Off-Campus Research Support

There are numerous programs which provide opportunities for undergraduates to carry out research at various institutions during the summer. Listed here are possible leads to such opportunities. They are not in any particular order. This list is not to be considered comprehensive, but should provide some direction for initial searches. In addition, many programs can be located by simple internet searches for the type of opportunity which interests you. The Undergraduate Research Center does not have funds to support these programs, but most do provide stipends and other benefits. Programs which involve academic year, for-credit activities are administered by the International Programs Office. Students interested in these opportunities should contact the IPO in Weingart 101 for more information.

• Amgen in Thousand Oaks, CA offers summer internships with their Small Molecule and Process Development Group.  Details are available on the Amgen website:  Job One, Job Two
   

• Summer interns work with world-class scientists on cutting edge research! The Science Education Programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory offer several programs for undergraduate students in STEM fields to participate in a summer internship. For a full list of programs visit their website.  Also see Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.
   

• Biotechnology Research Experience at Western Kentucky University:
  Students spend the summer at WKU in Bowling Green, Kentucky and are trained in research techniques, participate in exciting research (students can chose from over nineteen projects), and gain valuable presentation skills.  Stipend of $480 per week, free housing, meal and travel allowances, and lab supplies. The program runs from May 28-August 3, 2012.  DEADLINE: March 1, 2012.
   

• NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) recruitment specialist informs, mentors and prepares interested students to take advantage of the valuable education and career advancement opportunities being offered by NASA. Through the agency’s new Student On-Line Application for Recruiting Interns, Fellows and Scholars (SOLAR) System - undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields can search and apply to a variety of NASA opportunities. Through this website, students can register, complete one application, and apply to up to 15 specific research opportunities. DEADLINE: February 1, 2012.
   

• Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. The NIH consists of the 240-bed Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center and more than 1200 laboratories/research projects located on the main campus in Bethesda, MD and the surrounding area as well as in Baltimore and Frederick, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Phoenix, AZ; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; and Detroit, MI.  DEADLINE: March 1, 2012.
   

• The Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, is hosting a summer REU with the theme of “Sensing and Signaling.” It is open to current sophomores and juniors, and priority given to juniors. The program runs from June 4 through July 27, 2012. This comes with a stipend and housing on campus. DEADLINE: March 30, 2012.
   

• The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) offers a Summer Research Opportunities website.  Find listings for more than a hundred summer research programs.
   

•  HHMI-Janelia Farm Undergraduate Scholars Program provides opportunities to spend 10 weeks during the summer doing research as an intern in the lab of a mentor at the HHMI research complex.  The scientific foci are The identification of general principles that govern how information is processed by neuronal circuits and The development of imaging technologies and computational methods for image analysis.  Deadline January 13, 2012.
   

• The Association for Women in Science Summer Internship Program promotes, educates, and encourages young women to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Students gain valuable knowledge and professional skills through mentorship and independent learning. Students also have opportunities and are encouraged to take advantage of the unique cultural and social activities Washington D.C. has to offer. It is designed and designated as a 10-week work experience between May and August. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
   

• Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program for Undergraduates at The University of Wisconsin-Madison The Center for Biology Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites undergraduate students to participate. The IBS-SRP offers research experience to undergraduate junior and senior students interested in biological research careers. Full-time research for 10 weeks with a faculty member in one of the following disciplines: Bioenergy; Cellular & Molecular Biology; Computational Biology & Biostatistics; Ecology, Plants & Environmental Systems; Neurobiology; or Virology. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Deadline February 15, 2012.
   

• The Department of Commerce Postsecondary Internship Program offers opportunities for both summer and academic year paid internships in disciplines including: business; life, health, and medical sciences; communications and graphic design; computer science; physical sciences; business; communications and graphic design; mathematics; engineering. Deadline for application is January 31, 2012.
   

• The University of California, Irvine offers Chem-SURF, a ten week summer research opportunity to become immersed in a wide range of exciting, cutting-edge specialized and interdisciplinary research projects. Participants will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of challenging and original research projects that explore a diverse and exciting range of topics in chemical biology, chemical physics, and analytical, atmospheric, bioinorganic, bioorganic, theoretical, inorganic, organic, physical, and polymer chemistry. Deadline is March 15, 2012.
   

• The Partnership in International Research and Education offers an 8-week study abroad program which exposes Chemistry undergraduates to international research, education and culture at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. In addition, students work in an experienced, collaborative research team to develop and apply algorithms and software for simulating reactions with organic materials that involve transitions between electronic states. Applicants should have at least two years of undergraduate study. Deadline is January 31, 2012.
   

• The J. Craig Venter Institute, a not-for-profit research institute dedicated to the advancement of the science of genomics; the understanding of its implications for society; and the communication of those results to the scientific community, the public and policymakers, offers internships for undergraduates, particularly juniors. The Institute's areas of scientific focus include: microbial and parasite genomics, genomic medicine with an emphasis on cancer genomics and human genome re-sequencing and analysis; mammalian, plant and viral genomics; environmental genomic analysis with an emphasis on microbial biodiversity, ecology, and evolution; use of molecular and genomic methods to develop biological sources of clean energy; synthetic genome development; educational outreach, and policy research on the ethical, legal, and economic issues associated with genomic science and technology. Deadline is February 17, 2012. 
   

• The Alaska Fisheries Science Center provides exciting internship opportunities for students. Projects may take you to Alaska onboard a survey vessel or to San Miguel Island, CA to study California sea lion life history. Projects may also place you in laboratories to learn to use genetic techniques to study fish populations, or to identify and differentiate larval fish. There are also internships for students interested in library and information sciences. Opportunities and deadlines will be posted in early February 2012.
   

• The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Program for rising seniors majoring in science. Deadline in Feb. 1, 2012.
   

• The Amgen Scholars program offers sophomores and juniors an opportunity to take part in university research projects in a variety of topics in biology and chemistry at ten institutions across the country. This ten week program provides a stipend and housing assistance; details and deadlines vary with the institution; most are due February 1, 2012.
   

• The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers the Summer in Biomedical Science Undergraduate Research Program. This program offers sophomores and juniors an opportunity to work with physician-researchers for eight weeks and is particularly suited for students considering MD and MD/PhD degree programs. Deadline is February 10, 2012.
   

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Research Program (MSRP) facilitates the involvement of talented students in research aspects of the fields of engineering and science-particularly those who are underrepresented in these fields. The program features supervision by an MIT faculty member, postdoctoral fellow or advanced graduate student; weekly seminars/workshops; preparation and delivery of a research poster and an oral presentation; individual counseling on academic careers; hands-on training in active, "real-world" laboratories; and participation in social and cultural activities in the area. Applications may be completed online or downloaded from the web. Each student should complete and submit their application as soon as possible. Applications for summer 2011 must be postmarked by February 3, 2012. There is also a separate program in the Biological Sciences with a deadline of January 30, 2012.
   

• The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at Claremont Graduate University seeks students who have completed at least their sophomore year and are first-generation and low-income students, or who are from a group underrepresented at the doctoral level (African-American, Latino-American, or Native American). The program encourages students to pursue graduate studies by providing opportunities to define goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and student/faculty mentor relationships critical to success at the doctoral level. Program includes a six-week summer academic program designed to increase skills, confidence, and encourage enrollment in graduate school and provides 10 units of graduate credit for successfully completing three graduate level courses during a six week summer session. Thereafter students are paired with a faculty mentor to collaborate on a research project. The deadline is February 10, 2012 for summer 2012 admission.
   

• Caltech's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program offers undergraduates a variety of opportunities to do research projects in collaboration with Caltech faculty or Jet Propulsion Laboratory technical staff members over a ten-week period from June 18 to August 24. Deadline is February 22, 2012. 
  
  Caltech also offers MURF (Minority Undergraduate Research Fellowships) which aims to increase the participation of underrepresented students (such as African American, Hispanic, and Native American, females who are underrepresented in their discipline, or first-generation college students) in science and engineering Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs.  Deadline is January 11, 2012.
  
  Caltech's Amgen Scholars program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and bio-technical related fields under the guidance of seasoned research mentors.  Applicants must first identify a Caltech or JPL faculty mentor and prepare a research proposal.  Deadline is February 15, 2012.
   

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Gaithersburg, MD Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program for students majoring in science, mathematics and engineering offers research in any one of the seven NIST laboratories: Building and Fire Research, Chemical Science and Technology, Electronics and, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Physics. Participants receive a stipend, housing, and airfare for a 12 week summer program in the Washington, D.C. area. Applications for participation in the SURF program are only accepted from colleges or universities, and not from individual students. Interested students MUST notify the URC of their intent to apply by February 1 so that we can prepare the College portion of the application. The deadline for NIST applications is February 15, 2012. 
       A similar, but separate, program is available at the NIST Boulder, CO facility. See SURF NIST Boulder for information about this program. Deadline is February 15, 2012.
   

• The Los Angeles-based J. Paul Getty Trust is offering Multicultural Undergraduate Summer Internships at the Getty Center to undergraduates of culturally diverse backgrounds. Internships will provide training and work experience in areas such as conservation, library collections, publications, museum education, curatorship, grants administration, public programs, site operations, and information technology. Deadline is February 1, 2012.
   

• Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships target undergraduate students who have not had an opportunity to work in an advanced scientific research environment, especially those belonging to underrepresented groups. The program, sponsored by the Department of Energy, incorporates both an individually mentored research component and a set of enrichment activities. To apply, students should complete the SULI application on the website. The deadline for Summer 2012 is January 10, 2012.
   

• The Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Internship program provides opportunities for qualified undergraduates to receive hands-on experience in a real-world setting. Fields of work include engineering, computer science, health physics, meteorology, chemistry, physics, biological sciences, environmental sciences, emergency management, public health, epidemiology, accounting, finance, audit, communications, graphic design, human resources, and instructional technology. For more information, see the program website. The deadline varies with the specific program.
   

• The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers summer internships. For more information, stop by the History Dept. in Swan South. or see the email link on the website.
   

• The Fund for American Studies sponsors six Institutes in Washington, D.C., in partnership with Georgetown University. These Institutes prepare young people for leadership in the life of their communities and the nation by providing them with opportunities in the nation's capital for enlightenment and enrichment. Stipends are not provided; there are fees associated with the programs and course credit is offered. The deadline varies with the specific institute.
   

• The Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service is an intensive eight-week summer residential program for college undergraduates interested in volunteerism and careers in the nonprofit sector. Students take two courses on the history and ethics of philanthropy and volunteerism worth 6 hours of academic credit from Georgetown University, and hold internships with nonprofit organizations, attend presentations by leading figures from the nonprofit sector and participate in a variety of service projects. Over half of the students accepted to the program will receive a full or partial scholarship. The Institute is sponsored by The Fund for American Studies and the Center on Philanthropy at Georgetown University. Priority deadline is February 7, 2012; final deadline is March 7, 2012.
   

• The Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) at the University of California, Berkeley, was established to promote access to graduate education among undergraduates who have been educationally or economically disadvantaged, and who may not have had exposure to the academic environment of a research university. The program offers internships in the humanities and in the biological, physical, and social sciences for sophomores, juniors, and seniors (not graduating in the spring semester/quarter). Applications for 2012 must be received (not postmarked) by February 1, 2012.
   

• The National Science Foundation funds "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" at various institutions across the country. Information and applications are available from the various schools. Check the NSF-REU website for more information.
   

• The University of Arizona "Minority Health Disparities Summer Research Opportunities" is a 10-week program focusing on health issues affecting minority communities in a disproportionate manner.
   

• UCLA's CARE program provides a list of summer programs available nationwide. Other universities may have similar lists worth checking.
   

• The Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) for underrepresented scholars offers college students the opportunity to work for eight to ten weeks under the guidance of a faculty or research mentor at a participating Alliance institution or corporate sponsor. The deadline for the summer research program is February 1, 2012.
   

• In past years, the National Endowment for the Humanities has accepted applications for summer internships in Washington D.C. The internships introduced the programs, policies, and operations of NEH, the federal agency charged with promoting scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities in the United States. Check their web site for current information. 
   

• National Institutes of Health offers a service-connected scholarship program, the Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (UGSP), to students who are committed to pursuing careers in health research or basic biomedical science research. This program offers up to $20,000 per year in financial aid as well as research in the summer and paid research training after graduation. Deadline is February 1, 2012.
   

• The Leonard M. Rieser Research Fellowship is targeted toward students seeking to explore emerging or critical issues at the juncture of science, public policy, and international affairs. It will provide undergraduate students with the funds to support unique research projects, internships, or travel expenses. The deadline is February 1, 2012.
   

• The University of Pittsburgh / CMU MD/PhD Program's Summer Undergraduate Research Program for Minority Students is a 10-week summer research and enrichment program for underrepresented minority students interested in careers as physician scientists. The program is designed for students in their freshman, sophomore or junior years of college. Students receive intensive research laboratory experience and abundant mentorship. In addition, students participate in a variety of career development programs, scientific seminars, and specific career enhancement opportunities including preparation for national examinations. Deadline is February 15, 2012.
   

• The Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program brings talented college seniors and recent graduates to Washington, D.C., where they are placed in congressional offices and learn about health policy issues, with a focus on issues affecting racial and ethnic minority and underserved communities. Through the nine-week program (May 19-July 26, 2008), Scholars gain knowledge about federal legislative procedure and health policy issues, while further developing their critical thinking and leadership skills. In addition to gaining experience in a congressional office, Scholars participate in seminars and site visits to augment their knowledge of health care issues, and write and present a health policy research memo that addresses a problem of concern to disadvantaged populations. Application deadline is Dec. 16, 2011.
   

• The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers research opportunities for students who have completed their junior or senior year in any field of science, mathematics, or engineering. Participants choose research projects with the guidance of WHOI staff. Stipends and travel allowances are provided. There are also Minority Fellowships available for students who have completed their first year. Deadlines vary by program. For more information, see www.whoi.edu/education.

• The HS-STEM Summer Internship Program is a 10-week summer internship program for rising juniors and seniors majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. The internship Program provides students with the opportunity to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant research areas at federal research facilities located across the country. Application deadline Jan. 5, 2012.

• The Mickey Leland Intern Program Energy Fellowship is an internship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy to provide opportunities to women and minority students who are pursuing academic majors related to the Fossil Energy mission. The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) Headquarters, Field Offices and National Laboratories offers 10-week, paid summer internships to qualified students to gain experience in DOE mission-related research programs, and offers an inside view of Federal employment. The program encourages participants to consider future opportunities for employment with the Office of Fossil Energy. Application deadline is Dec. 31, 2011.

• The DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions provides faculty and student research teams with the opportunity to conduct research at the university-based DHS Centers of Excellence (DHS Centers).The intent of the program is to provide research opportunities to increase and enhance the scientific leadership at Minority Serving Institutions in research areas that support the mission and goals of DHS. In addition, the program is designed to engage early career faculty, along with undergraduate and graduate students, in research that will provide them opportunities to understand the mission and research needs of DHS and make advances in Research Areas of importance to DHS, while strengthening the talent pool of scientists and engineers. Application deadline is Jan. 8, 2012.

• The Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP) targets junior and senior undergraduate students interested in research careers in the biological sciences. As part of the program, students do full-time research for 10 weeks with a faculty member in one of eight disciplinary areas. At the end of the program, students give an oral presentation of their research results and write a final research report that is published in a program journal. Application deadline is Feb. 15, 2012.

• The University of Tennessee provides the REU Sensing and Signaling Research for Undergrads program that aims to provide research experiences for undergraduate students majoring in the sciences. The team of REU investigators represents a multidisciplinary ensemble of Cell Biologists, Geneticists, Biochemists, and Biophysicists who are taking modern approaches to the analysis of how signals are perceived and transduced in myriad biological systems. Application deadline is Mar. 30, 2012.

• Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Science Education Programs connects students with over 7,000 internship, fellowship, and research opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, recent graduates, and faculty around the U.S. For further information visit http://see.orau.org.

 

 

 

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Undergraduate Research Center 1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA. 90041 (323) 259-1414