Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity
Off-Campus Research
URGO helps students identify and apply for summer research opportunities throughout the country. Many universities and organizations host summer undergraduate research programs. These programs often include a research stipend and some include housing support. Such programs are a great way to enhance your education, meet new people, and explore a new city! This list is not comprehensive, so we encourage you to continue your search for programs beyond this list. Check out our tips for applying to off-campus research to get started!
Where to start?
If you are not sure how to begin searching for undergraduate research opportunities, we recommend starting with the following databases:
The National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
- Nationally funded research opportunities in all science fields, including the social and behavioral sciences
- Includes some international research opportunities
The Association of American Medical Colleges Research Programs Database
- Research opportunities in the medical field
Summer Research Opportunities in Life Sciences
- Research opportunities with private companies
Summer Research Opportunities in the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
- Excellent list of national opportunities for students majoring in the Social Sciences, Arts, or Humanities
More Summer Research Opportunities in the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
- Includes programs specifically for the social sciences, arts, and humanities in addition to those open to all disciplines
- Also includes science and technology opportunities
Summer Research Opportunities for Underrepresented Groups
- List of research opportunities available to groups underrepresented in graduate/professional schools, including first generation college students, racial minorities, and those with financial need. Check each program for eligibility details.
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Research Opportunities Key
I- international students may apply
NP- eligibility requirements are not provided; program may or may not accept international students
D- database; includes many different research opportunities which may have individual policies for eligibility requirements
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Research Opportunities in Minnesota
If you would prefer to stay in Minnesota for the summer, check out the many research opportunities for undergraduates in state.
University of Minnesota Research Experiences for Undergraduates (open to non-U of M students):
- Biology
- Chemistry NP
- Mathematics (U of M) I; Mathematics (UMD) NP
- Sustainable Land and Water Resources I
- Earth Sciences
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Physics and Astronomy
- Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
- Lillehei Heart Institute I
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Summer Research Programs
- Center for Health Equity and Clinical Translational Science Institute I
Mayo Clinic Research Programs:
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) I
- Vann Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics I
- Mayo Summer Internships- including internships in biostatistics, architectural design, clinical lab sciences, exercise specialties, engineering, finance, information technology, etc. NP
Carleton College Summer Mathematics Program for Undergraduate Women
Lupus Foundation of Minnesota Student Research Fellowships
Cargill Research Internships I
Beckman Coulter, Inc. Internships I
R&D Systems internship in Biological Sciences
Minneapolis Heart Institute Summer Research Internship – Clinical Cardiology I
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National Research Opportunities
A
American Chemistry Society (ACS) Internships, Service Learning and Study Abroad for Chemistry Students website D
Internships, cooperative education, service learning and study abroad are great opportunities for college students to gain valuable, real-world experience. Learn more about what’s involved in these experiential programs and how they can benefit you.
American Mathematical Society website D
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Archbold Biological Station Internship Program website NP
Internship opportunities in ecological research, environmental education, or land management that offer the chance for you to be trained in a field station setting and to design your own independent project. Open to post-baccalaureate, graduate, and undergraduate students.
ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship website I
Microbiology-related research
C
Center for Disease Control and Prevention website
Exploring the link between the environment and health
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory website NP
Research in cancer biology, neuroscience, plant biology, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics and genomics
Columbia University/Barnard College Amgen Scholars Research Program website
Biology research experience
D
Department of Homeland Security/Technology website D
Research Experiences for Undergraduates in various fields
DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory website
G
Genentech website I
Industry research experience focused on biotechonology
George Washington University website
Mathematics for Women
Germany Study Abroad website NP
Study Science in Germany
H
Harvard SROH website
Must have completed a summer of research previously
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMS) website
HHMI offers thousands of exciting experiences in the sciences for students at colleges and universities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. HHMI’s Janelia Farm Research Campus is a state-of-the-art biomedical research complex near Washington DC. Their summer research program includes a $4,500 stipend, on-site housing and travel expenses.
I
Isis Pharmaceuticals website I
J
The Jackson Laboratory website I
The Jackson Laboratory offers educational programs for scientists at various stages in their careers–from talented high school students investigating genetic diseases to experienced researchers defining the cutting edge of genomics research.
L
The Leadership Alliance website
One application for 19 prestigious institutions covering most disciplines
M
Macalaster College’s Science and Research Office website D
This site is for Science summer research opportunities. Though some of the listed programs are exclusively for Macalaster students, the site clearly outlines a variety of off campus opportunities open to students from all universities. Since the entire site is geared towards science, it is a must-visit for science students.
Macalester Database for International Student Opportunities website D, I
Mathematical Science Research Institute website
Math Opportunities from MAA website D
Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship website
N
National Center for Coastal Ocean Science website D
National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship website
This site works as a clearinghouse for many summer research experiences. It lists them by college and provides the title of each. Like most summer research sites, it is heavy on the science.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website D
The NIH is the primary agency for support of biomedical research. A number of NIH departments offer summer research opportunities. Students must be either United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
SURF Gaithersburg, MD website I
SURF Boulder, CO website
NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program website
NASA Combined Intern Application website
Application includes:
NASA Academy
NASA Student Internship Program
NASA Robotics Internship Program
NASA Independent Verification and Validation Internship Program
NASA Summer Aerospace Workforce Development Research Internship Program
NASA Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Student Internship Program
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Higher Education Undergraduate Programs List website D
The Nucleus website D
Database of summer opportunities in physics and astronomy.
O
Ohio Aerospace Institute’s Lewis Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Program at NASA Glenn website NP
R
RISE (Research in Science and Engineering) at Rutgers/UMDNJ website
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Summer Research Participation Program in Science website
S
SciTechsperience Internships website NP
Seven Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS7) website I
Since 2006, the Study and Internship Program (SIP) has enabled highly qualified undergraduates from U.S. and Canadian colleges to experience the German approach to hands-on education at a member of UAS7, a consortium of Germany’s top universities of applied sciences. SIP students spend a semester studying at a UAS7 campus and a semester interning in a laboratory.
Stowers Summer Scholars Program- The Stowers Institute for Medical Research website I
Student Medical Education Program website
Seventeen medical schools have a 6-week medical school prep program for undergraduates who have completed 1 year of study.
Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) website NP
All disciplines. Targets minority students but accepts applications from all students. One application for 15 schools.
Summer Research Programs in Texas website D
Study Abroad Research- Euroscholars Program website I
Apply for this program through Augsburg Abroad
SMART Scholarship website
The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. Students pursuing degrees related to STEM are encouraged to apply.
U
University of Alabama website NP
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
UC Berkeley (Amgen Scholars) website NP
UC Davis website D
Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity Index
UC Irvine website D
Index of off-campus research opportunities (all disciplines)
University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Summer Research Initiative website
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Research Programs website NP
UCLA Summer Programs website NP
University of Wisconsin-Madison website
Biology research
Y
Yale Science and Engineering Research website NP
Programs and Funding Opportunities for Undergraduates (lists both Programs and Directories and National Laboratories, Corporations, Research Institutes and Universities)