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.
Block Reference
Search for opportunities
| Research Opportunity | Research Area | Opportunity Timing | Deadline Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genomics Summer Research for Magnificents (GSRM) Internship The GSRM internship is for students interested in biosciences or bioinformatics. Participants in the program will be placed in world-class genomics research groups, receive tailored mentorship, and attend professional development workshops. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 1/31/26 |
| SpectrumX REU Successful applicants will have the opportunity to work with an experienced, trained mentor in their field of interest including, but not limited to, Spectrum Use Cases and Coexistence, Radio & Network Technologies, Data & Machine Learning, Spectrum Economics and Policy, Science Communication, and Science Education. |
Data Science, Education, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 1/31/26 |
| Illinois Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) UROP offers undergradute students at the University of Illinois the opportunity to conduct research on NASA-related science and/or engineering projects. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| American Bar Foundation Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program This fellowship introduces undergraduate students to the rewards and demands of a research-oriented career in law and/or social science, as well as to provide guidance about the many career options under the umbrella of the legal profession. |
Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (MCHC/RISE-UP) The MCHC/RISE-UP Program provides opportunities for enhanced public health leadership training in maternal and child health, focusing on social determinants of health, elimination of health disparities, and developmental disabilities. This program provides undergraduate scholars with three public health leadership experiences: (1) clinical, (2) research, and (3) community engagement and advocacy. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| American Cancer Society Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) Internship The DICR program aims to increase the number of undergraduate students from underrepresented populations pursuing clinical and research careers in cancer by providing positive and meaningful first-hand exposure to these fields. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Low-Dimensional Materials for Transducers (LDM4T) - Summer Research in Korea This program aims at providing frontier research experiences in the development of low-dimensional materials for transducers (LDM4T) at university laboratories in Korea. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Undergraduate Neuroscience Scholars Program at UCLA The UCLA Neuroscience Scholars program is a 10-week intensive summer research training experience for sophomore and junior undergraduates that are committed to pursuing a graduate degree in neuroscience. Neuroscience Scholars will be paired with a UCLA faculty mentor based on their research interests. The first 2 weeks of the program will consist of hands-on lab workshops and lectures that cover fundamental experimental approaches for neuroscience research. For the remaining 8 weeks of the program, students will conduct discovery research in the laboratories of their faculty mentors. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Summer Internship Program The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Summer Internship Program offers 10-week positions in various fields including aviation, space history, exhibits, communications, and education. Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply. Interns are assigned supervisors, work on projects, and engage in virtual group activities, presentations, and professional development opportunities. |
Education, Humanities & Arts, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Summer Program for Undergraduate Researchers (SPUR) The SPUR program allows talented undergraduates to spend 8 weeks during the summer in a research laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University. Through technical coursework, support seminars and a professional development series, the program will actively engage students to be reflective while also allowing them to expand their research knowledge. |
Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| REU in Advanced Materials The UC San Diego MRSEC REU program offers full-time summer research opportunities in materials science, focusing on predictive assemblies and engineered living materials, with participants working alongside faculty from various departments. Students receive extensive training, mentoring, and professional development, culminating in the chance to present their research at a conference. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Summer Program for Academic Research in Cancer (SPARC) SPARC at the Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center provides cancer research career pathways for undergraduate and medical students. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Center for Precision Medicine Undergraduate Summer Research Internship This internship provides students with the opportunity to use state-of-the-art high-throughput genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics to study human diseases such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and aging at the Wake Forest School of Medicine Center for Precision Medicine. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program The UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to explore the field of public health through hands-on training, structured workshops, group excursions, and leadership and professional development. Located in Los Angeles, the program offers scholars the opportunity to train at UCLA, to explore public health in one of the most diverse counties in the US, and to experience the city’s vibrant culture. We work with community-based organizations, health systems, and government agencies to offer field placement opportunities for scholars that focus on health equity. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Lurie Center for Autism Summer Research Program The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Lurie Center for Autism provides an opportunity for hands-on training in autism spectrum disorder and related conditions, and experience in clinical, preclinical, and translational research. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| MaineHealth Summer Research Internship Program Maine Medical Center Research Institute (MMCRI) provides undergraduates with an opportunity to receive an educational experience in biomedical science through the MMCRI Summer Student Research Program. Research at MMCRI covers a broad area in biomedical science including vascular biology, stem cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, hematology, nephrology, tumor biology, and molecular genetics as well as outcomes research, vector-borne diseases, and clinical research. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Tree Science in the Anthropocene The Tree Science in the Anthropocene program uses trees as model systems to investigate questions related to evolution, ecology, conservation, and management in natural and built environments. Participate in a paid, intensive, 10-week summer program, with housing and travel provided, conducting an independent research project under the guidance of a research mentor. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 1/31/26 |
| Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program SHURP is a ten-week summer research program primarily for college students belonging to groups that are under-represented in the sciences. SHURP presently has over 600 alumni from colleges across the country, and over 90% are continuing or planning to continue training and careers in the sciences. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| NIH Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases Student Scholars Program Students accepted to the Undergraduate Student Scholars Program in the NIH Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania participate in research, attend summer lectures and presentations, and present their research at the end of the summer. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Center for Computer Assisted Synthesis (C-CAS) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) The SURF and SURF for Students with Disabilities programs allow students interested in organic mechanism and synthesis, computational chemistry and computer science the opportunity to conduct their research within an exciting team atmosphere, working with a C-CAS faculty mentor, postdocs, and graduate students. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Native American Summer Research Internship (NARI) This research program offers Native American and Alaskan Native students an immersive laboratory or clinical research experience. Students are exposed to Pre-Medical resources, networking opportunities, community engagement activities, and professional workshops. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 1/31/26 |
| Program for Research in Markets & Organizations (PRIMO) at Harvard Business School Harvard offers a 10-week summer opportunity for students interested in management and business research. A wide variety of research areas are available, including accounting, finance, marketing, technology and operations management, business-government relations, and entrepreneurship. |
Business & Economics, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/1/26 |
| Dynamic Experiences in Neuroscience to Diversify Research Internship Training Exposures for Students (DENDRITES) This program aims to encourage and support the research and career development of students interested in basic, clinical, and translational neuroscience. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/1/26 |
| Integration of Modern Optoelectronic Materials on Demand (IMOD) REU - Optoelectronics and Quantum Materials The IMOD Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program supports a select group of undergraduates, community college, and tribal college students to participate in authentic research in chemical synthesis of quantum photonic materials and integration printable electronic applications under the mentorship of world-class faculty and graduate students. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/1/26 |
| University of Colorado SMART Program The SMART program aims to improve access to STEM research for students from groups that are underrepresented in science, math and engineering, including racial/ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, Pell grant recipients, individuals with disabilities, and students who have overcome significant challenges in pursuit of higher education. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 2/1/26 |