A summer research experience can catapult your understanding to new heights, as you work alongside a researcher or as part of a research team, either at Bates or off campus.  The list below offers some links to off-campus research opportunities.  There are many out there, so searching the Web for “summer undergraduate research” will yield many interesting options.

Opportunities Available at Other Institutions

This is just a sampling of what is available out there!  Search on the web for “summer undergraduate research opportunities.” 

Allen Institute: The Allen Institute offers science-focused and administrative internships as well as science-focused post-baccalaureate opportunities and fellowships designed to enable people from all backgrounds to launch their career in a space where they are valued and included.

American Museum of Natural History:  Funded by the National Science Foundation, offers paid summer internships for qualified undergraduate students to conduct research projects with AMNH scientists in either evolutionary biology or physical sciences (Earth & Planetary Science and Astrophysics.

Association of American Medical Colleges: A clearinghouse site for undergraduate research in health fields across the US.

Biomedical Data Science in Context (BDSC): The JAX Biomedical Data Science in Context program (BDSC) is a two-week program designed to help students build foundational technical skills for using data science in solving biomedical problems; build confidence in their ability to use data science skills in solving biomedical problems; have ideas for next steps for working on a biomedical data science project at their home institution.

Boyce Thompson Institute: Boyce Thompson Institute’s NSF & USDA Research Experience for Undergraduates is a 10-week opportunity to work side-by side with plant science experts and gain experience in genetics and genomics, plant molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, engineering, plant pathogens, and digital agriculture.

Broad Summer Research Program: The Broad Summer Research Program is an intensive 9-week summer research opportunity designed designed for undergraduates with a commitment to biomedical research and an interest in genomics.

Genomics Summer Research for Magnificents (GSRM): The GSRM internship is a ten-week paid summer research program for undergraduate students interested in biosciences or bioinformatics with a focus on genomics research, including ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomics research.

Maine INBRE Summer Research Fellowship Program: A mentored hands-on biomedical research experience at one of the participating INBRE network institutions in Maine.

Maine Medical Center Research Institute Summer Student Research Program (SSRP): Research in biomedical sciences at MMCRI labs in Scarborough, Maine, and other MMC locations.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Summer Research Internship Program: NIDA’s Office of Research Training, Diversity, and Disparities offers paid summer research internships to expose undergraduate students to the field of substance use and addiction research.  Selected students work with distinguished scientists at research institutions across the United States for eight weeks during the summer. Internships involve hands-on experiences that may include laboratory experiments, data collection, data analysis, formal courses, participation in lab meetings, patient interviews, manuscript preparation, library research, literature reviews, and more.  

NSF REU (National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates): A large database of NSF-funded summer research opportunities in the US and abroad, searchable by discipline and state. Mostly in the sciences.

NIST SURF (National Institute of Standards and Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships): Opportunities in STEM research at research campuses in Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO.  US citizens or permanent residents only.

NOAA Hollings Scholarship Program: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers major research scholarships in the life sciences and physical sciences and prepares students for careers at NOAA.

Journal of Young Investigators: Good list of a variety of summer-research opportunities in sciences.

Summer Student Program: During this 10-week paid fellowship, students participate in an ongoing research program at JAX with the support of an experienced scientific mentor. They develop an independent project, implement a research plan co-created with their mentor, analyze the data, and report the results.  SSP provides opportunities – professional development, ethics, and science communication workshops as well as adventures of all kinds – that enhance the research experience.

University of Michigan Future Public Health Leaders Program (Michigan FPHLP):  a 10-week summer residential program for underrepresented college/undergraduate students and recent grads who are looking for a meaningful introduction to public health. 

University of Michigan Samuel & Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center: (Frankel CVC) is offering a 10-week summer undergraduate research fellowship where students will be matched to a laboratory led by an Frankel CVC faculty member and participate in nationally recognized, basic science research in areas such as atherosclerosis, genetic cardiomyopathies, blood clotting disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, vascular biology, and heart failure.

Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE): This program focuses on interdisciplinary nanoscale research at the interface of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. More than 50 faculty participants from the School of Engineering, College of Arts and Science, and the School of Medicine inspire students by creating an atmosphere of excitement and creativity. Each REU participant will work directly with VINSE faculty members and their research groups and be part of the larger VINSE community.

Opportunities for Students from Underrepresented Groups

There is a concerted effort among research universities to attract students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the professoriate to pursue graduate school so they can join the ranks of future faculty. Many research universities provide summer research opportunities for students from other colleges and universities who represent diverse perspectives.  Here is a partial list if the types of programs that are out there:

American Bar Association: Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowships in Law and Social Science for Undergraduate Students, designed to interest undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds in pursuing graduate study in the social sciences or law.

Big Ten Academic Alliance: Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) is a clearinghouse for research programs at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities  for students from underrepresented groups interested in grad school.

Biomedical & Bioinformatics Research Internship and Training Experience (B-BRITE) at the Knight Cancer Institute: The B-BRITE summer internship program seeks highly motivated upper-level college students interested in exploring biomedical research as a career path. They offer an 8-week paid summer internship experience conducting a guided biological or quantitative cancer research project at our campus in beautiful Portland, Oregon.

Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program: BU’s NSF REU offers 10-12 positions each summer in the sciences. Students from underrepresented groups especially encouraged to apply.

CalTech WAVE Fellows Program: Research in Caltech STEM fields for students from underrepresented groups, first-generation to college, women, and financially disadvantaged students. 

Columbia University GSAS – Leadership Alliance Summer Research Program: Intro to grad-school-level research in humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields.

IBP Pathways to Science:  The Institute for Broadening Participation offers a clearing house on summer research programs, designed to encourage students from underrepresented groups to participate in research.  The focus is on STEM fields, but there is also information on research in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and business.

Leadership Alliance: Clearinghouse for research opportunities at 32 research universities in all disciplines (though STEM only at some institutions)

NYU School of Medicine Sackler Institute: Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) for rising juniors and seniors interested in MD, MD-PhD, or PhD and a career in biomedical research.

Northwestern University:  Summer Research Opportunity Program: 8-week fellowships in all disciplines

Purdue University: Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP): Research in all disciplines, focused on encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to undertake graduate study

Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute: Research at the New York Public Library in African American Studies, Africana Studies, and African Diasporan Studies for students planning to pursue humanities Ph.Ds. Current juniors only.

Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Research for 10 weeks at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.

Stanford University Summer Research Early Identification Program: Designed to encourage students from groups underrepresented in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to consider research careers. Check website for various programs for non-Stanford students.

University of Louisville (KY): Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP): Research for UL students and for students from underrepresented groups from other colleges, in fields where graduate degrees are offered at UL.

University of Maryland College Park:  Summer Research Initiative (SRI): Research in behavioral, social, and economic sciences.

University of Michigan:  Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP): research for students from underrepresented groups who are interested in grad school, especially at U of M.

University of Texas at Austin, Summer Research Scholars Program: A variety of programs at UT; check website for non-UT student eligibility

Yale University: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship: For students from underrepresented groups considering graduate study in all disciplines