15 STEM Internships for Undergraduates in Utah
How do you figure out what working in STEM looks like beyond textbooks and lab classes? Internships are often the first place where that clarity happens. They allow you to apply technical knowledge to industry problems while building skills that strengthen your resume and improve your employability after graduation. For undergraduates studying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, internships can provide access to research labs, engineering teams, environmental fieldwork, and data-driven projects. These experiences help you develop professional habits, such as collaboration, technical communication, and problem-solving. Along the way, you gain mentorship, exposure to career paths, and a clearer understanding of the areas of STEM that interest you most.
Why should I do a STEM internship in college?
A STEM internship allows you to test your academic knowledge in professional environments. You might assist with experiments in a research lab, analyze large datasets, help design or test engineering systems, or participate in ecological fieldwork. These experiences help you develop technical confidence while learning how projects are managed in professional settings. Internships can significantly strengthen your future prospects by giving you practical experience that employers and graduate programs look for when evaluating candidates. They also help you build relationships with mentors who can guide your career decisions and provide recommendations. For many students, internships become the bridge between college coursework and long-term STEM careers.
To help you choose the right option for you, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 STEM internships for undergraduates in Utah.
1. University of Utah – Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; ~200 undergraduate researchers
Dates: May 18 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Matriculated, degree-seeking undergraduate student in the Fall semester; at least 18 years old by May 18
This internship places you in a faculty-led research project for the summer, where you spend your time working on a specific question. The work depends on your discipline, but students typically help with reviewing literature, collecting or analyzing data, testing methods, and refining research questions. You also take part in regular research education and professional development sessions that help you build presentation and academic skills alongside your project work. Bi-weekly meetings give you space to practice explaining your findings and getting feedback before the final stage of the program. A notable part of SPUR is that it requires multiple forms of research communication, including a poster presentation and a written summary of your experience.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Costs vary depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25% acceptance; 70–100 students per session
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November); apply here
Eligibility: Undergraduate and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program places you on a startup team where you contribute to active projects instead of completing hypothetical assignments. Depending on your placement, your work may involve product development, data analysis, operations, market research, or other project-based responsibilities that support the company’s goals. Because startups tend to work quickly, you also learn how small teams manage shifting priorities, deadlines, and decision-making. A Ladder Coach supports you throughout the program, helping you improve skills such as communication, organization, and professional problem-solving. Interns also get to present their work to company leaders near the end of the internship.
3. PRISE: Pharmaceutics Research Internship and Summer Experience
Location: University of Utah College of Pharmacy
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 4 students
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry, engineering, biology, physics, mathematics, or related disciplines in a US-based institution; minimum GPA of 3.0
PRISE introduces you to pharmaceutical research through projects related to drug delivery, gene therapy, vaccines, precision medicine, and other areas tied to therapeutic development. You will work in a research lab where you apply scientific concepts to current problems involving drugs and related molecules, while learning how experimental research is planned and carried out. The internship also helps you build technical skills through lab methods, exposure to specialized instrumentation, and guided practice with scientific literature. Weekly journal clubs add a discussion-based component to the experience, encouraging students to interpret and evaluate research beyond their own projects.
4. University of Utah School of Medicine – Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 5–10 students per cycle
Dates: 10-week summer program
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Current matriculated, degree-seeking undergraduate students from a college/university in Utah; completed at least 36 college credits
SURE allows you to work on a research project focused on rural and underserved health. You will work with a faculty mentor on a defined project while building experience in research methods, analysis, and scholarly communication. The work is designed to connect scientific inquiry with healthcare issues affecting underserved communities across the region. Regular mentor meetings help guide the project and keep students engaged with both the research process and its broader context. What sets SURE apart is its emphasis on health research tied specifically to rural and underserved populations. Students are also expected to present their findings in poster form.
5. Native American Summer Research Internship (NARI)
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: Up to $5,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 15–25 students
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; enrolled in a four-year college for the Fall, with a graduation date of December or later, OR recently graduated in May of that year; completed their sophomore year before attending the NARI program
NARI places you in a health science research setting while also building in programming focused on mentorship, scientific development, and Native representation in healthcare and STEM. You will work full-time on a research project with a faculty mentor and take part in seminar-style events that expand your understanding of current health and science topics. Weekly mentor lunches and lecture series help you engage with researchers outside your immediate project while developing confidence in discussing scientific ideas. This focused STEM internship for undergraduates in Utah also includes events such as orientation, research education sessions, and meetings with program leaders. Students prepare a poster presentation and may also apply to present at national conferences.
6. University of Utah Pediatrics – Genomics Summer Research for Magnificents (GSRM)
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: Up to $5,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 6–10 students
Dates: May 27 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; enrolled in a four-year college for the Fall, with a graduation date of December or later, OR recently graduated in May of that year; Have completed their sophomore year before attending the GSRM program
GSRM introduces you to genomics research through projects in biosciences or bioinformatics, while also examining how genetics connects to ethics, law, and society. You will work in a genomics-focused research group and build technical skills that may involve data analysis, lab-based investigation, or computational methods. The program also includes mentor lunch seminars and genomics lectures that help place your work in a larger scientific context. Students interested in clinical pathways can request shadowing, which adds another layer to the experience beyond research alone. You also present your work in poster form at the end of the program, which helps you practice communicating complex ideas clearly.
7. University of Utah Electrical & Computer Engineering – REU Site Program
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: $7,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 8–12 students
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, or Permanent Residents; Undergraduates pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree
This internship places you in an engineering research project connected to intelligent systems, with topics related to healthcare technologies, communications, infrastructure, or imaging. The program gives you exposure to machine learning, which is treated as an important tool across many of the research areas involved. You will work with faculty and research mentors while learning how engineering ideas move from concept to technical development. The program also includes activities such as faculty conversations, industry tours, and sessions on graduate school and entrepreneurship. Because students are part of a summer cohort, the experience also includes optional social and outdoor activities that make the program feel more collaborative.
8. REU Site Program in Engineering Education
Location: Utah State University, Logan
Stipend: $8,450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 8–10 students
Dates: 10-week summer program (Late May – Late July)
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old by the time the program starts; Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident; Must be an undergraduate student with good academic standing in a professional undergraduate program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
This program focuses on engineering education research, giving you the chance to study how students learn, solve problems, and respond to challenges in STEM environments. You will work with faculty and graduate mentors on research questions related to learning processes, student backgrounds, and educational experiences in engineering. The STEM internship for undergraduates in Utah includes both remote preparatory work and an in-person phase – so you engage with the project across more than one mode of collaboration. Students also contribute to team-based deliverables, which helps build research management and coordination skills alongside the academic work itself. That makes it especially relevant if you are interested in teaching, academic leadership, or learning sciences.
9. BYU Department of Physics & Astronomy – REU Program
Location: Brigham Young University, Provo
Stipend: $7,000 + $1,500 for housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 10–15 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Currently enrolled as undergraduates at an accredited U.S. college or university; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must have at least one semester to complete after the REU/FRI program is over
This REU allows you to work on a faculty-led research project in an area such as optics, computer modeling, solid-state materials, acoustics, quantum information, astronomy, or physics education research. The program spans several subfields, so it gives students room to match their coursework and interests with a project that fits their background. You will join a summer research cohort while gaining experience in how physics research is carried out beyond the classroom. Daily work will vary by project but can include simulation, experimentation, data analysis, or theoretical investigation. The research setting also helps you understand how scientific problems are framed and pursued over time.
10. BYU – Robotics Pioneers: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Location: Brigham Young University, Provo
Stipend: $7,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically 10–12 students
Dates: May 11 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate at an accredited U.S. college or university and must have at least one semester to complete after the REU program is over; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; minimum 2.5 GPA; no criminal history
Robotics Pioneers places you on a research project focused on robotics applications in challenging environments. Projects may involve autonomous underwater robots, aerial drones, or soft robotics systems developed for complex technical settings. You will work with mentors on research problems and build experience in testing, iteration, and applied engineering problem-solving. Projects are mission-oriented, and the work often emphasizes how robotics systems perform outside controlled or simplified conditions. The program also encourages students to communicate their work and may support selected participants in presenting research at conferences later on.
11. Westminster University – Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Location: Westminster University, Salt Lake City
Stipend: $2,000–$3,000 (Determined by the mentoring model and weekly hour commitment)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 3 – July 29
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Westminster undergraduates enrolled for Fall
This internship allows you to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor on a research project with clearly defined methods, objectives, and outcomes. You will engage with the literature in your field, apply research methods appropriate to the project, and practice both written and oral methods of presenting your results. The structure allows for different participation models, which gives some flexibility in how students approach their summer work. Regular interdisciplinary meetings bring students together across projects and disciplines, adding a collaborative element to what is otherwise a mentor-focused experience. Students present their work as a poster at the end of the summer and are encouraged to continue sharing it in later campus showcases or conferences.
12. Utah Lake Authority – Conservation Internship
Location: Provo
Stipend: $18–$20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 1 intern
Dates: May 1 – September 1 (flexible)
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, ecology, or a related degree; proficiency with ArcGIS, knowledge of Utah ecosystems, and the physical ability to hike long distances and lift up to 50 lbs
This internship places you alongside a conservation biologist working on restoration and management efforts tied directly to Utah Lake. The experience is field-based, so students learn through hands-on environmental work rather than through office-heavy assignments alone. Tasks may involve restoration support, habitat-related activities, and exposure to data collection methods connected to wildlife, water quality, or ecosystem monitoring. The internship also introduces students to natural resource professionals and the broader practical realities of conservation work in the region. A particularly useful part of the role is the day-to-day shadowing component, which helps students see how scientific knowledge is applied in active ecosystem management.
13. Undergraduate Research Experience in Alpine Meteorology (REALM) REU
Location: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Stipend: $6,000 + $1,000 travel allowance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 10–12 students per year
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or Permanent Residents; Current undergraduate (enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year degree program); have at least one semester remaining; minimum 2.75 GPA
In the REALM REU program at the University of Utah, you use the nearby Wasatch Mountains as a natural laboratory to study pressing atmospheric challenges. You will investigate topics like mountain orographic precipitation, fire weather dynamics, and regional air quality. During the program, you will conduct full-time hands-on research, visit local meteorological employers, and design a final scientific poster. What makes this program unique is its layered mentorship structure, pairing you with faculty, coding experts, and peer mentors to support your specific project. By the end of the summer, you will build concrete skills in scientific programming, field data collection, and technical science communication.
14. University of Utah Department of Chemistry – Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: $7,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 10 students per summer
Dates: May 26 – August 1
Application Deadline: University of Utah students: March 6; All other students: February 19
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents, currently enrolled as full-time undergraduates (who will not have graduated before the program ends), and generally have a minimum GPA of 3.0
This chemistry REU places you in a faculty research group working on current problems in areas such as health, energy, environment, or education. You will take part in full-time research and build experience with the methods, tools, and analytical thinking used in chemistry projects. The program also focuses on data analysis and modeling, which gives students skills that are useful across many types of scientific work. Seminars and shared activities with other REU participants help connect your specific project to a broader summer research community. Students also take part in a culminating symposium and may receive support to present their work at a conference.
15. BYU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry – Talmage Research Internship (TRI)
Location: Brigham Young University, Provo
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 15–20 students
Dates: May 26 – July 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Non-BYU Provo student in chemistry, biochemistry, or related major; completing second or third year with anticipation of graduation within 12-24 months; Non-U.S. citizens may apply
TRI places you in a chemistry or biochemistry lab where you spend the summer working on a research project in a specific subfield such as organic, analytical, physical, inorganic, theoretical chemistry, or biochemistry. The program also introduces students to advanced equipment and specialized research tools, which can make the technical experience more substantial than in smaller lab internships. In addition to research work, interns participate in workshops focused on communication, teamwork, and scientific presentations. This combination helps students build not only lab skills, but also the ability to explain and collaborate around technical work. The research areas also extend into themes such as materials, catalysis, energy, and cancer, making the internship relevant across several scientific interests.
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