15 Science Summer Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 21
- 12 min read
Updated: Oct 19
If you are a college student preparing for post-graduate opportunities in STEM, a summer internship is worth exploring! Science internships can help you get insights into careers and graduate studies in STEM and opportunities to build academic and professional skills. Internships can also boost your profile, as both recruiters and graduate schools often favorably consider applicants who have some experience in real scientific work outside of university coursework.
Science internships designed for undergraduates typically offer research experience, professional or lab training, industry exposure, and opportunities to make valuable connections in the field, giving you a head start in your career. From intensive in-person lab-based opportunities to accessible and affordable online options, you will find a variety of undergraduate internships offering exposure to real science.
In this blog, we have come up with a list of 15 science summer internships for undergraduates. We have focused on factors like the rigor of professional experience, prestige, opportunities to network, and value of internship outcomes.
15 Science Summer Internships for Undergraduates
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer, starting in June/July
Application deadline: May/June deadlines for summer cohorts. Apply here.
Eligibility: College students and young professionals
Ladder’s University Internship Program is a flexible, multidisciplinary internship opportunity for college students interested in working with startups. You can indicate your preference for science internships while applying. Based on your interests, you may work with neurological health tech companies like JuneBrain, sustainable women’s health companies like Rif Care, or organizations in fields like environmental science and psychology. During the eight-week program, you will work alongside a company coach on a project that supports the company’s growth and aligns with your skillset and goals. You will work on a series of deliverables and a final project, presenting all your work to the assigned company and engaging in independent work, group collaboration, and networking in the process.
Location: Varies; NASA sites across the country
Stipend: Available; amount varies based on location, academic level, and internship length.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Late May/early June – August
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students with a GPA of at least 3.0
NASA offers a diverse set of science internships in the summer for undergraduates. As an intern, you will contribute to projects involving space exploration technologies and instrumentation. While the precise internship responsibilities vary from one opportunity to another, you will typically engage in research, communicate with project stakeholders, and build and practice essential technical skills in a mentored environment. Internships also emphasize career development, helping you prepare for a future in the field. You can also opt for the NASA Pathways Internship if you want to pursue a career at NASA after graduation. This multi-semester program, requiring at least 480 hours of work before graduation, offers a pipeline to full-time employment at NASA.
Location: Mayo Clinic campuses in Jacksonville, FL; Scottsdale, AZ; and Rochester, MN
Stipend: $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 180 across three campuses
Dates: May 27 – August 1
Application deadline: February 3; applications open November 1
Eligibility: Current sophomore and junior undergraduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA who are planning to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedicine or an M.D.-Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers competitive science summer internships for undergraduates interested in exploring a career as a scientist. Over 10 weeks, you will either conduct your own research or contribute to ongoing research in a Mayo Clinic lab on topics such as immunotherapy, gene editing, regenerative medicine, and novel diagnostic techniques. You will also attend weekly seminars and interact with Mayo Clinic faculty, staff, and current students, exploring broader research topics at the Clinic and Mayo Clinic’s biomedical Ph.D. programs. You will also get guidance on Ph.D. applications, post-graduate careers, and professional development. You will also present your research to peers and Mayo Clinic Faculty at the Summer Research Poster Session. The experience can prepare you for scientific conferences and careers in science.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge and Boston, MA
Stipend: ~$4,500–$5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort of just five students accepted in the past
Dates: 10 weeks in June – August
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors with an interest/background in stem cell biology; previous biological lab research experience preferred
At the HIP, you will spend 10 weeks at one of eight hospitals and research centers affiliated with Harvard, completing high-level stem cell research on topics such as cancer treatments, regenerative medicine, and disease progression. This program is designed for undergraduates interested in pursuing graduate-level study and/or medical school, as it offers exposure to research methodology and clinical applications of the growing field of stem cell research. You will also attend a weekly companion course in stem cell science to broaden your knowledge of the subject area beyond your specialized research focus. You will get to learn from and network with doctors and researchers at Harvard and the broader Boston area during the program.
Location: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY; some internships may follow a remote/hybrid work model
Stipend: Offered; housing and other expenses not covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – August 8 (10 weeks); six-week internships within this timeline are also available
Application deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Graduates and current students, including undergraduate, graduate, and high school juniors/seniors
Internships at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics offer students opportunities to gain work experience in a medical and educational setting alongside medical professionals and researchers. Here, you will work under the mentorship of Weill Cornell faculty and staff on research, educational, clinical, community engagement, or other projects that align with your interests and mentor’s work. The program offers research, advocacy, clinical, and educational opportunities across multiple Weill Pediatrics Medicine programs. If you are interested in neuroscience, you can contribute to projects in areas like brain development in preterm infants or pediatric epilepsy. If pursuing biology or medicine, you can contribute to the study of neonatal virus infections or gastrointestinal immune systems. If you want to explore non-clinical healthcare, you can contribute to projects focusing on patient safety, improving quality of care, or medical education.
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $4,000 + fully funded travel, housing, meals, transit, and activities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 10–12 students each year
Dates: June 9 – August 8
Application deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Rising college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors from underrepresented groups, including racial minorities, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds
STAR U is a research-based internship focused on neurology of the aging brain and Alzheimer’s Disease. Here, you will work under the mentorship of Columbia University’s faculty members on a neuroscience or aging-related research project. Alongside lab work, you will attend a series of neurology and aging seminars, faculty and guest lectures, and journal clubs. If you are interested in exploring medical neurology practice, opportunities to shadow doctors at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center are also available. To support career development, STAR U provides structured professional networking opportunities and social events throughout the program. The program also offers continued support, allowing you to remain connected with your mentor even once the internship ends.
Location: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME
Stipend: $6,500 + free on-campus housing; additional funding for project expenses and travel may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 27 – August 2
Application deadline: February 15; applications open January 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are studying science, math, or engineering and are eligible to work in the U.S.; students from underrepresented minorities and students with disabilities encouraged to apply
Bigelow Laboratory offers 10-week research-based summer science internships for undergraduates looking to enter the field of ocean and marine sciences. You will work with a mentor based on your interests, which can include marine microbiology, optical oceanography, bioinformatics, or ecology. You will gain exposure to the complete research process, from developing a clear research question and project proposal to conducting independent research. Weekly seminars on research methodology skills will help you be prepared for completing your project. You will also attend regular lunch sessions, covering topics like research ethics, planning for graduate school, obtaining funding for research and education, and career preparation. At the end of the internship, you will also develop an abstract and poster and deliver a presentation.
Location: NIST campuses in Boulder, CO, Charleston, SC, and Gaithersburg, MD
Stipend: $710/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~33%; cohort of 150 students
Dates: Main 11-week program: May 19 – August 1 | Offset 11-week program: June 2 – August 15 | Nine-week program: June 2 – August 1
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Undergraduate students at U.S. colleges or universities who are U.S. citizens/U.S. permanent residents
The NIST SURF program offers students the opportunity to work alongside federal scientists in one of NIST’s laboratories. Your project work could focus on areas like engineering, electrical systems, data modeling, precision measurement, or other areas, depending on your background, placement, and interests. You will gain experience in science and engineering research as well as working with equipment, software, and techniques used by federal researchers. As a participant, you may even get to co-author reports. The program ends with research presentations.
Location: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: Weekly stipend available + round-trip travel expenses and discounted housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Mid-May – Mid-August
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate juniors/seniors and graduate students
MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center, offers numerous research-based science summer internships for undergraduates. With opportunities available in physics or aerospace and mechanical engineering, the program allows you to directly collaborate with Lincoln Laboratory’s faculty on their ongoing research supporting the U.S. Department of Defense. Past projects have focused on designing prototypes for unmanned aerial vehicles, experimental work on cybersecurity technologies, and mechanisms for improving geolocation through atmospheric satellites. You will work closely with mentors while also attending group lectures and events to connect with peers sharing their interests and other MIT faculty. Following the conclusion of their research, you will design a poster and present your work at a symposium.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington/Charlestown, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free + hourly wage/transferable academic credit available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising college juniors and seniors (high-performing sophomores may be considered); applicants typically pursue majors in biology, neuroscience, psychology, pre-med, or related fields
MGH’s Lurie Center for Autism offers summer science internships for undergraduates merging research, academic training, and clinical education over two months. Here, you will complete a project focused on autism under the supervision of a mentor from the Lurie Center and engage in weekly check-ins to discuss research progress and next steps. You will undergo training in research methodologies and processes, including clinical trial design, recruiting and working with human subjects, data analysis, and other topics in translational medicine. You will gain exposure to the practical applications of Lurie Center’s research while shadowing clinicians in neurology, psychology, psychiatry, and other fields serving patients with autism. At the end of the program, you will present your research to fellow interns and Lurie Center researchers.
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $7,000 + $500 relocation assistance for out-of-state interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; cohort of ~20 students
Dates: May – August; 11 weeks
Application deadline: February 2; applications open on December 1
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students pursuing science-related majors; students from underrepresented groups in biomedicine and STEM are encouraged to apply
CU Anschutz offers an 11-week science summer internship for undergraduates interested in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. The research-based program allows you to complete intensive research in an Anschutz lab under the supervision of university faculty. To help you connect with peers and faculty, the GSIP offers regular seminars, social events, and networking events as well as community service and engagement opportunities. You will design a poster based on your research and share your findings with peers and faculty at the GSIP Final Day Program. The program offers continued collaboration opportunities with the institute following the internship and encourages interns to consider returning next summer.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Stipend: $700/week + $500 travel reimbursement and free on-campus housing at Columbia
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort of six non-Columbia students + a small number of Columbia undergraduates
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Students who are at least 18, enrolled in an undergraduate program, and majoring in physics or a related engineering discipline; applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students who are interested in research/graduate school, underrepresented minorities in science, and attending schools without similar research opportunities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Focused on physics, astrophysics, and fusion, this research-based internship pairs students with mentors from the Columbia Fusion Research Center to complete projects in experimental, computational, and theoretical plasma physics. During the program, you will also attend a weekly seminar where graduate students at the Fusion Research Center present their research topics to demonstrate Ph.D.-level research. You will also attend colloquia with speakers from Columbia and other research institutes and a tour of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory or Brookhaven National Laboratory. You will get a chance to network at summer social events and present your research at the Undergraduate Poster Symposium at the end of the internship. You can also present a poster at the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics Meeting in November, earning an additional $800 stipend for travel to California.
13. Icahn School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program for Underserved Scholars (SURP4US)
Location: Icahn Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Stipend: $5,000 + housing allowance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 10 weeks in June - August
Application deadline: Applications open October 1 and close January 10
Eligibility: Undergraduate sophomores and juniors who are planning to pursue Ph.D. or MD-Ph.D. programs in biomedicine and identify as underserved scholars due to socioeconomic limitations or other barriers to research access
Icahn School of Medicine’s SURP4US offers undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers as biomedical research scientists the opportunity to conduct research and prepare for graduate programs and research careers. You will work alongside a faculty mentor in cancer biology, disease mechanisms, microbiology, or genetics, and complete a research project. You will also attend seminars, journal clubs, and work-in-progress meetings to explore research fields and technologies. You will receive detailed guidance on successfully applying to Ph.D. and MD-Ph.D. programs through individual counseling sessions, mock interviews, Ph.D. information sessions, application workshops, and Q&A sessions with program directors. You will share your research at poster sessions throughout the program, gaining presentation experience and building connections with Icahn researchers and peers.
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: $3,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive
Dates: Late May – late July
Application deadline: January 31; applications open on November 1
Eligibility: College students who are at least rising juniors studying any major and recent graduates who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or residents; preference for students from underrepresented racial backgrounds, disabled students, students from rural communities, and economically disadvantaged students
The FPHLP internship at UMich is a 10-week science summer internship for undergraduates interested in exploring and promoting health equity. Supported by the CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, the internship offers an introduction to public health and experience in ways to improve health outcomes and remedy health disparities for minorities. You will learn from and network with UMich faculty and government health policy leaders through small workshops and seminars in topics ranging from healthcare to professional development. You will also gain exposure to health policy in action, completing health-focused community service and taking field trips to study public health across Michigan. You will also build research experience by completing a community-based research project and gaining professional conference preparation skills by presenting your research at a poster symposium.
Location: Emory University, Atlanta or Oxford, GA
Cost/Stipend: NIH-funded program; details regarding stipend not publicly shared
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 48-student cohort
Dates: Varies; 10 weeks over the summer
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Undergraduate student
INSPIRE is a mentorship-focused career development and research program hosted by Emory’s Global Health Institute for students interested in attending graduate or medical school. Operating in two main stages, INSPIRE begins by matching you with a mentor and lab or clinical site that aligns with your interests within infectious disease treatment and research. You will conduct research alongside your mentor for 10 weeks and then deliver an abstract and poster presentation at the intern symposium. The second stage of the program focuses on personal and career development, both during and after the internship. Through in-person and online engagement, you will receive advice on preparing for graduate and/or medical school, building your applications, and choosing suitable programs. You will also explore topics in biomedical and clinical research during the program.
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you want to pursue independent research under the guidance of a mentor, consider applying to Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, which are selective programs founded in partnership with Harvard and Oxford researchers. In the past, 4,000+ students applied for just 500 spots in the research program. You can learn about the application and available programs on the application form here.
Also, you can check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented low-income students. Last year, it offered 150 students full need-based financial assistance.
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 research mentor to develop a research paper.
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