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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waves in the Universe and Technology REU Washington State University offers a 10-week physics and astronomy research experience for undergraduates, focusing on diverse projects centered around the concept of waves. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/4/25 |
| Meharry Cancer Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) The Meharry Cancer Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is a 10-week intensive, hands-on research experience for undergraduate students. The overall goals of the program are to expose students to different types of cancer research (clinical, biomedical, and community-based) and increase their awareness of cancer health disparities. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/4/25 |
| Cancer Research Summer Internship Program As part of its Cancer Biology Training Program, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center provides exposure to cancer research for highly motivated and talented college undergraduates. This program gives successful applicants an opportunity to explore potential careers in the field of cancer research. Interns work directly in a cancer laboratory setting. Program mentors give presentations on their work in cancer every other week at an informal luncheon that interns are required to attend. At the end of the internship program, each intern will be asked to give a short presentation on their work. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/4/25 |
| WHOI Summer Student Fellowship The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Summer Student Fellowship provides research opportunities in oceanography, marine biology, and related disciplines. It is a prestigious program where undergraduate students can engage in hands-on research experiences and work alongside leading scientists at the renowned institution. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/4/25 |
| Steiner Summer Yiddish Program The Steiner Summer Yiddish Program offers motivated students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Yiddish language and culture. Participants study with renowned scholars and build a community of yidishkayt in a supportive residential setting. |
Humanities & Arts | Summer | Anticipated 2/4/25 |
| Community-Academic Scholars Program The Community-Academic Scholars Initiative provides undergraduates from all disciplines with an immersive 10-week community-based summer research experience with guidance from a faculty mentor and community partner. Each scholar will contribute to a research project designed to directly benefit community members addressing critical issues related to health, poverty, and/or social inequality. |
Education, Humanities & Arts, Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/5/25 |
| The Rutgers English Diversity Institute (REDI) REDI is a one-week program designed to encourage current students and recent graduates from diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds to consider graduate study in English-language literature. REDI alums have an amazing track record in gaining admission to prestigious English PhD programs. |
Humanities & Arts | Summer | Anticipated 2/8/25 |
| Plant Biology and Conservation (PBC) REU: Genes to Ecosystems Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden's immersive summer REU internship with a focus on plant biology and conservation. Foster diversity in biological sciences and gain hands-on experience through workshops, field trips, and mentorship. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/8/25 |
| NHERI REU Summer Program Hands-on summer research for undergraduates. The NHERI REU Summer Program provides research opportunities at the ten NHERI multi-hazard engineering and interdisciplinary research sites during a 10-week summer research program. The NHERI REU program is dedicated to helping undergraduate college students experience multi-hazard engineering as well as reconnaissance, cyberinfrastructure, data management, and simulation research. Hands-on, research-based projects introduce participants to a network of engineers, and students who work toward mitigating natural hazards and understanding the impact of natural hazards on society. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/8/25 |
| Data Analytics for Science Immersion Experience (DASIE) DASIE, in partnership with Dow, PPG Paints, Accenture, and Posit, addresses the growing need for data-savvy scientists while promoting diversity in STEM. Targeting underrepresented students, the program offers immersive experiences in data analytics, networking with industry leaders, and mentorship opportunities. Students undergo classroom learning at Carnegie Mellon University followed by hands-on training at the Global Dow Center in Michigan, fostering a unique blend of education and industry exposure. DASIE equips participants with cutting-edge skills, industry insights, and valuable connections to thrive in STEAM fields. |
Data Science, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/8/25 |
| SMALL Mathematics & Statistics REU The SMALL Undergraduate Research Project is a nine-week residential summer program in which undergraduates investigate open research problems in mathematics. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC Fellowship) The ChicagoCHEC Fellows program consists of a paid full-time summer research and enrichment experience in Chicago. Afterward, students will have the option to be placed in a research team during the academic year for course credit (e.g., independent study) or service learning credit. Research team placement is not guaranteed and is dependent on project availability. All Fellows will have access to ongoing career advancement activities and must participate in periodic performance monitoring of career progression. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Injury and Violence Prevention REU (INSIGHT) This 8-week internship allows students to research trauma intervention, violence prevention, injury care, and more alongside the University of Washington faculty. |
Medicine & Health, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Summer Research Opportunities (SROP) The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities. |
Education, Humanities & Arts, Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Undergraduate Research Internships in Seismology Program As a URISE intern, you'll engage in an 8 to 10-week seismological research project, working on field deployments or lab analyses. The program emphasizes scientific inquiry, skill development, and finalizes with national presentations. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Advancing Army Modernization Priorities – Undergraduate Program The Advancing Army Modernization Priorities – Undergraduate Program (AAMP-UP) is a summer research program that provides an immersive, experiential environment for undergraduates to collaborate with energetic materials experts on projects that range in focus from synthesis to machine learning to additive manufacturing. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Shannon Point Marine Center REU Dive into marine research at Shannon Point Marine Center! Explore topics like ocean acidification, marine ecology, and environmental toxicology. Engage with the environment and showcase your findings with written and oral reports. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/9/25 |
| Translational Biomedicine Summer Research Program This training program seeks to recruit highly motivated and creative young scientists who are interested in developing innovative solutions to difficult problems in biology and medicine. The purpose of this 9-week, full-time summer research program is to provide undergraduates with an intensive research experience that emphasizes interdisciplinary and translational approaches across the bench-to-bedside continuum. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/10/25 |
| Inclusive NOAA Fisheries Internship (IN FISH) REU The Inclusive NOAA Fisheries Internship (IN FISH) offers a 10-week paid program with coursework, professional development, research projects, and networking opportunities in projects spanning from habitat science to international affairs. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Business & Economics, Data Science, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/10/25 |
| University of Missouri Materials Science & Engineering Program This REU Site trains researchers to think creatively from an early stage. The projects focus on understanding and predicting relationships for micro- and nano-structured materials across a wide spectrum of applications, including sensors, batteries, reactors, and implantable devices. Students in this program learn cutting-edge materials research approaches that include atomistic simulation, coarse-grain modeling, and a suite of materials design / fabrication / characterization techniques. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/10/25 |
| University of Maryland Summer Research Initiative (SRI) SRI offers rising juniors/seniors from underrepresented groups with an 8-week intensive experience to develop research skills and learn about doctoral training in social, behavioral & economic sciences. Students will receive lab experience, attend workshops, and enhance their knowledge of the graduate application process. |
Humanities & Arts, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/10/25 |
| MU Alcohol Research Training Summer School & Internship (MU-ARTSS) The MU-ARTSS program is a week-long didactic program providing an intensive introduction to alcohol research followed by an 8-week research internship in the lab of a MU-ARTSS professor. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/11/25 |
| Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars Program (MICHHERS) This opportunity is designed for rising seniors, from diverse cultural, economic, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds to consider pursuing a doctoral degree in the humanities. Students will learn the latest methodologies and developments in their field, develop a research project, and will receive practical instruction on applying to graduate school. |
Humanities & Arts | Summer | Anticipated 2/11/25 |
| Arctic REU Greenland This NSF-REU provides a summer opportunity in geologic mapping, structural geology, and earthquake geodynamics. Students will conduct fieldwork in Greenland, analyzing Precambrian rocks to better understand how earthquake ruptures propagate through bedrock in the deeper reaches of Earth's crust. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/11/25 |
| The Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network (PLEON) Research Internships PLEON offers students working toward a degree in natural sciences, aquatic ecology, conservation, and management an opportunity to conduct aquatic fieldwork in Lake Wallenpaupack, PA. Interns will gain experience in lake ecology and water quality sampling methodology, quantitative laboratory analysis, and science communication and networking. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/11/25 |