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.
Search for opportunities
| Research Opportunity | Research Area | Opportunity Timing | Deadline Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Indiana University Mathematics REU This REU immerses undergraduates in mathematics research through close collaboration with a faculty mentor and a small group of peers. Students explore challenging projects, attend faculty-led seminars, and culminate their experience by presenting written and oral reports of their results, all while living and learning together in a supportive campus community. |
Data Science, Science & Technology | Summer | 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 |
| Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF) This SURF program provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates to conduct laboratory research at The Rockefeller University in a broad range of scientific disciplines. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 2/1/26 |
| Amgen Scholars Program at Washington University in St. Louis This program offers students a summer laboratory experience in biomedical research. The program includes various professional and networking opportunities, with participants receiving stipends, housing, and travel support. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/1/26 |
| Bioinspired Materials Research Science and Engineering Center REU Ten week summer research opportunity for students interested in materials science related research. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/1/26 |
| Plant Genome and Programmable Plant Systems REU This program provides research experience to students interested in biological research, biological engineering, digital agriculture, and bioinformatics. Participants will work to develop novel technologies which improve the scientific understanding of plant systems. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/1/26 |
| Socio-Ecological Role of Greenways in Urban Systems Interdisciplinary REU In this REU, students will conduct primary interdisciplinary research to assess the socio-ecological characteristics of greenways within multiple cities that reflect various stages of future urban growth. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/2/26 |
| Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences REU This REU pairs undergraduate students with research mentors at the University of Oklahoma to conduct research in a wide-ranging meteorology, climate, radar engineering, geography, environmental sustainability, and interdisciplinary topics. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/2/26 |
| Gates Summer Internship Program (GSIP) GSIP is an 11-week internship that supports the future of biomedical research through undergraduates pursuing careers in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Selected students work full-time in cutting-edge laboratories, attend seminars, engage in professional development, and present research projects. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/2/26 |
| Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) REU Students are paired with GMRI researchers engaged in research on a range of climate, ecosystem, fisheries, oceanographic, economic, social science, science-of-learning, cognitive science, and interdisciplinary studies. |
Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/2/26 |
| 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 2/2/26 |
| ARADIM Materials Discovery REU at Cornell University Gain hands-on research experience in growing, characterizing, and modeling next-generation electronic materials, such as transition-metal oxides and chalcogenides. Interns receive stipend, housing, and travel support while working on independent projects alongside faculty and staff, culminating in a poster/presentation and summary report. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 2/2/26 |
| 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 2/3/26 |
| Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Through this program, outstanding undergrads interested in a career in biomedical research become fully immersed in the research and culture of a major medical center. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| DEEPS Leadership Alliance REU The Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences at Brown University (DEEPS) Leadership Alliance REU offers a 9-week summer internship conducting research into the fields of earth and environmental sciences, physics, chemistry, engineering, math, biology, and computer science. Students will receive a competitive stipend and the opportunity to present their research at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium & the Summer Research Symposium at Brown. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| 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 2/3/26 |
| Undergraduate Summer Research Experience Program (CEMB) The CEMB REU program seeks students for a summer research experience in various STEM fields on-campus in Philadelphia or St. Louis. Students work with research groups, matched based on their interests and experience. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| Biomedical Research for University Students in Health Sciences (BRUSH) This program offers hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students in environmental and health sciences. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program In this research-intensive program, students are exposed to the knowledge, skills, and resources to help them succeed as scientists or physician-scientists. They are mentored by a research mentor in hands-on research techniques, data acquisition, and analysis. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| Fellowship for Exploring Research in Nutrition (FERN) The FERN program aims to strengthen the future nutrition research workforce by enabling and encouraging broader participation by all. FERN provides opportunities for students to engage in real-world food and nutrition policy research. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| Summer STAR (Student Training And Research) Program at Augusta University The Summer STAR (Student Training And Research) Program provides opportunities for highly motivated and talented undergraduate students to develop skills as young scientists and to further explore their interest in biomedical research. STAR participants are matched to a biomedical research laboratory and engage in a research project under the guidance of a Augusta University faculty member and their lab team. The Summer STAR program provides excellent preparation and relevant experience for students planning to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD in the biomedical sciences. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| Mechanistic Biology Summer Program (MBSP) Explore biology research through hands-on experience in cutting-edge laboratories, faculty seminars, workshops, and culminate your findings at a symposium! |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |
| Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) SR-EIP is a 10-week fully paid summer internship that provides undergraduates with mentored research experiences in life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities. Students will receive professional development mentoring on applying to graduate programs and create an oral or poster presentation to be presented at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium. |
Education, Humanities & Arts, Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | 2/3/26 |
| Chemical Biology Summer Program (ChBSP) The 10-week Chemical Biology Summer Program (ChBSP) offers undergraduates a research experience intersecting chemistry and biomedicine. Accepted students adapt chemistry skills, attend seminars, workshops, and present a concluding poster. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/3/26 |