15 Bioinformatics Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- 45 minutes ago
- 9 min read
For college students passionate about the intersection of biology and data science, bioinformatics internships are a powerful way to gain hands-on experience in a rapidly growing field. These programs go beyond classroom learning, offering exposure to real-world research, advanced computational tools, and collaboration with experienced scientists. Along the way, students develop professional skills, build industry connections, and add a prestigious credential to their resume.
With so many options available, finding internships that combine high-quality mentorship, meaningful research, and career-building opportunities can be challenging. That’s why we’ve curated a list of top bioinformatics internships for undergraduates, programs chosen for their prestige, rigor of professional experience, and rich networking potential. Whether your goal is to prepare for graduate school, break into industry, or explore cutting-edge science, these bioinformatics internships can open doors to future success.
If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
15 Bioinformatics Internships for Undergraduates
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by program
Dates: 8 weeks, multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: College students able to commit 10–15 hours per week for 8 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program matches you with a high-growth startup worldwide for a mentor-supported internship. You will work in industries from tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting, with many startups having raised over a million dollars in funding. Past founders include Y Combinator alums and leaders with experience at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. You will collaborate with your startup manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects, presenting your work to the company, while also receiving one-on-one and group training in professional skills. This fully virtual program lasts 8 weeks and builds both practical experience and a strong network.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost/Stipend: $5,600 stipend
Dates: June 2 to July 25
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Undergraduate students or recent graduates
At the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, you will work on personalized genomics and bioinformatics research under faculty mentorship, gaining hands-on computing and analytic skills. You will attend enrichment seminars and present your work twice in 15–20 minute talks, helping you strengthen both technical communication abilities and subject mastery. You will collaborate closely with peers, reflect on your progress, and build professional connections within an academic research environment. The program’s structured design will give you a rigorous experience, while the university’s strong reputation adds prestige to your resume.
Location: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME
Cost/Stipend: $6,500 stipend
Dates: May 27 to August 1
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled as undergraduates
The Bigelow Laboratory REU offers you a 10-week, NSF-funded research opportunity in ocean science, which can include bioinformatics-focused projects like genomic analysis of marine microbes, metagenomics, or environmental DNA. You will work closely with Bigelow scientists, gaining skills in computational biology, data analysis, and laboratory techniques. You will conduct independent research within active lab groups, supported by professional development workshops, scientific writing training, and opportunities to present at an end-of-summer symposium. You will also participate in community outreach activities and field sampling trips, fostering collaboration with fellow students and researchers. This immersive environment allows you to deepen your technical expertise while building valuable professional connections.
Location: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO
Cost/Stipend: $7,550 stipend
Dates: May 27 to August 1
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Find the full criteria here
During this 10-week summer internship, you will conduct hands-on research in plant science, which may include bioinformatics-related projects such as genome sequencing, transcriptome analysis, or computational modeling of plant traits. You will work alongside scientists and graduate students in state-of-the-art laboratories, gaining skills in molecular biology, data analysis, and scientific problem-solving. You will participate in weekly seminars, professional development workshops, and networking events with researchers from multiple disciplines. You will also present your findings at the end-of-program symposium.
Location: Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: 10–12 weeks in summer; exact dates available here
Application Deadline: Varies; exact dates available here
Eligibility: Find the full criteria here
In the Ionis Pharmaceuticals Internship Program, you will join a leading biotechnology company to work on bioinformatics projects, among the various other domain options available, supporting RNA-targeted drug discovery. You will use computational tools and analytical methods to process and interpret large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets. You will collaborate with scientists in both computational and experimental teams, learning how bioinformatics integrates with therapeutic development. The program offers mentorship from experienced bioinformaticians and exposure to industry-standard workflows and technologies.
Location: NIH campuses, including Bethesda, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; and others
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend (amount varies by education level)
Dates: Minimum 8 weeks, typically May to August
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in a degree-granting program; age 18 or older by the start date; view full criteria here
In the NIH Summer Internship Program, you will join a full-time research group within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers, working under the guidance of a principal investigator. In a bioinformatics or computational biology role, you might analyze genomic or transcriptomic data, build predictive models, or create algorithms for biomedical datasets. You will collaborate with scientists from diverse fields, learning how computational methods support basic, translational, and clinical research. Alongside your project, you will participate in career development programs, advising, and well-being initiatives, and present your work at the Summer Poster Day.
Location: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 stipend, $725 food allowance, housing provided, travel reimbursement up to $750, plus travel for one parent to attend the closing symposium
Dates: May 27 to August 1
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Undergraduates planning to pursue a PhD or MD-PhD in biomedical sciences; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In the Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program, you will spend nine weeks at the Yale School of Medicine working in the laboratory of a faculty mentor. In a bioinformatics-focused placement, you may analyze genomic, proteomic, or transcriptomic datasets, apply statistical models, or develop pipelines to answer biological questions. You will receive hands-on training in research methods and data analysis while participating in lab meetings, journal clubs, and other scientific activities. The program also includes peer mentoring, career development sessions, physician-scientist shadowing, and networking opportunities, culminating in a poster and oral presentation at the closing symposium.
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend; on-campus housing available
Dates: May 27 to August 1
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; high school, undergraduate, and graduate students; background in programming and moderate understanding of computer technology preferred; specific prerequisites determined by faculty mentor
In this ten-week program, you will conduct faculty-mentored research in biomedical informatics, an interdisciplinary field combining computer science, engineering, and the biological and clinical sciences. Your project may involve bioinformatics analysis of biological molecules, computational biology, or advanced clinical information systems. You will apply information technology to address healthcare challenges and present your work in a final report and seminar. The bioinformatics program includes a Summer Seminar Series with talks by leading researchers, career insights, and graduate school preparation through the Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: $700 per week stipend; includes travel, housing, and meals
Dates: June 9 to August 15
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; undergraduate students
In this 10-week NSF-funded REU, you’ll work in teams on real-world bioinformatics challenges such as metagenomics, machine learning, single-cell RNA sequencing, and phylogenomics. Guided by mentors from the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, you’ll design a research plan, execute computational experiments, and present your results in a paper and oral presentation. The program begins with an intensive course and offers seminars, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities. Projects are fully computational, fostering skills in data science and genomic analysis while encouraging diverse participation in the field.
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided; housing and travel support available for eligible students
Dates: June to August (9 weeks)
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; sophomores or above at the time of application; pre-medical students not eligible; prior undergraduate research experience recommended
SURE offers undergraduates the chance to conduct cutting-edge research in fields including biomedical informatics, genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics. Over nine weeks, participants join a research team in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, gaining hands-on lab and computational experience while exploring potential PhD pathways. The program blends research with career and professional development, weekly BioSTEM workshops, and networking opportunities. Faculty mentors, graduate students, and postdocs provide close guidance, culminating in a Summer Research Day presentation.
Location: Boyce Thompson Institute & Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 stipend, $850 meal stipend, free housing, up to $700 travel allowance, bus pass provided
Dates: June to August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; undergraduates who have not earned a bachelor’s degree by program start; must be 18+ before June 2
This 10-week REU program immerses undergraduates in cutting-edge plant science research, including bioinformatics, at BTI and Cornell. Students join a collaborative cohort, living on Cornell’s campus and working closely with molecular biologists and computer scientists to analyze large-scale genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics datasets. Projects focus on developing computational tools and methods for storing, integrating, and interpreting “omics” data, with prior programming experience recommended. This bioinformatics program combines hands-on research with seminars, networking, and professional development.
Location: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Not specified; more information available here
Dates: 8–10 weeks; details available here
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in bioinformatics or biomedical research
The Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) at the University of Maryland offers you an 8–10-week full-time summer internship, with opportunities in bioinformatics, laboratory research, or a combination of both. You may work on lab experiments, high-throughput data generation, omics data analysis, and programming in research areas such as cancer, infectious disease, microbiome studies, and big data applications. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor or a member of their research team, and you’ll wrap up the program by presenting your work at the IGS Intern Symposium.
13. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) – B-BRITE: Biomedical & Bioinformatics Research Internship
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: $4,500 stipend; limited need-based housing and airfare support available
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: Not specified; more information available on program site
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduates who have completed at least 2 years but not graduated; must have completed foundational science courses. International students on a valid U.S. visa may be eligible
In the B-BRITE Summer Internship at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, you’ll spend 8 weeks working side-by-side with expert mentors on cutting-edge biomedical and bioinformatics research. You’ll design and conduct a guided research project, learn experimental design and data analysis, and gain hands-on experience in advanced laboratory and computational methods while building your professional network and scientific communication skills. Throughout the program, you’ll attend weekly seminars, receive personalized mentoring, and present your work at the intern symposium.
Location: Bar Harbor, ME (high school seniors and undergraduates) & Farmington, CT (undergraduates only)
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 stipend, room and board provided, round-trip travel covered
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Full criteria available on program site here
In the JAX Summer Student Program, you’ll step into an active research environment focused on genetics and genomics, where your curiosity drives your learning. Over the 10-week fellowship, you’ll work closely with a scientific mentor on a dedicated research project, gaining both technical skills and research independence. Weekly journal clubs, career talks, and networking with scientists across diverse roles give you a broader view of where science can take you. The program culminates in a final research talk to peers and faculty and offers a close-knit scientific community that supports both academic and personal growth.
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 stipend, housing provided if living more than 30 miles from campus
Dates: May 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates who have completed freshman, sophomore, or junior year with a background in biology, chemistry, physics, behavioral sciences, or biomedical engineering. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Full criteria available here
In the SUREBS program, you’ll immerse yourself in hands-on biomedical research while exploring advanced tools like high-throughput sequencing, proteomics, imaging, and microscopy. Over 10 weeks, you’ll work on a faculty-mentored project in areas such as bioinformatics, cancer biology, infectious disease, neuroscience, and more. You’ll also tour cutting-edge research centers, join graduate school preparation activities, and showcase your work at the Center for Research and Learning Summer Poster Symposium. The program fosters collaboration with scientists, trainees, and peers in an interdisciplinary environment, while building skills for a future PhD career in biomedical sciences.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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