13 Statistics Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 1
- 10 min read
If you are an undergraduate student planning to pursue a career in data science, math, economics, biostatistics, or statistics, an internship can help you gain industry insights and skill-building opportunities. Statistics internships are designed to offer you practical exposure to the field and its real-world applications. The internship experience can help you define your career goals as you explore different roles that rely on statistics.
As an intern, you will also get to build connections with statisticians, researchers, data scientists, economists, and peers with shared interests. Internships also look good on your resume, as they indicate to recruiters that you have gained early experience in a field.
To help you get started, in this blog, we have listed 13 statistics internships for undergraduates. We have prioritized opportunities that offer rigorous professional experience, industry exposure, and networking opportunities.
If you are looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Online Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically, 10%; cohort size can vary Dates: 8 weeks with varying start dates based on the cohort you choose Application deadline: August 24 for the upcoming cohort; multiple cohorts each year with varying application deadlines Eligibility: College students and young professionals
Ladder offers college students opportunities to work with growing startups on personalized projects. You will get to bypass the process of submitting unique applications to each employer by applying to Ladder and being directly matched with the best-fit company. Opportunities in statistics, such as interning at the customer insights and analytics startup Sooth.fyi, are available. Here, you will apply statistical tools and knowledge to assist the assigned organization with its goals. You will work closely with a mentor from the company on a personalized project to meet a need relevant to the company. You will present your work to the broader startup team, gaining presentation experience. You can learn about the application here.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $6,187
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are authorized to work in the U.S.
The QSURE internship allows statistics students to use their quantitative background to pursue cancer and population health research. You will work with a mentor and design and complete a data-driven project focused on areas like biostatistics, health outcomes, and quantitative epidemiology research. You will also get professional development opportunities, including a speaker series, career and post-graduate guidance, and education in developing scientific presentations. At the end of the internship, you will present your research at the QSURE symposium, gaining conference-style presentation experience.
Location: Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Cost/Stipend: Free with stipend + fully-funded housing, meals, and travel support available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Indiana University’s Department of Mathematics offers the REU program to students interested in engaging in research focusing on statistics, math, and other quantitative disciplines. You will work closely with your mentor and on a math research project. You will also connect with peers and faculty advisors throughout the program. You will have access to weekly lectures covering current research interests in mathematics and sessions with graduate students, who will help you explore the LaTeX typesetting system and prepare a written research report. At the end of the internship, you will present your research to the entire cohort and submit a professional-level written report. You can also submit your research paper for publication after the program.
Location: NASA Centers across the country Stipend: Offered; amount varies depending on completed hours, placement location, and grade level(s) + permanent employee benefits available Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive Dates: Vary by opportunity; internships last multiple semesters Application deadline: Varies by opportunity; applications open twice a year, in February and September
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old, enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis in an accredited educational institution (and maintain enrollment at least half-time as defined by the institution), and currently holding a cumulative 2.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale
The NASA Pathways Internship Program offers students opportunities to explore working in different departments of the agency. You can indicate your preference for math/statistics placements. This internship runs over multiple semesters, offering an extended experience compared to brief summer internships. You will be involved in long-term projects that align with your academic goals and get a chance to secure a full-time role at NASA post-graduation. Tasks vary by placement but often involve problem-solving and interdisciplinary collaboration on federal projects. You will work with NASA professionals, contributing to national research and innovation efforts.
Location: Emory University Clairmont Campus, Atlanta, GA Cost/Stipend: $5,600 + travel support up to $800 and free on-campus housing Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective Dates: June 16 – August 8 Application deadline: March 1; applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on a rolling basis Eligibility: Undergraduate students; students from underrepresented groups and first-generation students are particularly encouraged to apply
This statistics internship for undergraduates is a part of the government-funded REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates). Here, you will work with the faculty from Emory’s Department of Mathematics and complete small group research projects in data science, mathematics, or physics. The program also provides comprehensive training and education in advanced mathematics concepts, statistics, and research methodology. Projects are pre-determined based on faculty’s areas of focus each year, so you should review each option carefully to ensure the project will accommodate your statistical skills. You will also gain learning and networking opportunities while engaging in social dinners, professional development workshops, and weekly seminars led by industry experts.
Location: NYU’s School of Global Public Health, New York, NY Stipend: $5,000 + housing provided Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 students accepted Dates: June 9 – July 18 Application deadline: February 3 Eligibility: Current undergraduate students and recent college graduates who are U.S. citizens or non-citizen permanent residents
NYU’s PQAR summer program offers college students opportunities to explore quantitative aging research. You will learn about quantitative and computational research while working on a small-group research project and use statistical data analysis to assess the quality of aging healthcare and find new approaches to treatment. You will also engage in coursework on advanced methods in biostatistics, epidemiology, and statistical computing and attend faculty lectures. You will have access to a series of professional development workshops on applying to graduate school, careers in statistics and quantitative public health, and GRE preparation classes. You will finish the program by presenting at a research symposium. You can access an extended engagement with the program by participating in a year-long journal club, securing funding to attend an academic conference, or choosing to return to the lab in January for research.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost/Stipend: Free + food allowance and weekly stipends offered Cohort size: 20 students each year Dates: May 25 – June 26 Application deadline: January 24 Eligibility: College/university juniors who are U.S. citizens/nationals/permanent residents, or DACA recipients
The RBSI offers internships to undergraduates interested in applying statistical methods to quantitative political science research. This is an opportunity to explore how statistics plays a political science, a field requiring advanced quantitative skills. During the program, you will enroll in two credit-bearing courses focused on quantitative data analysis and race in American politics. You will receive guidance on building skills in writing and research, applying to graduate school, and exploring political science career paths. You will also attend a graduate school recruitment fair designed specifically for interns. Throughout the program, you will work on developing original, empirical research papers and may get the chance to present them at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, through an all-expenses-paid trip to the venue.
Location: Varies; hosted on a different university campus each year Stipend: $1,000 + fully-funded room, board, and travel support Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 15-student cohort Dates: June 22 – July 2 + continuing virtual programming during the rest of the year Application deadline: Not specified; you can check the website in the fall for updates Eligibility: Current undergraduates, particularly rising college seniors; students from underrepresented groups strongly encouraged to apply
Hosted on a different college campus each summer, the NGP internship allows undergraduate students to build research skills and study issues such as population health, immigration, and social mobility through statistical analysis. During the two-week on-campus program, you will engage in coursework and workshops covering statistical population research and pressing areas of study in the field. After developing a research plan on campus, you will complete your project remotely in collaboration with professional researchers. You will also have access to online professional development and research skill-building workshops throughout the summer and the academic year. You will also attend the Population Association of America annual conference the following spring, where you will meet population statistics researchers and present your research.
Location: Goldman Sachs, New York, New York | Other locations in New York State and the U.S. are also available Stipend: Paid; competitive hourly wages
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective (<1%)
Dates: 9 to 10 weeks in summer Application deadline: Applications open in July-August; rolling deadlines
Eligibility: College juniors
The Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst Program is structured like a full-time job, where you will spend most of your time directly working with Goldman employees on data analysis work tailored to your assigned field of focus. You can find opportunities in various departments, from internal audit to global investment research, where you can apply statistical tools and knowledge to perform various tasks. Additionally, you will have access to structured career development through company-wide networking opportunities, social events, and training sessions with the larger Analyst cohort. GS often provides well-performing interns the option to return to the company, making this an opportunity to potentially secure a job at the investment bank.
Location: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN Stipend: Provided; reduced-price housing also available Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective Dates: June 2 – August 11
Application deadline: January 10 Eligibility: Rising undergraduate juniors and seniors, and graduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Offered by the Department of Biostatistics at St. Jude Children's Hospital, this internship allows undergraduate and graduate students to explore statistical methodologies, tools, and writing while also gaining insights into medical research and hospital environments. You will work with a Biostatistics mentor and contribute to research while building skills in data processing, data collection and management, statistical analysis, and reporting quantitative research results. You will take part in networking events to build connections with researchers across the hospital. Other professional development opportunities include hospital tours and training sessions covering writing skills for academic research.
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $16/hour plus funded housing for students without residences in the area Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15 students Dates: May 26 – July 31 Application deadline: January 15 Eligibility: Undergraduate and master’s students
This internship is an opportunity to learn about biomedical informatics through a research-based statistical approach. You will work with an I2DB faculty member, contributing to their research. You will undergo educational training in biomedical informatics and data analysis to refine your understanding of theoretical foundations, technologies, and research methods. During this interdisciplinary program, you will collaborate with students engaging in quantitative research across fields like medicine, engineering, psychology, nursing, and mathematics. In the past, research projects have focused on using Natural Language Processing to study cancer treatments, utilizing machine learning models for phenotyping cancer patients, and assessing the quality of translational care for elderly individuals. At the end of the program, you will attend a program retreat and present your research to faculty and other interns.
Location: Virtual or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
Application deadline: February 2 Program dates: June 18 – August 8 ASSIP offers on-campus, virtual, and hybrid research internships in various fields, including statistics. You will work with your mentor, contributing to research in areas like statistical machine learning, image analysis, data reduction, big data analytics, data visualization, data science, generative AI, spatiotemporal modeling, or programming. In the process, you will refine your technical as well as scientific writing and communication skills. During the program, you will learn about career paths through discussion forums led by professors, researchers, or professionals. The program ends with the annual ASSIP Research Symposium and Celebration. You may also get to publish your work or present it at scientific conferences.
Location: New York, NY Stipend: $577.50–$665/week Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified Dates: May – September (up to 13 weeks); dates vary by department placement Application deadline: Positions are posted in February; deadlines vary by agency Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students
NYC SIP provides students with internships across governmental agencies, allowing them to directly assist NYC’s operations. While exact tasks can differ, you may find opportunities that align with your interests. For instance, you may help analyze the efficacy of healthcare and housing services for the Department of Social Services, study data on incarceration and prison conditions for the Board of Correction, or prepare Audit reports from statistical data for the Department of Buildings. Numerous opportunities are posted within each Agency or Department each year, with each sub-project seeking a single intern. You can review the postings to find options that offer statistics-related exposure and opportunities to develop skills in data analysis.
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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