Biology Opportunities

The UMass Chan Medical School (UMass Chan) Summer Undergraduate Research Program is a non-credit, ten-week, structured research experience. The program consists of “hands-on” laboratory research with an investigator serving as a mentor, role model and advisor. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the UMass Chan Provost’s Office.

CATALYST is an umbrella program comprised of 18 summer unique academic research programs at MD Anderson developed specifically for students interested in an advanced degree and/or a career in cancer research. We encourage you to visit the Programs page to view all of the wonderful opportunities, organized by educational stage, offered at MD Anderson each summer.

Our Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program is a transformative ten-week experience designed to empower college students for careers in medicine and biomedical sciences. Selected from a national pool, participants engage in focused research, clinical rotations, problem-based learning sessions, and more under the guidance of faculty mentors. Join for a summer of discovery, growth, and innovation as we shape the future of healthcare together.

​APHL offers a variety of opportunities to explore career pathways in public health laboratory science. We support professional development experiences for current students, early career scientists and established laboratorians. ​As a recipient of American Rescue Plan funding, we have expanded upon our current Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program​ offerings and have added a Public Health Laboratory Internship Program.​​​​

The Cedar Creek LTER (Long Term Ecological Research Network) has several opportunities for students and recent graduates to work as plant community ecology interns. Most positions run from June through August, but some interns are needed as early as March, and some are needed through October. As a research intern, you will contribute to ongoing field experiments, have the opportunity to initiate individual research, attend scientific seminars, and interact with professors, post-docs, and graduate students. Pay is $15.50 per hour. On-site dormitory housing is available to rent.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) helps aspiring biomedical scientists gain significant experience and guide them in deciding if a life in research aligns with their professional goals. It serves as a stepping stone from undergraduate studies to advanced PhD training in the biological and biomedical sciences. Participants engage in an intensive 10-week program designed to provide hands-on experience in biomedical research, together with guidance on how to plan for a research-related career.

RIOS is an undergraduate research program that will introduce you to an active and collaborative ocean research environment. With support from the National Science Foundation, you will conduct ocean research over a paid, 10-week summer internship offered by the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Continuing undergraduate students pursuing majors in environmental sciences, engineering, geology, biology, physics, or mathematics are encouraged to apply. The program will run 10 weeks, from June 2 to August 8, 2025. Accepted students will get a $7,000 stipend, free room, and paid travel expenses.

The 2025 M-SURE program will support 16 undergraduate trainees for a summer research experience with mentors from an outstanding pool of faculty investigators engaged in cutting-edge basic and clinical research related to diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolic diseases. The funding amount for 2025 will be $7200, pre-tax, for twelve weeks of full-time work from May 27 through August 15. The start and/or end date of the fellowship may be shifted slightly to accommodate overlap with the academic year at home institutions, if necessary. Students who are currently enrolled at any degree granting university or college are eligible to apply. Preference is given to those students interested in a career in research. Although federal funding is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, we will have a few slots available for international students.

Lisel (Elizabeth) Record ’92, Associate Director at the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center has a paid summer research opportunity for students who are particularly interested in biology or bioinformatics. Lisel’s research center typically hosts one intern each summer, but there are many other labs around the country that also host interns. The deadline to apply is Feb 1, 2025. Lisel (recorde@iu.edu) would be happy to answer questions about the program. The Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) is funded by the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health.