Often, top medical schools in the U.S. offer predoc and premed summer undergraduate research programs. We’ve compiled an all-you-need-to-know chart that includes admissions requirements, deadlines, financial perks, and much more for top programs. Check out the preview below and then fill out the form to get your copy of the comprehensive chart!
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 statements differ 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.
Summer research program highlights
| SCHOOL NAME | PROGRAM NAME | WHO IT’S FOR |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Summer Undergraduate Research Program | › Current juniors (and exceptional sophomores) › U.S. citizens or permanent residents |
| Boston University School of Medicine | Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) | › 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 |
| Harvard Medical School | Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program | › 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 |
| Mayo Clinic | Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship | › Current sophomores and juniors › International students are welcome if they are currently attending a U.S. college or university |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center | Summer Undergraduate Research Program | › Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors (domestic or international) |
| Mount Sinai School of Medicine | Summer Undergraduate Research Program | › Current sophomores and juniors enrolled in a U.S. institution |
| New York University School of Medicine | Summer Undergraduate Research Program | › Current sophomores and juniors › U.S. citizens or permanent residents |
| Northwestern University | Summer Research Opportunity Program | › 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.) |
| Stanford University School of Medicine | SSRP-AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM | › 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 |
| UMass Medical School | Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity | › 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 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Summer Program for Undergraduate Research - Life and Biomedical Sciences (SPUR-LABS) | › 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 |
| University of California, San Francisco | Summer Research Program | › 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 |
| University of Chicago | Pritzker School of Medicine Experience in Research | › Current juniors and seniors › U.S. citizens or permanent residents › Must have health insurance |
| University of Michigan | Summer Research Opportunity Program | › 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. |
| University of Pennsylvania | Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) | › 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 |
| University of Virginia School of Medicine | Summer Research Internship Program | › 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 |
| Weill Cornell/ Rockefeller/ Sloan-Kettering | Gateways to The Laboratory Summer Program | › 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 |
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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
