in the summer or during a regular term.

Pomona College

Small class sizes lead to the forging of student-professor bonds that help 53% of the undergraduate population conduct research alongside a faculty member. Each summer, 200 students remain on campus for such an endeavor.

Rhodes College

Three-quarters of students at this institution engage in some form of undergraduate research. Opportunities are plentiful in every academic discipline to collaborate with faculty on research projects, and the annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium is a chance to show off student projects. An affiliation with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital leads to intensive summer research opportunities for those in the hard sciences.

Rice University

Undergraduate research opportunities abound with approximately 70% of graduates participating in academic research during their four years. Those experiences are open to freshmen through the Century Scholars Program and to all underclassmen through the Rice Undergraduate Scholars Program.

St. Lawrence University

An exceptional 82% of the Class of 2020 participated in an undergraduate research experience. These opportunities are a true possibility at a school with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 67% of course sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. The average class size is just 16 students.

Stanford University

Unsurprisingly, given the size of its endowment, Stanford puts unmatched resources behind undergraduate research; more than $5.9 million in grant funding is allocated each year to support roughly 1,000 student research projects.

Swarthmore College

Thanks to a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and zero grad students, professors are extremely available in and outside the classroom. As a result, two-thirds of graduates complete at least one undergraduate research or independent creative project, and the college sets aside $800,000 in funding for that express purpose.

Trinity College

Working closely with faculty is a real possibility at this school where one hundred students conduct research each year alongside faculty through the Summer Research Program, and roughly two-thirds engage in some type of undergraduate research.

University of California – Berkeley

Undergraduate research opportunities do exist despite the school’s massive size; over 55% of students assist faculty with a research project or complete a research methods course in their time at Berkeley.

University of California – Irvine

More than three-fifths of students have conducted a research project, and 20% have assisted faculty in conducting research. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program helps students with proposal writing, developing research plans, and presenting their results at the annual spring UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium and/or publishing their results in the UCI Undergraduate Research Journal .

University of Chicago

Undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member. The College Center for Research and Fellowships organizes the Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Annual College Summer Institute which is primarily intended for those studying the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

University of Rochester

An impressive 77% of students are involved in undergraduate research, a strong indicator that opportunities for intimate learning experiences are plentiful. Their Office of Undergraduate Research helps students “study architecture in Mount Hope Cemetery, cancerous tumors in Medical Center labs, details of neutrino beams near Tokyo, Dante’s haunts in Italy, and public health in Denmark, to name only a few examples.”

Vassar College

Opportunities to get involved in undergraduate research are taken advantage of by 300+ students each year who work side-by-side with professors on research in the sciences, social sciences, or arts and humanities. Additionally, roughly 500 students engage in credited community-based learning in local organizations or agencies. Vassar’s Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) has been operational since 1986 and offers a plethora of ten-week research experiences in everything from astronomy to computer science to psychology.

Villanova University

From the start of freshman year, opportunities for meaningful undergraduate research will be within your grasp. The Villanova Match Research Programs for First Year Students allows second-semester freshmen to work as research assistants alongside distinguished faculty. The Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellows Summer Program is taken advantage of by many upperclassmen; in total 93% of 2020 grads who sought out a research experience were able to find one.

Yale University

Undergraduate research is a staple of the Yale academic experience; 95% of science majors participate in research with faculty. University-wide, undergraduate research fellowships are available to 90% of first-years who apply. In short, you’d have to try very hard to avoid engaging in research while an undergraduate at Yale.

You may also be interested in which universities do the best job of helping students land meaningful internships and/or co-op experiences. This can be found in our blog entitled Best Colleges for Internships and Co-Ops

• College Search/Knowledge

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

• Get Curious
• Talk to People
• Take Action
• Inspire Others
• Events and Outcomes
• JHU At-A-Glance
• Students and Schools
• Ready to Hire?
• Mentor Students
• Hire Students
• “When U Grow Up” Podcast

A student’s guide to undergraduate research

• Share This: Share A student’s guide to undergraduate research on Facebook Share A student’s guide to undergraduate research on LinkedIn Share A student’s guide to undergraduate research on X

Originally written by Shiwei Wang for Nature journal in March 2019.

Participating in original research during your undergraduate studies can greatly expand your learning experience. However, finding the project can be a challenging task, so here’s a short but comprehensive guide that can help you get the most out of an undergraduate research opportunity.

Choose the right lab

Learn to think like a scientist. A lot of people start their undergraduate research by glancing at the faculty list and e-mailing multiple professors whose work seems interesting. Although this might get you a position somewhere, it is not the most effective approach. Before looking at labs, dive into the science to find out which areas fascinate you. Read a lot, go to talks, and talk to your professors not just about their classes, but about science in general as well.

Subscribe to e-mail newsletters from journals such as Nature and Science. Try to read research highlights and science news regularly. Podcasts and articles by, for example, Nature, Science, Scientific American or Quanta can also be interesting sources of information. Follow academics, journals and universities on Twitter. Start your undergraduate research by learning more about science, thinking like a scientist and working out what you love.

Look for questions, not subjects. You might have chosen a major to study, but don’t let this limit your search for research labs. Modern labs are interdisciplinary and very different from what you do in undergrad labs. Instead of limiting your search to your department, try to look at labs in all related departments. Choose labs on the basis of the questions they’re trying to answer.

Mentoring is as important as research. Contact group members to learn about your prospective laboratory’s environment. Are the group members close? Is the lab friendly or competitive and condescending? Is the lab head hands-off or hands-on? The size of the group is also important. If you join a small group, you’ll have a higher chance of being mentored directly by your principal investigator, whereas in a big group, you are more likely to be mentored by a postdoctoral researcher or graduate student.

Reach out with confidence. Once you’ve determined that the research programme interests you and the group dynamic is healthy, send the principal investigator an e-mail. Make sure to explain why you’re interested in working in the lab and that you have spoken to other lab members. Be patient if they don’t reply. If you don’t receive a response after a week or so, send a second e-mail or reach out in other ways, such as by asking group members to enquire for you.

Get the most out of the experience

Start your research with reading, and keep on reading. Usually, the principal investigator will assign you a mentor and a project. Ask for literature to read: learning about the state of the field and why the work is important will help you to push the project forward. Read about your field as well as other, totally unrelated fields. As an undergraduate, you have the freedom to change your major and your future plans. Make sure to strike a balance between reading and conducting experiments. It’s hard to do both at the same time, but it will make you a better scientist.

Set specific goals for yourself and let your mentors know. Think about what you want from your research and how much time you are willing to put in. Besides learning the techniques, do you want to learn how to analyse results and design experiments? Do you want to learn how to write proposals by applying for undergraduate research grants? Do you want to improve your presentation skills by going to conferences? Do you want to potentially finish a project for publication? Working out what you want to achieve will help you to direct your time effectively.

Research takes time. Don’t blame yourself if experiments don’t work or the project is not moving forward as fast as you expected. Science is about failing and trying again. Getting used to and coping with frustration is part of the learning curve of research.

Find a healthy balance. University is already a lot of work, and research will only take up more time. When planning your schedule, try to allocate large blocks of time (whole afternoons or individual days) to research. Rushing through a procedure could be unsafe and will often produce useless results. Always plan extra time for experiments. Consider working less in the lab during exam weeks so you don’t get overwhelmed. Talk to your mentor about your schedule and feelings regularly, so that you can arrange experiments at times that suit you, and you can keep on top of your mental health.

Find financial support. If you wish to do research at your own institution over the summer, your institution might offer funding to cover your expenses. If you want to go to another university, you can apply for funding from that institution’s undergraduate research programme, or from foundations, companies or academic societies. For example, the US National Science Foundation offers a Research Experiences for Undergraduates programme. Universities, foundations and academic societies might also offer grants to cover your travel expense to various conferences. Don’t let money limit what you want to do. Talk to senior students or professors, or search online to find all the opportunities!

Always think about the big picture. Your undergraduate research doesn’t define what you’re going to do after your degree. Keep reading and taking classes outside your comfort zone. Explore and learn as much as possible. Working out what you love is the best preparation you can get for the rest of your career.

Read the full article on the Nature website.

To find a research opportunity at Johns Hopkins University, visit the Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Research website .

• Utility Menu

Undergraduate Science Education at Harvard

A world of exploration. a world of expertise..

Research Opportunities and Funding

• Look below to find summer and term-time Harvard research opportunities on campus and abroad. • For summer programs at other sites, see Summer Programs Away in the tab on the right. • For selected undergraduate science research opportunities at Harvard, see the Undergraduates: Open Research Positions & Projects  tab on the right.

• Funding For Research at Harvard
• Research Away Harvard Programs

Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) Summer Scholars Program Brigham Research Institute Undergraduate Internships Broad Institute at Harvard Summer Program CARAT Cell Biology Research Scholars Program (CRSP) Center for Astrophysics Solar Research Experience for Undergraduates Program CURE, Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center DaRin Butz Research Internship Program on Biology of Plants and Climate Ernst Mayer Travel Grants in Animal Systematics E3 Evolution, Ecology and Environment REU Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program Harvard College Funding Sources Database Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology Harvard Global Health Institute Funding for Independent Projects and Internships Harvard Global Health Institute Cordeiro Summer Research Fellowship Harvard Global Health Institute Domestic and Global Health Fellowships  Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Summer Internship in Systems Biology Harvard Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Program Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology HST Summer Institute Harvard Origins of Life Initiative Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biological Sciences Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology Harvard Stem Cell Institute Harvard Student Employment Office Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine Harvard University Center for the Environment Undergraduate Fund Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program (any science area) International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) McLean Hospital Mental Health Summer Research Program MCZ Grants-in-Aid for Undergraduate Research MGH Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Program MGH Summer Research Trainee Program MGHfC Digestive Disease Summer Research Program Microbial Sciences Initiative Mind, Brain, Behavior Summer Thesis Award PRISE (any science or engineering area) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics, HMS Summer Program in Epidemiology, HSPH STARS - Summer Training in Academic Research Training and Scholarship Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard Summer Research Program, Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH) Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program Ragon Institute Summer Program The Arnold Arboretum The Joey Hanzich Memorial Undergraduate Travel and Research Fellowship Undergraduate Research in Mathematics Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Oceanography Undergraduate Summer Immunology Program at Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Summer Research in Physics

Harvard College Funding Sources Database  - Database of both Harvard and outside funding sources for a variety of educational purposes, including research. Additional database: https://uraf.harvard.edu/find-opportunities/resources-your-search/campus-partners  

The  Harvard Student Employment Office  manages a Jobs Database , the Faculty Aide Program  and the Federal Work Study Program . All of these programs may offer student research assistant opportunities. The site also provides information about Job Search Resources  and Research Opportunities .

  CARAT  – CARAT (Common Application for Research and Travel) is used by all the major funding sources at Harvard.

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP)  – Summer (or term time) stipend. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at 77 Dunster Street.

Deadlines:   Fall term funding: 12 noon (EST), Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Spring term funding: 12 noon (EST), Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Summer funding: 12 noon (EST), Tuesday, March 22, 2022  [TENTATIVE]

Late applications  will not  be accepted for term-time or summer cycles.

Conference funding: rolling application deadline

Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard

The Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) program connects undergraduates interested in a PhD with first-class researchers working in the life and physical sciences, humanities, and social sciences. This program is offered through GSAS and the  Leadership Alliance .

During this 10-week program, SROH interns conduct research and participate in discussions with Cambridge-based Harvard faculty, build their presentation and research discussion skills, and take part in field trips with other Harvard summer programs. Students in the program live in Harvard housing and enjoy access to the outstanding resources of the university.

Note that we also have funding for students interested in  atmospheric sciences  as part of the NSF-supported International Partnership in Cirrus Studies project.  Please see pire.geosci.uchicago.edu for information on participating faculty. Research focuses on modeling and measurement of high-altitude clouds.

PRISE  – The Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE) is a summer residential community of Harvard undergraduates conducting research in science or engineering. By the application deadline students must be progressing toward finding a lab or research group but do not need to have finalized their research group or project. Participants must be in residence and be active participants for the entire duration of this ten week program.

Deadline:  Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 12:00 noon (EST)

Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program  – Primarily directed toward students intending to pursue research-intensive concentrations and post-graduate study in the sciences. Undergraduate research either at Harvard or elsewhere, including internationally. Applications from the  Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships .

Deadline:  Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 12:00 noon (EST) via CARAT

Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program  -- The Amgen Scholars Program at Harvard is a 10-week faculty-mentored residential summer research program  in biotechnology for sophomores (with four quarters or three semesters of college experience), juniors, or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall to continue undergraduate studies)

Deadline : Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 12 noon

Harvard Origins of Life Initiative

Research Grants:   Harvard undergraduates can apply for grants to support their research during the academic year.

Summer Undergraduate Program:  Summer Undergraduate Research Grants are available for undergraduates working in Origins member faculty  on Origins-related projects. Possible research areas include astronomy, astrophysics, chemical biology, geophysics, chemistry, genetics, and earth and planetary sciences. 

iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team  - The iGEM team is a research experience targeted toward undergraduates interested in synthetic biology and biomolecular engineering. 

Mind, Brain, Behavior  – Summer Thesis Awards for rising seniors in the MBB track. Applications through MBB.

If interested, contact Shawn Harriman in March of your junior year.

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program (HIP) – for students interested in stem cell biology research. Students conduct research in labs affiliated with the HSCI. Accepted students are matched with a research laboratory group. or any college or university across the United States and internationally.  Harvard University will sponsor the visas for international students who are selected for this program.

Deadline:  Feb 7, 2022

Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine (HSRPKM) - an introduction to nephrology (kidney medicine) for the undergraduates considering career paths spanning science and medicine. The Program includes nephrology divisions of four Harvard-affiliated hospitals – Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston’s Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Deadline : check the program website: https://hskp.bwh.harvard.edu/

BCMP Summer Scholars Program at Harvard University is organized by the The Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) at Harvard Medical School. This 10-week program is open to both Harvard undergraduates and to students from other colleges and universities. Students must be authorized to work in the United States.

Deadline: contact program for details

Undergraduate Summer Immunology Program at Harvard Medical School  - a ten week summer research internship with a stipend. The program consists of laboratory research, lectures, and workshops and is open to Harvard undergraduates and students from other colleges and universities. Applicants must be eligible for employment in the US.

Deadline: contact program 

Microbial Sciences Initiative  - Summer research with Harvard Faculty. Email applications to  Dr. Karen Lachmayr .

Deadline:  contact program

Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH)  offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to research critical issues in global health under the direction of a Harvard faculty or affiliate mentor. Students in SURGH receive housing in the Harvard Undergraduate Research Village and a stipend for living expenses. The summer savings requirement is also provided for students who are on financial aid. Throughout the summer, participants in SURGH have the opportunity to interact with students in the other on-campus research programs. 

Domestic and Global Health Fellowships (DGHI)  offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to work in field-based and office-based internships in both US health policy and global health. Sites can be domestic or international. Students receive a stipend to cover travel expenses to and from their site, living expenses, and local transportation. Unfortunately DGHI cannot cover the summer savings requirement for students who are on financial aid. 

Harvard Global Health Institute Funding for Independent Projects and Internships

Funding for projects in the United States and abroad.

Deadline: contact program

The Joey Hanzich Memorial Undergraduate Travel and Research Fellowship  provides up to $5000 to a rising junior or rising senior enrolled in the Secondary Field in Global Health and Health Policy (or another field) who pursues a summer internship, project or research in health policy or global health, either in the United States or abroad.

Cordeiro Summer Research Fellowship Registered GHHP students may apply for a Cordeiro Summer Research Fellowship for the summer before their senior year. Each year 12 to 15 fellowships allow students to get a head start on their senior theses or research projects related to global health or health policy without incurring major costs to themselves.

Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology HST Summer Institute  - The HST Summer Institute offers hands-on research experience for undergraduates in two areas of study: Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Optics . Participating institutions include the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School.

Deadline : contact program

MCZ Grants-in-Aid for Undergraduate Research  -The Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), the Harvard University Herbaria (HUH), and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (AA) award small grants in support of faculty-supervised research by Harvard College undergraduates.

Deadlines:  contact program

Ernst Mayer Travel Grants in Animal Systematics

Proposals are reviewed two times a year. 

The Arnold Arboretum : Fellowships are available to support undergraduate research

• Ashton Award for Student Research
• Cunin / Sigal Research Award
• Deland Award for Student Research
• Shiu-Ying Hu Student/Postdoctoral Exchange Award
• Summer Short Course in Organismic Plant Biology
• Arnold Arboretum Genomics Initiative and Sequencing Award
• Jewett Prize
• Sargent Award for Visiting Scholars
• Sinnott Award

Living Collections Fellowship  – Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Hunnewell Internships  – Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Summer Short Course in Organismic Plant Biology Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology  - The Harvard Forest Summer Research (REU) program is an intensive 11-week residential research and education experience at the Harvard Forest, a 3,700-acre outdoor laboratory and classroom in central Massachusetts. Students conduct research on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest ecosystems, including global climate change, hurricanes, forest harvest, changing wildlife dynamics, and invasive species. The program includes a stipend, free housing, all meals, and the travel cost of one round trip to Harvard Forest. This program is open to not only Harvard undergraduates, but also students from all colleges and universities in the United States.

Harvard University Center for the Environment Undergraduate Fund  provides financial support for student research projects related to the environment. In the context of this program, 'environment' refers to understanding the relationships and balances of the natural and constructed world around us, with a particular emphasis on understanding how anthropogenic activities and policies affect the environment, including the intimate relationships between energy use and demand, environmental integrity and quality, human health, and climate change.  Two types of funding are available: 1) Funds for independent research (preference given to rising seniors seeking funds for senior honors thesis research) and 2) Research Assistantships (directed summer research experiences under Harvard faculty guidance). Award are intended to be applied towards living expenses (room, board), travel expenses related to research activities, and minor research expenses (for students doing independent research projects) for up to 10 weeks.  Awards are not intended to serve as a salary stipend for students. 


Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Oceanography : The Harvard Oceanography Committee has funding and fellowships for both term time and summer research. 

Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biological Sciences -   This intensive 8 week laboratory-based biological research program is for undergraduates during the summer following their sophomore or junior years.

Additional programs at the HSPH:

• Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)  – for undergraduate students outside of Harvard
• Additional summer programs  – for undergraduate students outside of Harvard
• Additional summer programs  – for undergraduate students at Harvard
• Boston-based undergraduate students looking for coop or other research internship positions are encouraged to contact faculty members directly.

STARS - Summer Training in Academic Research Training and Scholarship  - provides underrepresented minority (URM) medical and undergraduate students an opportunity to engage in exciting basic, clinical and translational research projects during the summer at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS). Housing and stipend provided.

Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program  -- The Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program matches students with leading artists, scholars, scientists, and professionals. Radcliffe Fellows act as mentors and students provide research assistance, acquire valuable research skills, and participate in the Institute’s rich intellectual life.

Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology

The Summer Program is a relatively intensive 6-week program, during which qualified participants receive an interesting and enjoyable introduction to biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health research. This program is designed to expose undergraduates to the use of quantitative methods for biological, environmental, and medical research. 

MGH Summer Research Trainee Program

The goal of the MGH Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) is to inspire students who are underrepresented in medicine (URM) to consider careers in academic medicine by immersing them in cutting-edge research opportunities. Each summer, fifteen students are selected from a nationwide competition to join SRTP. Each student is assigned to a specific MGH laboratory, clinical site, health policy, or health services research area where they undertake an original research project under the mentorship and guidance of a Mass General Hospital (MGH) investigator. Assignments are carefully considered and are made with the student's research and career interests in mind. In addition to this unique research experience, students will gain knowledge through weekly didactic seminars, both at the MGH and at Harvard Medical School, attend career development workshops and networking event, and have opportunities for clinical shadowing.

Application deadline:  contact program

MGHfC Digestive Disease Summer Research Program

Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) Digestive Disease Summer Research Program provides support for 10 students at the undergraduate or medical school level. Each student will be matched with a research mentor to perform an independent research project focused on digestive diseases over a 10-week period during the summer months within a laboratory or collaborating laboratory of the MGHfC. MGHfC collaborating laboratories at MGH possess unique expertise in engineering and computational sciences in support of various projects centered on digestive disease research. 

Contact: Bryan P. Hurley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Program Director, Mucosal Immunology & Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School,  [email protected] ,   http://www.massgeneral.org/mucosal-immunology/Education/summer-research-program.aspx

Broad Institute at Harvard Summer Program

Broad Summer Research Program BSRP is a nine-week undergraduate research program designed for students with an interest in genomics and a commitment to research. Students spend the summer in a laboratory at the Broad Institute, engaged in rigorous scientific research under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers. Underrepresented minority students enrolled in a four-year college are eligible to apply.

Broad Summer Scholars Program BSSP invites a small number of exceptional and mature high school students with a keen interest in science to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute, working side-by-side with scientists in the lab on cutting-edge research. Rising seniors who live within commuting distance to the Broad Institute are eligible to apply.

DaRin Butz Research Internship Program   The program gives undergraduates in the life sciences a unique opportunity to experience research from start to finish while gaining training and connections among scientific colleagues. DaRin Butz Interns will not only conduct research, but will also develop their project with their advisors and be guided through the process of sharing their research through written reports and oral presentations, an important component of scientific research.

MGH Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Program

The Harvard Orthopedic Trauma Service provides number of undergraduate opportunities:

Orthopedic Internship

This internship is for undergraduate and graduate/medical students who are looking for exposure to Orthopaedic clinical and basic research.

Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Internship

Our program is intended for undergraduates interested in healthcare careers. Our interns are introduced to the hospital experience through orthopedic research and observation.

Women's Sports Medicine Summer Internship Program

Learn more about this month long internship open to medical and premedical students.

Summer Research Program, Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital

Summer Student Research Program sponsored by the Harvard Program in Neonatology, an academic program which includes Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The objective of the Summer Student Research Program is to provide motivated students with an intensive laboratory and clinical research experience under the guidance of Faculty and Fellow mentors from the Academic Program. The Summer Program experience includes:

Brigham Research Institute Undergraduate Internships

The internship programs hosted by the Brigham Research Institute provides undergraduate students with a focused and challenging summer research experience in a cutting-edge science laboratory. Interns will have the opportunity to obtain a research training experience in a laboratory or research setting at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Deadlines: check program website

Undergraduate Summer Research in Physics

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics

CURE, Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center

The CURE program introduces scientifically curious high school and college students from groups currently underrepresented in the sciences to the world of cancer research. Students are placed in laboratories and research environments at the seven DF/HCC member institutions: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as research environments at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Ragon Institute Summer Program

The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard brings together scientists and engineers from diverse fields to better understand the immune system and support human health. 

Deadline: check program website

Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Summer Internship in Systems Biology

The Undergraduate Summer Internship is our headline program enabling undergraduate students to collaborate with our researchers, as well as their own peers, through Harvard's Quantitative Biology Initiative and the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. ​Participants work in our labs, gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art tools, learn cutting-edge scientific techniques in our dynamic research environment. Students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD, and students from under-represented minorities or disadvantaged backgrounds, are especially encouraged to apply.  

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)  Research Experience for Undergraduates  (REU) is a 10-week program that introduces undergraduates to bioengineering, materials research, nanoscience, and engineering while providing a coordinated, educational, and dynamic research community that inspires them to seek a graduate degree. 

Center for Astrophysics Solar Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

Scientists from the Solar and Stellar X-Ray Group (SSXG) and the Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Group (SSP) at the  Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics  (CfA) host undergraduate students from around the US. Please visit the  website for more information .

E3 Evolution, Ecology and Environment REU

We are seeking rising sophomores, juniors and seniors majoring in the life sciences who would like to join a new Research Experience for Undergraduates program based in the  Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB)  at Harvard University. Members of the program will enjoy cutting edge research experiences within the context of a strong mentorship community made up of faculty, graduate students, and peers. In addition, members will participate in a professional development program that is aimed at preparing students for the graduate school application process, building confidence to succeed in graduate school, and exploring long-term career opportunities. These professional development activities will include attendance of the annual  Leadership Alliance National Symposium  (LANS) research and mentoring conference. The E3 REU is part of a larger umbrella program, hosted by the Harvard GSAS  Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) .

Program website:  https://reu.oeb.harvard.edu/sroh 

Harvard Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Program

The 10-week  Systems Biology Summer Internship Program  enables interns to work on research projects spanning many scientific fields, including systems biology, biophysics, bioinformatics, genomics, applied mathematics, and computation. 

McLean Hospital Mental Health Summer Research Program

This competitive program seeks to  engage scientific curiosity ,  create research opportunities , and  promote academic success in mental health fields  for promising young  Black, Indigenous and underrepresented People of Color (BIPOC) interested in science .  We had our first, very successful MMHRSP last summer, and applications are now open for next summer. MMHRSP is an intensive, 10-week, full-time mental health/neuroscience research experience at McLean Hospital. McLean is the primary psychiatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and is located in Belmont, MA ( https://www.mcleanhospital.org/ ).  Chosen Fellows will receive a $7,000 stipend for the 10-week program.  

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/training/student-opportunities#research

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/new-summer-research-program-welcomes-undergraduates-color

Cell Biology Research Scholars Program (CRSP)

The Cell Biology Research Scholars Program  provides a 10-week full-time research opportunity to undergraduate students with a passion for scientific discovery and fundamental biology. Students will be hosted by faculty investigators to work on cutting-edge research projects and participate in training workshops and mentoring activities in preparation for a productive scientific research career.

Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics , now entering its 15th year, is a 9-week full-time extensive research opportunity with a curriculum including didactic lectures, clinical case studies, a mentored research project, and presentation of findings. 

The  Summer Program in Epidemiology  at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is an intensive 5-week program that integrates mathematics and quantitative methods to provide students with an understanding of the skills and processes necessary to pursue a career in public health. 

Biodiversity of Hispaniola Booth Fund Fellowship Cognitive Neurosciences at the University of Trento, Italy Darwin and the Origins of Evolutionary Biology, Oxford, England David Rockefeller International Experience Grant Harvard-Bangalore Science Initiative Harvard Summer School Study Abroad in the Sciences HCRP Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program International Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (I-SURGH) RIKEN Center for Allergy and Immunology, Japan RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan Rosenkrantz Travel Grants Study Abroad in Paris, France The Office of Career Services (OCS) awards Undergraduate Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Research in Mathematics Undergraduate Summer Research in Physics Weissman International Internship

Harvard Summer School Study Abroad in the Sciences

In 2015 Harvard Summer School Science Study Abroad programs will be offered in the Dominican Republic, England, Italy, France, and Japan. See below for links to information on each of these programs.

Darwin and the Origins of Evolutionary Biology  - Oxford, England.

Prerequisites:  None. Apply through Harvard Summer School.

Information:   Andrew Berry

RIKEN Center for Allergy and Immunology  - Yokohama, Japan.

Laboratory research in immunology. Students will also receive some Japanese language training. Apply through Harvard Summer School.

Accepted students may apply to the  Reischauser Institute  for scholarships to help defray the costs of the program.

RIKEN Brain Science Institute  – Laboratory Research in Neurobiology, Tokyo, Japan.

Prerequisites:  Neurobiology of Behavior (MCB 80) or Animal Behavior (OEB 50); laboratory experience preferred but not required. Apply through Harvard Summer School.

Biodiversity of Hispaniola  - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  This six-week course covers basic prinicples of ecology, evolution, and island biogeography in the context of the diversity of habitats and organisms on the island of Hispaniola.

Prerequisites:  course work in biology

Information:   Brian Farrell  

Cognitive Neurosciences at the University of Trento  - Trento, Italy

This eight-week program at the University of Trento, Italy, organized by the Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative, provides students a unique opportunity to study the mind/brain. Taught by leaders in the fields of neuroscience and cognitive science, the program includes daily, hands-on, laboratory sessions (e.g., neuroimaging demos) and Italian language classes, all while surrounded by the breathtaking Italian Alps.

Information:   Alfonso Caramazza

Study Abroad in Paris, France

Biology and the evolution of Paris as a Smart City.

Information:  Robert Lue

• Bangalore, India;  The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research  (JNCASR)
• National Centre of Biological Sciences  (NCBS)
• The Indian Institute of Science  (IISc) 

Note:  This is not a Harvard Summer School Program. 

Prerequisites:  Introductory coursework in basic biology, chemistry, physics, and math.

Information:   Venkatesh N. Murthy  or   Ryan Draft

International Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (I-SURGH)  I-SURGH offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge global health research in an international setting. Students in I-SURGH receive a stipend to cover travel costs to and from their site, living expenses, and local transportation. Unfortunately Harvard Global Health Institute cannot cover the summer savings requirement for I-SURGH students who are on financial aid.  Once accepted to their site, participants in I-SURGH meet with a Harvard faculty member to develop a project that falls within the research agenda of the site. Throughout the summer, students work with a local mentor who supervises their daily work. While all returning Harvard College undergraduates are eligible to apply for an I-SURGH placement, preference is given to sophomores and juniors. 

The Office of Career Services (OCS) awards funding for research abroad, including both Harvard Summer School Study Abroad and non-Harvard International programs.  The  David Rockefeller International Experience Grant , which is a need-based grant aimed at students who have not previously received Harvard international funding, supports many of these awards. Award amounts vary. The purpose of the grant is to afford all students the opportunity to take part in a significant international experience, regardless of financial background. See the  Office of Career Services Summer Funding webpage  for more information.

Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program  – Primarily directed toward students intending to pursue research-intensive concentrations and post-graduate study in the sciences. Undergraduate research either at Harvard or elsewhere, including internationally. Applications from the  Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships .

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) – Summer stipend that can be applied towards travel expenses. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at 77 Dunster Street.

Weissman International Internship  – Research abroad for returning Harvard undergraduates. Average award ~$4000. More information and applications available through OCS.

Deadline:   See the  Office of Careers Summer Funding webpage

Booth Fund Fellowship  - For seniors to engage in a program of travel, study, research or observation that will further expand and challenge an existing interest in a particular field. 

Rosenkrantz Travel Grants

This grant program is exclusively for concentrators in History and Science.  It allows motivated rising juniors  (who have completed sophomore tutorial) and who are concentrating in history and science to devise a short but meaningful plan of travel and academic discovery in the United States or abroad. This grant program may serve as the first stage of research towards a senior thesis or junior research paper, but there is no requirement that it do so. The only requirement is a sincere passion for adventure and exploration, and a willingness to prepare well for the experience.

Please visit the Department of Physics webpage for more information:  https://www.physics.harvard.edu/academics/undergrad/summer

Please visit the Harvard Mathematics Department webpage for more information:  http://abel.harvard.edu/research/index.html

Undergraduate Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences

Please visit SEAS website for more information: https://www.seas.harvard.edu/faculty-research/research-opportunities

David Rockefeller International Experience Grant The David Rockefeller International Experience Grants were established in 2009 by David Rockefeller SB ’36, LLD ’69 to give students the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the world beyond the U.S. or their home country, and to learn about other countries and peoples by spending time immersed in another culture. The purpose of the grant is to afford all students the opportunity to take part in a significant international experience, regardless of financial constraints.

A significant international experience may consist of:

• summer study abroad programs
• internships and service projects
• research assistantships (under the direction of a principle investigator)
• experiential learning projects.
• Harvard-affiliated Labs
• Undergraduates: Open Research Positions & Projects
• Harvard Wintersession & Winter Recess
• Summer Programs Away
• Underrepresented Minority Fellowships
• Post-Bac Job Listings
• Post-Bac Resources
• Transportation for Researchers
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities (HUROS) Fair
• Undergraduate Research Spotlight
• Resume Template & Proposal Tips
• Lab Citizenship
• Research Ethics and Lab Safety
• Conference Presentation Grants
• Research Advising - Contact Us!

• Skip to Content
• Bulletin Home

• This Is MIT >
• Undergraduate Education >
• Academic and Research Options >

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

• Around Campus
• Academic Program
• Administration
• Arts at MIT
• Campus Media
• Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups
• Medical Services
• Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center
• Religious Organizations
• Student Government
• Work/​Life and Family Resources
• Advising and Support
• Digital Learning
• Disability and Access Services
• Information Systems and Technology
• Student Financial Services
• Writing and Communication Center
• Major Course of Study
• General Institute Requirements
• Independent Activites Period
• First-​Year Advising Seminars
• Interphase EDGE/​x
• Edgerton Center
• Grading Options
• Study at Other Universities
• Internships Abroad
• Career Advising and Professional Development
• Teacher Licensure and Education
• ROTC Programs
• Financial Aid
• Medical Requirements
• Graduate Study at MIT
• General Degree Requirements
• Other Institutions
• Registration
• Term Regulations and Examination Policies
• Academic Performance and Grades
• Policies and Procedures
• Privacy of Student Records
• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
• Art, Culture, and Technology Program
• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
• Center for Archaeological Materials
• Center for Bits and Atoms
• Center for Clinical and Translational Research
• Center for Collective Intelligence
• Center for Computational Science and Engineering
• Center for Constructive Communication
• Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
• Center for Environmental Health Sciences
• Center for Global Change Science
• Center for International Studies
• Center for Real Estate
• Center for Transportation &​ Logistics
• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
• Concrete Sustainability Hub
• D-​Lab
• Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation
• Division of Comparative Medicine
• Haystack Observatory
• Initiative on the Digital Economy
• Institute for Medical Engineering and Science
• Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies
• Institute for Work and Employment Research
• Internet Policy Research Initiative
• Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change
• Knight Science Journalism Program
• Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
• Laboratory for Financial Engineering
• Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems
• Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity
• Laboratory for Nuclear Science
• Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship
• Lincoln Laboratory
• Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
• Materials Research Laboratory
• McGovern Institute for Brain Research
• Microsystems Technology Laboratories
• MIT Center for Art, Science &​ Technology
• MIT Energy Initiative
• MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
• MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
• MIT Media Lab
• MIT Office of Innovation
• MIT Open Learning
• MIT Portugal Program
• MIT Professional Education
• MIT Sea Grant College Program
• Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
• Operations Research Center
• Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
• Plasma Science and Fusion Center
• Research Laboratory of Electronics
• Simons Center for the Social Brain
• Singapore-​MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre
• Sociotechnical Systems Research Center
• Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
• Women's and Gender Studies Program
• Architecture (Course 4)
• Art and Design (Course 4-​B)
• Art, Culture, and Technology (SM)
• Media Arts and Sciences
• Planning (Course 11)
• Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science (Course 11-​6)
• Aerospace Engineering (Course 16)
• Engineering (Course 16-​ENG)
• Biological Engineering (Course 20)
• Chemical Engineering (Course 10)
• Chemical-​Biological Engineering (Course 10-​B)
• Chemical Engineering (Course 10-​C)
• Engineering (Course 10-​ENG)
• Engineering (Course 1-​ENG)
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Course 6-​2)
• Electrical Science and Engineering (Course 6-​1)
• Computation and Cognition (Course 6-​9)
• Computer Science and Engineering (Course 6-​3)
• Computer Science and Molecular Biology (Course 6-​7)
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MEng)
• Computer Science and Molecular Biology (MEng)
• Health Sciences and Technology
• Archaeology and Materials (Course 3-​C)
• Materials Science and Engineering (Course 3)
• Materials Science and Engineering (Course 3-​A)
• Materials Science and Engineering (PhD)
• Mechanical Engineering (Course 2)
• Mechanical and Ocean Engineering (Course 2-​OE)
• Engineering (Course 2-​A)
• Nuclear Science and Engineering (Course 22)
• Engineering (Course 22-​ENG)
• Anthropology (Course 21A)
• Comparative Media Studies (CMS)
• Writing (Course 21W)
• Economics (Course 14-​1)
• Mathematical Economics (Course 14-​2)
• Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (MASc)
• Economics (PhD)
• Global Studies and Languages (Course 21G)
• History (Course 21H)
• Linguistics and Philosophy (Course 24-​2)
• Philosophy (Course 24-​1)
• Linguistics (SM)
• Literature (Course 21L)
• Music (Course 21M-​1)
• Theater Arts (Course 21M-​2)
• Political Science (Course 17)
• Science, Technology, and Society/​Second Major (STS)
• Business Analytics (Course 15-​2)
• Finance (Course 15-​3)
• Management (Course 15-​1)
• Biology (Course 7)
• Chemistry and Biology (Course 5-​7)
• Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Course 9)
• Chemistry (Course 5)
• Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (Course 12)
• Mathematics (Course 18)
• Mathematics with Computer Science (Course 18-​C)
• Physics (Course 8)
• Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
• Chemistry and Biology
• Climate System Science and Engineering
• Computation and Cognition
• Computer Science and Molecular Biology
• Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science
• Humanities and Engineering
• Humanities and Science
• Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science
• African and African Diaspora Studies
• American Studies
• Ancient and Medieval Studies
• Applied International Studies
• Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies
• Biomedical Engineering
• Energy Studies
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Environment and Sustainability
• Latin American and Latino/​a Studies
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Polymers and Soft Matter
• Public Policy
• Russian and Eurasian Studies
• Statistics and Data Science
• Women's and Gender Studies
• Advanced Urbanism
• Computational and Systems Biology
• Computational Science and Engineering
• Design and Management (IDM &​ SDM)
• Joint Program with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Leaders for Global Operations
• Microbiology
• Music Technology and Computation
• Operations Research
• Real Estate Development
• Social and Engineering Systems
• Supply Chain Management
• Technology and Policy
• Transportation
• School of Architecture and Planning
• School of Engineering
• Aeronautics and Astronautics Fields (PhD)
• Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making (Course 6-​4)
• Biological Engineering (PhD)
• Nuclear Science and Engineering (PhD)
• School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
• Humanities (Course 21)
• Humanities and Engineering (Course 21E)
• Humanities and Science (Course 21S)
• Sloan School of Management
• School of Science
• Brain and Cognitive Sciences (PhD)
• Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Fields (PhD)
• Interdisciplinary Programs (SB)
• Climate System Science and Engineering (Course 1-​12)
• Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science (Course 6-​14)
• Interdisciplinary Programs (Graduate)
• Computation and Cognition (MEng)
• Computational Science and Engineering (SM)
• Computational Science and Engineering (PhD)
• Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science (MEng)
• Leaders for Global Operations (MBA/​SM and SM)
• Music Technology and Computation (SM and MASc)
• Real Estate Development (SM)
• Statistics (PhD)
• Supply Chain Management (MEng and MASc)
• Technology and Policy (SM)
• Transportation (SM)
• Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course 16)
• Aerospace Studies (AS)
• Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1)
• Comparative Media Studies /​ Writing (CMS)
• Comparative Media Studies /​ Writing (Course 21W)
• Computational and Systems Biology (CSB)
• Computational Science and Engineering (CSE)
• Concourse (CC)
• Data, Systems, and Society (IDS)
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (Course 12)
• Economics (Course 14)
• Edgerton Center (EC)
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Course 6)
• Engineering Management (EM)
• Experimental Study Group (ES)
• Global Languages (Course 21G)
• Health Sciences and Technology (HST)
• Linguistics and Philosophy (Course 24)
• Management (Course 15)
• Media Arts and Sciences (MAS)
• Military Science (MS)
• Music and Theater Arts (Course 21M)
• Naval Science (NS)
• Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
• Special Programs
• Supply Chain Management (SCM)
• Urban Studies and Planning (Course 11)
• Women's and Gender Studies (WGS)

MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) gives undergraduate students the opportunity to collaborate on and contribute to real research across MIT. It is a hands-on way for students to pursue their passions, find new interests, or explore different majors.

When students participate in UROP, they hone important technical competencies that are essential to conducting effective research, as well as build skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication. Over the course of the experience, they develop relationships with faculty, graduate students, and other mentors who can make introductions that strengthen and broaden their professional network. These skills and connections provide students with an important advantage when launching a career or continuing their education.  

Projects can happen both on-campus and in the community, for pay or credit; they can last for a summer, a semester, or a year. UROPs are available in every MIT department, as well as centers and labs throughout the Institute.

Participation guidelines and other resources are available on the UROP website. For advice and assistance, contact UROP staff at [email protected] , 617-253-7306, Room 7-104.

Print this page.

The PDF includes all information on this page and its related tabs. Subject (course) information includes any changes approved for the current academic year.

Research Opportunities

In keeping with its mission as a research university, NYU strives, whenever possible, to include undergraduates in the production of knowledge. Since creativity and original work can take different forms in different fields, research is defined in its broadest sense, encompassing artistic and professional activities, as well as more traditional academic inquiry into the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Research extends and enhances classroom learning by enabling students to work one-on-one with faculty members (and, in some areas, also with highly trained postdoctoral fellows and graduate students). In addition to strengthening a student's resume and graduate or professional school applications, such experiences expand understanding of a discipline, engender productive mentoring relationships, and encourage the development of analytic and communication skills that are useful in any profession.

Research varies widely in nature, context, and extent both within and across undergraduate schools at NYU, ranging from research requirements in individual credit-bearing courses to independent study courses and honors theses or projects.

Below are just a few examples of the ways in which undergraduate students can get involved in the research happening at New York University:

• College of Arts and Science Research
• Gallatin Research Scholar Program
• Social Work Research
• Steinhardt Research
• Stern Research
• Tandon Research

• Utility Menu

GA4 tracking code

• CARAT (Opportunities Database)
• URAF Application Instructions
• URAF Calendar

Find Opportunities

With so many opportunities for research, study, travel, public service, and more at Harvard and beyond, it's tough to know where to begin! The resources in this section are aimed at helping you think through your ideas and connecting you with resources to find opportunities that fit your goals. 

• Getting Started

• Browse URAF Opportunities

Principles and Policies for Researchers

• Class Year Guides

Resources for Your Search  

• Resources for Your Search
• Finding Opportunities FAQs

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Undergraduate Research

You are in a modal window. Press the escape key to exit.

• News & Events
• See programs

Common Searches

• Why is it called Johns Hopkins?
• What majors and minors are offered?
• Where can I find information about graduate programs?
• How much is tuition?
• What financial aid packages are available?
• How do I apply?
• How do I get to campus?
• Where can I find job listings?
• Where can I log in to myJHU?
• Where can I log in to SIS?
• University Leadership
• History & Mission
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Notable Alumni
• Hopkins in the Community
• Hopkins Around the World
• News from Johns Hopkins
• Undergraduate Studies
• Graduate Studies
• Online Studies
• Part-Time & Non-Degree Programs
• Summer Programs
• Academic Calendars
• Advanced International Studies
• Applied Physics Laboratory
• Arts & Sciences
• Engineering
• Peabody Conservatory
• Public Health
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Plan a Visit
• Tuition & Costs
• Financial Aid
• Innovation & Incubation
• Bloomberg Distinguished Professors
• Our Campuses
• About Baltimore
• Housing & Dining
• Arts & Culture
• Health & Wellness
• Disability Services
• Calendar of Events
• Maps & Directions
• Contact the University
• Employment Opportunities
• Give to the University
• For Parents
• For News Media
• Office of the President
• Office of the Provost
• Gilman’s Inaugural Address
• Academic Support
• Study Abroad
• Nobel Prize winners
• Homewood Campus
• Emergency Contact Information

As  America’s first research university , we have been tackling difficult questions and finding answers since 1876.

Every day, our faculty and students work side by side in a tireless pursuit of discovery, continuing our founding mission to bring knowledge to the world. Whether you study engineering, chemistry, music, anthropology, or all of the above, every student here—no matter his or her major—is an investigator.

You can find research in whatever field you want because everyone here is doing some sort of research, and you can help out.

Explore supernovae alongside a Nobel laureate. Learn how to make music with lasers . Create devices that will save lives in impoverished countries . Take a grand tour of the cities that inspired some of the Western world’s great thinkers—Venice, Florence, Paris, or London.

At Hopkins, you can do all of the above. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Image caption: Kyra Bowden (left) and Grace Luettgen

Two juniors named Goldwater Scholars

Credit: Johns Hopkins University

Program funds undergraduate summer research experiences

Rising senior earns Beinecke Scholarship

Programs & fellowships.

• Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards : Receive up to $3,000 and be paired with a full-time faculty sponsor for research on any topic of your choosing
• Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program : Engage in hands-on, independent learning with faculty mentors and receive funding of up to $10,000 over four years
• ASPIRE grants : Promote independent research projects among undergrads in the School of Arts and Sciences; awards range from $500 to $4,500 per academic year

Learn more:

• Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Research
• Student research opportunities at the School of Engineering
• Student research opportunities at the School of Arts and Sciences

• Johns Hopkins University
• Address Baltimore, Maryland
• Phone number 410-516-8000
• © 2024 Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.
• Schools & Divisions
• Admissions & Aid
• Research & Faculty
• Campus Life
• University Policies and Statements
• Privacy Statement
• Title IX Information and Resources
• Higher Education Act Disclosures
• Clery Disclosure
• Accessibility

Programs Search

Resource Library

Partners Directory

STEM Programs

• Browse 600+ different Summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) and paid internships
• Portable college scholarships
• Programs that encourage community college applicants
• Post-Baccaluareate programs for recent graduates
• Short term opportunities (travel scholarships, summer institutes, etc.)
• Play View a quick video tutorial on how to use our advanced program search page!

Webinar Archives

• Paid Summer Research Experiences and Paid Internships: Finding and Applying to Programs
• Transitioning from Community College to a 4 Year College? How to use your science, technology, engineering, or math degree for an Ocean Science Career!
• Funding your STEM Graduate Education
• Funding your Graduate Education in the Ocean Sciences

General Student Resources

• Searching for a Program Watch this quick video on how to used our advanced search page to find programs.
• Student Information Form Use this form to sign up to receive notifications about programs and opportunities that match your interests and level of study.

Graduate School

• Grad School Tips on Applying How to find the right graduate department and advisor for you, how to find funding, and how to get organized to make the process as smooth as possible!
• Applying to Graduate School: Tips Timeline, and Tools of the Trade (CIC) A thorough guide to the graduate school process including a detailed timeline that you can follow as you apply.
• The Difference Between the Grad and Undergrad Experience What are the major differences between the undergraduate and graduate experience? A quick summary of how the two differ, including funding, relationship with your advisor, classwork and research, and independence.
• How to Find the Right Grad Program A checklist of questions to ask STEM graduate schools, departments, and programs. These questions will help you get the information you need to choose the right graduate program for you.

Preparing Applications

• Tips on Creating a Winning Application General tips to help you improve your applications — whether it be to scholarships, internships, or REUs (research experiences for undergraduates).
• Writing Strong Essays and Personal Statements Targeted toward undergraduate students, this handout provides detailed suggestions on strengthening your essays.
• Getting Strong Letters of Recommendation The what, why, and how, of getting strong letters of recommendation.
• Enhancing Your Fellowship Application Tips for strengthening your graduate fellowship applications.

Summer Research Experiences

• The Benefits of an Undergrad Summer Research Program By Diana Lizarraga, an essay describing the benefits a summer research experience can have on a student's career trajectory.
• Applying to Summer Research Experiences (REU) and Internships The what, why, and how -- including a timeline for applying.
• Discussing Summer Research with your Family Sometimes it is hard to explain to family why you want to leave home for the summer to participate in an internship or summer research program. This handout provides suggestions and examples to assist students in discussing their STEM aspirations with their family.

Membership Information

• Learn About Membership
• View a list of current members

Project Spotlights

• AGEP Pathways & Connections
• NASA Opportunities
• Pathways to Engineering
• Pathways to Ocean Science

Mentoring Manual

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PROFILE

Considering graduate school.

• Internship and Research Opportunities
• Submissions
• Volumes and Issues
• SPUR Awards
• Cumulative Index
• Online Article Search
• Position Statements & White Papers
• Publications
• Undergraduate Research Stories
• Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research (COEUR)
• Integrating and Scaffolding Research into Undergraduate STEM Curricula
• Paper and Presentation Opportunities
• Student Journals
• Student Resource Center
• Advocacy Tools
• Assessment Tools
• Characteristics of Excellence
• Community Colleges
• International Collaborations

The  National Science Foundation  has a  search page that includes the contact information for Research Experiences for Undergraduates summer research programs. You will need to contact the specific program for application information. Additionally, programs may submit their specific application information for publishing in the list below.

PathwaysToScience.org  has a  searchable database  of 600+ summer research programs for undergraduates in all STEM disciplines. These are all fully funded opportunities including programs sponsored by NSF, NASA, NIH, etc.  They also have a selection of resources to help you strengthen your applications.

The opportunities below have been submitted to CUR for display.

The Summer Immersion is designed to educate the next generation of scientists committed to advancing science ethically using nonanimal methods for research and testing. This FREE 3-day program provides an overview of in vitro, in silico, and in chemico approaches and their many applications in basic, translational, and regulatory science to replace animals. Attendees will participate in scientific talks, career development workshops, poster presentations, technology demonstrations, and more.

SPARC offers a 10-week mentored summer research experience at the George Washington University (GW) Cancer Center. This program is intended for undergraduates underrepresented in STEM who are considering Ph.D. training and a career in cancer research. SPARC scholars receive exposure to contemporary cancer research techniques, understanding of health disparities and impact of cancer in different communities, and preparation for research careers. Stipend and housing in the heart of DC included.

Advertise a Research Opportunity!

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Skip to content

Research Opportunities

• Cross-Institutional Initiatives

Cornell is an amazing place with lots of opportunities to get involved in undergraduate research! There are colleges, there are schools and there are departments. In addition, there are institutes and centers that cross-college boundaries and can be great places to look for research opportunities.

• Summer Opportunities

Summer is an excellent time to get involved in research, or to learn new research skills and systems. There are hundreds of summer research programs in the US and abroad, as well as opportunities to work with individual faculty.

• Weill Medical Opportunities

Weill Medical School in New York is an excellent place to look for a summer research opportunity. They host a number of summer programs for students interested in bio-medical research, and individual faculty host students in their labs.

Research by the Numbers

Cornell students who earned credit for their research efforts in 2011

Undergraduates who earned credit for participating in research during the course of their study at Cornell during the 2011-12 academic year

The number of hours a typical senior science major spends each week in the lab while participating in a faculty-led research project

The average weekly reading load for a humanities major participating in a faculty-led research project

The MIT education: Undergraduate research

One of the earliest programs of its kind in the United States, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) supports thousands of projects each year with 94% of MIT graduating seniors conducting research, for pay or for credit, during their undergraduate years.

In 1969, Margaret MacVicar, then a 26-year-old MIT professor (and alumna), established UROP  with funding from the inventor Edwin Land . Since then, MIT has spent well over $100 million on the UROP program—redefining the nature of research at MIT. Hundreds of academic papers published each year draw on UROP research, and most undergraduates will be included as coauthors on them.

Every scientist was once a novice: UROP gives you a point of entry to begin work that can last a lifetime.

Hands-on research

Through UROP you can perform hands-on research projects with faculty mentorship. The projects span every stage of the process of academic inquiry, beginning with the drafting of a plan, continuing through the process of conducting research, and often resulting in coauthored papers, conference presentations, and even the occasional invention—and you can take part for pay or credit.

How to UROP

You may apply for advertised UROP positions or propose your own . Or conduct your research at MIT, off campus , or even internationally . You may UROP at any time ⁠ 01 Although, informally, we'd advise you that maybe get your feet under you first. First-year UROPs are often possible but only sometimes prudent. during your MIT career.

• Although, informally, we'd advise you that maybe get your feet under you first. First-year UROPs are often possible but only sometimes prudent. ⁠ back to text ↑

Related blogs

Living la vida lab rat So the moral of the story is that freedom is relative in science. And that…

• by Mollie B. '06
• March 25, 2006

Tomorrow is MacVicar day! Tomorrow is MacVicar day. See poster presentations by MIT students who have made an impact…

• by Melis A. '08
• March 2, 2006

To a mouse (or nineteen) A eulogy for my UROP mice... in the form of me explaining my UROP.

• September 16, 2005

An Early History of International Students at MIT studying the people MIT made, and the people who made MIT

• by Yuliya K. '18
• February 9, 2017

A week in the life

• by Jessie L. '07
• September 25, 2005

Smaller than the eye can see but with the potential to change the world: nanotech!

• February 20, 2008
• 22 comments

The GW Hatchet

Are you human? Yes!

Email address:

SEAS initiative adds undergraduate research opportunities in course curriculums

A multi-university initiative that includes the School of Engineering and Applied Science added research opportunities for undergraduates into course curriculums last year.

The Research for All program — which two SEAS professors founded in 2022 — is in its second year of a three-year, $2 million Kern Family Foundation grant program focused on helping students find research projects. Jason Zara, one of the founders, said in the past two years one professor in each of SEAS’ six departments has implemented course-based undergraduate research experiences, or CUREs, into their classes to give undergraduate students, who often lack formal research opportunities, a chance to gain experience in research.

“The goal of the project is not actually the conduct of the research,” Zara said. “It is helping to build an infrastructure to facilitate better interactions between undergraduates and research laboratories and more equitable access to those opportunities.”

Zara, the associate dean for undergraduate studies in SEAS, said mechanical engineering students in the Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers course use ultrasound technology   to monitor hormone releases in the body as a CURE. He said students taking the biomedical engineering department’s Thermodynamics course test the vulnerability of the District’s infrastructure to extreme weather events.

He said students in the past two years filled out surveys about the research after completing the research curriculum in their classes and that once the data is processed, officials will use the responses to guide them in the implementation of CUREs into curriculums for more SEAS courses next year.

“These are meant to be kind of the gateways so that we can hopefully, after year three, be able to say any student who comes through the School of Engineering and Applied Science will get an exposure to undergraduate research through their coursework,” Zara said.

Zara said the “Research for All” program is made up of three groups — URCurious, URConnected and URSkilled — each containing three participating universities. GW, along with George Fox University and the University of Washington, Tacoma, concentrated its research within the URCurious aspect, which aims to increase undergraduate students’ interest in research opportunities through initiatives like CUREs.

The University of North Carolina and Campbell and North Carolina A&T State universities are involved in URSkilled, while Olin College of Engineering and Baldwin Wallace and Valparaiso universities are working on URConnected.

Zara said students participating in the program have understood how their course concepts apply to research better through the CUREs program compared to solely class lectures. He said students can connect information they learn from lectures to practical uses through hands-on experimentation they would conduct in a laboratory environment.

“They all report a better understanding of research and what research really is, what happens in research projects,” Zara said. “The hope is they will also show a better connection to the materials that they’re learning and the research in the course because applications is everything.”

Zara said GW and eight other universities have been implementing the URCurious, URConnected and URSkilled initiatives in different ways to accommodate differences in the universities. He said GW faculty are implementing the CUREs as weeklong parts of courses while other universities that operate on different schedules are doing semesterlong CUREs.

Zara said he hopes by the end of the third year of the program in 2025, all of the initiatives will be available at all participating universities since the universities are currently implementing them in different ways.

Zara said all nine participating universities will hold workshops later this month where the leaders of each program will share the projects that had the most student engagement on their campus so other partner universities know which projects to implement. He said program staff will provide an implementation plan on research opportunities for each university at the end of May.

“The hope is that if we can build something that is implementable in some form at these nine institutions, it should be implementable anywhere because we have a range of size, we have a range of student population, we have a geographical diversity, all sorts of things,” Zara said.

Jeff Dusek, an associate professor of engineering and the principal investigator for the project at Baldwin Wallace University, is working on URConnected along with colleagues at Olin College of Engineering and Valparaiso University. He said the URConnected group is focused on connecting students with faculty-led research opportunities through increasing access to common applications for research for students.

“One of the explicit goals was to not just have a job board,” Dusek said. “Job boards are very passive. You post something and it’s kind of the onus is on the student to try to find the position, reach out. And I would say one of the things we’re really trying to do with the URConnected piece is more of a relationship building.”

Dusek said Baldwin Wallace and other partner universities created “personas” or models of students of different demographics based on responses to a student survey on how they would like the university to increase research opportunities. He said faculty leaders then used those models to design websites and applications with research opportunity listings that these models of students would best interact with.

“One of our main takeaways is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, right?” Dusek said. “So we’re trying to create this virtual environment and often you think this website is going to be equally useful to everyone, but institutions are just really different from each other.”

Richard Goldberg, an associate professor and the director of undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said he is leading the third component of the project, URSkilled, which is implementing workshops for students to gain skillsets necessary for research and mentorship training workshops for faculty. He said the student workshops include lessons on how to make 3D printers designs, how to laser cut and how to use different tools to connect pieces of machinery.

“When undergraduates or when anybody is doing research and engineering, you are, in most cases, you’re building stuff,” Goldberg said. “And so, one aspect of your skill was to give students the hands-on design and fabrication skills they need in order to be successful in a research lab.”

Anastasia Rynearson, an assistant professor at Campbell University, is leading the URSkilled mentorship workshops for faculty and graduate students who assist undergraduates with research. She said her workshops consist of teaching mentors best practices like continually checking up on students and adjusting leadership styles for students who learn differently than others. She said she and her colleagues at Campbell University   are working to compile these best practices into a guidebook to give to the other participating universities.

“Everybody’s an important piece of this puzzle,” Rynearson said. “And we’re trying to make sure that we are working with everybody to provide the best possible support to create good undergraduate research experiences in the future.”

Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects

At many schools, students receive the opportunity to do intensive and self-directed research or creative work that results in an original scholarly paper or other product that can be formally presented on or off campus. They may work independently or in small teams and are typically mentored by a faculty member. In spring and summer 2023, we invited college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools to nominate up to 15 institutions with stellar examples of undergraduate research/creative projects. Colleges and universities that received 10 or more nominations are ranked here. Read the methodology »

To unlock full rankings, SAT/ACT scores and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass !

• Clear Filters

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA

• #1 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
• #2 in National Universities

Though the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be best known for its math, science and engineering education, this private research university also offers architecture, humanities, management and social science programs. The school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from downtown Boston.

(fall 2022)

SAT, GPA and More

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

• #2 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
• #24 in National Universities  (tie)

Carnegie Mellon University, a private institution in Pittsburgh, is the country’s only school founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The school specializes in academic areas including engineering, business, computer science and fine arts.

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA

• #3 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
• #7 in National Universities  (tie)

The California Institute of Technology focuses on science and engineering education and has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 3:1. This private institution in Pasadena, California, is actively involved in research projects with grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Harvard University

• #4 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
• #3 in National Universities  (tie)

Harvard University is a private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. This Ivy League school is the oldest higher education institution in the country and has the largest endowment of any school in the world.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

• #5 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects  (tie)
• #1 in National Universities

The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a "no loan" policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition.

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

• #21 in National Universities

The university boasts of Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from Detroit, as one of the best college towns in the U.S. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but not required to live on campus. Students can join one of the school’s more than 1,500 student organizations or 62 Greek chapters. Athletics play a central role at Michigan, including the football team’s fierce rivalry with Ohio State. Michigan also offers highly ranked graduate programs, including the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Law School and Medical School, in addition to the well-regarded School of Dentistry and Taubman College for Architecture and Urban Planning. The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers is ranked among the top hospitals in the country.

(out-of-state)

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA

• #7 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects  (tie)
• #33 in National Universities  (tie)

Georgia Tech, located in the heart of Atlanta, offers a wide range of student activities. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, an NCAA Division I team, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have a fierce rivalry with the University of Georgia. Since 1961, the football team has been led onto the field at home games by the Ramblin' Wreck, a restored 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe. Georgia Tech has a small but vibrant Greek community. Freshmen are offered housing, but aren't required to live on campus. In addition to its campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia Tech has campuses in France, Ireland, Costa Rica, Singapore and China.

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.

Yale University

New Haven, CT

• #9 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
• #5 in National Universities

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 14 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning and socializing.

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

• #10 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
• #9 in National Universities  (tie)

Johns Hopkins University is a private institution in Baltimore that offers a wide array of academic programs in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, and engineering disciplines. The Hopkins Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team is consistently dominant in the NCAA Division I; other sports teams at Hopkins compete at the Division III level.

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• REU Program Overview
• Program Solicitation

For Students

• Search for an REU Site
• For Faculty
• REU Contacts
• Research Areas

NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.

By using the web page, Search for an REU Site , you may examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. Also, you may search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location.

Find Research Opportunities

Because there are many pathways to find a research opportunity at UNC, students sometimes wonder where to start. We encourage undergraduates to start by learning about their options and connecting with students, faculty, and OUR staff before engaging in research.

Explore new areas and learn more about what interests you. Discover who’s doing research on campus that piques your curiosity and begin to ask your own questions. Learn the methods of the discipline that will enable you to get involved in research.

• Take courses. Many students at UNC start their research in a class. Click here to find classes that can help you find out what research is like in a particular field, to learn techniques for conducting research, or to begin to do your own research.
• Surf department websites to learn which professors and graduate students are doing research that interests you.
• Browse the OUR website and Database of Research Opportunities often to look for new opportunities. Explore the research happening at UNC’s Research Centers and Institutes . If you are interested in Biological/Biomedical Research, use the BBSP site to learn about research happening in labs across campus.
• Read about undergraduate research through peer publications like JOURney .
• Attend workshops via the Office of Undergraduate Research.
• Attend symposia and colloquia in your department.
• Take a short course on research methods at the Odum Institute or attend a workshop, training, or consultation at the Makerspace .
• Learn how other students are doing research at the annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research .
• Consult OUR guides.  Click here to find a guide on getting started in research in the humanities.

Connect with others in the research community and find ways to do your own research. Finding a research mentor (usually a faculty member, a postdoctoral fellow, or a graduate student) is a helpful way to find guidance and exposure to more opportunities. Finding the right mentor for your research may take perseverance, so ask OUR staff, Department Liaisons, and/or Student Ambassadors to help you navigate your research path and make connections.

• Meet with an OUR Faculty Liaison or Director of Undergraduate Studies in your department to get a faculty perspective on how to get involved in research and to make connections between your research interests and faculty doing similar work.
• Meet with OUR Student Ambassadors to hear a student’s perspective and to get ideas for networking and finding research opportunities.
• Connect with professors and graduate students doing research that interests you. Go to office hours or email (see Tips for Emailing Faculty ) to request an appointment. Once you learn about their projects, you can ask if they are looking for undergraduate research support.
• Connect with University librarians to learn about Carolina faculty research expertise, publications and performances, and review the websites of faculty whose work interests you.
• Meet   with someone from the Office for Undergraduate Research  to ask questions and to chart your next steps. See our Staff page to make an appointment with Dr. Bob Pleasants.

After you’ve learned about research opportunities and connected with a research mentor, you’re ready to get started. You can support faculty or graduate students in their research projects, engage in course-based research for credit, or find funding for your own original research project.

• Work with faculty or graduate students doing mentored research in a volunteer or paid research project, or take a research-intensive course for credit.
• Apply for funding through a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) or a Summer Award for Research-Intensive Courses , or use the Embark Carolina Funding Finder or the Carolina Internal Funding Database to look for other sources grants, awards, and fellowships.
• Join or create an Undergraduate Research Consultant Team (URCT) .
• Present your research at the Celebration of Undergraduate Research or use a Travel Award to attend a conference.
• Register for the Carolina Research Scholars Program (CRSP) to earn a transcription designation for your research experience.

Additional Research Opportunities at UNC

OUR is one of many units across UNC-Chapel Hill that provide opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research. Click here to learn about some of the programs offered by other administrative units at Carolina and also look at our Summer Research Opportunities page. This page is updated quarterly so some programs or links may have changed. If you are aware of changes or additions that should be made in future versions, please email them to [email protected] .

Biological and Biomedical Research Opportunities

This site was designed for students who intend to apply to graduate programs, but it includes resources that are helpful for undergraduates who want to identify faculty working in particular research fields.

Research Centers and Institutes at UNC

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the 12th largest research university in the United States, and it has more than 100 affiliated research centers and institutes where scholars collaborate to apply their expertise to specialized areas in health, education, technology, social and environmental issues, and more. Find out about opportunities at these centers and institutes. 

Additional Research Opportunities Outside UNC

Many companies and organizations near Carolina have internship or workshop opportunities that involve research. If there are organizations that work in an area of your interest, try contacting them to see whether they have a formal internship program, or whether they have other opportunities for you to work with or shadow a researcher. A limited list of Triangle-area opportunities OUR has heard about are listed here , but you should also talk to UNC  Career Services to learn about other possible options. You can also look at our Summer Research Opportunities page for further resources.

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates

There are also many research opportunities and programs available outside of UNC. The National Science Foundation has compiled a site of Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), providing links to research opportunities in the natural sciences.

The Ohio State University

• BuckeyeLink
• Search Ohio State

What to Know About Undergraduate Research

Many students don’t consider undergraduate research when searching for a co-op or internship, but it can have the same benefits – if not better – than those traditional options. This blog will detail the benefits of undergraduate research, including skills you can gain, types of research, and how to find opportunities.

Benefits of Undergraduate Research

The field of research is the heart of innovation and is responsible for the continuous advancement of medical care, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and so much more. Similar to an industry internship or co-op, participating in a research lab gives students the opportunity to gain experience, build a relevant skillset, and learn about their field. Unique to research, though, is the development of critical thinking skills. Because they’re constantly looking for new answers, methods, or ideas, researchers build very strong critical thinking skills, which are highly desired in the world of engineering. Other skills like independence and collaboration are also specially attained in research because you are responsible for designing/completing your own experiments and analyzing the results with multidisciplinary teams. Beyond technical and interpersonal skills, research also provides the opportunity to present and publish your work. Whether you present your research at a conference or publish it in a research journal, being an author on a formal technical document is an amazing qualification to have when applying for a position – in both industry and academia!

How to Find Opportunities

Research opportunities may be posted on job boards, like Handshake or LinkedIn, but you’re more likely to find them elsewhere. There are two main types of research opportunities you will find: on-campus at Ohio State and at other institutions. Ohio State professors love to take on undergraduate students and frequently have positions available. The best way to find professors and information about their research is on the department website (i.e., biomedical engineering ). Many departments have professors separated by research interest, so it is very easy to search within a field you are interested in. From here, you can reach out by email to professors to ask them about open positions (I like to format it similar to a cover letter, but ECS can help draft an email with you!). On-campus research can be completed during the school year while still taking classes or during the summer, where you can take on more hours. On the contrary, off-campus research is more similar to an internship, where you can work full-time over the summer or take a co-op during an academic term. Specifically during the summer, many universities offer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs) where you typically live on that universities campus. 

Ultimately, there are a plethora of research opportunities here at Ohio State and across the nation, which are frequently available for younger students without prior experience. Getting involved in research can help you build a unique and relevant skillset that’ll make you stand out on job applications while also getting hands-on experience in advanced topics. Research experience is just as impactful as internship or co-op experience, so start your search today!

“Don’t wait for opportunity, create it.” - George Bernard Shaw

Related News

Yale College Undergraduate Admissions

• A Liberal Arts Education
• Majors & Academic Programs
• Teaching & Advising

Undergraduate Research

• International Experiences
• Science & Engineering Faculty Features
• Residential Colleges
• Extracurriculars
• Identity, Culture, Faith
• Multicultural Open House
• Virtual Tour
• Bulldogs' Blogs
• First-Year Applicants
• International First-Year Applicants
• QuestBridge First-Year Applicants
• Military Veteran Applicants
• Transfer Applicants
• Eli Whitney: Nontraditional Applicants
• Non-Degree & Alumni Auditing Applicants
• What Yale Looks For
• Putting Together Your Application
• Selecting High School Courses
• Application FAQs
• First-Generation College Students
• Rural and Small Town Students
• Choosing Where to Apply
• Inside the Yale Admissions Office Podcast
• Visit Campus
• Virtual Events
• Connect With Yale Admissions
• The Details
• Estimate Your Cost
• QuestBridge

Search form

Pioneering discoveries by students

While working with and learning from faculty at the forefront of today’s most exciting breakthroughs in all disciplines, Yale undergraduates have discovered new species, created new technologies, developed and patented new products, and co-authored original research.

Yale research changing the world

Yale researchers recently tested the possibility that a single vaccine could tackle both Zika and the West Nile Virus. Yale physicists discovered a time crystal that “ticks” upon exposure to an electromagnetic pulse, and Yale scholars of Architecture and Forestry collaborated with the UN to design an Ecological Living Module.

Extraordinary resources, available to all

To inspire original research, Yalies have access to a dazzling collection of unique resources at their fingertips including the Center for Engineering Innovation and Design , the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library , the Brain Imaging Center , the Peabody Museum of Natural History , the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments , the Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art . 

Summer research fellowships awarded to first-year students

Undergraduate science majors who do research with faculty.

$1 Million+

Funding for undergraduate science research fellowships annually

Science, math, and engineering labs at Yale College and the graduate and professional schools.

Holdings in Yale’s libraries

Real research in the first year

First-year students can begin conducting original research by using a Yale College First-Year Summer Research Fellowship that provides support for a summer research experience in the sciences and/or engineering under the supervision of a Yale faculty member. More than 100 such fellowships are set aside for first-year students.

Diversity in the sciences

Since 1995, Yale’s nationally recognized STARS (Science, Technology and Research Scholars) Program has promoted diversity in the sciences through mentoring, academic year study groups, and an original research-based summer program for students in their first and second years. Juniors and seniors have the opportunity to continue their research through the STARS II Program.

A team from the Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association was chosen by NASA as one of sixteen across the country whose CubeSat research satellites will be flown into space as auxiliary payloads on upcoming space missions. Yale’s Bouchet Low-Earth Alpha/Beta Space Telescope (BLAST) will map the distribution of galactic cosmic radiation, providing insight into the origins of the universe.

• Research Opportunities

Start your undergraduate research

Undergraduate research is open to every undergraduate in any discipline.

But you can do so much more than conduct research. That's just the starting point for experiences that can connect you to students and faculty around the University, country and world. 

• Attend or present at the Undergraduate Research and Arts Expo
• Apply for an Undergraduate Research Grant
• Publish findings in the Northwestern Undergraduate Research Journal
• Submit your work to the Undergraduate Awards , an international pan-discipline awards program
• Contact the Office of Fellowships to see if you qualify for a fellowship

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

What direction will your research take you?

As an undergraduate at Northwestern, not only do you have the option to engage in scholarly research, regardless of your school, but your options for undergraduate research are almost endless. Here’s where it’s taken six of our undergraduates.

I’m working on a research project to develop the chemical vapor deposition of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides for applications in nanoscale photonics and solid-state devices.”

Spencer Park McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science Dual-Degree Program: Trumpet Performance & Materials Science and Engineering; Business Institutions Program minor

I recently had an Undergraduate Research Grant to research indigenous language maintenance within the Lepcha community of India. My research advisor is helping me put my research into the bigger picture of language revitalization work.”

Steffi Brock-Wilson Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Economics major; Certificate in Civic Engagement

I’m working in a lab with Dr. Beverly Wright. I am being considered a peer among faculty members. It's an amazing opportunity to get started on research very early in my undergraduate experience.”

Simran Chadha School of Communication Communication Sciences and Disorders major; Global Health and/or Political Science minor

I worked with a professor to research and edit a textbook on social media. Also, I spent several quarters working with the professor who founded “The Youth Project,” a Medill-run publication centered on issues of social justice.”

Carter Sherman Medill School of Journalism Journalism and International Studies double major

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Finder

Opportunity finder.

• About the OUR
• Definitions
• Request a Consultation
• Request a Presentation
• Faculty & Staff Home
• Research Mentors
• What Other Faculty Are Saying
• CURE—Purdue Home
• Get Started in CUREs
• Previous Participant Information
• CURE Resources
• Get Started
• Successful Mentoring
• Mentoring Resources
• Find a Student Researcher
• Add Research to Your Course
• Mentoring FAQs
• Council on Undergraduate Research
• Research Roundtable
• Summer Research Program Information
• Consultation Request
• Students Home
• Search Opportunities
• Online Course Series
• OUR Scholars
• What Current Undergraduate Researchers Are Saying
• Undergrad Research Pitch Competition
• Get Published
• Market Your Research Experience
• Schedule an Appointment
• Undergraduate Research Society of Purdue
• OUR Ambassadors
• Conferences Home
• Fall Expo Information
• Fall Expo Deadlines
• Judge Registration and Information
• Photo Gallery
• Fall Expo Archives
• Spring Conference Information
• Conference Deadlines
• Conference Archives
• Celebrate Purdue's Thinkers, Creators, and Experimenters
• Celebrate FAQs
• Celebrate Archives
• Summer Symposium Information
• Past Abstracts
• Additional Purdue Conferences
• Scholarships & Grants
• OUR Scholarship
• Non-OUR Grants

You can also search for opportunities through OURConnect !

See any outdated information or an annual program that is missing from this page email [email protected] .

Entomology Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Department of Entomology’s research portfolio consists of basic science that builds on strengths in insect/plant interactions, and applied pest management research focused on stakeholder needs and priorities. We work on a range of insect and nematode problems using diverse tool-sets and varied disciplinary approaches. Our research areas include: Arthropod Molecular Biology and Genomics, Pest Management, Host Plant/Insect/Nematode Interactions, Environmental and Evolutionary Entomology, International Development and Cooperation and Insect Science Education.

Contact: Amanda Wilson at [email protected]

Website:   Entomology

Purdue Undergraduate Research Experiences for Plant Biology and Data Science (PURE-PD)

The Purdue Undergraduate Research Experiences for Plant Biology and Data Science (PURE-PD) is a 10-week immersive research program that connects undergraduate researchers with state-of-the-art authentic research in plant biology and big-data-driven science practices. The PURE-PD program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

See below under "Summer Purdue Research Opportunities"

Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF, formerly MASI)

​Find your passion in undergraduate research!  The Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF) is designed to expose you to the wide-ranging field of plant sciences and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math).​

SCARF is open to Purdue College of Agriculture undergraduate students each summer. Students experience in-depth, hands-on research, participate in a series of science communication workshops including bi-weekly assignments, and attend faculty seminars and industry tours.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Undergraduate Research Training Program

Undergraduate students have a wonderful opportunity to gain invaluable research experience through the Undergraduate Research Training Program (URT) in the College of Education. Qualified students at the sophomore, junior or senior level in any academic discipline who are interested in research on teaching and learning are eligible for this program. Generally, a cumulative index of 3.00 is expected for admission to the program.

Contact: Youli Mantzicopoulos-James at [email protected]

Website: URT

Engineering Projects In Community Service (EPICS)

EPICS is a unique program in which teams of undergraduates are designing, building, and deploying real systems to solve engineering-based problems for local community service and education organizations.

Contact:  [email protected]

Website:  EPICS

Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships (GEP2)

In celebration of the accomplishments Purdue engineering students and faculty have made in tackling international development challenges and to inspire greater achievements in this field, the I2D Lab Exposition is held every Spring at the end of March.

Contact:  [email protected]

Website: GEP

Mechanical Engineering Scholarships & Information

Website:  https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME/Undergraduate/ResearchOpportunities

Specific scholarship: Bottomley Scholarship. Website changes annually.

SCALE Workforce Development in Microelectronics

SCALE is Purdue’s major research and workforce development contract, funded by the Department of Defense. SCALE will provide mentoring, internship matching and targeted research projects for college students interested in microelectronics specialty areas: radiation-hardening, heterogeneous integration/advanced packaging, system on a chip, and embedded security systems/trusted artificial intelligence (ESS/TAI). This is open to US citizen  undergraduate students with a GPA of 2.8 or above, in first-year engineering or an eligible engineering major (Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and First-Year Engineering), with interest in careers in microelectronics.

Contact: [email protected]  

Website: SCALE Program

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Program

The SURF program provides undergraduates opportunity to gain hands-on research experience by exploring a topic of interest alongside a Purdue professor and graduate student. During the 11-week summer program, students develop their knowledge of the research process by contributing to a real world project, network with other researchers, and present their discoveries at the end of the summer. The program offers full time, paid research positions on the Purdue campus and is open to students from all disciplines.

Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Engineering (SURGE)

Website:   SURGE

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP)

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to earn academic credit while engaging in authentic and extended research and design projects related to active research areas of Purdue faculty members and national, international, and industry-sponsored design challenges. Students can participate on interdisciplinary and vertically-integrated teams (first-year through seniors) with faculty and graduate student mentors for multiple semesters to address these real-world research and design challenges.

Contact: [email protected]

Website: VIP

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Contact: [email protected]  

Website: HHS Undergraduate Research Website

Alice M. and David A. Caputo Award for C-SPAN Archives Research

The Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement (CCSE) is calling for research paper proposals that use C-SPAN Video Library content including video, audio, text, or indexes to conduct original research in the social sciences. This research award is offered to eligible graduate and undergraduate students at Purdue University West Lafayette campus.

The selected Student Researcher will receive a $2,000 award* for the project and the Faculty Mentor will receive an award of $500. The student chosen for the award will work on their research project and be eligible for directed study credit. At the end of the project, the student must make a presentation on their research paper and work with the professor on exploring publishing opportunities for the paper. The research project must be completed and presented by April 10, 2025.

Website: Caputo Award for C-SPAN Archives Research

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship (DUIRI) Program

The Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship (DUIRI) program is designed to involve Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment of the Discovery Park District. The program provides opportunities for students to work with researchers on cutting edge research projects that involve combining two or more disciplinary strengths. Working closely with researchers, students experience the excitement, challenge, and power of truly interdisciplinary research in the fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Contact:  [email protected]

Website: DUIRI Website

Student Partners for Information Research and Literacy (SPIRaL)

SPIRaL brings forth a unique opportunity for undergraduate researchers to sharpen their abilities to recognize and combat contemporary information challenges, such as misinformation circulating on social media or inequitable access to information disproportionately impacting communities. Students will learn and apply participatory research methods to study information challenges and examine the social context and systems behind them. Student researchers will cultivate an understanding of the untapped power of information literacy to help us fight back against these challenges and will leverage it to propose real-world solutions that impact family, friends, and the academic and local communities around them. 

This research experience was designed by a Students-as-Partners team made up of two librarians from Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, a graduate student from the Department of History, and an undergraduate student from the School of Mechanical Engineering. SPIRaL utilizes a participatory approach in our research methods but also in the way we work as a team and value each person’s voice and strengths. Students are invited to be full research partners, make decisions that determine the purpose and direction of research outcomes, build a relationship with a research mentor, support the success of future student researchers in SPIRaL, and play a central role in the research they are conducting. 

Contact Rachel Fundator at  [email protected]

SPIRaL Website

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to earn academic credit while engaging in authentic and extended research and design projects related to active research areas of Purdue faculty members and national, international, and industry-sponsored design challenges. Students can participate in interdisciplinary and vertically-integrated teams (first-year through seniors) with faculty and graduate student mentors for multiple semesters to address these real-world research and design challenges.

Interns for Indiana and for Entrepreneurship

The Purdue Interns for Indiana program, partially funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc., is an innovative approach to keeping Indiana's college graduates in Indiana. By matching high-quality student interns with Indiana startup companies, Purdue aims to accelerate company growth while providing students with valuable educational experiences.

Website:  ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION  |  Interns for Indiana

The Data Mine

The first large-scale living learning community for undergraduates from all majors, focused on  Data Science for All . Hillenbrand Hall has an 800-student capacity. It is filled with new learning communities of students preparing for the data-driven workforce of the 21st century.

Contact:  [email protected]

Website:  The Data Mine

Purdue Alliance For Graduate Education & Professoriate (AGEP)

The Purdue AGEP campus offers a unique opportunity for incoming graduate students. Once you have been admitted to one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) disciplines, you can ask your department to nominate you for the AGEP Bridge Transitional Program.

Contact: [email protected]

Website:  AGEP

Network for Computational Nanotechnology Undergraduate Research Experience (NCN-URE)

The Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) funds a number of undergraduate research projects each summer in several science and engineering areas; projects may be multidisciplinary. We are looking for enthusiastic and qualified students with a strong background in engineering, physics, computer science or math who can code in at least one language (such as Python, C++, or MATLAB). Applicants should have completed their 1st year at Purdue by the start of summer and must satisfy the requirements of the specific project(s). Details about the program, including project descriptions and past projects, are available at  https://nanohub.org/groups/ncnure .

Contact Tanya Faltens at [email protected]

Website:  NCN

Purdue University Center for Cancer Research (PCCR)

Studies cancers at the cellular level to discover how they develop, progress and respond to treatment. Finds ways to detect cancer sooner and treat it more effectively. Shares its work with scientists and physicians worldwide to save and enhance human lives.

Apply through SROP

Website:  Cancer Research

Summer Stay Research Opportunities

Summer Stay allows approximately 100 undergraduate students to earn scholarships worth up to $2,500 for completing 140 hours of on-campus research experience alongside 9+ credit hours of coursework.  Research hours count toward the credit hour requirement. 

Website: Summer Stay

Growing Entrepreneurially-Minded Undergraduate Researchers with New Product Development in Applied Energy REU

The goal of this project is to provide underrepresented engineering and engineering technology students with a research experience that combines the best aspects of academic applied research, such as strong theory basis and rigorous scholarship, with essential business practices such as real-world customer discovery and the generation of sound business plans.

Website: Purdue REU

John Martinson Honors College (JMHC) undergraduate research programs offer interdisciplinary research opportunities for JMHC students.

JMHC Research Generators

The Research Generators (RGs) are communities of inquiry that are designed to jumpstart new or expanded research led by teams of faculty, staff researchers, and students. RGs cultivate research thinking and enable students to complete their scholarly project requirement through course offerings and non-credit-bearing experiential learning. RGs each have a broad, interdisciplinary theme and welcome students from any major.

Contact: Dr. Chaonan Liu , JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) is a credit-bearing opportunity for JMHC students who want to begin engaging in STEM research at Purdue. Students will be matched with a graduate student or postdoc mentor who will introduce them to research techniques used in science, engineering, or technology fields, and provide mentorship in key areas of professional development for advancing education or research careers.

Urban Matters Lab

The Urban Matters Lab employs an interdisciplinary approach to the exploration and study of a range of urban matters, and also facilitates a pedagogical and exploratory journey for students to understand why the ‘urban’ matters. It fosters community engagement through interactive experiential opportunities across the Greater Lafayette area and beyond. It offers students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through volunteer and internship opportunities in the community. The lab also creates opportunities for students to undertake interdisciplinary research through HONR courses and mentoring by Dr. Krishna.

HIFI Bioconservatory

The aim of the HIFI Bioconservatory at the John Martinson Honors College at Purdue University is to cultivate a vibrant undergraduate interdisciplinary community of JMHC undergraduate students interested in the science, technology, and culture of conservation and sound. Graduate mentors and research faculty are core of this TEAM Science approach fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, empowering students to explore, experiment, and analyze real-world problems, and to contribute innovative solutions and communicate about sonic biodiversity.

Tech Justice Lab

The Tech Justice Lab (TJL), housed in the Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion Unit of the John Martinson Honors College at Purdue, is a cross-college collaboration that prioritizes the development of interdisciplinary, justice-oriented undergraduate technology researchers and practitioners. The TJL builds on the Honors College’s mission of fostering well-rounded and highly engaged students, equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to impact society for the better. Interested students from any discipline, with guidance from TJL affiliated faculty and peers, will develop their toolkits of critical frameworks for evaluating the ethics and social impacts of technology. The TJL seeks to empower students to carry out projects that help us imagine what it means for technology to be “just,” and to envision ways to change how technologies are designed, implemented, evaluated, and/or contested, in order to bring about a more just future.

Dammon Dean's Scholars Program

Are you interested in a multi-year undergraduate research opportunity? If so, this enriching experience will be a great fit for you. As a Clarence E. Dammon Dean's Scholar, you will:

• Enjoy invitations to special academic guest lectures and programs.
• Interact with a community of dedicated scholars like yourself.
• Have the opportunity to participate in multiple conferences to discuss your research work.
• Enroll in a series of seminar courses to further enrich your undergraduate research experience.
• Serve as a mentor for fellow undergraduate researchers.
• Receive a $1000 scholarship for each semester of participation.   Students must enroll in SCLA 49105 to receive their scholarship monies

History of the Clarence E. Dammon Dean's Scholars Program

The College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Scholars Program was established in 1976 to recognize the academic achievement of select, first-year students. The program has been renamed the Clarence E. Dammon Dean’s Scholars Program in recognition of a gift from Jim and Marilynn Dammon in honor of Jim's father, Clarence E. Dammon.

Website: Dammon Dean's Scholars Program

Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship Program

Are you interested in a short-term undergraduate research opportunity? If so, the Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship may be a great fit for you! As a Wilke Scholar you will:

• Participate in multiple conferences to discuss your research work.
• Have the opportunity to enroll in a course series to further enrich your research experience.
• Receive a $500 scholarship for each semester of participation.   Students must enroll in SCLA 49105 to receive their scholarship monies

History of the Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship

The Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship (Wilke) program is designed to involve Purdue College of Liberal Arts undergraduates in the interdisciplinary and exciting research environment of the College of Liberal Arts.

Website:  Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship Program

Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business Undergraduate Research Opportunities

If you are looking for other School of Business research opportunities, please connect with your professors or   centers in the School of Business.

• Krenicki Center for Business Analytics & Machine Learning
• To learn about the GSCMI projects, please connect with Steve Dunlop at [email protected] .
• Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Management
• Purdue University Center for Research in Economics (PURCE)
• Vernon Smith Experimental Economics Laboratory

Advisors can also direct students to courses with a research focus.

Contact  Lindsay Mechem Rosokha for John Martinson Honors College projects @ [email protected] .

Summer Pharmacy Research Fellowships

A student selected to participate in any of these fellowships will, by the end of the spring 2021 semester, have completed at least his/her second year of undergraduate or professional study with an excellent record, and will be interested in seriously investigating the possibility of a career in research. Preference will be given to students who have completed their third year of undergraduate or professional study at a U.S. institution. These fellowships are intended for students who have a serious interest in research as a possible career (including faculty positions) and who want to explore a research environment in more depth to enable them to make an informed career choice.

Applied Research

Advance the frontiers of knowledge, innovate technologies that address the grand challenges of society to serve humanity, and improve the quality of life around the world. While remaining grounded in our rich heritage of classroom instruction, the College of Technology has heightened its efforts in pursuing funded research. We believe that incorporating active research into the curriculum makes for a richer learning experience and reaffirms the practical use-inspired nature of the technology disciplines.

Contact Steve Elliott at [email protected]

Website:  Research

Physics REU

In each research project, students will work closely with a member of our faculty. The projects will be in a wide variety of areas, including high energy physics, accelerator mass spectrometry, condensed matter physics, geophysics, biophysics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics.

Analyze This REU - Analytical Chemistry Applied to Interdisciplinary Research

Spend the summer at Purdue University conducting cutting edge research in Analytical Chemistry! The Analytical Division in Purdue’s Department of Chemistry consists of 18 faculty members who currently supervise 80 graduate and 40 undergraduate research assistants. Their research areas include, but are not limited to, medical imaging, cancer research, drug delivery, nanomaterial development, atmospheric chemistry, forensics, environmental chemistry, advanced instrumentation development and understanding fundamental chemical mechanisms. US News and World report ranked Purdue as the #1 analytical chemistry program in the United States.

Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program

The goal of the Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program is to increase the number of veterinarians involved in biomedical and clinical research. The program provides an opportunity for veterinary students and undergraduate students interested in veterinary medicine to explore non-practice careers by engaging in a mentored research project and through informal and formal interactions with scientists. Veterinary students also will travel to the Boehringer Ingelheim NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium.

Contact Harm HogenEsch @ [email protected]

Website:  Veterinary Scholars

Center for Paralysis Research

Since its inception in 1987, the CPR has been involved in three human clinical trials (including multiple canine trials) as well as having one therapy being sold and marketed for patients with multiple sclerosis. This history of translational research is unique at Purdue and underscores our commitment to improving quality of life for both animals and humans. Dr. Jianming Li created a  "Tips" sheet  for those undergraduates who would like to see research opportunities.

Website:  CPR Website

Summer Research Program for Students and Pre-vet Students (SROP)

The Purdue SROP has the goal of enhancing diversity in academic, government, and industry positions that require graduate degrees. It is our aim to encourage talented undergraduate students from social and economic backgrounds that are underrepresented in research careers to pursue graduate education, and to enhance their preparation for graduate study. This program involves intensive research experiences with faculty mentors.

Email [email protected]

Website:  SROP

African American Studies and Research Center Undergraduate Summer Research Internship

The African American Studies and Research Center (AASRC) and Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) are currently recruiting Purdue students for a new summer research initiative in Black Studies. The   African American Studies and Research Center Undergraduate Summer Research Internship   is a 6-8 week program that places up to 5 students into paid internships. Students will work with staff professionals to explore, process, and organize expanding collections detailing all facets of black life and history. Students will also use these collections and experiences to produce their own independent research projects that they will present at conferences on and off-campus in the following Fall and Spring semesters.

Students interested in this program may submit applications for multiple available projects. The program supervisors will meet with candidates to discuss specific project specifics and extend offers. Students selected for the internship will earn up to $6,000 to cover housing, summer research stipend, and summer stay tuition.

• Earn a $5,000 stipend for summer
• On-campus housing, meal stipend, and reasonable travel expenses provided
• Participate in extracurricular activities and campus-wide learning communities

Dates: May 22 - July 28, 2023

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Website: Analyze This REU

The Anvil Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is part of the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) CI-STEP student program  to provide  work opportunities and real workplace experience that enhance the student’s education through the development of professional skills, responsibilities, habits, attitudes, self-confidence, and self-development.

RCAC is seeking students for REU-paid internships for an 11-week onsite summer REU program. This program aims at developing the next-generation workforce in advanced computing and cyberinfrastructure technologies. It offers students from diverse backgrounds, the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to build and support advanced research computing systems and scientific applications. As part of RCAC's decade-long successful student apprentice program, the REU students will learn by doing, working on the National Science Foundation-funded Anvil system in a team environment and mentored by cyberinfrastructure professionals.

• $600/week stipend
• $750 meal allowance
• On-campus housing
• Travel costs to attend a conference

Deadline: Feb. 16, 2024

Website: Anvil REU

Biochemistry REU

This National Science Foundation-sponsored program provides advanced training in the manipulation and analysis of proteins for undergraduate students. It facilitates deep understanding of experimental laboratory research, insights into protein biochemistry, and contemplation of the broader context of research. A wide range of student research projects mentored by faculty in the Department of Biochemistry is available. Examples include the experimental analysis of enzyme mechanisms, post-translational protein modifications, proteomics, and protein-nucleic acid interactions studied in the biological context of cell cycle control, chromatin regulation, and renewable energy research. Problem-based modules presented during the first three days of the program introduce key concepts in protein biochemistry and experimental design. After this brief orientation, the program emphasizes full-time research supplemented with weekly sessions on ethical conduct in research, professional communication, and the graduate school application process. At the end of the program, students will present their results at a departmental symposium and a university-wide poster session.

• $6,000 stipend
• Road transportation to West Lafayette

Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2024

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2024

Website: Purdue Biochemistry REU

CISTAR Summer Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

As a CISTAR summer researcher, you will work on a research project in your area of interest and be matched with a CISTAR Graduate Fellow mentor who will help you develop your skills as a researcher and gain insight into the world of graduate school. Throughout the summer, students participate in weekly professional development seminars, work in CISTAR Labs, network with CISTAR students on campus, and visit places of interest like Argonne National Laboratory.

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Website: CISTAR

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internships (DUIRI)

The Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship (DUIRI) program is designed to involve Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment. The program provides opportunities for students to work with researchers on cutting-edge research projects that involve combining two or more disciplinary strengths. Working closely with researchers, students experience the excitement, challenge, and power of truly interdisciplinary research in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Dates: Summer 2024 Semester

Deadline: Applications will open up for students around March 2024 for summer.

Website: DUIRI

IoT4Ag REU (Purdue University)

This program is designed to give undergraduate students the opportunity to work with scientists on cutting-edge research to address the societal grand challenge of food, energy, and water security by advancing technologies that increase crop production, while minimizing the use of energy and water resources and the impact of agricultural practices on the environment.  Projects will focus on the creation of internet of things (IoT) technologies from sensors, robotics, and energy and communication devices to data-driven models constrained by plant physiology, soil, weather, management practices, and socio-economics.  

• Housing provided
• Travel allowance to campus 

Dates: May 25 - August 2, 2024

Deadline: February 16, 2024

Website: IoT4Ag REU

Physics REU and RET (Research Experiences for Teachers)

• Stipend of $600/week
• On-campus housing and meals

Dates: May 28 - August 2, 2024

Website: Physics REU

To qualify, applications must:

• Be enrolled in a degree-granting program at a U.S. college or university (2-year or 4-year)  
• Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Have at least one semester of undergraduate study remaining after completing the PURE-PD program

Benefits include:

• $6,500 stipend
• Travel to/from the Purdue University West Lafayette campus

Deadline: February 29, 2024

Website: PURE-PD

Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF)

​Find your passion in undergraduate research!  The Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF) is designed to expose you to the wide-ranging field of plant sciences and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).​

SCARF (formerly known as MASI) is open to Purdue College of Agriculture undergraduate students each summer. Students experience in-depth, hands-on research, participate in a series of science communication workshops including bi-weekly assignments, and attend faculty seminars and industry tours.

Deadline: February 24, 2023

Website: SCARF

A student selected to participate in any of these fellowships will, by the end of the spring 2024 semester, have completed at least his/her second year of undergraduate or professional study with an excellent record, and will be interested in seriously investigating the possibility of a research career. Preference will be given to students who have completed their third year of undergraduate or professional study at a U.S. institution. These fellowships are intended for students who have a serious interest in research as a possible career (including faculty positions) and who want to explore a research environment in more depth to enable them to make an informed career choice. Students who accept a fellowship appointment are under no obligation for choice of a career path.

• $4,500 stipend

Dates: May 13 - July 19, 2024

Deadline: February 2, 2024

Website: Summer Research Fellowships

Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a pathway to graduate education at Purdue University. This program is designed to provide equal access and opportunities to underrepresented and diverse students by preparing students for Graduate School by offering an eight-week intensive research experience, and graduate school resources that contribute to a student's professional and academic growth.

Dates: Summer 2024

Deadline: February 10, 2024

Website: SROP

If you are selected for Summer Stay Scholars, you will receive up to $2,500 to pay your estimated summer cost of attendance not already covered by other gift aid. A $2,500 scholarship will cover full tuition for resident students and offers a sizeable decrease in total cost for non-resident/international students. As a Summer Stay Scholar, you will take at least 9 credit hours and work at least 140 hours conducting faculty-led research or participating in an on-campus internship during Summer 2024.

To qualify for Summer Stay Scholars, you must have:

• Attended your first semester at a Purdue University campus in Fall 2023 or earlier
• A GPA of at least 3.00 for research or at least 2.00 for internships
• Undergraduate student status
• Complete 9+ credit hours during Summer 2024

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Summer Training on Awareness and Readiness for Semiconductors (STARS)

The Purdue Summer Training, Awareness, and Readiness for Semiconductors (STARS) is an eight-week program designed to equip students with deep-tech skills in IC design, fabrication, packaging, and semiconductor device and materials characterization. The program offers two specialized tracks: chip design and semiconductor manufacturing, providing an experience equivalent to a summer internship.

Website: STARS

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to gain hands-on research experience and explore advanced education and research careers. The program offers a 10-week immersive summer research experience, where selected students work on Purdue's West Lafayette, Indiana campus with faculty members and graduate student mentors. Students will get to work with cutting-edge research tools in science, engineering, and technology.

• Up to $1,200 travel reimbursement
• Free on-campus housing for non-Purdue West Lafayette students

Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2023

Website: SURF

This is a very abbreviated  list of available summer research opportunities available to Purdue students.

Most programs open their website and application for the upcoming summer between November and February.

To learn about more summer research opportunities:

• Subscribe to our newsletter to learn about opportunities we know about.
• Search for "summer [insert research keywords] research" to locate summer research programs.
• Check out the non-Purdue Excel spreadsheet of summer research programs the OUR is aware of.

Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities.

Website: BTAA SROP Overview

Deadline: Varies by Big Ten institution

Georgia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Sciences (SURE)

The Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Sciences (S.U.R.E.) program is committed to increasing the number of qualified students who are traditionally under-represented in STEM fields. These include but are not limited to students from racial/ethnic minority groups, women, or first-generation college students.

Website: GA Tech SURE

Amgen Scholars

Amgen Scholars is hosted at thirteen premier educational institutions within the United States. Each host institution has its own application process. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency in the United States is required, and you can apply to participate at as many host institutions as you are interested in.

Amgen Scholars U.S. Program applicants must be:

• U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents;
• Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories; and
• Sophomores (with four quarters or three semesters of college experience), juniors or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall to continue undergraduate studies).
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or above; and
• An interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.

Website: Amgen Scholars

Application Deadline: Feb. 1, 2023

NASA has opportunities for supported internships, fellowships, and scholarships.

Website:  NASA

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers.

Website:  NSF

Pathways to Science

Many paid summer STEM undergraduate research opportunities are found in this database.

Website:  Pathways to Science

NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

Summer NIH programs to provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.

Website: NIH SIP in Biomedical Research

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers:

• Scholarship support
• Paid research training at the NIH during the summer
• Paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation

Website: NIH UGSP

ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship Program

ThinkSwiss is a scholarship program managed by the Science Office at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. The program is funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Ottawa, Canada. The aim of the program is to promote research opportunities in Switzerland for American and Canadian students and to foster exchange between Swiss, U.S., and Canadian universities and research institutions.

Applicants must currently be enrolled at an accredited U.S. or Canadian university/college, be a graduate student or an undergraduate student who will have completed their sophomore year by the time the research stay in Switzerland begins, and provide a written confirmation from a professor at a Swiss university that the applicant will be accept for a research stay.

Scholarship is $1,800/month with $5,400 maximum

Deadline: December 31, 2022

Website:  https://thinkswiss.org/

US Department of Energy Scholars Program

The DOE Scholars Program is a  Department-wide program designed to create a pipeline of highly qualified talent in disciplinary fields that support mission-critical areas of the  U.S. Department of Energy  (DOE) .  The DOE Scholars Program provides opportunities designed to introduce DOE missions, functions, and operations to talented undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates.

Website: DOE Scholarship Program

Southern Methodist University Data Science for Social Good REU

Learn how to use data science tools for improving the lives of people.  You will join a team of researchers using data to find solutions to pressing economic and environmental problems affecting neighborhoods in the city of Dallas, Texas.

Program Participants Receive

• Stipend of $4800
• Free on-campus room and board
• Social activities 

Website: SMU REU

• Meet the Ambassadors
• Ambassador Requests
• About the Ambassador Program
• Apply to be an Ambassador