Natural Sciences | Undergraduate Research Experiences

The following is a listing of off-campus summer undergraduate research opportunities spanning most natural sciences disciplines. Opportunities exist across the country and are a great way to get valuable experience, both to list on your resume and to help you determine your career goals.

This list shows programs available nationwide.  Contact your department faculty member if you are interested in one or more. These opportunities are competitive and have application deadlines ranging from late November to February and early March.

Biology | Chemistry | Computer Science | Environmental Studies | General Natural Sciences | Health | Mathematics | MedicalPhysics and Engineering


Biology

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of  natural & social sciences disciplines at a variety of venues around the country.

Amgen Scholars Program allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at a variety of world-class institutions. ​

Binghamton State, NY Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in Microbial Biofilm Development, Resistance, & Community Structure offers undergraduates an actively-mentored, collaborative research experience on microbial biofilms that promotes professional skill development and research readiness.

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (CanSUR) The goal of the program is to generate excitement for a future career in cancer research in highly motivated undergraduates and help them prepare for the next stage of their careers.

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) provides research experience and mentorship for undergraduate students who are interested in biomedical research. 

Michigan State University Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Through GLBRC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI), students are engaged in a research program across multiple disciplines, including biochemistry, plant biology, genetics, microbiology, ecology, and crop sciences.

Mayo Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, sponsored by Mayo Graduate School, is for students interested in biomedical research.

Michigan State University Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Through GLBRC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI), students are engaged in a research program across multiple disciplines, including biochemistry, plant biology, genetics, microbiology, ecology, and crop sciences.

Michigan State University W.K. Kellogg Biological Station The NSF funded KBS REU Site “Ecological & Evolutionary Dynamics in a Changing World” gives students an opportunity to conduct full-time research in collaboration with our outstanding faculty, postdocs and graduate students.

Michigan State University - College of Veterinary Medicine The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and Michigan State University (MSU) are sponsoring the Biomedical Research for University Students in Health Sciences (BRUSH) Summer Research Program at MSU for undergraduate and veterinary students interested in the biomedical sciences and research-related careers.

Michigan State University Plant Genomics The Plant Genomics at MSU REU Program provides high quality research and training experiences for undergraduates interested in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, bioinformatics, and computational sciences.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases The STEP-UP Program provides hands-on summer research experience for high school and undergraduate students interested in exploring research careers.

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. 

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Summer Research Internship Program supports all students with a focus on increasing underrepresented populations in drug abuse research. Through this program, undergraduates age 18 and older are introduced to the field of substance use and addiction research by participating in research internships with NIDA's distinguished scientists at universities across the United States. Students work with leading scientists for eight weeks during the summer. The internship may include laboratory experiments, data collection, data analysis, formal courses, participation in lab meetings, patient interviews, manuscript preparation, and literature reviews. In addition, it is expected that each intern will deliver a formal presentation on their research project at the end of the internship.

Oregon National Primate Research Center Students will learn behavioral methodology, including the design and use of ethograms, how to use software specifically designed for behavioral observation, and statistical methods. S/he will also learn about species specific monkey behavior and how to improve the psychological well- being of captive animals.

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham  The Summer in Biomedical Science (SIBS) Undergraduate Research Program will provide the opportunity for young people to be instructed in the techniques of modern biology while becoming integrated members of a vibrant clinical and scientific community. 

 Van Andel Research Institute Interns will have the opportunity to work in the areas of cell biology, epigenetics, metabolism and nutritional programming, neurodegenerative science and structural biology.

Chemistry

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of  natural & social sciences disciplines at a variety of venues around the country. Application dates vary.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Internships, Fellowships, Cooperative Education

American Chemical Society (ACS) Nuclear & Radiochemistry Undergraduate Summer Schools

Amgen Scholars Program allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at a variety of world-class institutions. ​ No Summer 2021 Opportunities.  Will resume Summer 2022.

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (CanSUR) The goal of the program is to generate excitement for a future career in cancer research in highly motivated undergraduates and help them prepare for the next stage of their careers.

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

Michigan State University - College of Veterinary Medicine The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and Michigan State University (MSU) are sponsoring the Biomedical Research for University Students in Health Sciences (BRUSH) Summer Research Program at MSU for undergraduate and veterinary students interested in the biomedical sciences and research-related careers.

NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) for Internship, Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities.

NASA DEVELOP DEVELOP, part of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program, addresses environmental and public policy issues through interdisciplinary research projects that apply the lens of NASA Earth observations to community concerns around the globe. 

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Internships, Summer Jobs, and Co-ops:  The ACS Get Experience Database includes undergraduate research, internships, summer jobs, and co-ops that provide real-world experience for students who want to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. These opportunities are available globally in private companies, academic institutions, government agencies, and nonprofit associations. For international undergraduate students, the job listings also include multi-national organizations that have internships in many countries around the world.

Computer and Data Science

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of  natural & social sciences disciplines at a variety of venues around the country. Application dates vary, but are often in December-February.

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

National Archives:  Internships in History, Political Science, Computer Science and Information Technology, Communications, and Education

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology Internship Program The program’s goals are to provide exposure to data science and informatics with respect to best practices, impact of research on medicine and health, as well as possible career path for interns. 

Robotics Institute Summer Scholars at Carnegie Mellon University You will be joining Carnegie Mellon University, a world-renowned center for technology and innovation shaping our world. CMU is top-ranked for computer science, artificial intelligence specialization, and robotics. We launched the first academic department in robotics, the first Ph.D. in robotics, and is the world’s largest university-affiliated robotics research group.

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission.

UNLV AI SUSTEIN 2024 Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program This summer, the AI SUSTEIN program will offer an undergraduate research experience program at UNLV with a focus on AI applications in a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related areas such as manufacturing engineering, civil & environmental engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering & science, or any related engineering, pre-engineering, mathematics, statistics, and education, etc. 

University of Utah offers a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) provides undergraduates with an intensive paid 10-week research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member. These student researchers work hand in hand with faculty mentors on project topics ranging from health, medicine, data science, robotics, fine arts, psychology, architecture and more! 

Environmental Studies

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of  natural & social sciences disciplines at a variety of venues around the country. 

Amgen Scholars Program allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at a variety of world-class institutions.

Biosphere 2 an opportunity to conduct guided research in environmental and Earth systems science

Boise State University The REU Site in Raptor Research (REU-RR) is funded by the National Science Foundation and Boise State University.

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students 

General Natural Sciences

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of  physical and life sciences. 

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (CanSUR) The goal of the program is to generate excitement for a future career in cancer research in highly motivated undergraduates and help them prepare for the next stage of their careers.

DAAD Rise Research internships in Science and Engineering in Germany. **International**

Department of Energy's Scholars Program 2020 The U.S. Department of Energy’s Scholars Program introduces college students and recent college graduates to the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission and operations. 

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

Florida Atlantic University's Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE) hosts an intensive summer research program in sensing and smart systems for talented undergraduate students across the country.  Closely related to the Internet of Things, smart systems represent an emerging class of distributed systems that provide real-time awareness of conditions, trends, and patterns to support improved decision-making, and often, automation. The on-campus research will focus on I-SENSE's three main program areas: Infrastructure Systems, Marine and Environment and Health and Behavior.

Higher Education Research Experiences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; applications accepted year round

Institute for Broadening Participation Searchable database for fully-funded STEM programs. 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Summer Internship Program 10-week, full-time, summer internship opportunities at JPL to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

The Leadership Alliance Paid summer internships that provide training and mentoring in the principles underlying the conduct of research. 

Michigan State University - College of Veterinary Medicine The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and Michigan State University (MSU) are sponsoring the Biomedical Research for University Students in Health Sciences (BRUSH) Summer Research Program at MSU for undergraduate and veterinary students interested in the biomedical sciences and research-related careers.

NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) for Internship, Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities.

NASA STEM Resources and Opportunities STEM Engagement

NASA Student Airborne Research Program is an eight-week summer internship for rising senior undergraduate students. 

NASA DEVELOP DEVELOP, part of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program, addresses environmental and public policy issues through interdisciplinary research projects that apply the lens of NASA Earth observations to community concerns around the globe.  

OHSU Summer Equity Internship Program The OHSU Equity Research Program offers an exciting opportunity for diverse undergraduate college students to spend eight weeks working on research projects alongside faculty, scientists and graduate students.

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission.

Summer Research Opportunities Program 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.  

Think Swiss Research experiences in all disciplines in Switzerland. **International** 

University of Missouri is hosting a new National Science Foundation REU Site centered on the scientific theme of Close Relationships.

UNLV AI SUSTEIN 2024 Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program This summer, the AI SUSTEIN program will offer an undergraduate research experience program at UNLV with a focus on AI applications in a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related areas such as manufacturing engineering, civil & environmental engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering & science, or any related engineering, pre-engineering, mathematics, statistics, and education, etc. 

University of Utah Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) is a nationally competitive opportunity that provides undergraduate students with an intensive 10-week summer research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member. The program provides opportunities to gain research experience in a variety of disciplines.

USA Jobs Pathways internship program for students and recent graduates in multiple areas.

Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides Intern and Fellowship programs in Public Health.

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

ProScribe is a full-service nationwide medical scribe company looking for post-baccalaureate candidates with full-time and part-time positions.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Undergraduate Summer Internship A 10-week training program that provides unique exposure to basic and clinical research, social/behavioral research, health policy, and research administration. Location: Bethesda, Maryland

University of Alabama at Birmingham  PARAdiGM is UAB's NIH/NHLBI R25 funded summer program for outstanding undergraduates from disadvantaged and underrepresented minority backgrounds who want to explore the potential of a future career as a physician-scientist - becoming a scientific investigator and a practicing physician.

University of Utah offers a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) provides undergraduates with an intensive paid 10-week research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member. These student researchers work hand in hand with faculty mentors on project topics ranging from health, medicine, data science, robotics, fine arts, psychology, architecture and more! 

Mathematics

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of natural & social sciences disciplines at a variety of venues around the country. 

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics at Brown University is an 8-week residential program which will present a variety of interdisciplinary research projects on the theme of Computational Arithmetic Dynamics.

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology provides internships in data science and biomedical informatics to college undergraduates and high school students to increase their skills with respect to data literacy and stewardship.  

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission.

UNLV AI SUSTEIN 2024 Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program This summer, the AI SUSTEIN program will offer an undergraduate research experience program at UNLV with a focus on AI applications in a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related areas such as manufacturing engineering, civil & environmental engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering & science, or any related engineering, pre-engineering, mathematics, statistics, and education, etc. 

 Medical

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine (HSOM) specializes in clinical and research undergraduate summer programs that provide an enhanced scientific and professional preparation for students aspiring toward a career in medicine or biomedical sciences.

University of Utah offers a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) provides undergraduates with an intensive paid 10-week research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member. These student researchers work hand in hand with faculty mentors on project topics ranging from health, medicine, data science, robotics, fine arts, psychology, architecture and more! 

Physics and Engineering

National Science Foundation (NSF) ​Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Programs provide summer research opportunities spanning a large range of  natural & social sciences disciplines at a variety of venues around the country. 

Amgen Scholars Program allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at a variety of world-class institutions.

Embry - Riddle Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Students who earn acceptance get a $5,000 stipend, with their housing and meals covered.

Michigan State University REU Summer Internship program Each summer, the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy and its research groups offer 10-week internships for up to 12 undergraduate students. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Michigan State Univeristy EnSURE (Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) EnSURE is a 10-week, full-time research experience open to all undergraduates who are studying at institutions in the United State, including Puerto Rico. EnSURE students work on a substantive, faculty-guided research project in one of eight engineering departments and participate in professional development activities, including attending weekly seminars and completing periodic writing assignments. 

NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) for Internship, Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities.

NASA DEVELOP DEVELOP, part of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program, addresses environmental and public policy issues through interdisciplinary research projects that apply the lens of NASA Earth observations to community concerns around the globe. 

The Ohio State University Center for Emergent Materials Undergraduate Research Program

STEMUndergrads.science.gov Your gateway to Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission.

University of Kentucky REU program in Physics focuses around individual mentored research projects in nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, and astronomy, related through the central theme of symmetry, tailored for accessibility to 2nd and 3rd year undergraduates

UNLV AI SUSTEIN 2024 Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program This summer, the AI SUSTEIN program will offer an undergraduate research experience program at UNLV with a focus on AI applications in a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related areas such as manufacturing engineering, civil & environmental engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering & science, or any related engineering, pre-engineering, mathematics, statistics, and education, etc.