Summer Opportunities

All Fields

*Notes location at or affiliation with NMSU

*Honors Funding for International Research in Summer 2026

Rising sophomores and juniors! Are you interested in doing research abroad next summer? Need some funding support to get you there? Contact Dr. Lori Keleher about the Honors College International Scholarship at lkeleher@nmsu.edu.

*1st Year Experience Summer Program In Kenya

This FLIP program provides an immersive introduction to Kenya.  Participants will gain an understanding of the interconnected systems of business, healthcare, education, and sustainable agriculture, their collective impact on Kenya's communities and development, and the profound influence of culture. Eligible students will have sophomore standing in summer 2024 and enroll in UNIV 450 (Summer 2024). Led by Dr. Patrick Turner, Associate Vice President for Student Academic Success.

Big Ten Academic Alliance 

Columbia University Summer Research Program 

HACU Summer Internships 

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) invites applicants for summer internships through the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP). HACU Interns receive valuable work experience through paid internships at a wide range of federal agencies and private corporations nationwide. Check out current opportunities on the website.

Leadership Alliance

Some opportunities are STEM only

MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)

Northwestern Univ. Summer Research Opportunity Program

Purdue Univ. Summer Research Opportunities Program

Rutgers English Diversity Institute (REDI)

English literary studies.

Stanford Humanities and Sciences Summer Research Program

*NSF-REU on Immigration Policy and US-Mexico Border Communities

The NSF-REU Collaborative Site Program on Immigration Policy and US-Mexico Border Communities is designed to provide undergraduate students with training in research methods and opportunities to conduct collaborative projects with community partners on the nature and impacts of US immigration policy in the Paso del Norte borderlands region of Las Cruces-El Paso-Ciudad Juárez. Over 30 undergraduate students from NMSU, UTEP and around the United States have participated in 10-week summer programs. For more information, see https://borderreu.nmsu.edu/ . Contact: Dr. Neil Harvey, NMSU Department of Government (nharvey@nmsu.edu).

NAU Honors Native American Summer Research Program

The Honors College at Northern Arizona University hosts an Honors Native American Summer Research Program. Participants take part in guided summer research while living on campus. The Program covers the costs of attendance during the five-week summer session. This is designed to be a small cohort program, and peer mentoring is an important component to building community. A peer mentor assigned to the cohort will reside in the Honors Residence Hall for the duration of the Program, and participants will be expected to work regularly with that mentor.

Univ. of California-Irvine Summer Undergrad Research Fellowship

Univ. of Chicago Summer Undergraduate Fellowship

Univ. of Chicago Summer Research Early Identification Program

Univ. of Kentucky Summer Undergrad Research Fellowships

Univ. of Maryland-College Park Summer Research Opps Program

Univ. of Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars Program

Univ. of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program

Univ. of North Carolina Chapel Hill: Moore Undergraduate Research

Apprentice Program (MURAP)

Yale Univ. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Arts & Humanities

ASME Magazine Internship

The American Society of Magazine Editors sponsors the 10-week Magazine Internship Program for college students at magazines in New York and Washington.  ASME interns meet regularly with top editors either in person or virtually, as they report, edit, fact-check and copy-edit for print and online publications.  New York and D.C. internships are generally in-office.  A limited number of virtual internships at magazines and websites outside New York and Washington will also be available.

Johns Hopkins Humanities Collaboratory for Community College Students

Johns Hopkins University hosts a fully-funded summer research program for community college students working in humanities disciplines. Students can work in ANY area of the humanities and many past students have been general studies students. This program provides students with a team of mentors and a student-centered experience focused on research modeling and collaboration. Students’ projects are completely individual and customized to their interests; they do not need to have a topic prior to entering the program, as they will spend the first two weeks developing their topics. Applications are online and are open to any current community college students with an interest in research in the humanities.

NBCU Academy

"NBCU Academy is an innovative, multiplatform journalism training and development program. Along with scholarships and equipment, the program includes journalists, executives and managers from NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC and Telemundo as guest lecturers and mentors. The new 2022 cohort includes accredited engineering programs for the first time and expands the NBCU Academy’s reach to 30 campuses and beyond journalism to involve business, engineering, technology and sports programs. To learn more about the NBCU Academy and the academic partners visit https://www.nbcuacademy.com/academic-partners." To apply, contact the NMSU Dept. of Journalism and Media Studies.

NCURAH National Database of Arts and Humanities Opportunities

The Arts and Humanities division of the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) hosts resources for undergraduate researchers and artists, including this spreadsheet of summer internships and other opportunities around the United States.  

Education & Social Sciences

NSF-REU on Immigration Policy and US-Mexico Border Communities

The NSF-REU Collaborative Site Program on Immigration Policy and US-Mexico Border Communities is designed to provide undergraduate students with training in research methods and opportunities to conduct collaborative projects with community partners on the nature and impacts of US immigration policy in the Paso del Norte borderlands region of Las Cruces-El Paso-Ciudad Juárez. 30 undergraduate students from NMSU, UTEP and around the United States have participated in 10-week summer programs. For more information, see https://borderreu.nmsu.edu/ . Contact: Dr. Neil Harvey, NMSU Department of Government (nharvey@nmsu.edu).

Smithsonian Virtual Education Internship

Are you interested in how museums are sites for education and research? Claudine K. Brown Internships in Education are paid, online, 8-week experiences intended to increase participation of students who are underrepresented in the education and museum leadership field. Interns help create, develop, and disseminate innovative educational programs and resources at the Smithsonian, online, in the classroom and in communities.  2023 interns will work with mentors in the Office of the Under Secretary for Education (OUSE).  

UW Summer Education Research Program (SERP)

The UW Summer Education Research Program is sponsored by the School of Education and the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Graduate School. The program provides traditionally underrepresented undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate studies in academic fields within the School of Education the opportunity to engage in independent research. Research is guided by a faculty/research associate mentor in or affiliated with the School of Education.  The program offers a competitive stipend for participants as well as other amenities, including travel expenses to Madison and housing.

STEM & Medicine Databases

EDUMED STEM and Healthcare Summer Research Opportunities Guide 

EDUMED collects listings for STEM and healthcare research and internship programs for undergraduate students. These programs are designed specifically to help you gain hands-on experience and build your network with leading experts in your field.

Pathways to Science Database of National Opportunities in STEM

The national non-profit Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP) hosts a huge database of internships, scholarships, and summer research programs that is searchable by field, location, and more. See https://www.pathwaystoscience.org/undergrads.aspx .

National Science Foundation: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Many summer and some term-time research opportunities are funded by the NSF at sites around the country and some international locations.  In an REU, about 10 undergraduates work closely with faculty and other reseachers on ongoing research projects.  Each student focuses on a specific research project.  Students receive stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel.  Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. To find an opportunity, go to Search for an REU Site. You may search by keyword for particular research topics or locations.  Click on the links for the individual REU sites for information and application materials. NSF does not have application materials and does not select student participants. A contact person and contact information is listed for each site. Several important summer REUs are are coordinated by NMSU faculty!  

*NSF-REU on Immigration Policy and US-Mexico Border Communities

*NSF-REU BIG Data Analytics for Cyber-physical Systems

*NSF-REU Jornada Basin LTER

STEM & Medicine Opportunities

American Heart Association Summer Research at Boston University

The AHA’s Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) program at BU Medical School includes 10 weeks of mentored research, a $6000 stipend, summer housing, and the opportunity to travel to an AHA scientific meeting. Fulltime rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors pursuing
any degree can apply, if they have an interest in a healthcare-related field.  More on eligibility can be found on the website.  Have questions? Please contact Teresa Acosta (tacosta@bu.edu) or Emelia
Benjamin (emilia@bu.edu). Apply here.

*Avian Migration Research Program 

Paid undergraduate research and agency internships, including summer opportunities, are available in this USDA & NIFA-funded program studying bird migrations, which can help us understand the impacts of climate change and human actions on wildlife.  The Avian Migration Program focuses on preparing students for careers in applied conservation.  The program connects with a team of research mentors, summer internships with federal and state agencies, core courses that include a field component in Costa Rica, professional development and more. For more information, contact Dr. Tim Wright at wright@nmsu.edu.

CDC Injury Prevention Center Research

The CDC-funded multidisciplinary University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center offers paid summer research internships for graduate, medical school, and upper-level undergraduate students interested in injury prevention research or practice experiences. Each selected applicant will be provided a stipend. Depending on current working environment and preceptor needs, internships may be in-person or hybrid. 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Research Internships

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the Fred Hutch in Seattle is an intensive, 9-week internship designed to provide research experience and mentorship.  The program runs June 17-Aug. 16, 2024. Students must be able to commit to this entire period. For more information, contact Oscar Velasquez of PACR, (915)433-1950 or ovelasq@nmsu.edu.

*Life Science Research in Spain

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the... fungi?  NMSU life science students not graduating before Dec. 2024 are sought for an 8-week research experience in Spain funded by the National Science Foundation. Topics include evolutionary biology, physiology, ecology, and microbiology largely related to the plants, lichens, and fungi living on gypsum soils throughout Spain.  Includes $4800 stipend plus all travel and housing costs.  More info at https://www.jcu.edu/ires .

Los Alamos National Lab Undergraduate Internships

The Undergraduate Student Internship Program (UGS) at Los Alamos National Lab is a year-round internship program that provides domestic and international students with relevant research experience while they are pursuing an undergraduate degree. This internship program is designed to complement the students' education with work experience related to their chosen field of study. There are appointments in both the technical and professional fields.  For details, see https://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/student-internships/undergraduate/index.php . 

MIT Summer Research Programs (MSRP)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Research Program - General (MSRP) seeks to promote the value of graduate education, to improve the research enterprise through increased diversity, and to prepare and recruit the best and brightest for graduate education at MIT. To this end, MIT offers summer programs for undergraduate students to spend a summer on MIT’s campus, working on research under the guidance of experienced MIT faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students.  Students specifically interested in gaining research experience in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemical Biology or Neuroscience, including Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience should apply directly to MSRP Bio/BCS.  Those interested in any other department should apply to MSRP General.  Applications open in November and close at dates in January.  Please visit http://mit.edu/msrp for eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and more information. To apply, go to the application website.

Monarchs and Milkweeds Research in Illinois

CIM²AS (Cultural Immersion in Monarchs & Milkweeds Advancing Science Education) is an NSF-funded program at the University of Illinois, Chicago that aims to increase the success of Latinx students in biology majors (preferably ecology & evolution).  The CIM²AS summer research experience investigates reasons for the decline of monarch butterflies in the Chicago region; interns will also explore connections between cultural assets and science through activities with the Latino Cultural Center. Includes $5000 stipend and housing.  The 2024 internship program runs for 8 weeks, from June 10 to August 3.

NSF-REU Advanced Manufacturing for a Sustainable Energy Future

This paid summer program is hosted at Boise State University by the Center for Advanced Energy Studies of Idaho National Laboratory (INL).  Students will work on projects related to advanced manufacturing in collaboration with university faculty and scientists from INL.  Research projects will leverage new capabilities in the CAES facility, including a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope and a suite of instruments for advanced manufacturing of sensors and instrumentation for extreme environments. Women, first-generation college students, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and students historically underserved in STEM are highly encouraged to apply.  For the complete list of projects and application, see the website.

*NSF-REU BIG Data Analytics for Cyber-physical Systems

The goal of this REU site initiative (BIGDatA- BIG Data Analytics for Cyber-physical Systems) is to inspire and prepare undergraduate students to pursue academic studies and careers in STEM with a focus on big data analytics for cyber-physical systems (CPS).

The site’s research projects will focus on equipping students with skills and knowledge related to big data analytics in CPS. The CPS will be exemplified by four main application areas: smart grids, wireless sensor networks, smart homes for the elderly and disabled, and disaster response. For more information, see the website at https://www.cs.nmsu.edu/reu/ . Contact: Dr. Huiping Cao, Department of Computer Science (hcao@cs.nmsu.edu) or Dr. Tuan Le, Department of Computer Science (tuanle@nmsu.edu).

NSF-REU Cellular and Biomolecular Machines Summer Internship

9-week, NSF-funded undergraduate research fellowship at the University of California, Merced.  The program offers research experience in biophysics, biochemistry & bioengineering, research & academic guidance and mentoring from CCBM faculty & graduate students, special CCBM sessions, lectures, and meetings, and trainings and workshops with the UC Merced Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) cohort.  To apply, go to the CCBM website.

NSF-REU Integrative Microbial and Plant Systems

Located at NC State, the Integrative Microbial and Plant Systems Undergraduate Research Experience focuses on basic and applied questions about plant-microbe interactions in the face of climate change and global food security hardships. NC State plant and microbial biologists work in the areas of sustainable foods, fuels and computer modeling for studying fundamental biological mechanisms. Four major research themes across these faculty are stress resilience, nutrient acquisition in plant and microbial systems, signaling in plant-microbe systems, and plant-microbiome modeling. During a 10-week summer program, students actively engage in a research project under the mentorship of a participating faculty member. Participants receive housing on campus, travel expenses when applicable, a food allowance and a stipend. 

*NSF-REU Jornada Basin LTER

Jornada Basin LTER was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the causes and consequences of desertification through long-term research. The Jornada Basin LTER has funding to support a modest number of undergraduate research (JRN-REU) fellowships each summer. Students will work with mentors associated with JRN-LTER or NMSU on research related to Jornada LTER research themes.  

NSF-REU Materials Science & Engineering

Emphasizing creative thinking and creative expression, this REU Site at the University of Missouri is designed to address the urgent need for innovation in materials research in the U.S. by filling a critical gap in workforce development in materials design and manufacture and addressing a national need for researchers who can solve complex, interconnected problems by training researchers to think creatively. Students in this program learn cutting-edge materials research approaches that include atomistic simulation, coarse-grain modeling, and a suite of materials design / fabrication / characterization techniques. This research will not only advance the science in each unique area, but will provide students with unique, measurable skills in computational modeling, materials science design, processing, characterization, and creative thinking. Summer interns are provided with housing, travel expenses, and a stipend.  Application online.  

*NSF-REU Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Field Station

The UNM Sevilleta Field Station hosts a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) for students in both Biology-Ecology (10) and Art (2). program trains undergraduate students who will conduct independent research under the guidance of faculty, staff researchers, and advanced graduate students in Biology, Ecology, Civil Engineering, and Earth and Planetary Sciences from University of New Mexico, New Mexico Tech, and New Mexico State Universities, along with scientists from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The summer program also includes training in computer programming and statistical analysis in R, and other workshops, seminars, and field trips.  Students will conduct independent research in and around the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and present their projects at the annual August symposium.

NSF-REU Virtual Reality / Immersive 3D Visualization

Participants in this paid summer REU program at the City University of New York (CUNY) will receive training in virtual reality, immersive 3D visualization tools and technologies. Each student will be assigned to a team consisting of a research mentor and a REU student, to complete a hands-on project in creative VR/AR/MR and 3D Visualization. The mentoring team includes members not just from computer science but also from diverse backgrounds including film and media, journalism and biological sciences. Some of the planned research projects include: VR for aiding students with learning disabilities, MicroRNA (Ribonucleic Acid) as a regulator for cell lineage plasticity, immersive remote telepresence, indoor robot navigation along with 3D object identification, sonifying the microbiome, and VR for improving inter-personal skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students. This experience will include excursions and social events. Students interested in the possibility of PhD, women, and others from underrepresented backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.  Past projects at https://wolex.com/reu/reu-projects/.  To apply, go to https://wolex.com/reu/

Sandia National Labs Undergraduate Student Internships

Undergraduate Internships, co-ops, summer research programs and other opportunities are also available year-round at Sandia National Lab locations in Albuquerque and Livermore, California. Sandia National Labs conduct a myriad of research projects in science and technology that are relevant to national security.  Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens.  For details, see https://www.sandia.gov/careers/career-possibilities/students-and-postdocs/internships-co-ops/ .

Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina

The University of South Carolina Aiken, South Carolina State University, and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) offer course-based internships in: Cybersecurity, Engineering, Environmental Science.  The program is open to students who are enrolled full-time in a Minority Serving Institution, are majoring in a STEM discipline, and are U.S. citizens.  Includes travel, accommodations, a monthly stipend, coursework, and integrated activities with SRNL.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Summer Internship

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's (SERC) Internship Program offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental research and public engagement. Interns projects span the range of research conducted at SERC, including environmental chemistry, marine and estuarine ecology, molecular ecology, and terrestrial ecology. Projects are also offered in public engagement, with opportunities in environmental education, citizen science, and science writing. To apply, go to https://serc.si.edu/internships.

UROC Research at the University of Arizona

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) (“you rock!”) at the University of Arizona offers paid, faculty-mentored summer research positions in many areas.  The program seeks to increase graduate school access for students from groups underrepresented in graduate education.  Funding amounts and eligibility/selection criteria vary by program; review specific program websites.

World Class Day Virtual Student Research Symposium

World Class Day (WCD), a free online symposium, highlights research carried out by undergraduate students worldwide and offers the opportunity to bring your research to an international audience and engage in dialogue about it. Via live video link, participants introduce their projects to an international audience. Within a limit of five minutes, they accomplish these goals: 1) ask an important new question that is grounded in the theory or method best suited for their own inquiry; 2) identify a key insight that they have reached; 3) predict the next steps for the research trajectory.