The Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Database includes a list of primarily off-campus summer research opportunities available for undergraduate students.
Please note - This is not an exhaustive list of all summer opportunities. Though we actively manage and update this database, there are likely many opportunities, both on-campus and external, that our office has missed.
This database is maintained by the Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or would like to add an opportunity to our database, please email ugresearch@illinois.edu.
How to use
Most students choose to filter by "Research Area" and leave the "Keywords" field blank. You can also search using keywords; however, we recommend the use of general keywords (broad search terms) for best results (e.g., "chemical" instead of "crinine and haemanthamine alkaloids".)
Press "Apply" to apply these filtering criteria and update the list of opportunities shown.
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| Research Opportunity | Research Area | Opportunity Timing | Deadline Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP) NREIP offers 10-week summer internships for STEM students, providing top-notch mentoring, and hands-on Navy lab experience. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 11/1/25 |
| Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program Through this summer internship, fellows are exposed to a broad spectrum of library work: copyright, preservation, reference, access, and information technology. Working under the direction of Library curators and specialists in various divisions, fellows explore digital initiatives and increase access to the institution’s unparalleled collections and resources. |
Humanities & Arts | Summer | Anticipated 11/26/25 |
| Research Internships in Science and Engineering Students are matched with a host university or institute according to their area of interest (biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, engineering, or a closely related field). Host universities, universities of applied sciences, and institutes provide housing assistance and match students with Ph.D. student mentors or researchers. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 11/30/25 |
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus Insititute (CHCI) CIP provides Latino undergraduates of all majors with paid placement in congressional offices for a period of 10 weeks. Interns will learn how the legislative system works, respond to constituent inquiries, write policy briefs, gain work experience, and participate in community service. |
Social Sciences & Behavior | Fall, Summer | Anticipated 12/1/25 |
| Mystic Aquarium REU This REU program offers a unique collaboration between the renowned Mystic Aquarium and the University of Connecticut, Avery Point located on Long Island Sound. Participants will work with faculty to develop their own independent research project as well as participate in a variety of professional development activities. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | 12/2/25 |
| Watershed Management Research and Outreach Undergraduate Internship Program This program will provide students with broader perspectives and experience in water-related research and extension education. Students will gain real world experience with the complexities and trade-offs associated with water-related decisions in rural and urban landscapes. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 12/8/25 |
| Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Summer Intern Program The LPI Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to perform cutting-edge research, learn from widely respected planetary scientists, and discover exciting careers in planetary science. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 12/12/25 |
| PINNACLE - Renewables and Cybersecurity for the Power Grid in France In this eight-week program, students will gain experience in inverter-based electric power systems and addressing challenges in control, communication, and cybersecurity. Participants engage in research, language instruction, and industry visits. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 12/15/25 |
| Dryland Sustainability Research (IRES) This program offers students the chance to conduct hands-on research in Kenya's drylands, focusing on socio-environmental system transitions and sustainability challenges. Combining fieldwork at the Mpala Research Centre with collaboration alongside local pastoralist communities, participants gain critical research skills and cross-cultural insights into global environmental issues. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Humanities & Arts, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 12/15/25 |
| Chemistry REU at Colorado State This REU program offers students a comprehensive introduction to chemical research, covering synthesis, characterization, modeling, and device performance. They'll engage in cutting-edge projects, learn hypothesis testing, data analysis, and utilize advanced lab equipment. Additionally, participants will enhance their presentation, ethics, and career skills. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 12/15/25 |
| Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship through AAAS This program strengthens connections between scientists and journalists by placing undergraduate scientists, engineers, and mathematicians at media organizations (National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times, WIRED, etc.). Students sharpen their abilities to communicate complex scientific issues and enhance coverage of science-related issues in media. |
Humanities & Arts, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/1/26 |
| National Opinion Research Center (NORC) Summer Internship Program NORC’s nine-week summer program provides hands-on experience for students to conduct research in the social sciences, survey research, data analysis, and research methodology. |
Data Science, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 1/3/26 |
| Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship (STARS) Program This program offers juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups training in research methods in the labs of BWH and Harvard Medical School’s leading researchers. This opportunity caters to undergraduates interested in careers as research scientists, physicians, and/or health care professionals. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/3/26 |
| NIDA Summer Research Internship Program This internship program is an eight-week internship researching substance use and addiction with the National Institute on Drug Abuse. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/6/26 |
| University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP) UTRIP is an intensive summer research program targeted at undergraduates who have a keen interest in pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in the future. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 1/7/26 |
| Yale Conservation Scholars Students directly work with and are mentored by professors, research scientists, and environmental professionals. They are exposed to research projects relating to conservation research, environmental policy, conservation finance, environmental education, environmental justice, energy justice, water pollution, food insecurity, community action, and much more. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 1/7/26 |
| Magazine Internship Program ASME offers undergraduate students a prestigious opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the magazine industry. Participants are placed in leading magazines and media organizations, working closely with seasoned professionals. This immersive program allows interns to develop skills in editorial content creation, research, writing, and digital media. By participating, interns enhance their portfolios, build professional networks, and gain insight into the magazine industry. |
Humanities & Arts, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 1/7/26 |
| Oak Ridge National Laboratory Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships This program encourages undergraduates and recent associate and bachelor’s graduates to pursue STEM careers by providing research experiences at a DOE laboratory. |
Science & Technology | Fall, Spring, Summer | Anticipated 1/8/26 |
| Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) The SULI program encourages students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research internships at Argonne National Laboratory. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/8/26 |
| Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) In this comprehensive internship, you’ll be mentored by a leading science expert who will guide you in a specific research area to gain maximum exposure to one of the many science and technology areas that underpin the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) diverse missions. |
Science & Technology | Fall, Spring, Summer | Anticipated 1/9/26 |
| Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program AFRL Scholars Program offers opportunities to undergraduates pursuing STEM degrees. Application deadline dates differ per program. Selected interns gain valuable hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/10/26 |
| Diverse Voices in Science Journalism Internship This summer program is designed for undergraduate students who are deeply committed to diversity and interested in pursuing journalism as a career. Interns spend 10 weeks working in the news room at Science magazine, covering the scientific and technological issues that shape our global community. |
Humanities & Arts, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/10/26 |
| Caltech WAVE Fellows Program The WAVE Fellows provides support for undergraduate students, who are underrepresented in STEM and intent on pursuing a Ph.D., to conduct a 10-week summer research project. A wide range of research opportunities are available from biology, chemistry, and engineering to environmental science, sustainability, humanities, and social science. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/10/26 |
| Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) This program is a summer research opportunity designed for undergraduates with a commitment to biomedical research and an interest in genomics. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/10/26 |
| Caltech LIGO Summer Research The Caltech LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program invites undergraduate students in physics, astronomy, and engineering to engage in gravitational-wave astronomy research at Caltech or LIGO observatories. Students will pursue research projects under mentorships from various scientists and engineers. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/11/26 |