Undergraduate / Research OpportunitiesSummer Research Programs
All of the summer research programs on this page are well established and typically include a stipend.
Application due dates are early (from November to February) and enrollment is fairly competitive. Be sure to start your applications early.
Although some program names may imply a required specialization, many programs are interdisciplinary and accept students from a wide range of backgrounds.
Program details change frequently so be sure to double check each program's website for more information.
For more information and general advice, consider participating in our Peer Advising in Research program, where you can talk to experienced undergraduate researchers in various fields.
Jump to a Section
- Northwestern Summer Research Programs
- Non-Northwestern Summer Research Programs
- Study Abroad Summer Research Programs
Northwestern Summer Research Programs
These programs are open to any eligible college undergraduate. Some Northwestern students have enrolled in these programs, but most Northwestern students doing summer research at NU go through a more informal process of approaching individual professors.
Paid Research Opportunities at NU Physical Sciences-Oncology Center
The NU Physical Sciences-Oncology Center is funded by the National Cancer Institute and uses physical sciences-based approaches to understand the molecular changes leading to cancer. The 8-week program includes hands-on laboratory research, weekly seminars in tumor biology, and two two-day workshops.
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
Applicants work under a Center faculty on an available project that best matches the student’s research interests. Research topics include polymers and polymer nanocomposites, multifunctional metal oxides, nanowires and molecular electronics, biologically relevant materials, art conservation, device fabrication, and computational modeling. This is an REU program.
Summer Research Opportunity (SROP)
The Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) is an eight-week competitive research experience hosted by Northwestern University for sophomores and juniors from colleges and universities across the United States. All research fields at Northwestern are open to SROP participants including the social sciences, humanities, physical sciences, chemical and biological sciences, technology, math, and engineering fields.
McCormick Summer Research Awards
McCormick recognizes and encourages excellence in undergraduate research by holding a competition for awards of up to $5,000 each for qualifying undergraduate summer research.
Non-Northwestern Summer Research Programs
The details and application requirements for summer research programs change frequently. Please contact the McCormick Office of Undergraduate Engineering to learn about current opportunities for summer research outside of Northwestern.
You can also take advantage of McCormick's Peer Advising in Research program to get more information about recent student experiences doing summer research.
Study Abroad Summer Research Programs
DAAD (Germany) - Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
RISE is a summer internship program for undergraduate students from the United States, Canada, and the UK, in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences and engineering to do research in top universities/institutions across Germany. DAAD provides various kinds of scholarships to intern and do research in Germany. Most of the scholarships are for summer period, but some allow three-month or year-long internships. Check eligibility requirements carefully.
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.