Why do these undergraduate research programs exist?
The purpose of these programs is to expose ambitious, talented college students to graduate-level medical or doctoral research, usually over the course of 6-12 weeks over the summer. These programs generally provide generous stipends, as well as free housing and compensation for travel expenses. Students work closely with faculty members on research, usually resulting in a large, final project that’s presented at the end of the summer term.
Below are some of the top undergraduate premed/predoc research programs in the U.S. But first, a few notes:
- Each program awards students a stipend (detailed in the chart), as well as free housing. Some also cover travel costs and provide other subsidies, which are specified below.
- Each program requires applicants to submit an online application. See the specific applications for details as the number of essays/personal statementsdiffer per program (generally ranging from one to three essays).
- While none of these programs requires students to have a minority or disadvantaged background, nearly all of the programs explain that this background is sought and a plus in the admissions process.
1. Albert Einstein College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Research Fellowship (SURF)
PROGRAM
14. University of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program
Program
Get all the info in one convenient chart!Who it's for: • current juniors (and exceptional sophmores)
• U.S. citizens or permanent resident
2. Boston University School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate• U.S. citizens or permanent resident
Research Fellowship (SURF)
Who it's for: • Undergraduate students who are conducting research in the following areas: biology,
molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics
and environmental sciences
• Preference will be given to rising juniors
and seniors, particularly those who are (1)
members of minorities traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, (2) individuals with disabilities, or (3) from institutions
with limited research opportunities.
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
3. Harvard Medical School Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Programmolecular biology, biochemistry, genetics
and environmental sciences
• Preference will be given to rising juniors
and seniors, particularly those who are (1)
members of minorities traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, (2) individuals with disabilities, or (3) from institutions
with limited research opportunities.
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Who it's for: • Undergraduates who will not have completed their BA/BS degree by June 2019.
This program is primarily for college students belonging to groups that are under-represented in the sciences.
• Students with at least one summer (or equivalent term-time) of experience in a research laboratory
• Students who have taken at least one upper-level biology course that includes molecular biology
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
4. Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research FellowshipThis program is primarily for college students belonging to groups that are under-represented in the sciences.
• Students with at least one summer (or equivalent term-time) of experience in a research laboratory
• Students who have taken at least one upper-level biology course that includes molecular biology
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Who it's for: • Current sophomores and juniors
• International students are welcome if they are currently attending a U.S. college or university.
5. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program• International students are welcome if they are currently attending a U.S. college or university.
Who it's for: • Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors (domestic or international)
6. Mount Sinai School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Who it's for: • Current sophomores and juniors enrolled
in a U.S. institution
7. New York University School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Programin a U.S. institution
Who it's for: • Current sophomores and juniors
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
8. Northwestern University Summer Research Opportunity Program• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Who it's for: • Current sophmores or juniors
• Students who identify as under-represented
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Students interested in pursuing a PhD at
Northwestern University (Those interested
in pursuing an MBA, JD, or MD are not
eligible.)
9. Stanford University School of Medicine SSRP-AMGEN SCHOLARS• Students who identify as under-represented
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Students interested in pursuing a PhD at
Northwestern University (Those interested
in pursuing an MBA, JD, or MD are not
eligible.)
PROGRAM
Who it's for: • Current sophomores, juniors, and
non-graduating seniors enrolled in accredited 4-year colleges or universities in the
U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories
who may wish to pursue a PhD
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
10. UMass Medical School Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunitynon-graduating seniors enrolled in accredited 4-year colleges or universities in the
U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories
who may wish to pursue a PhD
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Who it's for: • Undergraduates who are at least 18
years old (College seniors who will have
graduated by the start of the program are
ineligible.)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
11. University of California, Los Angeles Summer Program for Undergraduate Research - Life and Biomedical Sciences (SPUR-LABS)years old (College seniors who will have
graduated by the start of the program are
ineligible.)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Who it's for: • Students who intend to pursue a PhD or
MD/PhD in a bioscience field
• U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents
• Non-UCLA students
12. University of California, San Francisco Summer Research ProgramMD/PhD in a bioscience field
• U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents
• Non-UCLA students
Who it's for: • Current undergraduate students who
have completed at least 4 semesters or
6 quarters of undergraduate study (Students who will have earned their bachelor's degree by the start of the program are
ineligible.)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Students who intend to pursue a PhD in
one of the disciplines offered by the UCSF
Graduate Division in life/health sciences
13. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Experience in Researchhave completed at least 4 semesters or
6 quarters of undergraduate study (Students who will have earned their bachelor's degree by the start of the program are
ineligible.)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Students who intend to pursue a PhD in
one of the disciplines offered by the UCSF
Graduate Division in life/health sciences
Who it's for: • Current juniors and seniors
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Must have health insurance
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Must have health insurance
14. University of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program
Who it's for: • Current sophomores and juniors (NOT
at U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor)
• U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or
non-U.S. citizens with DACA
• Students interested in pursuing a
graduate degree in one of the Rackham
graduate programs. Students should have
an interest in academic research and/or
teaching as a career.
• Must have health insurance
• Applicants must also meet one of
the following criteria: (1) Come from a
background that is underrepresented in
graduate study in their discipline in the
U.S. (2) Have demonstrated efforts to
reduce disparities or improve race relations
(3) Come from families that have experienced economic hardship or (4) Are first
generation U.S. citizens or the first in their
families to graduate from college.
15. University of Pennsylvania Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP)at U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor)
• U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or
non-U.S. citizens with DACA
• Students interested in pursuing a
graduate degree in one of the Rackham
graduate programs. Students should have
an interest in academic research and/or
teaching as a career.
• Must have health insurance
• Applicants must also meet one of
the following criteria: (1) Come from a
background that is underrepresented in
graduate study in their discipline in the
U.S. (2) Have demonstrated efforts to
reduce disparities or improve race relations
(3) Come from families that have experienced economic hardship or (4) Are first
generation U.S. citizens or the first in their
families to graduate from college.
Who it's for: • Current undergrads, mainly sophomores
and juniors (Students completing their
freshman year are occasionally admitted.)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Preference given to minorities and disadvantaged students, as well as those with
disabilities and those from small colleges
16. University of Virginia School of Medicine Summer Research Internshipand juniors (Students completing their
freshman year are occasionally admitted.)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Preference given to minorities and disadvantaged students, as well as those with
disabilities and those from small colleges
Program
Who it's for: • Current college undergraduate students
or recent college graduates enrolled in
postbac or masters programs with the aim
of transitioning to a PhD
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• The program targets (but is not limited to) racially and ethnically diverse students
17. Weill Cornell/ Rockefeller/ Sloan-Kettering Gateways to The Laboratory Summer Programor recent college graduates enrolled in
postbac or masters programs with the aim
of transitioning to a PhD
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• The program targets (but is not limited to) racially and ethnically diverse students
Who it's for: • Current freshmen or sophomores
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Students wishing to pursue an MD/PhD
• Students who are (1) from racial or ethnic backgrounds that are under-represented in biomedical research, (2) from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals with disabilities
• Alumni of this program may apply for a second summer in the program
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Students wishing to pursue an MD/PhD
• Students who are (1) from racial or ethnic backgrounds that are under-represented in biomedical research, (2) from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals with disabilities
• Alumni of this program may apply for a second summer in the program
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Related Resources:
• Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps to Acceptance, a free guide
• How to Write About Your Research Interests
• 5 Tips For Aspiring Premed Researchers
This article was originally posted on blog.accepted.com.
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