15 Internships for College Students in Missouri
Internships tend to be the point in your academic journey where things start to click. What you’ve been learning in lectures begins to feel more concrete when you’re applying it in a lab, working through a dataset, supporting a project team, or contributing to something that has a clear outcome. You’re not just observing; you’re participating, making decisions, and seeing how work moves from idea to execution. That kind of exposure helps you build a more credible profile, but it also helps you figure out what actually interests you (and what doesn’t) before you commit to a path. Over time, these experiences give you stronger talking points, better references, and a clearer sense of direction.
If you’re interested in summer internships in specific subjects, check out a list of psychology summer internships here & law internships here.
Why should I do an internship in Missouri?
Missouri is an excellent place for college internships because its diverse economy, spanning aerospace, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing, provides students with a wide variety of hands-on opportunities across multiple industries. Additionally, dedicated resources like Missouri Intern Connect and the State of Missouri Internship Program actively help students secure valuable, resume-building roles in government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors.
To help you explore your options, we’ve curated a list of the best internships for college students in Missouri, prioritizing programs that involve real work, active mentorship, and opportunities to produce something meaningful by the end.
Quick Look
15 internships total, heavily concentrated in academic research across University of Missouri (Columbia) and Washington University in St. Louis, spanning biomedical science, cancer biology, quantum research, botany, nephrology, and engineering
WashU accounts for five programs (Amgen Scholars, Vagelos Fellowship, STARS, SURGE, and SOAR), each targeting different student levels and research areas, while Mizzou's SREP offers a similar early-research entry point for University of Missouri students specifically.
Several programs are restricted to current students at their host institution, including Mizzou Quantum, CAFNR, Mizzou Engineering Fellowship, SURGE, STARS, Vagelos, and SREP
Missouri Botanical Garden's REU is the most comprehensively funded on this list, combining a weekly stipend with housing, food allowances, transportation, and research supplies
Most programs run between 8 and 10 weeks in summer, with the Mizzou Engineering Fellowship standing out as an academic-year program that runs across fall, spring, and summer semesters
1. MU Alcohol Research Training Summer School & Internship (MU-ARTSS)
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $5,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 7 interns
Dates: June 3 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Applicants ideally must have completed 2 years of undergraduate work (exceptions may be made), with a B average or better in all coursework and who are US citizens or permanent residents
MU-ARTSS introduces you to addiction research through a combination of structured instruction and faculty-mentored lab work focused on alcohol use and related disorders. The opening training component helps you build context in both psychosocial and biomedical perspectives. After that, you join an active research group and contribute to work in areas such as genetics, behavioral pharmacology, psychiatric epidemiology, neuroimaging, or statistical modeling. You also interact with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty, which gives the experience a strong academic apprenticeship element. Weekly group meetings extend the internship beyond lab tasks by incorporating project updates, professional development, journal discussion, and broader conversations about alcohol research.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, winter, spring, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduate and gap-year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Through Ladder, you are placed with a startup where your work is tied to ongoing company priorities rather than a pre-set training exercise. The exact nature of the internship depends on the team, which means your responsibilities may involve strategy, operations, product, research, sustainability, policy, or technical work. Startups move quickly, so the experience pushes you to manage timelines, respond to changing needs, and produce work that can be used by the organization. You also receive support from a Ladder Coach, adding a layer of accountability and reflection that helps you make sense of the experience as it unfolds. The program ends with a final presentation, giving you a concrete way to explain your contribution and synthesize what you learned. Apply now!
3. EFCC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $5,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: 9-week immersive summer program (typically running from early June to August)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have completed at least one year of college in a related STEM field, alongside a specific freshman cohort exclusively for Missouri residents enrolled as first-year students in the state
EFCC SURF places you in cancer-focused research while also showing how laboratory science, clinical care, and translational medicine intersect. Your project work is embedded in ongoing research, which means you gain a clearer view of how scientific questions connect to diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. The internship also includes seminars on research design, critical reading, scientific communication, ethics, and mentorship, so the training extends well beyond technical lab experience. Small-group discussions introduce major areas within oncology, including prevention, immunotherapy, comparative oncology, imaging, and registry-based research. You also gain exposure to the broader cancer ecosystem through educational tours and optional clinical shadowing.
4. Translational Biomedicine Summer Research Program
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $5,400 + up to $500 for travel by personal vehicle
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduates in a STEM degree program who have completed at least two years of college; Prior research experience required; must be continuing their undergraduate degree in fall term listed on the program page; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; minimum 3.0 GPA; prior research experience; not be graduating before December of the program year
This program is built for students who want a more advanced summer research experience centered on biological and medical problems with translational relevance. You work full-time on a faculty-mentored project aligned with your interests, with research areas spanning fields such as cancer biology, immunity, physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, and population health. Weekly seminars add an intellectual framework to the hands-on work by introducing current research questions and, in some cases, broader preparation for graduate study. The program is embedded in Mizzou’s larger summer research environment, meaning you also benefit from orientation activities, evening seminars, and research community events. The summer wraps up with a poster presentation.
5. Stowers Summer Scholars Program
Location: Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 18–21 students
Dates: June 1–July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling till January 16
Eligibility: Have completed one year of undergraduate study; age 18+ by program start; enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate program in biology, chemistry, physics, computing, engineering, mathematics, or related field
The Stowers Summer Scholars Program places you in a high-level biomedical research environment where you work closely with a principal investigator or senior lab member on a full-time project. You become part of a lab’s day-to-day research process and gain exposure to how modern biological research is actually conducted. The institute’s collaborative setting allows you to interact with scientists working across areas such as developmental biology, neuroscience, chromatin regulation, stem cells, and computational biology. Weekly seminars and lunches broaden the experience by introducing new research topics as well as different scientific career paths. You also gain access to advanced techniques and technologies that may not be widely available in a typical undergraduate setting.
6. Mizzou Quantum Innovation Center Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; up to 12 undergraduate positions
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at MU
This internship is designed for those who want to explore quantum-related research through a defined project developed with a faculty mentor. Once selected, you spend the summer carrying that project forward while building experience in an emerging area of science and engineering. Since the work is tied to faculty mentorship, you also gain guidance on how to frame questions, refine methods, and communicate results. The program stands out for treating undergraduates as contributors to early-stage research development rather than as general assistants assigned to ongoing projects. The experience culminates in a presentation at Mizzou Quantum Day, where you share your project with a broader audience beyond your immediate research group.
7. Mizzou College of Engineering Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $1,500 per semester
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited cohort size
Dates: Runs concurrently with Mizzou's academic semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms)
Application Deadline: The second Friday after the start of the semester (Applies to all Fall, Spring, and Summer cohorts)
Eligibility: Full-time engineering students in good standing; have a selected College of Engineering faculty mentor before applying; cannot concurrently hold another departmental fellowship or appointment; Summer term - must be enrolled in at least one credit hour; reapply each semester to continue in the program
This fellowship supports engineering students who want to make research part of their academic year rather than limiting it to a short summer experience. You work with a faculty mentor on a project connected to your department or research area, which gives you time to build continuity and develop a stronger understanding of the work over multiple months. The program encourages formal engagement with research through options like departmental research hours, helping you connect the experience to your broader academic path. It also expects a completed report or thesis-style output, so the emphasis is not just on participation but on producing a documented piece of work.
8. CAFNR Undergraduate Research Internships
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $1,750 per semester
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies based on funding and approved proposals
Dates: Academic year-long internship
Application Deadline: Typically, in April
Eligibility: Undergraduate students actively enrolled in a CAFNR degree program at Mizzou
CAFNR’s undergraduate research internships give you a structured entry point into research in agriculture, food systems, environmental science, and natural resources. The experience begins with proposal development alongside a faculty mentor, which means you are involved in shaping the project. As the work progresses, you build familiarity with research design, hypothesis testing, analytical methods, interpretation of results, and formal scientific writing. The internship runs across the academic year, so you have more time to understand the logic of the project and how findings develop over repeated stages of work. You also interact with graduate students, staff, and faculty throughout the process, which helps you see how research teams function in practice.
9. Missouri Botanical Garden REU in Botany and Conservation Biology
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri
Stipend: $700/week + housing, food allowances, transportation, and research supplies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 8 students
Dates: June 8 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students must be returning to an undergraduate degree program in the fall following the REU program; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This internship introduces you to plant and conservation research through an independent project guided by a Ph.D. mentor. The available work spans areas such as plant systematics, ethnobotany, population genetics, restoration ecology, and conservation biology, giving the program both laboratory and field-based dimensions. You also benefit from access to unusually rich research resources, including major herbarium collections, specialized library materials, laboratory facilities, and ecological field sites. Professional enrichment sessions expand the experience through discussions of writing, ethics, intellectual property, graduate school, and careers in botany. The summer ends with a written report, poster, and public symposium presentation, giving you several ways to communicate your work.
10. WashU Amgen Scholars Program (DBBS)
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
Stipend: $5,000 + $400 meal card
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 25 students per summer
Dates: May 17 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Undergraduate at a U.S. four-year institution; sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; GPA 3.2+
The WashU Amgen Scholars Program places you in an intensive biomedical research environment where you work closely with a faculty mentor and in-lab mentoring team on a focused project. Seminars and workshops introduce scientific topics, graduate and professional pathways, and practical preparation for future academic applications. The program also includes content that reaches beyond traditional bench science, including exposure to biotechnology and interdisciplinary skills relevant to bioscience training. A major added component is the national Amgen Scholars U.S. Symposium, which expands your network beyond one campus and lets you engage with peers in similar programs. The experience concludes with a poster symposium where you present your project to the WashU research community.
11. WashU Vagelos Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Location: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 12 students
Dates: May 17 – July 24
Application Deadline: November 5
Eligibility: Current Washington University freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors; must be eligible to work in the U.S. over the summer
The Vagelos Undergraduate Research Fellowship combines pre-summer preparation with an intensive biology or biomedical research experience. Before the core research period begins, fellows complete a spring course focused on research skills and related topics, helping establish a stronger baseline for the summer work ahead. You then move into mentored laboratory research under the School of Medicine faculty, where you gain experience with graduate-level scientific environments and expectations. Career development opportunities continue beyond the main research component, which adds a useful perspective on next steps and long-term planning. Some fellows also continue engaging with the program community later as peer mentors.
12. Students Transforming Academic Research in Science (STARS) Summer Scholars
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
Stipend: $3,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: May 25 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current first-years/rising sophomores at WashU interested in scientific research
STARS gives early undergraduate students a structured introduction to scientific research through full-time placement in a WashU lab and consistent cohort-based support. Alongside the lab work, you receive training in scientific presentation, which is useful if you are still developing confidence in how to discuss research clearly and professionally. Weekly talks by Ph.D. scientists add perspective on different research areas and career trajectories, while student panels broaden the conversation to graduate, medical, and dual-degree pathways. The environment is intentionally supportive, with community-building built into the program. The program closes with a symposium where you present your work to your lab and the wider cohort community.
13. WashU Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience (SURGE)
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
Stipend: $2,700–$5,400 depending on project timeline + $500 supply supplement and up to $1,000 travel supplement available on request
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically 100+ awardees per summer
Dates: Research activity may occur between May 18 and August 23
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Continuing WashU undergraduates in any discipline with a project proposal and faculty mentor nomination; cannot take more than 3 credits of coursework or hold other full-time commitments during their research period
SURGE supports faculty-mentored research across disciplines, making it one of the more flexible options for students whose interests extend beyond a single STEM track. You develop a project proposal with a faculty mentor and then spend the summer carrying that inquiry forward, whether the work is lab-based, archival, analytical, creative, field-based, or interdisciplinary. This internship for college students in Missouri is centered on project-based inquiry, so it expects you to take ownership over the direction and shape of the work. The surrounding summer community adds structure through required ethics training, a lightning talk, and progress reporting, all of which reinforce research habits that matter beyond a single project.
14. WashU Nephrology Summer Intern Research “SOAR” Program
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
Stipend: $500/week + $200 Bear Bucks card
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 2 interns
Dates: May 27 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. or its territories; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The SOAR program introduces you to kidney disease research through mentored work in basic science under the guidance of a nephrology-focused research mentor. It shows how biomedical research connects to major clinical questions and long-term physician-scientist or Ph.D. pathways. The internship gives you a defined thematic focus, which can help you build more targeted knowledge in renal and disease-related research. You also have access to seminars and conferences during the program, adding broader scientific exposure alongside the core project work. The experience concludes with a research presentation, helping you turn your summer work into a polished explanation of what you studied and learned.
15. Summer Research Exposure Program (SREP)
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Stipend: $2,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; up to 15 students
Dates: 9 weeks in June – July
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: First- or second-year undergraduates in Mizzou’s College of Arts and Science
This internship for college students in Missouri is designed for those who are early in college and want an accessible introduction to research without the pressure of designing an independent project from scratch. The program integrates you into a faculty member’s ongoing scholarship, where you contribute to meaningful tasks such as literature review, participant-based work, coding, or sample preparation. Cohort meetings and professional development sessions add community and help you reflect on the experience as it develops. The structure also creates a pathway for continued work beyond the summer, which is useful if you are looking for a starting point that could grow into a longer mentorship relationship.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. Many of these programs are only open to students already enrolled at Mizzou or WashU. What are my options if I attend a different school?
If you're not at either institution, your strongest options are MU-ARTSS, EFCC SURF, Translational Biomedicine, Stowers Summer Scholars, Missouri Botanical Garden's REU, and WashU Amgen Scholars, all of which are explicitly open to undergraduates from any U.S. institution. Stowers and Missouri Botanical Garden's REU are especially accessible since they don't require Missouri residency or institutional affiliation beyond being enrolled in an undergraduate program. Ladder Internships is the only fully remote option on this list with no geographic or institutional restriction at all.
2. There are five WashU programs on this list. How do I know which one to apply to?
The clearest way to narrow it down is by your year in school and how much research experience you already have. STARS and SREP are both designed for first and second-year students who want an accessible, supported introduction to research. SURGE is the most flexible, open to any WashU undergraduate across all disciplines with a faculty mentor and project proposal. Amgen Scholars and Vagelos are more competitive and better suited for students with some research background who are considering graduate or medical school. SOAR is the most niche, focused specifically on kidney disease research with only two spots, making it a strong fit if you have a specific interest in nephrology or physician-scientist pathways.
3. Several of these programs require prior research experience. How do I build that before applying?
Starting with one of the more accessible programs on this list is the most straightforward path. SREP at Mizzou and STARS at WashU are both specifically designed for students who are new to research, with built-in mentorship and cohort support to help you develop from scratch. Once you've completed one of these, you'll have a much stronger foundation for applying to the more competitive programs like Stowers, Translational Biomedicine, or WashU Amgen Scholars in a subsequent summer.