15 Chemistry Summer Internships for Undergraduates
College internships allow students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings, helping them explore their academic interests in an industry setting. Internships can help you understand how your field functions outside of coursework and provide exposure to professional expectations. For students interested in chemistry, internships offer a way to explore how chemical concepts are used in research laboratories, industrial settings, healthcare, energy, materials science, and related sectors.
Why should I do a chemistry summer internship in college?
A summer chemistry internship allows you to gain experience with laboratory techniques, data analysis, instrumentation, or applied research that may not always be covered in undergraduate courses. These programs can help you evaluate potential career paths, including graduate study, industry roles, or interdisciplinary positions that use chemical training. Internship experience is often important in hiring and graduate admissions decisions, as it shows familiarity with professional research or work environments. In addition, working with mentors and research teams helps you develop communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills relevant to many career options.
As chemistry internships differ in focus, duration, and eligibility, identifying good options can be difficult. Below is a list of 15 carefully selected summer chemistry internships for undergraduates that offer structured learning experiences and quality mentorship!
1. Amgen Scholars – California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Location: Pasadena, CA (on-campus, housing provided)
Cost/Stipend: $6,000 stipend for 10 weeks, plus a $610 dining card, campus housing, and travel to and from Pasadena
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – August 21
Application Deadline: Details not provided
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
You’ll spend 10 weeks doing full-time research at Caltech in areas that can include chemistry (along with biology and related biotech fields), working closely with a faculty mentor. The program includes a paid stipend and requires you to live in Caltech-provided campus housing. Alongside lab work, you’ll attend weekly seminars with Caltech faculty and JPL scientists, plus workshops focused on writing and research career development. You’ll also have structured networking and community events like student-faculty dinners and social activities. This option makes the most sense if you want a research-heavy summer and you’re considering a PhD or MD/PhD path, since the schedule mixes lab work with training geared toward graduate school.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program and financial aid availability
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all currently enrolled undergraduate students
The Ladder University Internship Program offers eight-week, remote internships with early-stage and growing startups. Interns are matched with a host company and complete a structured, project-based assignment, working 5–10 hours per week. Throughout the program, students meet regularly with a company mentor and conclude the internship by presenting their final project to the startup team. Projects span a range of areas, including technology, sustainability, healthcare, consulting, media, and business. While the program is not discipline-specific or lab-based, it may be relevant for chemistry majors interested in industry exposure, interdisciplinary work, or non-research career pathways. Apply now!
3. Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – The Rockefeller University
Location: New York, NY (Upper East Side; in-person)
Cost/Stipend: $6,500 stipend; free housing provided for students who cannot commute
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25 accepted out of 700+ applicants
Program Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: College sophomores and juniors (international students eligible)
You’ll spend 10 weeks doing lab research at Rockefeller, with projects available in areas including biochemistry, structural biology, chemistry, and other life science fields. Placement is coordinated through the Dean’s Office, and you’re matched to a lab based on the research interests you list in your application. You can expect a real lab routine, where you’re supervised by faculty and also supported day-to-day by postdocs and senior grad students. Outside the lab, you’ll take part in weekly Journal Club meetings where you present and discuss scientific papers, plus a lecture series featuring Rockefeller faculty. The summer ends with you presenting your work in a poster session, which gives you a concrete research output to talk about later. This program is well-suited if you want a structured, research-first summer and you’re comfortable in a heavily biomedical setting.
4. Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Chemistry – Syracuse University, College of Arts and Sciences
Location: Syracuse, NY (in-person; university housing provided)
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 summer scholarship stipend; housing provided at no additional cost; $1,000 food allowance; travel and conference reimbursement (if applicable)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduates who have completed their first year
This is a summer research placement funded through the National Science Foundation’s REU program, so your core job is to join an active research project and contribute to day-to-day lab work. You’ll work in one of Syracuse’s listed chemistry areas, which include inorganic, organic, physical, biochemistry, organometallic, materials science, surface chemistry, chemical physics, and X-ray diffraction (among others). The program is structured around basic research, meaning you’ll learn how research is planned, run, and interpreted. You’re on campus for the full program dates, and housing is provided, which makes it easier to treat the summer like a full-time research term. Funding is set up as a summer scholarship stipend with additional support like a food allowance and possible travel or conference reimbursement, if applicable.
5. Chemistry Department REU Summer Research Program – Texas A&M University
Location: College Station, TX (in-person; university housing provided)
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 stipend; up to $500 travel support; $500 meal card; $700 support for presenting at a national or regional conference; lodging in university housing
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduates majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, or related fields who have completed at least one year of college and two semesters of college chemistry with lab; applicants must attend a 4-year university (excluding Texas A&M) or a community college; U.S. citizens and permanent residents only
You’ll join a Texas A&M chemistry research group for the summer and work on an interdisciplinary project connected to the program theme: Reimagining the Chemical Heartland: Chemistry for a Changing Gulf Coast. Projects span areas like catalysis, polymers, materials, electrochemistry, computational chemistry, and chemical biology, with a published list of sample faculty projects. You’ll be embedded in a research group and work with faculty and graduate mentors while you run experiments or simulations tied to an active research question. The program also includes weekly seminars and professional development sessions that cover topics like science writing, ethics, teamwork, and communication, plus hands-on technical workshops (including an X-ray crystallography short course and a computational toolset workshop). You’ll present your work during the summer through poster and oral presentation formats, including a department research symposium and a university-wide poster session.
6. CHARM Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) – University of Delaware Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Location: Newark, DE (in-person; on-campus housing provided)
Cost/Stipend: $6,000 stipend; on-campus housing provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 8 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 1 (priority; later applications accepted if space remains)
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors in STEM majors; GPA above 3.0; U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
You’ll spend 10 weeks doing full-time research through the CHARM REU, which focuses on interdisciplinary materials science projects connected to chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, and related fields. Research takes place in faculty labs working on areas like nature-inspired materials, computationally designed systems, and terahertz technologies, with projects spanning both experimental and computational work. You’ll be placed in a research group and work closely with faculty mentors to contribute to an ongoing materials-focused research project. Alongside lab work, the program includes professional development workshops, industry and national lab visits, and structured mentorship activities. This REU is a fit if your chemistry interests overlap with materials science and you want exposure to research that sits between traditional chemistry and engineering.
7. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows in Chemistry (SURF-C) – Princeton University Department of Chemistry
Location: Princeton, NJ (in-person; on-campus housing available)
Cost/Stipend: Educational stipend provided (amount not specified); housing and meals provided for some tracks
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 9 (Princeton first-years and sophomores); February 3 (non-Princeton students via Leadership Alliance); March 23 (Princeton rising seniors, internal arrangements)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students majoring in or planning to major in chemistry
SURF-C is a nine-week summer research program where you’re placed in a Princeton chemistry research group to work alongside faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and other undergraduates. You’ll spend most of your time doing lab research, but the program also includes required training, research discussion groups, scientific literacy workshops, and career-focused seminars. All students are expected to commit fully to the nine-week schedule, and outside coursework, jobs, or vacations aren’t allowed during the program period. You’ll also visit an industrial chemistry site and present your work at Princeton’s Summer Research Symposium. Housing is available through the Summer Research Learning Village for some participants, which means you’re living alongside other summer researchers from across the university.
8. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – SUNY Upstate Medical University, College of Graduate Studies
Location: Syracuse, NY (in-person; housing provided)
Cost/Stipend: $6,200 stipend for the summer; housing provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Undergraduates in good academic standing between their junior and senior years, with majors in chemistry, biology, or a related field; international students are eligible
This is a 10-week, full-time biomedical research program where you work closely with a SUNY Upstate faculty mentor on a defined research project. You’ll develop a research proposal, carry out experiments, write a research paper, and present your work, which mirrors the structure of early-stage graduate research. The program combines independent lab work with research seminars, a journal club, and discussions about graduate school and research-focused careers. Research areas span molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, neuroscience, cancer research, and related fields, with chemistry majors typically fitting into biochemistry- or molecular-focused labs. Several specialized tracks are available, including physician-scientist, cancer research, and health sciences pathways, though all fellows complete the same core SURF program. This program is geared toward students who are seriously considering PhD or MD/PhD training and want sustained exposure to academic biomedical research.
9. Kansas State Department of Chemistry REU Program in Biosecurity and Chemistry – Kansas State University
Location: Manhattan, KS (in-person; housing and meals provided)
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 stipend; travel allowance; housing and meal plan fully covered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 12 students total (9 NSF-REU funded, 3 department-funded)
Program Dates: May 25 – July 31 (anticipated)
Application Deadline: Rolling review beginning February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduates majoring in chemistry or a related field with at least one year of chemistry coursework; U.S. citizens or permanent residents eligible for NSF-REU slots; international students eligible
This is a 10-week summer research program run by Kansas State’s Department of Chemistry, with projects organized around department research themes rather than traditional subfields. You’ll work full-time in a faculty lab, learn to use advanced chemical analysis instrumentation, and focus on developing practical research skills. The program includes training in scientific writing, research ethics, and presenting your work at a scientific meeting. Beyond lab work, there are structured cohort activities and informal social events throughout the summer. The department encourages applications from students at institutions with limited research infrastructure and from community colleges, which shapes the mentoring style and cohort mix.
10. Chemistry Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) – Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry
Location: University Park, PA (in-person; housing assistance typically provided)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided; housing and travel assistance may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 10 students
Program Dates: TBA in March
Application Deadline: TBA in March
Eligibility: Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or related fields; U.S. citizens or permanent residents required for NSF-funded positions
Penn State’s Chemistry REU places undergraduates into faculty research groups for a summer of full-time chemistry research, with projects matched to your stated interests. The NSF-funded site focuses on areas related to catalysis and dynamics, though the department hosts research across analytical, organic, inorganic, physical, materials, and theoretical chemistry. You’ll work with faculty, graduate students, and postdocs, building research skills and participating in seminars and department activities. The program emphasizes access to research for students who may not otherwise have these opportunities, including those from underrepresented or resource-limited backgrounds.
11. Chemistry & Biochemistry Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) – James Madison University
Location: Harrisonburg, VA (in-person; on-campus housing provided)
Stipend: Paid stipend (amount not specified); housing provided; funds provided for food and living expenses; travel reimbursement available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Late May – early August (tentatively May 25 – August 1)
Application Deadline: Rolling review beginning February 26
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents enrolled in a bachelor’s or associate degree program; open to chemistry (or related) majors and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting students
This NSF-funded REU brings together chemistry students, Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and ASL interpreting students to work in shared research environments within JMU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. You’ll spend 10 weeks doing full-time research in areas that span major chemistry subfields, including synthesis, biophysical chemistry, and materials, working closely with JMU faculty and visiting mentors. The program is structured to remove communication barriers in the lab, with professional ASL interpreters in research groups and program activities. Alongside lab work, you’ll take part in professional development workshops focused on science communication, outreach, and presenting research to broader audiences. The summer concludes with a campus-wide research symposium where you present your work, giving you a clear research outcome from the experience.
12. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Location: Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO (in-person; housing not guaranteed)
Cost/Stipend: $7,810 stipend for the 11-week program ($710/week); limited housing assistance (up to $4,500) and travel support (up to $500) available for students who relocate
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 150 students; about 33% acceptance rate
Program Dates: May 27 – August 7 (11-week option); June 8 – August 7 (9-week option); June 8 – August 21 (offset 11-week option)
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; full-time undergraduates at U.S. two-year or four-year colleges; must be at least 18 years old
NIST’s SURF program places you in a federal research lab for a full-time summer project aligned with the agency’s measurement science mission. You’ll work alongside NIST scientists in one of the institute’s laboratories, with projects that can involve chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, measurement science, and applied physical sciences. The structure is closer to a professional research internship than a campus-based REU, with expectations around independent work, lab safety, and federal workplace requirements. Depending on the project, your work may involve experimental lab research, data analysis, instrumentation, or computational methods. Housing is not automatically provided, so this program works best if you’re comfortable arranging housing or can make use of the limited relocation support NIST offers.
13. Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) – U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (WDTS)
Location: U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories and facilities (on-site; locations vary)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend provided; housing and travel support vary by laboratory)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: 10-week summer term (May – August; dates vary by host lab)
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; undergraduate students or recent graduates (within 2 years of earning a degree); at least 18 years old; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
SULI is a federally run research internship that places you directly into a Department of Energy national laboratory for a full-time summer appointment. You’ll work on a research project under the supervision of a laboratory scientist, with projects spanning chemistry, materials science, physics, engineering, computation, and other DOE-relevant research areas. The experience is structured around contributing to an active lab project rather than rotating between activities, so most of your time is spent doing focused research. Depending on the lab and group, your work may involve experimental lab techniques, instrumentation, data analysis, modeling, or computational methods tied to large-scale scientific infrastructure. In addition to research, you’re expected to document your work and present it through a final report and a poster or oral presentation arranged by the host laboratory. This program is most relevant if you’re interested in applied or mission-driven chemistry and want experience in a national laboratory environment that operates differently from a university-based REU.
14. Integrated Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) – University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Chemistry
Location: Madison, WI (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: $6,000 stipend; $600 food allowance
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: May 26 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduates who have completed their sophomore or junior year; GPA of at least 3.0; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; students planning to pursue a PhD in STEM
This is a 10-week summer research program that places you in a UW–Madison faculty lab through one of three tracks: Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering, Materials, or Chemical and Materials Engineering for Future Manufacturing. You’ll work on a hands-on research project tied to your assigned lab, spending most of your time doing day-to-day research alongside faculty, graduate students, and other researchers. All three tracks operate together as a shared cohort, so you’re part of a broader research community rather than a single isolated program. In addition to lab work, the program includes multiple faculty-led seminars each week, including sessions focused on graduate school preparation. The summer ends with a formal poster session where you present your research results, which gives you a clear, tangible outcome from the experience.
15. Materials Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) – Columbia University & City College of New York
Location: New York, NY (in-person; Columbia University and CCNY campuses)
Stipend: Paid stipend (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: May 26 – August 1 (tentatively)
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with an interest in materials-related research
You’ll spend the summer as a research fellow in an interdisciplinary materials science program jointly run by Columbia University and City College of New York. Research areas include the synthesis, characterization, and theory of molecular cluster materials and two-dimensional materials and heterostructures, which sit squarely at the intersection of chemistry and materials science. You’ll be placed in a research group to participate in day-to-day lab work using shared materials characterization tools. Alongside research, the program includes weekly seminars, training in lab safety and scientific communication, and visits to industry partners and nearby government labs. The summer concludes with a formal symposium where you present your research, giving you a clear academic output from the experience. This program makes sense if your chemistry interests lean toward materials, nanoscience, or applied physical chemistry.