15 Biology Research Internships for Undergraduates

If you are an undergraduate interested in biology and want to go to grad school, an internship can be a good way to explore biology research. Biology research internships for undergraduates let you contribute to projects in laboratories, field stations, or research centers. These experiences help you build technical skills, such as laboratory techniques and data analysis, as well as professional skills such as scientific communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Why should I do a biology research internship as an undergraduate?

A biology research internship allows you to apply classroom concepts in scientific environments. It strengthens your resume by demonstrating initiative, research experience, and familiarity with research methods: qualities highly valued by graduate programs and employers. You may be able to contribute to presentations or publications, giving you tangible achievements to highlight in applications. Close collaboration with faculty and researchers can lead to strong letters of recommendation and long-term mentorship.  

To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 biology research internships for undergraduates.

1. DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)

Location: One of the 17 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories across the U.S. (for example, Ames, Argonne, Oak Ridge, Fermilab)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship | $650/week as a stipend | housing allowance and travel reimbursement often available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective and competitive
Dates: Summer term (10 weeks; for example, June 1 - August 7)
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (completed at least one semester), U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents aged 18+ years | GPA of 3.0+ | recent graduates may also qualify

The DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program places undergraduates in paid, 10-week research internships at DOE national laboratories. Interns work directly with scientists and engineers on cutting-edge projects aligned with the  DOE’s mission in biology, energy, materials, climate science, and other related STEM fields. Over the summer, you’ll participate in a structured research experience that includes independent project work, seminars, professional development activities, and a final presentation or technical report. The program helps you to build laboratory techniques and scientific communication skills while building a professional network at world-class research facilities. SULI internships typically offer a weekly stipend, or housing allowances, and travel support, making it a strong way to gain real laboratory research experience for graduate programs or research-focused careers.

2. Ladder University Internship Program

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!

Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!

3. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Location: National Institutes of Health (NIH) campuses in Bethesda, MD, and other locations (for example, Framingham, MA)
Cost/Stipend: Paid | stipends are based on education level and institute (for example, starting around ~$3,010/month)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | limited positions selected by individual research mentors
Dates: Summer session (typically 8 - 12 weeks between May and August)
Application Deadline: Application cycle opens mid-December and closes February 18
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents 18+ years by September 30 | current college students or seniors who have graduated high school and will be enrolled in college in the fall

The NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) places undergraduates in full-time biomedical research positions within laboratories across the National Institutes of Health. Interns work under the mentorship of NIH principal investigators on projects in areas such as molecular biology, genetics, epidemiology, immunology, and neuroscience. Over the summer, you’ll engage in hands-on laboratory work, data analysis, seminars, and professional development, often concluding with research presentations or posters, helping you gain real research skills, scientific communication experience, and insight into how world-class research teams operate. The program’s structured application process requires identifying potential mentors, submitting academic materials and references, and demonstrating your interest in biomedical science, making it ideal for undergraduates planning careers in research or health sciences.

4. Wistar Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program

Location: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Paid $650/week stipend, $85/week meal allowance, travel support, and housing provided for the 10-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive and selective (NSF-funded REU site; limited openings)
Dates: Summer session of 10 weeks includes a 2-week lab orientation followed by 8 weeks of research
Application Deadline: Typically in late winter/early spring (check official site for exact dates)

Eligibility: Undergraduates (2- or 4-year colleges) with strong biology and chemistry coursework (B+ or higher in courses such as general biology and chemistry)

The Wistar REU Program provides undergraduates with an immersive 10-week summer research experience in molecular and cellular biology at The Wistar Institute. You will begin with a two-week laboratory orientation to learn core techniques, then join a research lab to work on projects ranging from apoptosis and stem cell differentiation to genome instability and immune responses. You’re paired with a mentor who supports your scientific training, attend weekly professional development workshops on communication and career planning, and finish by presenting your work to the institute’s scientists at a concluding research symposium. The program is a combination of hands-on lab work, seminars, and mentoring that helps to build your technical expertise and prepares you for graduate study and research careers in the life sciences.

5. Johns Hopkins University BioREU

Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Paid | stipend provided, with housing and travel support available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive NSF-funded REU with a small, selective cohort
Dates: May 31 - August 8 (10-week summer program)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled at a 2- or 4-year college or university | U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Johns Hopkins University BioREU Program is a 10-week summer research internship that places undergraduates in mentored biology research projects within the Johns Hopkins University Department of Biology. You work closely with faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students on active laboratory projects in areas such as molecular and cellular biology. The program allows you to gain hands-on experience with experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Alongside lab work, the program includes professional development activities focused on scientific communication and career preparation. You’ll conclude the program by presenting your research through talks or posters, making this a strong option for students preparing for graduate school or research-focused careers in the life sciences.

6. Harvard Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Longwood Medical Area)
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend | housing, travel, and support provided for participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | limited cohort (NSF/Leadership Alliance REU-style research program)
Dates: May 31 - August 8 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications open November 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled full-time | U.S. citizens or permanent residents 

The Harvard Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP) is a 10-week, full-time research internship that places undergraduates in biomedical and biological science laboratories at Harvard Medical School. You can work on projects in areas such as immunology, genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, and infectious disease. You’ll conduct hands-on lab research under faculty and graduate mentors, participate in career and professional development seminars, attend peer mentoring events, and present your findings using real talk and as a poster session, helping you build technical skills, scientific communication experience, and a professional network in a world-class research environment. The program provides a stipend, housing near the HMS research community, and travel support, making it one of the premier summer research experiences for students considering graduate study or research-intensive careers. 

7. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship | participants receive a $7,304 stipend and up to $450 travel reimbursement (housing, meals, and local transportation are the intern’s responsibility)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive and selective undergraduate research internship
Dates: June 22 - August 21 (nine-week summer research experience)
Application Deadline: Typically in early January
Eligibility: Undergraduate students entering the summer before their final year with a strong science background | U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is a nine-week internship in biomedical and biological sciences. Undergraduates work closely with research mentors in areas such as human biology, molecular biology, and public health. Participants complete an independent, mentored research project, attend weekly research seminars, take part in professional development workshops focused on scientific communication and career readiness, and present their findings at a competitive poster session. The experience helps you build core research skills and expand your understanding of laboratory science while preparing for advanced study and careers in scientific research.

8. Rosetta Commons Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Location: Multiple participating research labs across the U.S. | geographically distributed (computational biology focus)
Cost/Stipend: Paid | interns receive a stipend of about $6,000, plus housing support, food allowance, and travel reimbursement for the summer research experience
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | Typically, 20 - 25 students are accepted
Dates: June 1 - August 7 | includes a one‑week Rosetta Code School followed by research and a conference presentation
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (usually sophomores or juniors) majoring in biology, chemistry, computer science, biophysics, or related fields with an interest in computational biology and structural modeling.

The Rosetta Commons REU is a summer research internship focused on computational modeling and biomolecule design. Interns use the Rosetta Commons software suite to address challenges such as protein structure prediction, enzyme design, and ligand docking. The program begins with a Rosetta Code School to build technical skills, followed by placement in a research group at one of several host institutions to conduct hands-on research projects and collaborate with faculty and peers. You will present your work at the Rosetta Conference and connect with researchers from around the world, gaining both scientific experience and professional networking opportunities within global computational biology. 

9. University at Buffalo Biological Sciences Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Location: University at Buffalo, Department of Biological Sciences, Buffalo, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid | participants receive a $5,000 research stipend, free on‑campus housing, meal allowance, and travel support to/from Buffalo
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive and selective REU cohort with limited placements
Dates: June 1 - July 24 (eight‑week summer program)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (typically entering sophomore, junior, or senior year) interested in biological research; U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The University at Buffalo Biological Sciences Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is an eight‑week full‑time research internship that places undergraduates in mentored laboratory projects across areas such as genome structure and expression, neuronal physiology, model organisms, and fungal systems. You’ll work directly with faculty mentors on an original research project, participate in professional development workshops, and present your findings at a closing research symposium. This immersive summer experience helps you build practical research skills and refine your scientific communication while exploring career and graduate pathways in biological sciences. 

10. Cornell AgriTech Summer Research Scholars Program

 Location: Cornell Agri‑Tech, Geneva, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; includes a $6,200 stipend and housing support for the summer research experience
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, selective cohort of undergraduate researchers
Dates: Nine‑week summer program from May 28 to July 31, with travel days before and after
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in relevant disciplines (life sciences, agricultural sciences, engineering, computer science, agribusiness) with at least one semester remaining after the program

The Cornell AgriTech Summer Research Scholars Program offers a research internship at Cornell’s Geneva campus. You’ll work directly with faculty mentors, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on projects in areas such as entomology, horticulture and plant breeding, plant pathology/plant‑microbe biology, food science, and agribusiness research. Over the nine weeks, you’ll gain practical experience with laboratory and field methods, participate in professional development activities and discussions about science careers, and engage in group field trips to farms or production facilities that complement your research in an immersive way to build real biological and agricultural research skills. 

11. Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Location: Participating HHMI research laboratories across the United States (including universities, research institutions, and HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus)
Cost/Stipend: Paid | participants receive a stipend to support travel, housing, and living expenses during the summer research experience
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive and selective national cohort matching undergraduates with HHMI scientists
Dates: June 15 - August 14 (nine‑week summer research experience)
Application Deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (typically rising juniors and rising seniors) enrolled at accredited institutions | must be authorized to work in the U.S. 

The HHMI Summer Undergraduate Research Program is a full-time research internship that places undergraduates in research roles within HHMI laboratories across the United States. Participants contribute to ongoing biological or biomedical research projects under direct mentorship from leading scientists. Over the nine‑week summer period, you’ll work full-time in a laboratory, learn and apply advanced research techniques across disciplines such as genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, and structural biology, and build critical thinking and scientific communication skills. In addition to laboratory work, the program includes a seminar series and professional development sessions, and many students present their research at an end‑of‑summer symposium that connects you with peers and mentors from other host institutions. This program is well-suited for students seeking an immersive research experience at a world‑class scientific institution who want to strengthen their preparation for graduate study or research‑focused careers.

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

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; includes a weekly stipend, campus housing, and travel allowance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive and selective cohort of undergraduate researchers
Dates: June 1 - August 8 (10‑week summer research internship)
Application Deadline: January 30 | Application cycle opens November 25
Eligibility: Undergraduate students at U.S. colleges or universities (sophomores, juniors, or non‑graduating seniors) with prior research experience and a strong STEM GPA (around 3.5+) | MIT undergraduates are not eligible

This is a 10‑week summer research internship designed to give undergraduates experience in biological and brain science research at MIT. Students work full‑time in world‑class laboratories across areas such as molecular biology, neuroscience, computational biology, and biochemistry, under the mentorship of faculty and graduate researchers. During the program, you’ll participate in weekly academic seminars and faculty meetings, develop scientific communication skills, engage in community‑building activities, and present your research in a poster session at the conclusion of the program.

13. Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) at the Smithsonian

Location: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $8,250 as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 16 - 18 students selected annually
Dates: May 26 - July 31 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program (rising sophomores, juniors, seniors) and U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) program provides undergraduates with an immersive 10‑week summer research internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. You’ll be paired with a scientific mentor to conduct an independent research project in fields such as biology, Earth science, anthropology, paleobiology, and vertebrate zoology. NHRE interns work full-time alongside world‑class researchers, attend lectures, take part in tours of the museum’s research collections, attend professional development events, and then present their findings in a research poster and seminar at the end of the summer. The program offers a comprehensive research experience that builds hands-on scientific skills, enhances your understanding of natural history and scientific inquiry, and strengthens your preparation for graduate study and future research careers. 

14. ISB Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences Program

Location: Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship | interns receive at least $625/week with an optional housing stipend ($4,200) and travel support for eligible participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective cohort of undergraduate researchers
Dates: June 22 - August 7 (core 7 weeks required | total ~10 weeks depending on academic calendar)
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students at accredited U.S. colleges and universities 

The ISB Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences Program places undergraduates in a biology and systems science research internship at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. You’ll be paired with a research scientist to work on projects in areas such as computational biology, molecular systems, and integrative biological analysis. Participants work full-time in state‑of‑the‑art laboratories, attend professional development workshops and seminars, and prepare a research poster with guidance from mentors, which is shared at an institute‑wide symposium. The program combines experimental biology with computational and analytical methods and offers structured training alongside independent research. It is a strong option if you’re looking to build core research skills and explore interdisciplinary biology careers before graduate study. 

15. Dauphin Island Sea Lab NSF REU Program

Location: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship | participants receive a $6,000 stipend, on‑campus housing, food stipend, and travel assistance (up to $500) for eligible students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective REU cohort with limited placements each summer
Dates: May 25 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors| U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab NSF REU Program introduces you to marine and environmental science research along the Gulf Coast. Undergraduates conduct an independent research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. During the program, you’ll gain hands-on experience with field and laboratory sampling, molecular and genomic techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program includes professional development workshops and field trips, and a concluding poster symposium where you present your findings. The combination of a research stipend, housing support, and travel assistance makes this a comprehensive opportunity for undergraduates seeking to build practical biological research skills and strengthen their resume for graduate study or research careers preparation.