15 Remote Research Internships for Undergraduates
If you are an undergraduate interested in research, an internship can be a worthwhile way to explore this field. An internship can change how your academic profile is evaluated by showing concrete research experience in your field. When you apply for jobs or graduate programs, internships signal that you’ve developed valuable skills in your field. Remote research internships for undergraduates are particularly useful for those seeking deeper exposure to a field, as they show you how ideas are investigated, data are analyzed, and results are communicated in professional contexts.
Why should I do a remote research internship as an undergraduate?
A remote research internship allows you to gain research experience while maintaining flexibility around coursework, part-time employment, or geographic constraints. Rather than working on assignments, you contribute to research problems through data analysis, literature reviews, or the use of technical tools. For students applying to graduate programs, this experience demonstrates research readiness and strengthens statements of purpose. Many programs focus on research writing and presentation, which improve communication skills valued across industries. Collectively, these outcomes can meaningfully improve your chances of securing postgraduate admission or landing a competitive role after graduation.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 remote research internships for undergraduates that emphasize mentorship, defined research outputs, and substantive skill development.
1. Texas A&M Online Research Experience for Undergraduates (O-REU)
Location: Remote
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 27 - July 31(40 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Email application materials directly to icantu@tamu.edu
Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents pursuing bachelor's degrees
Texas A&M’s Online REU is a fully remote summer research program conducted in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory, with a focus on materials science, engineering, and data-driven research. You’ll work full-time with a faculty mentor on computational, simulation-based, or data science projects aligned with research groups. The program includes technical training in programming, modeling, machine learning, and high-performance computing through Texas A&M’s HPRC and TAMIDS. Weekly online meetings, professional development sessions, and research seminars are built into the schedule. You are expected to complete defined deliverables such as a project statement, midterm update, and final presentation. While the research is conducted remotely, participants receive support for one in-person site visit, including a poster presentation. The program also provides guidance on graduate school applications and external fellowship opportunities.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote (you can work from anywhere in the world).
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 -12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
The Ladder University Internship Program places undergraduates in a selective, fully virtual internship with startups or nonprofits working in areas such as health technology, biotechnology, AI, and sustainability. Interns are assigned a defined project that addresses an operational or research need within the host organization. You’ll work closely with a startup manager and receive weekly structured feedback from a dedicated ladder coach. Placements are matched based on your interests and skills, and the internship concludes with a formal presentation of your work. Financial aid is available for accepted students. Apply now!
3. Yale Computer Science Remote Research Internship
Location: Remote
Stipend: Participants are paid a stipend commensurate with that of doctoral students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: December 15 for summer placements (rolling application review)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in computer science or related fields | international students may apply for virtual positions
The Yale Computer Science Research Internship Program offers remote research placements that connect undergraduates with faculty-led research groups across a wide range of computer science subfields. You will be matched with a faculty mentor based on research alignment, with areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, natural language processing, systems, security, and theoretical computer science. You contribute to ongoing research projects rather than standalone exercises, often working with graduate students as part of a larger lab team. Virtual seminars and group meetings are also part of the experience. Depending on the project, you may assist with algorithm development, software implementation, or theoretical analysis, and some students have the opportunity to be listed as co-authors on publications.
4. Harvard Remote Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Location: Remote
Stipend: Typically paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies depending on the project needs
Application Deadline: Rolling applications | contact advisor directly
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in project-relevant scientific fields
Harvard University offers a range of remote undergraduate research roles across departments and affiliated institutions such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. Current remote projects span areas such as ultra-rare disease therapeutics, vestibular neuroscience, chromatin regulation using deep learning, and computational biology. Interns work with faculty and research staff on defined components of studies, which may include data analysis, literature synthesis, software development, or scientific writing. Many projects emphasize interdisciplinary approaches that combine biology, medicine, and machine learning, and some roles allow you to contribute to manuscripts or internal research reports.
5. Berkeley Pharmatech Remote Medical Research Internship
Location: Remote
Stipend: Equity compensation in a startup company
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2 positions available
Dates: 12 hours/week from May 26 to August 14
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Students pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any area of biology and/or journalism with relevant subject matter expertise/experience
This 15-week remote research internship for undergraduates is a part-time program focused on biotechnology research and scientific publishing. You’ll collaborate with a small, distributed team on projects connected to biotechnology products or editorial workflows for the Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine. Responsibilities may include scientific writing, copyediting, proofreading, research synthesis, and publication preparation. Training is provided at the start of the internship, and scheduling is designed to remain flexible alongside coursework. Instead of a stipend, participants receive equity in the startup and may earn academic credit depending on university policies. The program concludes with a formal performance evaluation and a letter of recommendation.
6. Johns Hopkins Genomics & Society Mentorship Program (GSMP)
Location: Remote
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5 students per cohort
Dates: 15‑month program starting with a 10‑week summer internship
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Full-time college students who have completed at least one full year of undergraduate study
The Genomics & Society Mentorship Program at Johns Hopkins is a 15-month hybrid program that begins with a 10-week summer research experience, with remote participation options also available. You’ll work with faculty at the Berman Institute of Bioethics on research focused on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics. The summer component includes mentored research, weekly journal clubs, seminars, and enrollment in foundational bioethics coursework. After the summer, you remain engaged during the academic year by leading a genomics-related project or event at your home institution. Participants return the following summer for additional training and cohort activities. You receive sustained mentorship throughout the entire program timeline.
7. UCLA SPUR (Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research)
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid (varies depending on the program)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22 - August 14 (8-week programs) and June 22 - August 28 (10-week programs)
Application Deadline: March 31 (unless stated otherwise in the program description)
Eligibility: Upper division undergraduates | specific requirements may apply for some programs
The UCLA SPUR programs offer full-time summer research experiences that pair undergraduates with faculty mentors across a range of academic disciplines. Most programs run for 8 to 10 weeks and focus on research preparation for students considering graduate study or academic careers. You may join an existing faculty-led project or collaboratively develop a new research question aligned with your interests. Fields include biosciences, neuroscience, public health, social sciences, humanities, and physical sciences. Seminars on research writing, methodology, graduate funding, and application strategies are a core component. You are expected to produce a final paper, poster, or presentation at the end of this internship.
8. NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Location: Remote
Stipend: $7,810
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 150 placements per year
Dates: 11 weeks from May to August
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are full-time undergraduate students in an accredited two-year or four-year college in the U.S.
The NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship is an 11-week, full-time research program where undergraduates work with federal scientists on research projects. Research areas include chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering, and computer science. You are typically placed at a NIST campus, though some labs may support remote projects depending on mentor needs. Interns join active research teams and contribute to ongoing experimental or computational work. Weekly seminars introduce you to current research across NIST divisions, and the program concludes in a formal poster presentation of your findings. The selection is competitive and based on academic preparation and alignment with research interests.
9. Undergraduate Summer Internship at Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health
Location: Remote
Stipend: Students not receiving external funding may be eligible for a stipend of $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 150 placements per year
Dates: 8 weeks beginning in June
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors interested in pursuing careers in mental health
This remote undergraduate research internship is hosted at Columbia University, in partnership with the World Health Organization, focusing on global mental health research. You will be assigned to a research project and mentored by faculty and graduate researchers from psychiatry, public health, and medical anthropology. Common research areas include access to mental health services, epidemiological analysis, and mental health policy in low-resource settings. You’ll receive training in data analysis, scientific writing, and oral presentation. Professional development sessions address graduate school pathways and career options in mental health research.
10. UMBC NSF – Big Data REU Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 10 participants
Dates: June 1 - July 24
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in STEM fields | U.S. citizens and permanent residents
The UMBC Big Data REU is an NSF-funded, fully online summer research program focused on data science and high-performance computing applications. You’ll work in interdisciplinary teams on research problems drawn from fields such as atmospheric science, engineering, and medicine. Each team is supported by a faculty mentor and a graduate assistant, with projects often proposed by external collaborators. The program focuses on modern research tools, including machine learning, distributed computing, and HPC infrastructure. All activities, including seminars and presentations, are conducted virtually. You are expected to complete a defined research project and present your results at the end of the program. Optional financial support may be available for conference travel.
11. Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship – Clinical Behavioral Health Track
Location: Remote
Stipend: Offered | housing and other expenses not covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 - August 7 (10 weeks) | 6-week internships within this timeline are also offered in some departments (including behavioral health)
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Current or recent undergraduates, and high school juniors/seniors, Weill Cornell, and other medical students
The Weill Cornell Medicine Pediatrics Summer Internship includes a Clinical Behavioral Health track for undergraduates interested in psychology and mental health research. In this placement, you will assist with research related to pediatric mental health while gaining exposure to evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and diagnostic assessment. Intern responsibilities may include data collection, literature review, case management support, and observation of clinical workflows. The remote research internship for undergraduates balances research work with limited, supervised clinical exposure. Because the Pediatrics Department spans multiple focus areas, you may also engage with related topics such as brain development or health policy.
12. DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) Summer Internship Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer | varying start and end dates
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older at the time of application, enrolled full-time in an accredited US college/university, and pursuing a degree in a STEM field with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0
This remote research internship for undergraduates with the U.S. Department of Defense places undergraduates on research teams working on advanced computing problems related to national defense. Projects focus on modeling, simulation, and data-intensive analysis within Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E). Most placements are conducted in person at DoD laboratories, though limited remote options may be available depending on the host site. You collaborate with scientists and engineers using high-end computing infrastructure and participate in technical training and professional development sessions. Participants receive a stipend with travel support provided where applicable.
13. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Spring: February to May | Summer: June to August | Fall: September to December
Application Deadline: Not specified | click here for more details.
Eligibility: College students authorized to work in the U.S.
The FPRI offers research internships for students interested in international relations, security studies, and global policy. Interns are matched with a scholar within a specific regional or thematic program, such as the Middle East, Eurasia, Africa, or Asia. Your responsibilities may include research support, writing, data analysis, event coordination, and communications support. Interns participate in weekly seminars focused on foreign policy topics and career development. The program places emphasis on professional research skills such as critical analysis, time management, and collaborative work. Interns may submit a research paper for consideration in FPRI’s Intern Corner publication. Advanced language or prior research experience may be required for certain research tracks.
14. Laney Graduate School (LGS) – SOAR at Emory University
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 200 remote participants
Dates: June 2 - July 20
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, not including graduating seniors, planning to attend graduate school
The Emory SOAR program is a 10-week summer research experience focused on psychology, cognitive science, and brain sciences. You’ll design and conduct a research project under the guidance of a faculty or professional researcher from Emory or partner institutions. The program includes seminars on graduate school expectations, academic careers, and research writing. You’ll also engage with graduate students who share insights related to advanced study and research pathways. The experience concludes with a written research report and a formal presentation. In addition to the primary track, SOAR offers a less competitive online option centered on advanced topic exploration in small groups with mentorship as the core feature throughout the program.
15. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: June 18 - August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
The ASSIP at George Mason University offers an 8-week, full-time remote research experience across a wide range of STEM disciplines. You’ll select a mentor whose project is compatible with remote work and independently work on a defined research project with guidance from faculty and graduate mentors. Research areas include data science, biology, neuroscience, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, and computational fields. The program requires daily progress logs and participation in virtual workshops on scientific writing and career development. You present your findings at an online poster symposium at the conclusion of the program. Some participants contribute to conference presentations or co-author publications.
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