15 Summer Research Internships for Undergraduates
Internships are one of the most effective ways for college students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and application. They strengthen your resume, offer experience, and improve your odds of landing competitive jobs or grad school offers. For students considering careers in research or academia, a summer research internship can be especially valuable. These programs let you explore questions in your field of interest, work alongside leading faculty, and develop technical and analytical skills that stand out on graduate applications. To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of the top 15 summer research internships for undergraduates.
1. Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)
Location: California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA
Cost/Stipend: $7,950 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~85% acceptance rate
Dates: June 17–August 22
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Open to continuing undergraduates with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (2.0 for Caltech students)
Modeled on the grant-seeking process, the Caltech SURF program gives students the chance to write research proposals, conduct research, and present findings in a professional-style seminar. You will collaborate with expert mentors to develop original projects and complete a ten-week research experience with opportunities for publication. Fellows attend weekly faculty seminars, communication workshops, and social events, adding depth to the academic experience. SURF requires a written proposal, technical report, and oral presentation. Projects must be conducted in person, and you are expected to commit full-time without other employment or coursework. This highly structured, research-intensive program is open to both Caltech and visiting students, with separate eligibility guidelines.
2. Ladder Internships University Internship Program
Cost: Varies based on program (financial aid available)
Location: Fully remote – work from anywhere
Program Dates: Offered year-round in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter cohorts
Deadline: Varies by cohort – typically in January, May, September, and November
Eligibility: Undergraduate who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers a highly selective, remote internship program where students collaborate with start-ups on projects. The program spans a wide range of industries, including AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You will be paired with fast-growing start-ups, most of which have raised over a million dollars, and work closely with a company mentor and a dedicated Ladder Coach. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Over 8–12 weeks, you’ll build technical and professional skills, get personalized guidance, and present your work to your host company. It's a strong fit for students seeking flexible experience and exposure to the fast-paced start-up ecosystem. Here is the application form.
3. Santa Fe Institute Undergraduate Complexity Research (UCR) Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small, selective cohort
Location: Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 stipend; housing, meals, and travel included
Dates: June 1–August 9
Application Deadline: Closed for this cycle
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates
Hosted by the Santa Fe Institute, the UCR program gives undergraduates the chance to dive into full-time research on complex systems across disciplines. You will work independently or collaboratively with mentors to explore problems that span the natural, social, and computational sciences. The program includes a schedule of seminars and workshops designed to deepen understanding of transdisciplinary research methods. You will be housed in dorms at the nearby Institute of American Indian Arts and receive full funding, including travel and living expenses. The experience is highly collaborative, with a close-knit community of peers and mentors.
4. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute Summer Scholars (RISS) Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited cohort
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Funding and scholarships are available; details vary by student
Dates: June 2–August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students
RISS is an 11-week summer research program at Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute, offering undergraduates experience in robotics and AI. You will collaborate closely with expert mentors, explore research labs, and attend technical talks, workshops, and lab tours. The program emphasizes research communication through writing and presentations, with opportunities to publish and present your work. You will gain exposure to advanced research environments while building the skills and connections needed for competitive graduate programs. RISS alumni have gone on to top institutions and secured major fellowships in the field.
5. UC Davis GREAT Summer Research Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; nomination-based
Location: University of California, Davis, CA
Cost/Stipend: TBA; academic credit and certificate included
Dates: Mid-July–Early September (approx. 8 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 1 (via home university nomination)
Eligibility: International undergraduates from partner universities; minimum 3.4 GPA, English proficiency, and faculty nomination required
The Global Research Experience in Advanced Technologies (GREAT) Program at UC Davis offers international undergraduates an summer research experience in engineering and science disciplines. You will be matched with UC Davis faculty mentors and placed in labs based on your interests and academic background. The program includes research training, weekly presentations, and a final interdisciplinary symposium. You will also enroll in a four-credit professional development course and receive a UC Davis certificate upon completion. Alongside academic work, the program includes social activities, site visits, and a field trip to a scenic Northern California destination, giving you a view of life at a major U.S. research university.
6. USC Institute for Creative Technologies REU Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small annual cohort
Location: University of Southern California, Playa Vista, CA
Cost/Stipend: $8,650 stipend, travel reimbursement up to $600, free housing
Dates: June 3–August 8
Application Deadline: January 29–March 21
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an undergraduate program; must not have completed a degree before the program start
Hosted by USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, this NSF-funded REU gives undergraduates the chance to explore research on intelligent virtual experiences. You will join one of several labs, working on projects in dialogue systems, virtual humans, machine learning, tutoring systems, or generative AI for simulations. The experience includes faculty mentorship, seminars, and a final presentation. ICT combines academic research with Hollywood and gaming industry creativity, offering you exposure to an interdisciplinary community at the forefront of human-computer interaction.
7. UC Berkeley Amgen Scholars Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective national cohort
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 stipend + $1,500 meal allowance; housing and travel fully covered
Dates: June 9–August 15
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; enrolled in a four-year U.S. college as a sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior; GPA ≥ 3.2; interest in a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.
In the UC Berkeley Amgen Scholars Program, you’ll spend 10 weeks conducting research under the guidance of a faculty member in science and biotechnology. You'll join a cohort of peers and gain lab experience in areas like bioengineering, neurobiology, computational biology, and plant sciences. Your work might span fields such as biophysics, genetics, molecular medicine, or microbiology. By the end, you’ll present your research through posters and talks, attend an all-expenses-paid symposium at UCLA, and earn course credit along with a certificate of completion. You will also live in campus housing with full access to Berkeley’s labs, facilities, and social events.
8. SUPERB – Artificial Intelligence for Engineering (AI4E), UC Berkeley
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Cost/Stipend: $4,500–$6,000 stipend; housing and meals provided at International House
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; rising juniors or seniors with coursework in EECS; GPA ≥ 3.0; underrepresented and first-gen students encouraged
SUPERB-AI4E is a summer research program at Berkeley’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences department, focused on using AI to tackle engineering problems. Over 8–10 weeks, you’ll work on faculty-mentored projects in areas like machine learning safety, human-robot interaction, AI for embedded systems, or adversarial robustness. Your research could fall under broader fields such as control systems, robotics, security, databases, or computational biology. Along with lab work, you’ll get grad school advising, visit industry sites, and attend weekly talks by top AI researchers. You’ll receive guidance from graduate student mentors throughout the program.
9. Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) – Purdue University
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; highly competitive
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Cost/Stipend: $4,500 stipend; paid travel, on-campus housing, and meals provided
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 10 (Letters of Recommendation due March 10)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a 3.0+ GPA; must have completed at least two semesters of undergraduate study and have at least one semester remaining
If you're thinking about grad school, Purdue’s Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) gives you an eight-week introduction to research with full-time work on a faculty-led project. You’ll have access to top-tier faculty and facilities, and take part in workshops, networking events, and a campus-wide research symposium. The program is open to students from all majors, with a strong focus on preparing you for a Master’s or Ph.D. at Purdue. You’ll be supported through structured mentoring, a collaborative cohort, and social events. The program is fully funded, covering travel, housing, and a stipend, and as part of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, your application can reach up to nine institutions at once.
10. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), Stanford University
Stipend: $5,500 + travel, housing, and meals fully covered
Program Dates: June 21 – August 16
Application Deadline: February 1
Cost: Free; all expenses paid
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Eligibility: Must be 18+ and enrolled full-time in a U.S. or U.S. territory institution; international students may apply with additional criteria; minimum 3.0 GPA
The SURF program at Stanford Engineering gives you a fully funded summer research experience alongside 30–35 undergraduates from around the world. Focused on expanding diversity in grad education, it offers research in one of Stanford’s nine engineering departments, guided by faculty mentors. You’ll also get access to GRE prep, grad school workshops, and a research symposium. While living on campus, you’ll explore the Bay Area and connect with peers through community-building events. SURF is ideal if you're aiming for a Ph.D. in engineering, especially if you come from a limited-resource or underrepresented background. International students at U.S. schools can apply if they meet first-gen or low-income criteria.
11. Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) – Los Angeles
Stipend: Yes; includes travel, housing, meals, and additional conference/travel support
Program Dates: June 23 – August 22, 2025
Application Deadline: February 3, 2025
Cost: Free; all program costs covered
Location: IPAM, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates and graduating seniors with a strong math background; international students are eligible; applicants must be 18+ years old
If you’re studying math, computer science, or a related field, RIPS-LA gives you a chance to apply your skills to problems through a mix of research and industry work. Hosted by UCLA’s Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), the program brings together teams of undergrads to solve challenges posed by industry partners. You’ll work closely with both a faculty mentor and an industry expert, leading up to a formal report and final presentation. You’ll build models, run computations, analyze data, and deliver practical results. Along the way, you’ll sharpen your communication, project management, and teamwork skills with support from a structured mentorship system.
12. ACCESS Summer Research Program – Weill Cornell Medicine
Stipend: $6,000 + up to $500 travel allowance
Program Dates: June 2 – August 1, 2025
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025 (via Leadership Alliance SR-EIP portal)
Cost: Free; includes housing
Location: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City
Eligibility: U.S. citizen/permanent resident; full-time undergrad with 2 semesters completed and 1 remaining; strong Ph.D. interest
The ACCESS program gives you a fully funded, nine-week summer research opportunity if you're aiming for a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. You'll work in labs in fields like molecular biology, neuroscience, or computational medicine, with close guidance from faculty mentors. Alongside your lab work, you'll take part in journal clubs, research seminars, and grad school prep workshops. You’ll present your findings at both a campus symposium and the Leadership Alliance National Symposium, gaining exposure and feedback. The program also includes community-building events in New York City. It’s open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled full-time at a U.S. college, with priority given to students who have a strong research interest and at least one semester left after the summer.
13. Summer Research Opportunity – Cornell University (Transportation, Environment & Public Health)
Stipend: $5,000 + housing and travel expenses
Program Dates: June 4 – August 13 (2025 dates TBA)
Application Deadline: February 13 (2025 date TBA)
Cost: Free
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduates interested in civil/transportation engineering and public health
This 10-week summer REU at Cornell’s Center for Transportation, Environment & Community Health gives you research experience at the intersection of civil engineering, public health, and environmental sustainability. You’ll work closely with faculty and grad student mentors on research projects while building your own presentation and research paper. The program wraps up with a convocation where you’ll present your findings. It’s built for future engineers and researchers looking to strengthen their skills in data analysis, sustainability, and public infrastructure.
14. CorGGLE Summer Internship – Cornell University (Geoscience Research & Careers)
Stipend: $6,300 + housing, meals, travel, and local transit
Program Dates: June 8 – August 8, 2025
Deadline: February 15, 2025
Cost: Free
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents from STEM or social science majors, not currently in grad school
CorGGLE is a nine-week paid summer internship at Cornell for undergraduates from non-geoscience majors who want to explore impactful careers in geoscience. You’ll do research in topics like energy, climate change, and remote sensing, while also gaining mentorship, professional development, and networking support. Weekly luncheons with scientists and industry professionals give you a clear look at applications, and you’ll wrap up the experience by presenting your work at a final research symposium. The program emphasizes inclusivity and supports students from underrepresented backgrounds across STEM, social science, and applied science fields.
15. ACEE Summer Internship Program – Princeton University
Stipend: Weekly stipend + research/travel budget if applicable
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks (Summer 2025)
Deadline: January 13, 2025 (Applications open November 25, 2024)
Cost: Free
Location: On-campus or off-campus with a non-profit partner (Princeton-supported)
Eligibility: Open to Princeton first-years, sophomores, and juniors; students must not be on leave during the 2024–2025 academic year
This paid summer internship gives Princeton undergrads the chance to explore research in the energy and environmental fields. Over 8–10 weeks, you’ll work on applied, computational, or field-based projects, either in a Princeton lab or with an off-campus nonprofit, aligned with the Andlinger Center’s mission. You can also pitch your own research idea and apply for funding. The program cuts across engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences, making it ideal if you're looking at sustainability from multiple angles. Past interns have worked on everything from renewable energy to climate resilience.