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Here are just a few of the many off-campus summer research opportunities available:

  • The National Science Foundation funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location. Search for an REU site to examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. Also, you may search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location. Two local sites are Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington, run by Western Washington University, and Friday Harbor Laboratories, run by University of Washington.

  • The following websites have compiled lists of summer research opportunities:

  • The U.S. Dept. of Energy runs a program of  Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships that places students in paid internships at any of several Department of Energy facilities, including Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington.

  • The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center is an intensive, nine-week internship designed to provide research experience and mentorship for undergraduate students who are interested in biomedical research. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, interns will complete an independent research project and present their findings at a competitive poster session.

  • Students interested in interning at NASA can visit the SOLAR launchpad to apply to several summer research opportunities with one application.

  • The Southwestern Research Station, owned by the American Museum of Natural History, has unpaid internships and volunteer positions. Dr. Stacey Weiss has done field work here since her undergraduate days, and you are welcome to contact her with your questions. The program is a great way to get hands-on field research experience with a variety of researchers in a beautiful and biodiverse area.

  • Indiana School of Medicine has a Summer Research Program that is specifically tailored to include a mix of shadowing and lab work, so is highly recommended for anyone interested in an MD/PhD program. Kelton Mock '15 participated in this program and found it very valuable.

  • The University of Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship is an intensive summer research training experience designed for college students who are preparing for careers in biomedical sciences.

  • The National Institutes of Health have a Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research. In this program, students receive hands-on experience while working with some of the leading scientists in the research laboratories at the NIH. In addition to the main campus in Bethesda, Maryland, training opportunities are available at other off-campus facilities in Frederick and Baltimore, Maryland; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; Detroit, MI; and Research Triangle Park, NC.

  • The Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, affiliated with Cornell University, provides summer internships in plant genome research, bioinformatics, and bioenergy education.

  • The Organization for Tropical Studies, a program run by Duke University, sponsors summer research opportunities in Costa Rica.

  • The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's (SERC) Internship Program offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education.

  • Amy Replogle '05 participated in the Ohio State Plant Pathology summer research program and recommends it to students interested in plant research. Her research was Characterization of Bacillus in the Soybean Rhizosphere.

  • Mayo Clinic offers about 130 students the opportunity to work in their internationally-recognized research program through its Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURF). Current sophomores or juniors with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible.

  • The Garden Club of America offers several summer research scholarships for undergraduates, including the GCA Awards for Summer Environmental Studies and the GCA Summer Scholarship in Field Botany.

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers a 10-12 week paid Summer Student Fellowship Program to students with at least a tentative interest in oceanography and/or marine policy. Students who have completed their junior or senior year may apply, and Minority Fellowships are also available.

  • The School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland offers summer research opportunities for undergrads, including research in biomedical engineering, pharmacology, and pediatric disorders. This site also lists other research opportunities in Cleveland.

  • The Harvard Forest Research Program in Ecology has an 11-week summer program that includes a generous stipend, housing, meal plan, and assistance with travel costs.

  • And more quick listings:

  • The National Science Foundation offers Graduate Research Fellowships for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study, and students can apply during their senior year of college. The foundation offers about 900 awards each year that provide three years of graduate school support. Application deadline is early November.

  • As a means of increasing the number of US citizens trained in disciplines of science and engineering of military importance, the Department of Defense awards fellowships for study and research leading to a doctoral degree in various fields, including biosciences. Recipients receive a stipend in addition to full tuition.

  • The Garden Club of America offers several scholarships and fellowships for graduate students pursuing careers in horticulture, landscape architecture, botany, and related fields.

  • The Chicago Botanic Garden sponsors many (75-100) paid Conservation and Land Management Internships each year. These 5-month internships for graduates involve working with government and non-profit organizations in the western states, focusing on botany, wildlife, or a combination of the two. The internships pay over $13,000. Anna Moeller, a 2012 graduate, did an internship with the BLM in Oregon after graduation and highly recommends the program.

  • The Milotte Scholarship Fund provides up to $4000 for post high school education to students who are Washington residents and who are profoundly interested in nature, have been careful observers of it, and have successfully expressed their observations in ways that engage the everyday person.

  • The National Institutes of Health has postbaccalaureate programs for students who want to work for a year or two before continuing their education in graduate or professional school, as well as scholarship and summer internship programs for current students.

  • Slater Museum of Natural History at University of Puget Sound

  • Human genome resources
    This site is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The Genes & Disease page will be of particular interest to biology students.

  • Beautiful Birds
    Photos of the Hill Ornithology Collection at Cornell University, which is devoted primarily to North American art before 1900. Recommended for everyone interested in birds or wildlife art.

  • Botanical Society of America
    Approximately 800 images are available in 14 collections such as Lichens, Plant Anatomy, and Plant Morphology.

  • Major biomes of the world
    From Radford University, this site exposes undergraduates to biomes, regional ecological groupings of plants, soils, animals, and climate on a global scale.

  • Marine Biology
    This site is a community of scientists and conservation advocates dedicated to inspiring education, research, and a sea ethic.

  • Inner Life of a Cell
    An amazing animation set to music of how a cell works, created by XVIVO for Harvard biology students.
    See a version with narration explaining the cell processes.