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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2/10/26 |
| 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 2/10/26 |
| Chalmers Astrophysics & Space Science Summer (CASSUM) Research Fellowships The CASSUM research fellowship program invites students interested in conducting research on cosmic origins and astronomy to apply to this 10-week summer program. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/10/26 |
| Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) 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 2/10/26 |
| 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 | 2/10/26 |
| Marine Sciences Summer Program This summer research program offers undergraduates in STEM an opportunity to conduct guided research internships in marine science. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | 2/13/26 |
| Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering REU This summer research program welcomes students to engage in mentored scientific research with guidance from researchers, offering training in science communication, lab safety, and ethics, as well as resources for graduate school applications and report writing. Students work 40 hours a week on a research project tailored to their interests. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/13/26 |
| Training and Experimentation in Computational Biology (TECBio) TECBio students will participate in an intensive summer research experience in the field of computational biology. This program includes professional development activities such as research journal clubs, career seminars, and research ethics forums. |
Data Science, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| 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 2/14/26 |
| Undergraduate Summer Research Internship The Thomas More University Biology Field Station, home of the Center for Ohio River Research & Education (CORRE), offers paid undergraduate research internships for students in the fields of aquatic biology, conservation, ecology, and environmental sciences. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Climate Science at Penn State This REU at Penn State immerses undergraduates in climate science research spanning atmospheric, oceanic, and biospheric processes, as well as climate modeling and human–environment interactions. Students gain hands-on experience designing experiments, analyzing data, and communicating scientific findings to both expert and public audiences under faculty mentorship. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| Summer Academy in Sustainable Manufacturing REU This REU program allows participants to experience the resurgence of Detroit, MI, interact with industry, and research sustainable manufacturing issues facing industry today. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| Plant Health REU This program has projects spanning plant pathology, genetics, horticulture, engineering, and biochemistry. Students can work on cutting-edge research projects with expert faculty in labs, greenhouses, and fields. |
Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| FBRI Molecular Visualization SURF Program The FBRI Molecular Visualization SURF program is a 10-week long summer program that gives students the opportunity to participate in research using imaging technologies to understand appropriate application of each technology in understanding biological processes. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| Robert F. Smith Internship Program at the National Museum of African American History & Culture Internships provide guided learning experiences consisting of hands-on training, mentoring, attendance at educational events, and cultivation of contacts for the next generation of researchers, scholars, curators, and other museum, library, preservation, and heritage professionals – individuals who will assume the mantle of identifying, documenting, curating, and digitizing treasured artifacts that reflect African American history and culture. |
Humanities & Arts, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| 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 2/14/26 |
| Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) The LSSURP at the University of Minnesota aims to boost underrepresented students in life sciences. It offers a 10-week research program, mentorship, and activities fostering professional growth, culminating in a poster symposium. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| Summer Research Internship in Medical Sciences Through this nine-week program, participants will work on their own research projects under the guidance of an MU School of Medicine faculty member and present results at a poster forum at the end of the session. Participants will learn how to write abstracts and design posters to prepare for the poster forum. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/14/26 |
| Archaeology Field School in Peru This 3-credit course for Illinois students is an archaeological field school where students have the opportunity to engage in original research at the archaeological site of Cerro Blanco, a Chancay Administrative Center located in central Peru. |
Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Pediatric Student Research Program (PSRP) The Pediatric Student Research Program (PSRP) was created with the purpose of introducing research to young investigators and to further their existing interest in research. The program includes seminars, mentored research and clinical shadowing experiences during the eight-week scenario, June through July. Selected participants work alongside experienced researchers. Opportunities range from bench to clinical to community-based research. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program The Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program provides immersive, full-time bioscience research and professional development for undergraduate students as they prepare for graduate school and research careers in biology. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Toxicology (SURE Tox) program The SURETox program aims to match participants with mentors, enhance research skills, offer didactic training, prepare students for presentations, provide networking opportunities, and share information about careers in toxicology. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences | Summer | 2/15/26 |
| Early Engagement in Semiconductor Materials and Technologies REU This REU program aims to prepare students for the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry by immersing participants in research. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Psychology Research Experience Program (PREP) PREP provides experience in scientific research to undergraduates from historically underrepresented populations who have an interest in a career in scientific psychology. The program features mentored laboratory research, intensive “bootcamps” on technical skills (e.g., R and Python programming), and faculty presentations. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education at Smithsonian The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education offers an immersive, 8-week experience in Washington, D.C., where you’ll collaborate with Smithsonian educators and contribute to innovative programs that connect learners nationwide. |
Education | Summer | 2/15/26 |