2024 Summer Research Opportunities in Biology
A great way to apply and extend what you have been learning in the classroom and the laboratory is to join an active research lab over the summer. Amherst College and many institutions across the country (and beyond) offer summer undergraduate research programs that typically last about 10 weeks. Descriptions of some of these programs and the applications can be found at the links provided below.
Students are encouraged to apply to multiple programs as there are limited spots in each. Through sending out many applications, most students are successful in obtaining off-campus summer research experiences and internships.
Local Opportunities:
- Amherst College Summer Research
- Five College Summer Research: 2024 information not posted yet
External Opportunities:
- Programs with Many Opportunities in Biology
- Ecology / Evolution / Plants / Animals
- Molecular Biology / Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Biology Education
- Sites with Program Lists
- International Research
For International Students seeking summer research opportunities in the United States: Due to visa restrictions, international students interested in off-campus summer research opportunities must ensure that they are properly authorized to engage in such activities. If the summer internship includes any kind of compensation (salary, stipend, scholarship/grant, housing and meals, transportation, etc.) from a source other than Amherst College, the student must apply to the U. S. Government for "optional practical training" permission. International students should consult the Office of Student Affairs to discuss their plans and initiate the authorization process. Students are encouraged to do so as early as possible, even before a specific internship has been secured, as the authorization process for obtaining permission for off-campus summer internships can take several months.
Amherst College Summer Science Research
Summer Science Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF): For first/second-year students: 2024 applications open January 31, deadline February 20.
The Gregory S. Call Summer Research Program (SRP): The 2024 deadline for submission of proposals is April 22.
Five College Summer Science Research
- Five College Funded Summer Research Internships: offer students enrolled in the five colleges support for summer research positions at approved marine laboratories. There are two types of paid summer research opportunities available through Five College Coastal & Marine Sciences. Each of the two internship categories has its own application requirements and deadlines. Seniors may apply only to the Marine Biological Laboratory internships. Contact the program coordinator.
Programs with Many Opportunities in Biology
- The Leadership Alliance, Summer Research - Early Identification Program (SR-EIP): 2024 application due February 1.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) OSSI: 2024 applications vary, many opportunities.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL), Oakridge, TN: 2024 application deadlines vary by program.
Programs Emphasizing Ecology / Evolution / Plants / Animals
- American Museum of Natural History (evolutionary biology): 2024 deadline January 31.
- American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB): 2024 deadline February 12.
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: 2024 deadline February 15.
- Brown University, Biology of Animal Movement and Performance: 2024 applications are open, deadline not posted, apply through The Leadership Alliance..
- Boise State University Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites for Raptor Research (REU-RR): There will not be an REU-Raptor Research program in Summer 2024 due to funding.
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Summer Systematics Institute: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: No 2024 summer program.
- Cornell University and Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Plant Genome Research Program (PGRG): 2024 applications due January 31.
- Cornell University Center for Research and Programmable Plant Systems: 2024 applications due February 6.
- Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York: 2024 applications due January 22.
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center: 2024 applications due February 4.
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC: No 2024 summer program.
- Environmental Data Initiative: The program is currently paused until further notice.
- Florida International University, The Coastal Ecosystems Research Experience for Undergraduates: 2024 deadline January 30.
- Georgia Tech, Aquatic Chemical Ecology (ACE): 2024 information not yet available.
- Harvard University, Arnold Arboretum, DaRin Butz Foundation Research Internship Program: 2024 deadline February 15.
- Harvard University (Harvard Forest), Ecology: 2024 applications due February 2.
- Indiana University, Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior: The REU in animal behavior will be on hiatus for the summer of 2024. We plan to be back in summer 2025, and will be accepting applications in Fall of 2024.
- Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, Ecology and Evolution: 2024 deadline February 15.
- Kansas State University, Konza Prairie Biological Station: No current information.
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University: 2024 deadline January 31.
- Michigan State University, Plant Genomics: 2024 deadline February 5.
- Michigan State University, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: 2024 application deadline January 14.
- Mount Desert Island Biological Lab: 2024 application deadline January 26.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) OSSI: 2024 opportunities have varying deadlines.
- National Park Service, Scientists Parks- Fellows: 2024 deadline January 21.
- The Noble Foundation, Research Scholars in Plant Science: Pausing educational programs until further notice
- Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden, plant biology and conservation: 2024 deadline February 9.
- Ohio State, Stone Laboratory, Lake Erie, the oldest freshwater biological field station in the United States: 2024 deadline February 26.
- Pepperdine University: 2024 deadline February 7.
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, SURF: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory: 2024 application deadline February 15.
- Shoals Marine Laboratory: 2024 deadline February 9.
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: 2024 deadline February 15.
- University of California, Santa Cruz, Doris Duke Conservation Scholars: this is a two year program, not currently recruiting cohorts at this time, check back in October 2024 for 2024 cohort applications.
- University of Cincinnati Sensory Ecology: 2024 application review February 1, final deadline February 16.
- University of Delaware, College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment: 2024 applications due February 9.
- University of Georgia, Fungal Genomics & Computational Biology: 2024 applications due March 1.
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences Sea Grant's REU: 2024 deadline February 13.
- University of Massachusetts, Boston, Integrative and Evolutionary Biology- 2024 deadline February 15.
- University of Nevada Las Vegas, Mechanisms of Evolution: 2024 deadline March 1.
- University of Oregon, The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, “Exploration of Marine Biology on the Oregon Coast” (EMBOC): 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Oregon, SPUR: 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Pittsburgh's TEC Program (Computational Biology): 2024 deadline February 12.
- University of Virginia, Blandy Experimental Farm: 2024 applications due February 15.
- University of Virginia, Mountain Lake Biological Station: 2024 deadline February 20.
- University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories: 2024 application open in January 2024, no further details posted.
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Biological Interactions: Phenotype, Genotype & Environment: 2024 application deadline February 15.
- USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center: 2024 Application Open Period: 1/15/24 - 1/29/24.
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS): 2024 deadline February 2.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience: No 2024 program.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: 2024 deadline February 5.
- Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP): 2024 deadline February 9.
- Woods Hole, The Polaris Project: no 2024 program.
Programs Emphasizing Molecular Biology/Medicine
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, SURP: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Baylor College of Medicine, SMART Program: 2024 applications due January 15.
- Binghamton University State University of New York,Summer Experience for Undergraduate in Microbial Biofilms: 2024 application deadline February 18.
- Boston University Bioinformatics, BRITE Program: No 2024 program.
- Boston University, Summer Institute in Biostatistics (SIBS): 2024 application deadline February 15.
- Brandeis University: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Brigham and Women's Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship (STARS) Program: 2024 deadline January 15.
- Brigham and Women's Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP): 2024 deadline January 15
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard- Summer Research Program (BSRP) Program: 2024 deadline January 10.
- Burke Neurological Institute: 2023 summer program was not held, 2024 information not posted yet.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- various deadlines.
- California Institute of Technology, SURF: 2024 applications due February 22.
- Caltech, Amgen Scholars Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Caltech, WAVE Fellows Program: 2024 application deadline January 9
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program- 2024 deadline January 31.
- Cold Spring Harbor: (includes Neuroscience and Plant Biology): 2024 applications due January 15.
- Colorado State University, Summer Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Columbia University, Barnard College, Amgen Scholars Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Dana Faber/Harvard Cancer Center, CURE Program: 2024 deadline February 2.
- Dartmouth, ASURE: 2024 deadline not posted, only accepting applications through Leadership Alliance.
- Drexel University College of Medicine, SURF Program- 2024 applications due January 10.
- Duke University, Amgen Scholars Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Duke University Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP): 2024 deadline February 9.
- Emory University, Natural and Biomedical Sciences: 2024 deadline February 4.
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center: 2024 application deadline January 5.
- George Washington University, SPARC Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Gerstner Sloan Kettering: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Harvard University, Summer Scholars Program- 2024 applications are open, all applications are considered between December and April on a rolling basis.
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Cell Biology, Cell Biology Research Scholars Program (CRSP): No 2023 program, no information posted regarding 2024.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Multiple Summer Programs,: Multiple opportunities
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute- Janelia Farm Summer Program: No program in 2024.
- The Jackson Laboratory: 2024 deadline January 29.
- Johns Hopkins University- Visualization of Macromolecules in Biological Research: 2024 deadline February 9.
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Summer Internship Program: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Johns Hopkins University, Institute for Nanobiotechnology: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Joslin Diabetes Center: 2024 deadline January 31.
- Loyola Adventures in Urobiome Data (LAUD): 2024 deadline March 11.
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute (MMCRI): 2024 deadline January 31.
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): 2024 applications due February 1.
- MDI Biological Laboratory- 2024 deadline January 26.
- Medical College of Wisconsin, SPUR: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Medical University of South Carolina, DART Program: 2024 application deadline February 1.
- MIT Summer Research Program in Biology (BSG-MSRP-Bio): 2024 application deadline January 30.
- Montana State University: 2024 applications due February 16.
- Mount Sinai Ican School of Medicine, Summer Undergraduate Research Program for Underrepresented Scholars (SURP4US): 2024 applications due January 15.
- National Cancer Institute: several opportunities, varying deadlines.
- National Institute of Health Summer Internship Program (SIP): 2024 deadline February 16.
- New York University: 2024 deadline February 1.
- North Carolina State University, Summer Institute in Biostatistics: 2024 deadline March 15.
- Ohio State University, Dept. of Molecular Genetics: 2024 applications due February 15.
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Scholars: 2024 deadline January 15.
- Oregon Health & Science University, Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Pediatric Oncology Program (POE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: 2024 applications are open, applicants are encouraged to get their credentials in by mid-December.
- Rockefeller University: 2024 application deadline February 1.
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute: 2024 applications due January 31.
- Rutgers, RISE Program, (Piscataway, New Jersey): 2024 application open, rolling admissions, apply early..
- Rutgers, Neuro SURP (Newark, New Jersey): 2024 deadline February 16.
- Scripps Research Institute, SURF Program, La Jolla, CA and Jupiter, FL: 2024 application deadline February 15.
- Stanford University, SSRP-Amgen: 2024 deadline February 1.
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Pediatric Oncology Education (POE), Memphis, TN: 2024 deadline February 1.
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine: 2024 applications due February 1.
- Thomas Jefferson University College of Life Sciences: 2024 deadline February 15.
- Tufts University Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences (BDBS) Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, SIBS Program: 2024 application deadline February 28.
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, PARAdiGM Program: 2024 application review for complete applications will begin approximately February 1st and admission decisions will begin on a rolling basis at this time.
- University at Buffalo Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE): 2024 deadline February 9.
- University of California at Berkeley, Amgen Scholars Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of California at San Francisco, SRTP: 2024 applications due February 1.
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)- Amgen Scholars Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- UCLA, B.I.G. Program: 2024 early decision is January 3, final deadline is March 1.
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)- SPUR Program- 2024 deadline March 31.
- University of Cincinnati Medical School Summer Research Fellowship: 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Connecticut Health Center: 2024 deadline March 16.
- University of Colorado Anshultz Medical Campus, multiple opportunities- 2024 deadline February 2.
- University of Colorado, Colorado School of Public Health, Summer Institute of Biostatistics (CoSIBS): Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from January through March. Final decisions will be made by April 30. Info posted is 2023, application is 2024.
- University of Delaware, Marine Sciences Summer Program: 2024 deadline February 9.
- University of Florida,The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology SURF/REU: 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Georgia, Summer Undergraduate Fellowships in Genetics: 2024 application deadline February 1
- University of Iowa Summer Undergraduate MSTP program: 2024 application deadline February 1.
- University of Iowa, Microbiology: 2024 applications due February 15.
- University of Iowa, College of Public Health, Summer Institute in Biostatistics: 2024 applications are open, acceptance on a rolling basis, apply early.
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts: 2024 deadline March 1.
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, SURF Program: 2024 application deadline January 26.
- University of Michigan, Frankel Cardiovascular Center Summer Fellowship Program (FCVC): 2024 deadline January 8.
- University of Michigan Summer Undergraduate Research Experience: Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases (M-SURE): 2024 application deadline January 22.
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, The Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP): 2024 applications due January 31.
- University of Michigan Medical School: Multiple opportunities & deadlines.
- University of Minnesota-Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP): 2024 applications due February 16.
- University of Nebraska- Lincoln: 2024 priority deadline February 1, application deadline March 1.
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (SURP): 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Mechanisms of Evolution: 2024 deadline March 1.
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill: 2024 information not posted yet.
- University of Oregon, SPUR: 2024 information not posted, in 2023 the program was only for UO students.
- University of Pennsylvania ,TECBio: 2024 deadline February 12.
- University of Pennsylvania, Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP): 2023 applications due February 1.
- University of Pennsylvania, Penn Summer Program in Infectious Disease Research (SPIDR): 2024 applications due February 1.
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (SURP): 2024 early application is February 1, final deadline is March 1.
- University of Rochester, School of Medicine & Dentistry, Summer Scholars Program: 2024 applications due February 28.
- University of Texas - Houston Health Sciences Center: 2024 information not posted.
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas: 2024 applications due February 1.
- University of Virginia School of Medicine: 2024 applications due February 1.
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP): multiple opportunities available in 2024, application deadline February 15..
- Vanderbilt University, Chemical Biology: 2024 deadline February 28.
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Dept. of Health: 2024 information is still to be posted, there is a program!
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Summer Scholars Program: 2024 applications due January 15.
- Washington State University, RISE Program: 2024 information not available yet.
- Washington University in St. Louis Center for Engineering MechanoBiology (WU-CEMB)- 2024 deadline February 1.
Programs Emphasizing Neuroscience
- Columbia University, Summer of Translational Aging Research for Undergraduates (STAR U): 2024 applications due January 17.
- Huntington's Disease Society of America, Donald A. King HDSA Summer Research Fellowship: 2024 application deadline March 1.
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Neuroscience Undergraduate Summer Research Program: 2024 applications due January 15.
- MIT Summer Research Program in Neuroscience (MSRP Bio): 2024 applications due January 30.
- Oregon Health & Science University Vollum/NGP Undergraduate Summer Research Program: 2024 deadline January 15.
- Oregon Health & Science University Neuroscience Post baccalaureate Initiative (PREP): 2024 application deadline March 1.
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute Summer Program: 2024 deadline February 1.
- Rutgers University, Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Neuroscience (NeuroSURP): 2024 applications due February 16.
- University of Cincinnati, Sensory Ecology: 2024 application review February 1, final deadline February 16.
- University of Cincinnati, RISE UP Program: 2024 applications close February 1 but apply by January 1 for full consideration.
- University of Florida, Summer Neuroscience Internship Program (SNIP): 2024 deadline February 1.
- University of Michigan, SIREN Program: 2024 deadline January 15.
- University of Pittsburgh, Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP) : 2024 deadline January 26.
- University of Texas, El Paso, SMART-MIND Program: 2024 deadline February 2.
- UT Health,, Houston, The BRAINS (Brain, Rejuvenation, Aging, Inflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Stroke) Program: 2024 deadline March 4.
- University of Washington Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program: 2024 deadline January 2.
- Washington University in St. Louis (WULST) ENDURE: 2024 deadline February 2.
Biology Education
- Undergraduate Biology Education Research (UBERv3), University of Georgia: 2024 information not posted, not sure if there is a program.
- North Dakota State University Growing Up STEM Program: 2024 program is not likely, 2025 is planned.
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Center for Advancing STEM Teaching, Learning, and Evaluation: 2024 application deadline January 19.
- Teaching Experiences for Undergraduates (TEU): 2024 deadline February 29.
- Washington State University Research in Interdisciplinary STEM Education (RISE) Program: 2024 information not available yet.
Sites with Lists of Many Programs
- National Science Foundation-Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): This is an excellent site containing a list of participating universities and other research institutions that have REU programs in biology (many of which are listed separately above).
- Amgen Scholars Program
- The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
- Cornell University
- Columbia University
- Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP)
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Programs in Ecology, Animal & Plant Biology, Marine Science
- University of California, Berkeley
International Research
- Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Earth Institute, Columbia University: Field research outside of the continental U.S. 2024 information not posted.
- Danta, Association for Conservation of the Tropics: Two summer field courses available for credit in Costa Rica.
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, International Exchange Program for minority students: 2024 deadline March 1.
- John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK: 2024 deadline January 19.
- Max Planck Summer Internship Program: Due to organizational reasons, there will be no MaxSIP in summer 2024. We aim to resume the program for summer 2025. Information on application deadlines and participating labs can be found on this website in fall 2024.
- Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, Ecology and Evolution: 2024 deadline February 14.
- Organization for Tropical Studies (Costa Rica): 2024 information not yet available.
Last updated: February 27, 2024 MGManning