15 Chemistry Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 31
- 9 min read
If you’re an undergraduate student studying chemistry or a related field, consider applying to a chemistry internship program before you graduate! Chemistry internships give you a chance to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to lab settings. You get hands-on experience with research tools, work under professional supervision, and gain exposure to the kind of problems researchers and industry teams solve every day. Many programs are hosted by top research universities, national labs, and science institutes that run competitive summer research programs specifically for undergraduates.
These internships also help you build professional skills, grow your network, and strengthen your resume. You get access to experienced mentors, join student research cohorts, and often present your work in final symposia or publications. Many of these opportunities are also paid or offer housing and travel support.
To make your search easier, we’ve listed 15 chemistry internships for undergraduate students!
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Open to all current undergraduate students
Ladder Internships connects you with fast-growing startups for an 8-week remote internship. You’ll work on a real-world project, meet weekly with a mentor from the company, and present your final work to the team. You can choose fields like tech, consulting, media, healthcare, sustainability, or business. You’ll commit 5–10 hours per week and build skills that matter to employers. Past partners include Google, Microsoft, McKinsey, and Harvard iLabs.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: None. The program provides a competitive stipend and on-campus housing.
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Open to students who have completed at least two semesters and have at least one semester remaining of their undergraduate education by the start of the summer program. A strong interest in pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry is required, and you must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
SURF-C at Princeton University is a highly selective summer research program for undergraduates interested in chemistry. You’ll join a faculty-led research group and work alongside graduate students and postdocs on cutting-edge projects in areas like organic synthesis, catalysis, and chemical biology. Past mentors include renowned faculty such as David MacMillan and Tom Muir.
Over nine weeks, you’ll gain hands-on lab experience, attend weekly research discussions, career seminars, and scientific literacy workshops. The program includes a full-day visit to an industrial chemistry site and culminates in a formal presentation at the Summer Research Symposium.
Location: 17 DOE National Laboratories across the U.S.
Cost: None. A stipend of $650 per week is provided, along with housing and travel allowances in some cases.
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer or 16 weeks in the fall/spring.
Application Deadline: January 7 for the summer term, October 1, and May 21 for spring and fall, respectively
Eligibility: You must be a full-time undergrad at an accredited college, with at least one year completed. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. By the time you apply, you should have finished at least one semester, 6 credits in STEM courses, and 12 total college credits.
The SULI (Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships) places you in a paid research role at one of 17 U.S. Department of Energy national labs. You’ll spend 10 to 16 weeks working alongside scientists and engineers on real projects tied to the DOE’s research goals. You’ll also join lab-hosted workshops, lectures, and seminars that help you build professional skills. Expect hands-on experience in areas like materials science, computational chemistry, and energy research.
Location: NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO.
Cost: None. A stipend of $7,810 is provided, along with limited financial assistance for housing and travel.
Dates: May 19 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled as undergraduates in an accredited two-year or four-year college.
SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at NIST) gives you 11 weeks of full-time research experience in one of six NIST labs, including the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Physical Measurement Laboratory. You’ll work 40 hours a week with NIST scientists on projects like MRI technology, nanofabrication, and drug development, while building skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing. You’ll also get access to NIST’s advanced facilities, attend lectures from leading researchers, and join professional development sessions.
Location: Various Dow sites across the U.S.
Cost: None. This is a paid internship.
Dates: Varies by internship position
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines dependent on the specific internship
Eligibility: Varies by internship position
Dow Undergraduate Internships place you in full-time roles across Research & Development, Manufacturing, and other technical areas. You’ll work on one or two real projects that support Dow’s business goals, like developing new materials, improving chemical processes, or advancing application technologies. Internships are available in locations like Texas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and run during the academic year or summer. You’ll work with Dow scientists and engineers, contribute to applied and fundamental research, and gain experience in industrial problem-solving.
Location: 14 host institutions across the U.S., as well as Europe and Asia.
Cost: None. A stipend, housing, and travel costs are provided.
Dates: Varies by institution, but the internships run from the end of May to the end of August.
Application Deadline: February 1 for all institutions
Eligibility: Undergraduates with sophomore or junior standing, a GPA of 3.2 or higher, and a demonstrated interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.
The Amgen Scholars Program gives you the chance to do full-time research at one of 14 top U.S. institutions, including Caltech, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. You’ll spend 8–10 weeks working on a research project under the guidance of faculty mentors in fields like biochemistry, chemical biology, and organic chemistry. Each host site offers different research areas, so you can choose based on your interests. A key part of the program is the North America Symposium, where you’ll present your research and connect with Amgen Scholars from across the country, as well as scientists from academia and industry.
Location: Various Merck sites, including West Point, PA; Rahway, NJ; and Boston, MA.
Cost: None. Internships are paid and often include a housing stipend.
Dates: 10-12 weeks between June and August.
Application Deadline: Applications are usually posted in the fall.
Eligibility: Students must have completed at least two years of study towards a bachelor's or master's degree in a life science or chemistry-related field.
Merck Chemistry Internships give you direct experience in pharmaceutical research across areas like medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, process chemistry, and chemical biology. You’ll work on projects that support drug discovery and development, including biocatalysis, computational chemistry, and structural analysis.
Internships typically last 10–12 weeks over the summer, starting in May, and are open to undergraduate and graduate students. You’ll be matched with a mentor, present your research findings at the end of the program, and join networking events with Merck scientists and leadership.
Location: One of the Corning offices, either in Corning, NY, or Charlotte, NC.
Cost: None. This is a paid internship.
Dates: Typically 10-12 weeks during the summer, varies by internship position.
Application Deadline: Rolling applications, depending on internship position.
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students pursuing a technical degree in science or engineering.
The Corning Internship Program places you in full-time roles across R&D, engineering, and manufacturing at sites like Corning, NY; Blacksburg, VA; and Palo Alto, CA. You’ll work on real projects in areas like polymer chemistry, glass science, and analytical chemistry, contributing to innovations in optical fiber, display technologies, and biomedical materials. Internships typically run for 10–12 weeks in the summer. You’ll work independently and in teams, applying your chemistry knowledge to solve technical challenges.
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Cost: None. A competitive stipend, housing, and a travel allowance are provided
Dates: May 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who have completed their sophomore or junior year of college with a GPA of at least 3.0
University of Wisconsin–Madison REU Programs give you 10 weeks of full-time research in chemistry, chemical engineering, biological engineering, materials science, and chemical upcycling. You’ll join a faculty-led lab and work on an independent project under the mentorship of professors and graduate students. You can apply to one of four themed REUs.
The Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering REU covers a wide range of chemical disciplines, including analytical, organic, inorganic, physical, materials, and theoretical chemistry. The Materials Science REU, hosted by the Wisconsin MRSEC, includes projects in chemistry, physics, engineering, and science education. The Chemistry of Materials for Sustainability REU focuses on renewable energy, green chemical production, and plastics recycling. The Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics REU centers on technologies like thermal depolymerization and solvent-targeted recovery (STRAP) for recycling multilayer plastic films.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY.
Cost: None. Participants receive a $5,800 stipend.
Dates: May 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are rising juniors or seniors.
The Columbia MRSEC REU Program gives you 10 weeks of full-time interdisciplinary research in chemistry, physics, applied physics, chemical engineering, and materials science. You’ll work in a Columbia lab under faculty mentorship, contributing to projects in nanoscience, chemical biology, and molecular materials. The program draws faculty from multiple departments and partners with government labs like Brookhaven National Laboratory and industry leaders like IBM. You’ll join one of two research thrusts: building layered heterostructures from 2D materials like graphene, or assembling 3D solids from molecular “superatoms.”
Location: Scripps Research campus in La Jolla, CA
Cost: None. The program provides a $6,900 stipend for the 10 weeks.
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students with a strong interest in biomedical research.
Scripps Research SURF Program places you in one of over 150 labs at its La Jolla, California campus for 10 weeks of full-time research. You’ll work on an original project in chemistry, chemical biology, immunology, neuroscience, or related biomedical fields, guided by a faculty mentor and supported by graduate students or postdocs. Once trained, you’re expected to work independently and contribute meaningfully to the lab’s research.
Weekly seminars cover topics like lab techniques, career options for PhDs, GRE prep, and current scientific literature. You’ll also attend professional development workshops and present your research at the Summer Student Symposium, which is open to the entire Scripps campus.
Location: South San Francisco, CA
Cost: None. Each internship role offers a competitive salary
Dates: 10-12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: Varies by position
The Genentech Internship Program gives you the chance to work full-time on pharmaceutical research projects in departments like Small Molecule Process Chemistry and Discovery Chemistry. You’ll contribute to real drug development efforts, including synthetic organic chemistry, solid-state characterization, and formulation design.
Interns have worked on projects involving polymorph prediction, crystallization techniques, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. You’ll receive a location-based stipend and work 40 hours per week on business-critical projects. Interns are matched with mentors and join a collaborative team environment focused on innovation and patient impact.
13. BASF Internships
Location: BASF internships are offered at multiple sites across the U.S., including locations like Freeport, TX; Geismar, LA; Wyandotte, MI; and Florham Park, NJ
Cost: None. This is a paid professional development program
Dates: Approximately 3 months during the summer
Application Deadline: Applications are typically accepted in the fall
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, chemical engineering, and related disciplines
BASF Internships place you in full-time roles across R&D, process engineering, manufacturing, or technical marketing at sites across the U.S. You’ll work on real projects tied to BASF’s global product lines, from chemical process design to sustainability and plant operations. You’ll be paid, and some roles offer housing and travel support.
The program runs for 10 to 12 weeks in the summer and includes mentorship, professional development workshops, and chances to connect with senior leadership. You must be enrolled in a chemistry, chemical engineering, or related program and have U.S. work authorization. Applications open in the fall and close in early spring.
Location: Various companies and government agencies in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
Cost: Varies by internship, but most are paid.
Dates: Varies by opportunity, but most are 10-12 weeks during the summer. Semester-long opportunities may also be available.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by company; students are encouraged to search and apply in the fall and early spring.
Eligibility: Primarily open to UMBC chemistry and biochemistry majors, typically of junior or senior standing. Specific requirements vary by employer.
UMBC Internships connect you with regional industry partners and government labs through structured programs like the Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP). You’ll apply your chemistry knowledge in fields like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and environmental engineering, working on real projects with companies such as ExxonMobil, USALCO, and Uplift Geo Systems. Many students intern at national labs like NETL or join research teams at universities like Rutgers and Purdue.
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, or with partner companies in the region.
Cost: None. A stipend is provided for research positions; industry roles are paid by the company.
Dates: Typically 8-10 weeks during the summer.
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Open to all OSU undergraduate chemistry majors who have completed their introductory chemistry sequence. Specific GPA or coursework requirements may apply for certain positions.
Oregon State University Chemistry Internships give you hands-on experience in both academic labs and industry settings. You can work on campus with OSU faculty or join applied research projects with regional companies in materials science, food technology, and electronics. Past partners include Agere Pharmaceuticals and Amorphyx, which specialize in drug development and display technologies. You’ll earn academic credit through CH 410, and internships can count toward your degree as Career Supportive Electives. Projects often involve real lab work like green chemistry, life cycle assessment, or food processing, and you’ll contribute directly to ongoing research.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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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