The Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program has helped thousands of undergraduate students explore their interests in research. As a summer fellow, you will be immersed in research opportunities. You’ll gain valuable experience in the lab and work closely with your mentor on a research project designed specifically for summer students.

Previous SURF fellows have spoken about the lasting friendships they made during the program and how the experience helped them with their career decision-making process.

In addition to their lab work, fellows also describe some of their unique experiences:

• Mentors. The daily experience of learning from Mayo Clinic faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, medical students, and others who are farther along their career paths.
• Real-world research insight and experience. The excitement of gaining hands-on experience with real-world research projects at a major medical center. And, because the questions they are studying are at the forefront of science, many students earn acknowledgment or co-authorship in articles submitted to professional publications.
• Top-notch scientists. The opportunities they had for close collaboration with nationally and internationally recognized scientists.
• Modern facilities. The chance to learn how to use world-class instrumentation in state of the art research facilities.
• Community. Great times living, learning, and working with the whole SURF community.