Summer Research Programs
Northwestern Summer Research Programs
Non-Northwestern Summer Research Programs
Study Abroad Summer Research Programs
The summer research programs listed below are divided into Northwestern Programs, Non-Northwestern Programs, and Study Abroad Programs. All of the listed programs are well-established and typically include a stipend. Application due dates are early (from November to February) and enrollment is fairly competitive so be sure to start your applications early!
(Note: Although some program names may seem to imply a required specialization, many programs are interdisciplinary and accept students from a wide range of backgrounds. For example, ChBE students are encouraged to apply to the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), MSE majors interested in biomedical research can always try applying to NIH, and EECS majors are encouraged to apply to Summer Internships in Neural Engineering (SINE). For further information and general advice on research, all undergraduates are welcome to participate in our Peer Advising in Research program, where you can talk to experienced undergraduate researchers in various fields.)
Northwestern Summer Research Programs
Programs below are open to any eligible college undergraduate. Some NU students have enrolled in these programs, but most NU students doing summer research at NU go through a more informal process of approaching individual professors. Please read How to Get Started in Research to learn more.
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: US Citizens
Duration: June 22 to Aug 21 (9 weeks)
Stipend: $4000 with on-campus housing and travel expenses
Application Requirements: Personal statement, two letters of recommendation,
official transcript
Project Description: Applicants work under a Center faculty on an available
project that best matches the student’s research interests. Faculty
members come from eight different Northwestern departments. Research
topics include polymers and polymer nanocomposites, multifunctional metal
oxides, nanowires and molecular electronics, biologically relevant materials,
art conservation, device fabrication, and computational modeling.
Other Notes: REU program
Nanoscale
Science and Engineering Center (NSEC)
Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: US citizen or resident
Duration: June 22 to Aug 21 (9 weeks)
Stipend: $4,500 with on-campus housing and travel expenses
Project Description: Nanotechnology-related topic under the leadership of Professor
Mark Hersam.
Other Notes: A REU program
Summer
Internships in Neural Engineering (SINE)
Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: N/A
Duration: June 21 to Aug 22 (9 weeks)
Stipend: $4000 with a $500 housing and travel allowance
Project Description: Focus in neural engineering research in several labs, including
those in the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), the biomedical engineering
department in McCormick, and the physiology department in Feinberg.
Summer Research Opportunity (SROP)
Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident, at least sophomore enrollment,
minimum 3.3 GPA
Duration: June 22 to Aug 13
Stipend: $4,000 with housing and travel expensive, possible $500 in research
supplies and $450 campus meal subsidy
Project Description: The mission of SROP has been to increase diversity
among students pursuing graduate education and to provide a valuable academic
research experience for many students who might not otherwise have access
to such opportunities. Each student selected to participate in the program
will work with a faculty member in the student's area of interest.
Other Notes: Early Admission Decision Program exists, course credit available.
Continuing
Umbrella for Research Experience (CURE)
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: See Qualifications in website
Duration: June 22 - August 13
Stipend: $3,200 plus travel and housing provided
Project Description: CURE gives underserved college students the opportunity
to work alongside top cancer researchers at the Lurie Comprehensive Research
Center in downtown Chicago.
Non-Northwestern Summer Research Programs
For those interested in studying abroad, please visit Study Abroad Summer Research Programs
Research
Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Deadline: Generally in December/January
Eligibility: If the program is funded by NSF, you must be a U.S. citizen
or permanent resident
Stipend: Around $4,000
Description: REU programs are funded by the NSF and hosted by individual
universities. These programs are generally well-established and fairly prestigious.
Research projects cover a very broad range of fields in engineering and
science. To apply to REU programs, you will have to visit the individual
program’s website and follow the application procedures there. Many
Northwestern undergraduates have attended summer REU programs in the past.
Summer
Undergraduate Medical Research Programs
This is a comprehensive list of summer research programs focusing in
medical research compiled by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Science
Laboratory Undergraduate Internships (SULI)
Deadline: Applicants will be chosen starting February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Duration: 10 weeks (May through August)
Stipend: $400/week with some housing and travel expenses
Work in one of several National Laboratories, including Argonne, Brookhaven,
and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. Research projects cover a broad
range of fields in engineering and science, including Health Sciences, Nuclear
Forensics, and Science Writing. The application contains information on
currently participating laboratories and research areas available at those
sites.
Other notes: graduating seniors are allowed to apply, although an additional
application is required
National Institutes
of Health Summer Internship Program (NIH SIP)
Deadline: Application open mid-November through May 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Duration: Minimum 8 weeks
Stipend: $2,000 to $2,200
Project Description: Work side-by-side with some of the leading scientists
in the world in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.
Other notes: The general program is called the Summer Internship Program
in Biomedical Research. However, look under “Other Programs” and
you’ll find one specifically for bioengineering undergraduates and
several others for underrepresented groups.
Summer
Research Opportunity Program (SROP)
Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: US citizen or resident, at least sophomore enrollment, minimum
3.0 GPA
Duration: 10 weeks
Stipend: At least $2,500 with $1,100 toward room and board and travel
Project Description: The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
is a gateway to graduate education at CIC institutions (the "Big Ten" universities
plus The University of Chicago). The goal of the program is to increase
the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research
careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through
intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities
Genentech
Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Students who are pursuing BSc; MSc; MBA; PhD; JD
Duration: 10-12 weeks
Project Description: Genentech University Recruiting provides research-based
intern program and co-ops for undergraduate students.
NASA Internships
in the Undergraduate Student Research Project
Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: US citizen
Duration: 10 weeks
Stipend: $6,000 plus one round-trip or ground transportation allowance
to and from the NASA Host Center
Project Description: NASA-USRP provides students with hands-on, real-life,
career-related internships that challenge, inspire, and provide practical
application to complement students’ academic education.
Amgen Scholars Program
in Science and Biotechnology
Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident
Duration: 8-10 weeks
Stipend: $4,000-$6,000 with room and board and transportation allowance
Project Description: The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of
selected undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on
research experience at some of the nation’s leading educational institutions.
Amgen Scholars have the opportunity to take part in important university
research projects, interact with and receive guidance from faculty mentors,
and attend scientific seminars, workshops and other networking activities.
The program includes a mid-summer, three-day symposium where students will
hear firsthand from leading scientists working in industry and academia.
Computational & Systems
Biology Summer Institute at Iowa State
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident
Duration: 8 weeks
Stipend: $4,000
Project Description: A key aspect of the training program is its emphasis
on integrating state-of-the-art bioinformatics approaches with the analysis
of massive biological data sets from broad areas such as genome sequencing,
microarray experiments, proteomics, protein-protein interactions, and other
high-throughput methods.
The National Cancer Institute’s - Integrative Cancer Biology Program
(NCI-ICBP)
Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: US Citizen or resident, sophomore or Junior enrollment,
minimum 3.0 GPA
Duration: June 8 to August 7
Stipend: $3,300 with travel and living expenses
Project Description: Researchers within each ICBP Center utilize the
integration of experimental biology with mathematical and computational
modeling to gain new insights into the biology and management of cancer.
Study Abroad Summer Research Programs
DAAD (Germany) - Research
Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
Deadline: Dec 8 to Jan 31
Eligibility: at least sophomore enrollment
Duration: May to Aug (6 weeks to 3 months)
Stipend: Euro 650/month
Project Description: RISE is a summer internship program for undergraduate
students from the United States, Canada and the UK in fields of biology,
chemistry, physics, earth sciences and engineering to do research in top
universities/institutions across Germany. In the application, you’ll
choose research projects submitted by German PhD students.
Other notes: DAAD provides various kinds of scholarships to intern and
do research in Germany. Most of the scholarships are for summer period,
but some allow 3-month or year-long internships. You may want to check eligibility
requirements, especially if knowledge of German is required or not.
The
ThinkSwiss Research Scholarships
A scholarship offered through a program facilitated by the Swiss Embassy.
Undergraduates and graduate applicants across the US compete for 15 research
scholarships, to help support their research at a Swiss university. Applicants
need to be accepted to a laboratory/research center in Switzerland prior
to their application.
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