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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 10/1/26 |
| Brookings Internship Program Brookings provides paid internships to nearly 150 degree-seeking students with internship cohorts available every spring, summer, and fall. |
Business & Economics, Social Sciences & Behavior | Fall, Spring, Summer | Anticipated 11/1/26 |
| 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. |
Business & Economics, Data Science, Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | 11/1/26 |
| Kennedy Center Internship Program The Kennedy Center Internship Program is a holistic and rigorous professional development program designed to elevate the next generation of leaders in the arts, cultural, and non-profit fields. |
Humanities & Arts | Spring | Anticipated 11/14/26 |
| 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 11/26/26 |
| 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 11/30/26 |
| 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 | 12/1/26 |
| Health Equity Research Experience (HERE) at Mayo Clinic Outstanding undergraduates interested in examining health equity through hands-on research are encouraged to apply for a 10-week summer program at Mayo Clinic. Students participating in the Health Equity Research Experience (HERE) will be matched with a faculty mentor and fully immersed in the research and culture of a major medical center with top-notch scientists. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 12/3/26 |
| 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 12/12/26 |
| 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 12/14/26 |
| 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 12/31/26 |
| 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 1/1/27 |
| Seattle Children's Summer Scholars Program (SSSP) The SSSP provides students with a summer internship opportunity to engage in basic, clinical, community-based or translational research projects at Seattle Children’s Research Institute under the mentorship of experienced researchers. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/2/27 |
| 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 1/3/27 |
| 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 1/4/27 |
| Quantitative Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (QSURE) The QSURE internship program will provide hands-on skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, health outcomes, and/or computational oncology. |
Data Science, Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/4/27 |
| 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 1/7/27 |
| 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 1/7/27 |
| 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 1/9/27 |
| 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 1/9/27 |
| Summer Institute in Neuroscience The Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience is a 10-week program at UC Irvine that offers undergraduate students hands-on neuroscience research experience while equipping them with skills for graduate school success. The program includes remote preparation followed by in-person research, covering transportation, housing, meals, and a stipend. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/10/27 |
| 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 1/11/27 |
| MindCORE Summer Fellowship Program at UPenn This fellowship provides students with a 10-week summer opportunity to study human intelligence and behavior spanning Biology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Computer Science. Students will work alongside a Penn faculty mentor, attend workshops, and participate in research discussions. |
Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 1/11/27 |
| Vienna BioCenter Summer School The Vienna BioCenter offers summer research experiences for students to work side by side with leading researchers in a dynamic scientific environment. The program aims to attract talented students interested in life sciences from around the world, creating a vibrant and diverse atmosphere. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 1/11/27 |
| 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 1/11/27 |