Summer programs are great opportunities to explore your career aspirations by immersing yourself in the practice of your desired profession.

• Summer Research Programs (also known as Research Experiences for Undergraduates or REUs) guide you toward careers in research that require post-graduate studies.
• Programs focused on healthcare careers aim to give you experiences in clinical settings to prepare you for professions that work directly with patients.
• Internships generally refer to professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to a student’s field of study or career interest, and can be paid or unpaid.

Most programs are fully funded (meaning you don’t pay anything) and are usually hosted at universities, national research labs, federal agencies, or research institutions. Their main purpose is to provide opportunities to undergraduate students like you to experience the life of a researcher full-time and to encourage you to pursue post-graduate studies in research. Most of these programs will provide you with:

• A financial incentive (stipend) for you to participate
• Housing and travel costs to the program site
• A research mentor who will guide and oversee your assigned project
• Professional and social activities to help you meet peers and network with professionals
• An opportunity to present your research project at a symposium/conference
• Guidance and preparation to apply to post-graduate programs like PhDs, Masters, or professional degrees like MD or MD/PhDs.

*** Please be aware that due to the ongoing cuts and changes to the grants that tend to fund these types of programs, the links or information below might be outdated. We will update as we find out about the changes.***

Applying to summer research programs

Most summer research programs and research internships require that you submit a complete application before a specific deadline (usually between December to March), either via e-mail or through an application system. Most applications consist of

• A Personal Statement (also called Letter or Statement of Interest) describing your professional and career aspirations, and detailing any prior research, technical, or professional experiences.
• Transcripts, often unofficial ones.
• 1-3 Letters of Recommendation from professors, mentors, or other professionals that can describe your skills and goals.

Get help with your application

Personal Statement

• Cientifico Latino – Writing Center
• Purdue OWL – Writing the Personal Statement
• UMBC – Developing a Personal Statement for Summer Research
• University of Missouri – How to Apply to Summer Research Programs
• PathwaysToScience.org – Writing Strong Essays and Personal Statements

Letters of Recommendation

• University of Missouri – How to Get Great Letters of Rec
• UndergradintheLab.com – Lock Down Your Recommendation Letter
• PCUR blog – A Guide to Asking for Letters of Recommendation
• PathwaysToScience.org – Getting Strong Letters of Recommendation

Also, consider looking at it from the other side:

• Indeed.com – How to Write an Internship Recommendation Letter
• AAMC – Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation for a Medical School Applicant

Databases of Resources

• PathwaysToScience.org – The Institute for Broadening Participation has created this database of scholarships, summer programs, and professional development opportunities with students like you in mind.
• CientificoLatino.org – The Científico Latino Project comes from a drive to increase the rate of minority scientists and professionals by creating a platform where everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or immigration status has equal access to fellowship and scholarship opportunities and the chance to learn from their peers on how to become a successful professional in STEM and other fields.
• SACNAS Opportunity Board – The SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) Opportunities Board is a resource hub to alert the community to opportunities for internships, scholarships, pre-doctoral fellowships, awards, conferences, training, calls for papers, and research study participation.
• Zintellect – This website provides listings of internships, experiential learning opportunities, academic fellowships, and scholarships funded by government and private sector organizations.