Summer Research Opportunities for Current WSU Students
Looking for summer undergraduate research opportunities? Generally, there are opportunities both at WSU and beyond to engage in undergraduate research over the summer. When searching through and weighing these opportunities, it is important to consider funding availability, the nature of the work, the environment in which the work takes place, and the timing of the opportunity relative to the WSU academic calendar. Check out these resources listed below to find the research project that fits you best.
Work with a WSU Research Mentor
For many of the faculty and staff who are conducting research at WSU, summer is an especially productive time and there may be opportunities for you to work on their projects as an undergraduate researcher. Due to the complexity of how these opportunities can change from one semester to the next, the best place to start looking for them is your departmental office or website.
Departmental offices can be a good place to start because their staff can give you some initial guidance on what undergraduate research opportunities might be available with their faculty. The faculty profiles which are generally listed on departmental websites often discuss the research that is being conducted by each faculty member. If you find a faculty member who is engaged in research that interests you, then send them an email asking about your interest in working on an undergraduate research, scholarship, or creative activity project under their mentorship!
Reminder: If you are already busy on projects with a mentor during the fall and/or spring semesters, be sure to ask if there are opportunities for you to remain involved over the summer session!
External Research Opportunities
There are perhaps countless opportunities for engaging in summer undergraduate research outside of WSU. The Office of Undergraduate Research has put together a list of some notable opportunities we recommend that students start with when searching for a summer research project. Many of the opportunities listed provide financial support for the students they accept into their research projects.
- Amgen Scholars: Every year, the Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of selected undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on research experience at many of the world’s premier educational institutions. To be eligible, you must be a sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior, and have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Short-Term Internships for Undergraduate Students: The CDC has a variety of hands-on short-term internship programs for undergraduate students still in school. These programs offer a unique experience in one of many exciting public health fields. They are designed to prepare a diverse body of students to consider public health as a career to ensure a future where the American public benefits from a more diverse and better trained public health workforce. During their internships/fellowships, students work in a variety of public health settings including community organizations, health departments, university-based programs, and federal agencies.
- CIRRUS: CIRRUS is a map-enabled database that connects undergraduate students with research opportunities. Note: Though some of the research site listings are shown as having a deadline that has passed, be sure to check the program’s website through the link provided. In many cases, new research opportunities at the site are available.
- NASA: NASA maintains a database of opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. However, opportunities for students in other disciplines are available.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research: SIPs at the NIH provide an opportunity to spend a summer working side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. Foci of available projects include everything from behavioral and social sciences, through biology and chemistry, to physics, mathematical modeling, computational biology, and biostatistics. Internships generally cover a minimum of eight weeks, with students arriving at the NIH in June. A wide range of summer activities are typically planned that include an orientation to help interns get off to a good start, Summer Lectures featuring distinguished NIH investigators, career/professional development workshops, wellness activities, and Summer Poster Day.
- NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): the National Science Foundation maintains a database of the large number of research projects it funds through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. You can search the database by subject area to find and examine opportunities and learn about who you must contact to apply to the REU that interests you. NOTE: WSU hosts its own REU, USDA, and faculty-funded projects in summers; check with principle investigators if you are interested and feel you are eligible.
- Pathways to Science: this research opportunity posting board includes a database of paid summer research and internships for undergraduate students as well as helpful advice on how to find and apply to research programs.
- Professional Societies: Many professional societies provide funding for summer undergraduate research that may be instrumental in enabling you to work on a research project over the summer. Check the website of your professional society for funding opportunities that are available.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): DOE has two notable mechanisms for providing summer research opportunities to college undergraduates, the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship and DOE Scholars programs:
- Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program: The DOE Office of Science provides research experiences at their laboratories through their SULI program, which encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. Undergraduate students perform research on projects supporting the DOE mission under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers.
- DOE Scholars Program: Administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOE Scholars Program introduces students and recent college graduates to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) mission and operations. Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates of an accredited institution of higher education majoring in STEM disciplines are eligible for appointments at participating DOE facilities nationwide.
- Pathways to Science: this research opportunity posting board includes a database of paid summer research and internships for undergraduate students as well as helpful advice on how to find and apply to research programs.
- CIRRUS: CIRRUS is a map-enabled database that connects undergraduate students with research opportunities. Note: Though some of the research site listings are shown as having a deadline that has passed, be sure to check the program’s website through the link provided. In many cases, new research opportunities at the site are available.
- Professional Societies: Many professional societies provide funding for summer undergraduate research that may be instrumental in enabling you to work on a research project over the summer. Check the website of your professional society for funding opportunities that are available. An example is given below for the American Society for Microbiology. The ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship provides up to $4,000 for undergraduates to conduct full-time research at their home institution in summer 2018, while being mentored by an ASM faculty member. Fellows will receive up to $2,000 in travel funds to attend the 2019 Microbe Academy for Professional Development (MAPD) and present their research at ASM Microbe 2019.
- The ASM Research Capstone Fellowship provides undergraduate, community college, post-baccalaureate, master’s, and senior-level doctoral students up to $2,000 to attend the 2018 Microbe Academy for Professional Development (MAPD) and ASM Microbe 2018, to network and build presentation skills.