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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Multidisciplinary Approaches for Overcoming Water Resources and Sustainable Engineering Challenges in Appalachian Regions This REU engages students in multidisciplinary research addressing water resource and sustainable engineering challenges in Appalachia. Participants will work on projects related to improving drinking water and wastewater systems, restoring ecosystems, and developing resilient infrastructure through fieldwork, lab analysis, and data modeling—all while exploring the economic and social impacts of sustainable engineering solutions in the region. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | 2/15/26 |
| Aquaculture Experiential Opportunities for Undergraduate Students (AquEOUS) This program is open to undergraduate students from various academic backgrounds who share a passion for research in indigenous science, sustainable aquaculture, food systems, and aquatic science. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Synthesis, Assembly, and Characterization of Soft Matter REU Cleveland State University's REU calls for undergraduates interested in physics and engineering for a 10-week interdisciplinary soft matter research, fostering STEM pathways with mentoring and networking. |
Medicine & Health, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Bigelow Laboratory REU in Ocean Science Research This NSF-funded, ten-week program offers undergraduates the opportunity to conduct independent ocean science research under the guidance of a Bigelow Laboratory scientist. Participants gain experience with state-of-the-art techniques, engage in professional development activities, and present their work at a concluding research symposium. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Data Science for Social Good REU In this REU, students will join a team of researchers using data to find solutions to pressing economic and environmental problems affecting neighborhoods in the city of Dallas, Texas. |
Data Science, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) REU Students receive a true interdisciplinary research experience in an environment where physicists, chemists, biologists, and all engineering disciplines collaboratively solve problems and create new scientific understanding. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/15/26 |
| 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 2/16/26 |
| NHERI REU Summer 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 2/16/26 |
| DOE Scholars Program Participants in the DOE Scholars Program will have the unique opportunity to explore a career in the federal government with the DOE. The program covers a wide range of fields including: Energy Sources and Security, Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Climate Change, Environmental Management, Nuclear Security, Artificial Intelligence, Emergency Response, Management and Operations, Cyber Security, and Safeguards and Security. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/16/26 |
| 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, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/16/26 |
| Microbial Biofilms REU The goal of this REU is to provide talented and motivated students with a well-mentored, collaborative research experience on microbial biofilms that has the potential to impact their career trajectory and future academic successes. |
Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/16/26 |
| Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Summer Research Program Students in the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Summer Research Program will participate in a fully loaded and exciting series of events including professional development seminars, key-note speakers, professional headshots, networking receptions, and immersive experiences. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/16/26 |
| Summer Geometry Initiative The Summer Geometry Initiative (SGI) is a six-week paid summer research program introducing undergraduate and graduate students to the field of geometry processing. Geometry processing has a long history of breakthrough developments that have guided design of 3D tools for computer vision, additive manufacturing, scientific computing, and other disciplines. Algorithms for geometry processing combine ideas from disciplines including differential geometry, topology, physical simulation, statistics, and optimization. |
Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/17/26 |
| Research and Education for the Advancement of Compassionate Healthcare (REACH) Program The REACH program is a summer clinical research immersion for healthcare-focused undergraduates. It includes research exposure, medical school preparation, and a mentorship-based cohort to foster peer relationships. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/17/26 |
| 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, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Behavior | Summer | Anticipated 2/17/26 |
| Digital Agriculture Research Experience for Undergraduates (CDA REU) The CDA REU program provides valuable hands-on training alongside experts, access to professional development and entrepreneurship workshops, participation in AI Foundry short course and Hackathon, and a final research presentation at an annual conference. |
Agriculture & Food Sciences, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/17/26 |
| National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Summer Internship Programs NINDS offers students the opportunity to receive mentoring from leading neuroscience investigators, conduct individual cutting-edge research projects, and learn about the use of information technology in biomedical research. Students will present their research to the scientific community at NIH's Annual Research Poster Day for Summer students. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/19/26 |
| Amgen Scholars Program at NIH Amgen Scholars at NIH spend the summer working side-by-side with some of the world's leading scientists, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. |
Medicine & Health | Summer | Anticipated 2/19/26 |
| REU Program in the Structure and Function of Proteins This REU Program offers a 10-week research experience in biochemistry, biophysics, and related fields. Undergraduates explore diverse projects centered on protein, RNA, and DNA structure and function. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/20/26 |
| University of Michigan Interdisciplinary REU Program The University of Michigan Interdisciplinary REU Program in the Structure and Function of Proteins, RNAs, and DNAs is designed to provide undergraduate students with a 10-week research experience in the areas of biochemistry, biophysics, cheminformatics, computational chemistry, enzymology, marine biology, molecular biology and plant biology. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences | Summer | Anticipated 2/20/26 |
| 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 2/20/26 |
| Washington University Pediatric Center of Excellence in Nephrology (WUPCEN) Summer Research Program The WUPCEN summer research program invites students interested in biological research and medicine to apply. Participants will engage in meaningful research and clinical experiences in kidney development, biology, cutting-edge technologies, preclinical model systems and pediatric nephrology. |
Medicine & Health, Natural Sciences, Science & Technology | Summer | Anticipated 2/21/26 |