15 Biomedical Engineering Internships for Undergraduates

If you’re studying biomedical engineering in college and want to understand what the field looks like outside the classroom, a summer internship can be a useful way to start. These internships place you in research labs, hospitals, or med-tech companies where you’ll work on projects alongside professionals in the field.

Depending on where you intern, you might help test biomedical devices, assist with lab experiments related to tissue samples, or use software to analyze medical images or patient data. You’ll also meet researchers, engineers, and students working in different areas, giving you a clearer idea of whether you want to pursue research, industry jobs, or graduate school later on.

To help you get started, here are 15 biomedical engineering internships for undergraduate students! 

15 Biomedical Engineering Internships for Undergraduates

1. Ladder University Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies depending on program type

Dates: Multiple cohorts available throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: College students interested in tech, non-profit, or related fields

The Ladder University Internship gives you the chance to work with fast-growing companies in areas like health tech, AI, and consulting. It’s an 8-week, part-time remote program where you’ll spend 10 to 20 hours a week on real-world projects. You’ll be matched with a host company and get weekly coaching to help you build skills in research, communication, and teamwork. The program is selective, with only 10% of applicants accepted. Many students have used it to launch careers in competitive industries or gain admission to top graduate programs.

2. Princeton University’s Bioengineering Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BE-SURE)

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Cost: Free; includes $1,000 research budget

Dates: 9 weeks

Application Deadline: February

Eligibility: Open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors from Princeton and other universities

BE-SURE is a summer research program at Princeton that helps you explore how engineering connects with the life sciences. You’ll spend nine weeks doing independent research in a faculty lab, learning how to communicate your findings, and exploring careers in both academia and industry. You’ll be part of a small group of 10 to 20 students working across campus on bioengineering projects. The program includes a visit to the Princeton Innovation Center Biolabs, an industry field trip, and working with groups like the Princeton iGEM team. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your research at a poster symposium.

3. Mayo Clinic Undergraduate Internships

Location: Multiple locations, like Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. 

Cost: A stipend is provided

Dates: Typically 8 to 10 weeks 

Application Deadline: Not mentioned

Eligibility: Must have completed two years of undergraduate coursework in engineering-related majors such as biomedical, mechanical, electrical, software, or chemical engineering

Mayo Clinic offers an engineering internship that gives you hands-on experience with medical technology and project development. You’ll work in state-of-the-art facilities alongside engineering mentors, running experiments, troubleshooting equipment, and following your project from start to finish. Depending on your interests, you can focus on device prototyping in the Engineering Division or choose a track like Biomedical Statistics and Informatics.

4. Texas Biomedical Research Institute’s Summer Scholars Program

Location: San Antonio, TX (hybrid or remote option available, if needed)

Cost: Pays a stipend 

Dates: June 2 - July 25

Application Deadline: February

Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a U.S. university who have completed at least one year of a bachelor’s or professional degree

The Texas Biomed Summer Scholars Program gives you full-time research experience in biomedical engineering with a focus on infectious disease. For eight weeks, you’ll work on a mentored project at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, known for its high-containment labs and global health research. You’ll help design and test tools for diagnostics, analyze data using bioinformatics, and study how pathogens affect the body. Weekly seminars will teach you how to think like a scientist and prepare for careers in research or industry. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work at a Research Symposium.

5. Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology (BSG-MSRP- Bio)

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA

Cost: A stipend is provided

Dates: June 1 - August 8

Application Deadline: January 30

Eligibility: Non-MIT undergraduate students in the U.S. who are sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA in STEM courses

The BSG-MSRP Biology program at MIT gives you full-time research experience in life sciences and biomedical engineering. Over ten weeks, you’ll work in one of MIT’s biology, brain and cognitive sciences, or chemistry labs on a supervised research project. You’ll attend weekly seminars on research writing, scientific communication, and graduate school admissions, all designed to prepare you for advanced study and a career in science. Research areas include cancer biology, structural biology, computational biology, and biophysics, which connect directly to biomedical engineering through work on diagnostics, therapeutic tools, and modeling biological systems.

6. Wake Forest University’s Biomedical Engineering & Informatics Summer Research Internship (REU)

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Cost: Stipend is provided

Dates: May 27 - August 1

Application Deadline: January 24

Eligibility: Must have completed two semesters of undergrad with a GPA of 3.0 or more.

Wake Forest University’s Biomedical Engineering & Informatics Summer Research Internship is a 10-week, full-time research program funded by the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) award. You’ll work in a faculty lab on projects in biomechanics, imaging, and informatics, with topics ranging from injury prediction and medical device testing to cancer diagnostics and machine learning. The program includes seminars on scientific writing, graduate school applications, and professional development. You’ll present your research at a final symposium and receive a stipend and on-campus housing.

7. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Equity Research Program

Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

Cost: A Stipend of $4,500 is provided

Dates: June 23 - August 15

Application Deadline: January 22

Eligibility: Undergraduate students

OHSU’s Equity Research Program is an eight-week summer experience that gives you hands-on access to biomedical research while supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds. You’ll work full-time in labs such as the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, contributing to real projects in areas like imaging, diagnostics, and disease modeling. The program includes weekly seminars, mentorship from faculty and researchers, and a final research symposium where you’ll present your findings. You’ll receive a $4,500 stipend, plus paid housing and meals.

8. UCLA Amgen Scholars Program

Location: University of California, Los Angeles

Cost: $3,500 stipend for 10 weeks is provided 

Dates: June 22 - August 29

Application Deadline: February 1 (letters due by February 17)

Eligibility: Undergraduate with a minimum 3.2 GPA

Amgen Scholars at UCLA is a 10-week summer research program that gives you full-time lab experience in biomedical science, bioengineering, and biotechnology. You’ll be matched with a UCLA faculty mentor and work on a research project in areas like biomaterials, molecular engineering, or computational biology. The program includes weekly seminars on graduate school prep, scientific writing, and career paths in research. You’ll also take part in GRE workshops, networking events, and social activities around Los Angeles. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your work at a UCLA poster symposium and attend the North America Amgen Scholars Symposium in California.

9. University of Washington’s ISCRM REU in Regenerative Biology & Engineering

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Cost: $6,000 stipend

Dates: June 16 - August 22

Application Deadline: January 17

Eligibility: Undergraduates enrolled at a U.S. institution

The University of Washington’s Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM) offers a 10-week summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) focused on regenerative biology and biomedical engineering. You’ll work full-time in a lab with faculty mentors from departments like bioengineering, pathology, orthopedics, and pharmacology, contributing to projects in stem cell research, tissue engineering, and neural repair modeling. The program includes weekly workshops on ethics, scientific communication, and career development, and ends with a research symposium where you’ll present your findings.

10. UC San Diego Bioengineering Undergraduate Research

Location: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, La Jolla, CA

Cost: $600/week stipend

Dates: 10-week summer REU (typically June - August)

Application Deadline: February 11

Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates who are 18+ and have completed at least one year of college

UC San Diego’s Bioengineering Undergraduate Research Program is a 10-week, full-time summer research experience funded by the NSF REU. You’ll work in UCSD labs on bioengineering and biomaterials projects such as tissue engineering, nanoparticle drug delivery, and stem cell–biomaterial interactions. The program includes weekly workshops on research skills and professional development, and you’ll present your work at both the UCSD Research Symposium and the national BMES conference. You’ll receive a weekly stipend, free on-campus housing, and travel support.

11. The University of Maryland School of Public Health Summer Training and Research (STAR) Program 

Location: Off-Campus - Domestic Research Opportunity

Cost: Paid Internship

Dates: June - August

Application Deadline: February 10

Eligibility: U.S. citizen enrolled full-time at a 4-year college with a minimum 3.0 GPA

The STAR Program at the University of Washington is an intensive summer research experience designed for undergraduates from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds who plan to pursue a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in biomedical or behavioral sciences. You’ll spend 8 to 10 weeks working full-time in a research lab focused on cardiovascular health, including areas like biomedical engineering, disease modeling, and diagnostics. You’ll receive mentorship from faculty, attend weekly seminars on scientific writing and graduate school preparation, and present your work at two research symposiums.

12. University of Minnesota’s BME Pathways Summer Research Program

Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Cost: Stipend of $5,000 provided

Dates: 10-week program

Application Deadline: March 23

Eligibility: Non-graduating undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.0

The BME Pathways Summer Research Experience at the University of Minnesota is a 10-week, full-time program designed for undergraduates pursuing biomedical engineering. You’ll conduct hands-on lab research in areas like tissue engineering, biomaterials, and medical device design while gaining skills in data analysis and scientific communication. The program includes technical seminars led by BME faculty, visits to local biomedical engineering companies, and social events to build community. You’ll present your research at a final poster symposium.

13. University of Michigan’s SMART Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Cost: A Stipend of $4,700 is provided

Dates: May 27 - August 3

Application Deadline: February 9

Eligibility: Current undergraduate student with a minimum 3.2 GPA

The SMART Program is a highly selective summer research experience offered through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), designed for students planning to pursue an MD/PhD. Over 10 weeks, you’ll work full-time in a biomedical research lab under faculty mentorship, gaining experience in areas like molecular biology, bioengineering, and disease modeling. You’ll attend weekly seminars focused on graduate-level skills such as abstract writing, scientific presentations, and research ethics. The program also includes structured MCAT preparation, physician shadowing, and a mock MD/PhD admissions interview.

14. Stanford University’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Cost: Not specified

Dates: 10-week program in the summer

Application Deadline: February 12

Eligibility: Current undergraduate students at Stanford University

Stanford’s Bioengineering REU is a 10-week summer research program exclusively for Stanford undergraduates. You’ll work full-time in a faculty-led lab on cutting-edge bioengineering projects such as tissue engineering, medical devices, or computational biology. The program runs from June through August and includes weekly lunch seminars where faculty share their research and career paths. You’ll also present your work at a final poster session for the Stanford Bioengineering community.

15. Nanotechnology REU program at Cornell CNF (and MIT)

Location:  Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and MIT, Cambridge, MA

Cost: Stipend of $7,000

Dates: June 2 - August 9

Application Deadline: June 2

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing a STEM degree

The Nanotechnology REU program is a 10-week summer research experience jointly hosted by Cornell’s NanoScale Science & Technology Facility (CNF) and MIT. You’ll work full-time in a lab at either Cornell or MIT on nanoscale science and engineering projects, including biomedical engineering, MEMS, nanoelectronics, and advanced materials. You’ll receive hands-on training in cleanroom techniques, device fabrication, and nanoscale characterization, while contributing to active research under faculty and graduate student mentorship. You’ll attend professional development workshops, present your research at a final symposium, and join a national REU convocation at UC San Diego.

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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

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