Search Opportunities

You can also search for opportunities through OURConnect!

See any outdated information or an annual program that is missing from this page? Email UGResearch@purdue.edu!

Entomology Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Department of Entomology’s research portfolio consists of basic science that builds on strengths in insect/plant interactions, and applied pest management research focused on stakeholder needs and priorities. We work on a range of insect and nematode problems using diverse tool-sets and varied disciplinary approaches. Our research areas include: Arthropod Molecular Biology and Genomics, Pest Management, Host Plant/Insect/Nematode Interactions, Environmental and Evolutionary Entomology, International Development and Cooperation and Insect Science Education.

Contact: Amanda Wilson at apendle@purdue.edu

Website: Entomology

Purdue Undergraduate Research Experiences for Plant Biology and Data Science (PURE-PD)

The Purdue Undergraduate Research Experiences for Plant Biology and Data Science (PURE-PD) is a 10-week immersive research program that connects undergraduate researchers with state-of-the-art authentic research in plant biology and big-data-driven science practices. The PURE-PD program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

See below under "Summer Purdue Research Opportunities"

Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF, formerly MASI)

​Find your passion in undergraduate research!  The Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF) is designed to expose you to the wide-ranging field of plant sciences and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math).​

SCARF is open to Purdue College of Agriculture undergraduate students each summer. Students experience in-depth, hands-on research, participate in a series of science communication workshops including bi-weekly assignments, and attend faculty seminars and industry tours.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Undergraduate Research Training Program

Undergraduate students have a wonderful opportunity to gain invaluable research experience through the Undergraduate Research Training Program (URT) in the College of Education. Qualified students at the sophomore, junior or senior level in any academic discipline who are interested in research on teaching and learning are eligible for this program. Generally, a cumulative index of 3.00 is expected for admission to the program.

Contact: Youli Mantzicopoulos-James at mantzi@purdue.edu

Website: URT

Engineering Projects In Community Service (EPICS)

EPICS is a unique program in which teams of undergraduates are designing, building, and deploying real systems to solve engineering-based problems for local community service and education organizations.

Contact:  epics@purdue.edu

Website:  EPICS

Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships (GEP2)

In celebration of the accomplishments Purdue engineering students and faculty have made in tackling international development challenges and to inspire greater achievements in this field, the I2D Lab Exposition is held every Spring at the end of March.

Contact: gep@purdue.edu

Website: GEP

Mechanical Engineering Scholarships & Information

Website: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME/Undergraduate/ResearchOpportunities

Specific scholarship: Bottomley Scholarship. Website changes annually.

SCALE Workforce Development in Microelectronics

SCALE is Purdue’s major research and workforce development contract, funded by the Department of Defense. SCALE will provide mentoring, internship matching and targeted research projects for college students interested in microelectronics specialty areas: radiation-hardening, heterogeneous integration/advanced packaging, system on a chip, and embedded security systems/trusted artificial intelligence (ESS/TAI). This is open to US citizen undergraduate students with a GPA of 2.8 or above, in first-year engineering or an eligible engineering major (Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and First-Year Engineering), with interest in careers in microelectronics.

Contact: SCALE@purdue.edu 

Website: SCALE Program

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Program

The SURF program provides undergraduates opportunity to gain hands-on research experience by exploring a topic of interest alongside a Purdue professor and graduate student. During the 11-week summer program, students develop their knowledge of the research process by contributing to a real world project, network with other researchers, and present their discoveries at the end of the summer. The program offers full time, paid research positions on the Purdue campus and is open to students from all disciplines.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Engineering (SURGE)

Website:  SURGE

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP)

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to earn academic credit while engaging in authentic and extended research and design projects related to active research areas of Purdue faculty members and national, international, and industry-sponsored design challenges. Students can participate on interdisciplinary and vertically-integrated teams (first-year through seniors) with faculty and graduate student mentors for multiple semesters to address these real-world research and design challenges.

Contact: vip@purdue.edu

Website: VIP

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Contact: hhsadresearch@purdue.edu 

Website: HHS Undergraduate Research Website

Alice M. and David A. Caputo Award for C-SPAN Archives Research

The Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement (CCSE) is calling for research paper proposals that use C-SPAN Video Library content including video, audio, text, or indexes to conduct original research in the social sciences. This research award is offered to eligible graduate and undergraduate students at Purdue University West Lafayette campus.

The selected Student Researcher will receive a $2,000 award* for the project and the Faculty Mentor will receive an award of $500. The student chosen for the award will work on their research project and be eligible for directed study credit. At the end of the project, the student must make a presentation on their research paper and work with the professor on exploring publishing opportunities for the paper. The research project must be completed and presented by April 10, 2025.

Website: Caputo Award for C-SPAN Archives Research

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship (DUIRI) Program

The Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship (DUIRI) program is designed to involve Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment of the Discovery Park District. The program provides opportunities for students to work with researchers on cutting edge research projects that involve combining two or more disciplinary strengths. Working closely with researchers, students experience the excitement, challenge, and power of truly interdisciplinary research in the fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Contact: duristudent@purdue.edu

Website: DUIRI Website

Student Partners for Information Research and Literacy (SPIRaL)

SPIRaL brings forth a unique opportunity for undergraduate researchers to sharpen their abilities to recognize and combat contemporary information challenges, such as misinformation circulating on social media or inequitable access to information disproportionately impacting communities. Students will learn and apply participatory research methods to study information challenges and examine the social context and systems behind them. Student researchers will cultivate an understanding of the untapped power of information literacy to help us fight back against these challenges and will leverage it to propose real-world solutions that impact family, friends, and the academic and local communities around them. 

This research experience was designed by a Students-as-Partners team made up of two librarians from Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, a graduate student from the Department of History, and an undergraduate student from the School of Mechanical Engineering. SPIRaL utilizes a participatory approach in our research methods but also in the way we work as a team and value each person’s voice and strengths. Students are invited to be full research partners, make decisions that determine the purpose and direction of research outcomes, build a relationship with a research mentor, support the success of future student researchers in SPIRaL, and play a central role in the research they are conducting. 

Contact Rachel Fundator at rfundato@purdue.edu

SPIRaL Website

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP)

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to earn academic credit while engaging in authentic and extended research and design projects related to active research areas of Purdue faculty members and national, international, and industry-sponsored design challenges. Students can participate in interdisciplinary and vertically-integrated teams (first-year through seniors) with faculty and graduate student mentors for multiple semesters to address these real-world research and design challenges.

Contact: vip@purdue.edu

Website: VIP

Interns for Indiana and for Entrepreneurship

The Purdue Interns for Indiana program, partially funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc., is an innovative approach to keeping Indiana's college graduates in Indiana. By matching high-quality student interns with Indiana startup companies, Purdue aims to accelerate company growth while providing students with valuable educational experiences.

Website: ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION | Interns for Indiana

The Data Mine

The first large-scale living learning community for undergraduates from all majors, focused on Data Science for All. Hillenbrand Hall has an 800-student capacity. It is filled with new learning communities of students preparing for the data-driven workforce of the 21st century.

Contact: datamine@purdue.edu

Website: The Data Mine

Purdue Alliance For Graduate Education & Professoriate (AGEP)

The Purdue AGEP campus offers a unique opportunity for incoming graduate students. Once you have been admitted to one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) disciplines, you can ask your department to nominate you for the AGEP Bridge Transitional Program.

Contact: agep@purdue.edu

Website: AGEP

Network for Computational Nanotechnology Undergraduate Research Experience (NCN-URE)

The Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) funds a number of undergraduate research projects each summer in several science and engineering areas; projects may be multidisciplinary. We are looking for enthusiastic and qualified students with a strong background in engineering, physics, computer science or math who can code in at least one language (such as Python, C++, or MATLAB). Applicants should have completed their 1st year at Purdue by the start of summer and must satisfy the requirements of the specific project(s). Details about the program, including project descriptions and past projects, are available at https://nanohub.org/groups/ncnure.

Contact Tanya Faltens at nanohubresearch@gmail.com

Website: NCN

Purdue University Center for Cancer Research (PCCR)

Studies cancers at the cellular level to discover how they develop, progress and respond to treatment. Finds ways to detect cancer sooner and treat it more effectively. Shares its work with scientists and physicians worldwide to save and enhance human lives.

Apply through SROP

Website: Cancer Research

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Program

The SURF program provides undergraduates opportunity to gain hands-on research experience by exploring a topic of interest alongside a Purdue professor and graduate student. During the 11-week summer program, students develop their knowledge of the research process by contributing to a real world project, network with other researchers, and present their discoveries at the end of the summer. The program offers full time, paid research positions on the Purdue campus and is open to students from all disciplines.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Summer Stay Research Opportunities

Summer Stay allows approximately 100 undergraduate students to earn scholarships worth up to $2,500 for completing 140 hours of on-campus research experience alongside 9+ credit hours of coursework.  Research hours count toward the credit hour requirement. 

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Website: Summer Stay

Growing Entrepreneurially-Minded Undergraduate Researchers with New Product Development in Applied Energy REU

The goal of this project is to provide underrepresented engineering and engineering technology students with a research experience that combines the best aspects of academic applied research, such as strong theory basis and rigorous scholarship, with essential business practices such as real-world customer discovery and the generation of sound business plans.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Website: Purdue REU

John Martinson Honors College (JMHC) undergraduate research programs offer interdisciplinary research opportunities for JMHC students.

For general JMHC undergraduate information, visit https://honors.purdue.edu/current-students/Undergraduate-Research/index.php. For questions, contact Dr. Chaonan Liu, JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research.

JMHC Research Generators

The Research Generators (RGs) are communities of inquiry that are designed to jumpstart new or expanded research led by teams of faculty, staff researchers, and students. RGs cultivate research thinking and enable students to complete their scholarly project requirement through course offerings and non-credit-bearing experiential learning. RGs each have a broad, interdisciplinary theme and welcome students from any major.

Website

Contact: Dr. Chaonan Liu, JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) is a credit-bearing opportunity for JMHC students who want to begin engaging in STEM research at Purdue. Students will be matched with a graduate student or postdoc mentor who will introduce them to research techniques used in science, engineering, or technology fields, and provide mentorship in key areas of professional development for advancing education or research careers.

Website

Contact: Dr. Chaonan Liu, JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research

Urban Matters Lab

The Urban Matters Lab employs an interdisciplinary approach to the exploration and study of a range of urban matters, and also facilitates a pedagogical and exploratory journey for students to understand why the ‘urban’ matters. It fosters community engagement through interactive experiential opportunities across the Greater Lafayette area and beyond. It offers students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through volunteer and internship opportunities in the community. The lab also creates opportunities for students to undertake interdisciplinary research through HONR courses and mentoring by Dr. Krishna.

Website

Contact: Dr. Chaonan Liu, JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research

HIFI Bioconservatory

The aim of the HIFI Bioconservatory at the John Martinson Honors College at Purdue University is to cultivate a vibrant undergraduate interdisciplinary community of JMHC undergraduate students interested in the science, technology, and culture of conservation and sound. Graduate mentors and research faculty are core of this TEAM Science approach fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, empowering students to explore, experiment, and analyze real-world problems, and to contribute innovative solutions and communicate about sonic biodiversity.

Website

Contact: Dr. Chaonan Liu, JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research

Tech Justice Lab

The Tech Justice Lab (TJL), housed in the Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion Unit of the John Martinson Honors College at Purdue, is a cross-college collaboration that prioritizes the development of interdisciplinary, justice-oriented undergraduate technology researchers and practitioners. The TJL builds on the Honors College’s mission of fostering well-rounded and highly engaged students, equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to impact society for the better. Interested students from any discipline, with guidance from TJL affiliated faculty and peers, will develop their toolkits of critical frameworks for evaluating the ethics and social impacts of technology. The TJL seeks to empower students to carry out projects that help us imagine what it means for technology to be “just,” and to envision ways to change how technologies are designed, implemented, evaluated, and/or contested, in order to bring about a more just future.

Website

Contact: Dr. Chaonan Liu, JMHC Scholar in Residence for Undergraduate Research

Alice M. and David A. Caputo Award for C-SPAN Archives Research

The Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement (CCSE) is calling for research paper proposals that use C-SPAN Video Library content including video, audio, text, or indexes to conduct original research in the social sciences. This research award is offered to eligible graduate and undergraduate students at Purdue University West Lafayette campus.

The selected Student Researcher will receive a $2,000 award* for the project and the Faculty Mentor will receive an award of $500. The student chosen for the award will work on their research project and be eligible for directed study credit. At the end of the project, the student must make a presentation on their research paper and work with the professor on exploring publishing opportunities for the paper. The research project must be completed and presented by April 10, 2025.

Website: Caputo Award for C-SPAN Archives Research

Dammon Dean's Scholars Program

Are you interested in a multi-year undergraduate research opportunity? If so, this enriching experience will be a great fit for you. As a Clarence E. Dammon Dean's Scholar, you will:

  • Enjoy invitations to special academic guest lectures and programs.
  • Interact with a community of dedicated scholars like yourself.
  • Have the opportunity to participate in multiple conferences to discuss your research work.
  • Enroll in a series of seminar courses to further enrich your undergraduate research experience.
  • Serve as a mentor for fellow undergraduate researchers.
  • Receive a $1000 scholarship for each semester of participation. Students must enroll in SCLA 49105 to receive their scholarship monies

History of the Clarence E. Dammon Dean's Scholars Program

The College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Scholars Program was established in 1976 to recognize the academic achievement of select, first-year students. The program has been renamed the Clarence E. Dammon Dean’s Scholars Program in recognition of a gift from Jim and Marilynn Dammon in honor of Jim's father, Clarence E. Dammon.

Website: Dammon Dean's Scholars Program

Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship Program

Are you interested in a short-term undergraduate research opportunity? If so, the Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship may be a great fit for you! As a Wilke Scholar you will:

  • Enjoy invitations to special academic guest lectures and programs.
  • Interact with a community of dedicated scholars like yourself.
  • Participate in multiple conferences to discuss your research work.
  • Have the opportunity to enroll in a course series to further enrich your research experience.
  • Receive a $500 scholarship for each semester of participation. Students must enroll in SCLA 49105 to receive their scholarship monies

History of the Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship

The Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship (Wilke) program is designed to involve Purdue College of Liberal Arts undergraduates in the interdisciplinary and exciting research environment of the College of Liberal Arts.

Website: Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship Program

Student Partners for Information Research and Literacy (SPIRaL)

SPIRaL brings forth a unique opportunity for undergraduate researchers to sharpen their abilities to recognize and combat contemporary information challenges, such as misinformation circulating on social media or inequitable access to information disproportionately impacting communities. Students will learn and apply participatory research methods to study information challenges and examine the social context and systems behind them. Student researchers will cultivate an understanding of the untapped power of information literacy to help us fight back against these challenges and will leverage it to propose real-world solutions that impact family, friends, and the academic and local communities around them. 

This research experience was designed by a Students-as-Partners team made up of two librarians from Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, a graduate student from the Department of History, and an undergraduate student from the School of Mechanical Engineering. SPIRaL utilizes a participatory approach in our research methods but also in the way we work as a team and value each person’s voice and strengths. Students are invited to be full research partners, make decisions that determine the purpose and direction of research outcomes, build a relationship with a research mentor, support the success of future student researchers in SPIRaL, and play a central role in the research they are conducting. 

Contact Rachel Fundator at rfundato@purdue.edu

SPIRaL Website

Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business Undergraduate Research Opportunities

If you are looking for other School of Business research opportunities, please connect with your professors or centers in the School of Business.

Advisors can also direct students to courses with a research focus.

Contact Lindsay Mechem Rosokha for John Martinson Honors College projects @ lmechem@purdue.edu.

Summer Pharmacy Research Fellowships

A student selected to participate in any of these fellowships will, by the end of the spring 2021 semester, have completed at least his/her second year of undergraduate or professional study with an excellent record, and will be interested in seriously investigating the possibility of a career in research. Preference will be given to students who have completed their third year of undergraduate or professional study at a U.S. institution. These fellowships are intended for students who have a serious interest in research as a possible career (including faculty positions) and who want to explore a research environment in more depth to enable them to make an informed career choice.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Applied Research

Advance the frontiers of knowledge, innovate technologies that address the grand challenges of society to serve humanity, and improve the quality of life around the world. While remaining grounded in our rich heritage of classroom instruction, the College of Technology has heightened its efforts in pursuing funded research. We believe that incorporating active research into the curriculum makes for a richer learning experience and reaffirms the practical use-inspired nature of the technology disciplines.

Contact Steve Elliott at elliott@purdue.edu

Website: Research

Physics REU

In each research project, students will work closely with a member of our faculty. The projects will be in a wide variety of areas, including high energy physics, accelerator mass spectrometry, condensed matter physics, geophysics, biophysics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Analyze This REU - Analytical Chemistry Applied to Interdisciplinary Research

Spend the summer at Purdue University conducting cutting edge research in Analytical Chemistry! The Analytical Division in Purdue’s Department of Chemistry consists of 18 faculty members who currently supervise 80 graduate and 40 undergraduate research assistants. Their research areas include, but are not limited to, medical imaging, cancer research, drug delivery, nanomaterial development, atmospheric chemistry, forensics, environmental chemistry, advanced instrumentation development and understanding fundamental chemical mechanisms. US News and World report ranked Purdue as the #1 analytical chemistry program in the United States.

See below under "Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities"

Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program

The goal of the Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program is to increase the number of veterinarians involved in biomedical and clinical research. The program provides an opportunity for veterinary students and undergraduate students interested in veterinary medicine to explore non-practice careers by engaging in a mentored research project and through informal and formal interactions with scientists. Veterinary students also will travel to the Boehringer Ingelheim NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium.

Contact Harm HogenEsch @ vetresearch@purdue.edu

Website: Veterinary Scholars

Center for Paralysis Research

Since its inception in 1987, the CPR has been involved in three human clinical trials (including multiple canine trials) as well as having one therapy being sold and marketed for patients with multiple sclerosis. This history of translational research is unique at Purdue and underscores our commitment to improving quality of life for both animals and humans. Dr. Jianming Li created a "Tips" sheet for those undergraduates who would like to see research opportunities.

Website: CPR Website

Summer Research Program for Students and Pre-vet Students (SROP)

The Purdue SROP has the goal of enhancing diversity in academic, government, and industry positions that require graduate degrees. It is our aim to encourage talented undergraduate students from social and economic backgrounds that are underrepresented in research careers to pursue graduate education, and to enhance their preparation for graduate study. This program involves intensive research experiences with faculty mentors.

Email srop@purdue.edu

Website: SROP

African American Studies and Research Center Undergraduate Summer Research Internship

The African American Studies and Research Center (AASRC) and Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) are currently recruiting Purdue students for a new summer research initiative in Black Studies. The African American Studies and Research Center Undergraduate Summer Research Internship is a 6-8 week program that places up to 5 students into paid internships. Students will work with staff professionals to explore, process, and organize expanding collections detailing all facets of black life and history. Students will also use these collections and experiences to produce their own independent research projects that they will present at conferences on and off-campus in the following Fall and Spring semesters.

Students interested in this program may submit applications for multiple available projects. The program supervisors will meet with candidates to discuss specific project specifics and extend offers. Students selected for the internship will earn up to $6,000 to cover housing, summer research stipend, and summer stay tuition.

Analyze This REU - Analytical Chemistry Applied to Interdisciplinary Research

Spend the summer at Purdue University conducting cutting edge research in Analytical Chemistry! The Analytical Division in Purdue’s Department of Chemistry consists of 18 faculty members who currently supervise 80 graduate and 40 undergraduate research assistants. Their research areas include, but are not limited to, medical imaging, cancer research, drug delivery, nanomaterial development, atmospheric chemistry, forensics, environmental chemistry, advanced instrumentation development and understanding fundamental chemical mechanisms. US News and World report ranked Purdue as the #1 analytical chemistry program in the United States.

  • Earn a $5,000 stipend for summer
  • On-campus housing, meal stipend, and reasonable travel expenses provided
  • Participate in extracurricular activities and campus-wide learning communities

Dates: May 22 - July 28, 2023

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Website: Analyze This REU

Anvil REU

The Anvil Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is part of the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) CI-STEP student program to provide work opportunities and real workplace experience that enhance the student’s education through the development of professional skills, responsibilities, habits, attitudes, self-confidence, and self-development.

RCAC is seeking students for REU-paid internships for an 11-week onsite summer REU program. This program aims at developing the next-generation workforce in advanced computing and cyberinfrastructure technologies. It offers students from diverse backgrounds, the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to build and support advanced research computing systems and scientific applications. As part of RCAC's decade-long successful student apprentice program, the REU students will learn by doing, working on the National Science Foundation-funded Anvil system in a team environment and mentored by cyberinfrastructure professionals.

Benefits:

  • $600/week stipend
  • $750 meal allowance
  • On-campus housing
  • Travel costs to attend a conference
Dates: May 19 - August 4, 2024

Deadline: Feb. 16, 2024

Website: Anvil REU

Biochemistry REU

This National Science Foundation-sponsored program provides advanced training in the manipulation and analysis of proteins for undergraduate students. It facilitates deep understanding of experimental laboratory research, insights into protein biochemistry, and contemplation of the broader context of research. A wide range of student research projects mentored by faculty in the Department of Biochemistry is available. Examples include the experimental analysis of enzyme mechanisms, post-translational protein modifications, proteomics, and protein-nucleic acid interactions studied in the biological context of cell cycle control, chromatin regulation, and renewable energy research.
Problem-based modules presented during the first three days of the program introduce key concepts in protein biochemistry and experimental design. After this brief orientation, the program emphasizes full-time research supplemented with weekly sessions on ethical conduct in research, professional communication, and the graduate school application process. At the end of the program, students will present their results at a departmental symposium and a university-wide poster session.

Benefits:

  • $6,000 stipend
  • $750 meal allowance
  • On-campus housing
  • Road transportation to West Lafayette

Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2024

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2024

Website: Purdue Biochemistry REU

Flyer

CISTAR Summer Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

As a CISTAR summer researcher, you will work on a research project in your area of interest and be matched with a CISTAR Graduate Fellow mentor who will help you develop your skills as a researcher and gain insight into the world of graduate school. Throughout the summer, students participate in weekly professional development seminars, work in CISTAR Labs, network with CISTAR students on campus, and visit places of interest like Argonne National Laboratory.

Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2024

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Website: CISTAR

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internships (DUIRI)

The Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship (DUIRI) program is designed to involve Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment. The program provides opportunities for students to work with researchers on cutting-edge research projects that involve combining two or more disciplinary strengths. Working closely with researchers, students experience the excitement, challenge, and power of truly interdisciplinary research in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Dates: Summer 2024 Semester

Deadline: Applications will open up for students around March 2024 for summer.

Website: DUIRI

IoT4Ag REU (Purdue University)

This program is designed to give undergraduate students the opportunity to work with scientists on cutting-edge research to address the societal grand challenge of food, energy, and water security by advancing technologies that increase crop production, while minimizing the use of energy and water resources and the impact of agricultural practices on the environment. Projects will focus on the creation of internet of things (IoT) technologies from sensors, robotics, and energy and communication devices to data-driven models constrained by plant physiology, soil, weather, management practices, and socio-economics. 

Benefits:

  • $6,000 stipend
  • Housing provided
  • Travel allowance to campus 

Dates: May 25 - August 2, 2024

Deadline: February 16, 2024

Website: IoT4Ag REU

Physics REU and RET (Research Experiences for Teachers)

In each research project, students will work closely with a member of our faculty. The projects will be in a wide variety of areas, including high energy physics, accelerator mass spectrometry, condensed matter physics, geophysics, biophysics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics.

Benefits:

  • Stipend of $600/week
  • On-campus housing and meals
  • Travel allowance to campus 

Dates: May 28 - August 2, 2024

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Website: Physics REU

Purdue Undergraduate Research Experiences for Plant Biology and Data Science (PURE-PD)

The Purdue Undergraduate Research Experiences for Plant Biology and Data Science (PURE-PD) is a 10-week immersive research program that connects undergraduate researchers with state-of-the-art authentic research in plant biology and big-data-driven science practices. The PURE-PD program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

To qualify, applications must:

  • Be enrolled in a degree-granting program at a U.S. college or university (2-year or 4-year) 
  • Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • Have at least one semester of undergraduate study remaining after completing the PURE-PD program

Benefits include:

  • $6,500 stipend
  • $750 meal allowance
  • On-campus housing
  • Travel to/from the Purdue University West Lafayette campus

Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2024

Deadline: February 29, 2024

Website: PURE-PD

Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF)

​Find your passion in undergraduate research!  The Summer College of Agriculture Research Fellowship (SCARF) is designed to expose you to the wide-ranging field of plant sciences and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).​

SCARF (formerly known as MASI) is open to Purdue College of Agriculture undergraduate students each summer. Students experience in-depth, hands-on research, participate in a series of science communication workshops including bi-weekly assignments, and attend faculty seminars and industry tours.

Dates: May 22 - July 28, 2023

Deadline: February 24, 2023

Website: SCARF

Summer Pharmacy Research Fellowships

A student selected to participate in any of these fellowships will, by the end of the spring 2024 semester, have completed at least his/her second year of undergraduate or professional study with an excellent record, and will be interested in seriously investigating the possibility of a research career. Preference will be given to students who have completed their third year of undergraduate or professional study at a U.S. institution. These fellowships are intended for students who have a serious interest in research as a possible career (including faculty positions) and who want to explore a research environment in more depth to enable them to make an informed career choice. Students who accept a fellowship appointment are under no obligation for choice of a career path.

Benefits:

  • $4,500 stipend

Dates: May 13 - July 19, 2024

Deadline: February 2, 2024

Website: Summer Research Fellowships

Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a pathway to graduate education at Purdue University. This program is designed to provide equal access and opportunities to underrepresented and diverse students by preparing students for Graduate School by offering an eight-week intensive research experience, and graduate school resources that contribute to a student's professional and academic growth.

Dates: Summer 2024

Deadline: February 10, 2024

Website: SROP

Summer Stay Research Opportunities

If you are selected for Summer Stay Scholars, you will receive up to $2,500 to pay your estimated summer cost of attendance not already covered by other gift aid. A $2,500 scholarship will cover full tuition for resident students and offers a sizeable decrease in total cost for non-resident/international students. As a Summer Stay Scholar, you will take at least 9 credit hours and work at least 140 hours conducting faculty-led research or participating in an on-campus internship during Summer 2024.

To qualify for Summer Stay Scholars, you must have:

  • Attended your first semester at a Purdue University campus in Fall 2023 or earlier
  • A GPA of at least 3.00 for research or at least 2.00 for internships
  • Undergraduate student status
  • Complete 9+ credit hours during Summer 2024

Dates: Summer 2024 Semester

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Website: Summer Stay

Summer Training on Awareness and Readiness for Semiconductors (STARS)

The Purdue Summer Training, Awareness, and Readiness for Semiconductors (STARS) is an eight-week program designed to equip students with deep-tech skills in IC design, fabrication, packaging, and semiconductor device and materials characterization. The program offers two specialized tracks: chip design and semiconductor manufacturing, providing an experience equivalent to a summer internship.

 

Website: STARS

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to gain hands-on research experience and explore advanced education and research careers. The program offers a 10-week immersive summer research experience, where selected students work on Purdue's West Lafayette, Indiana campus with faculty members and graduate student mentors. Students will get to work with cutting-edge research tools in science, engineering, and technology.

Benefits include:

  • $6,000 stipend
  • Up to $1,200 travel reimbursement
  • Free on-campus housing for non-Purdue West Lafayette students
  • Travel to/from the Purdue University West Lafayette campus

Dates: May 20 - July 26, 2023

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Website: SURF

This is a very abbreviated list of available summer research opportunities available to Purdue students.

Most programs open their website and application for the upcoming summer between November and February.

To learn about more summer research opportunities:

Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities.

Website: BTAA SROP Overview

Deadline: Varies by Big Ten institution

Georgia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Sciences (SURE)

The Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Sciences (S.U.R.E.) program is committed to increasing the number of qualified students who are traditionally under-represented in STEM fields. These include but are not limited to students from racial/ethnic minority groups, women, or first-generation college students.

Website: GA Tech SURE

 

Amgen Scholars

Amgen Scholars is hosted at thirteen premier educational institutions within the United States. Each host institution has its own application process. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency in the United States is required, and you can apply to participate at as many host institutions as you are interested in.

Amgen Scholars U.S. Program applicants must be:

  • U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents;
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories; and
  • Sophomores (with four quarters or three semesters of college experience), juniors or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall to continue undergraduate studies).
U.S. Program applicants must also have:
  • A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or above; and
  • An interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.

Website: Amgen Scholars

Application Deadline: Feb. 1, 2023

NASA

NASA has opportunities for supported internships, fellowships, and scholarships.

Website: NASA

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers.

Website: NSF

Pathways to Science

Many paid summer STEM undergraduate research opportunities are found in this database.

Website: Pathways to Science

NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

Summer NIH programs to provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.

Website: NIH SIP in Biomedical Research

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers:

  • Scholarship support
  • Paid research training at the NIH during the summer
  • Paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation

Website: NIH UGSP

ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship Program

ThinkSwiss is a scholarship program managed by the Science Office at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. The program is funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Ottawa, Canada. The aim of the program is to promote research opportunities in Switzerland for American and Canadian students and to foster exchange between Swiss, U.S., and Canadian universities and research institutions.

Applicants must currently be enrolled at an accredited U.S. or Canadian university/college, be a graduate student or an undergraduate student who will have completed their sophomore year by the time the research stay in Switzerland begins, and provide a written confirmation from a professor at a Swiss university that the applicant will be accept for a research stay.

Scholarship is $1,800/month with $5,400 maximum

Deadline: December 31, 2022

Website: https://thinkswiss.org/

US Department of Energy Scholars Program

The DOE Scholars Program is a Department-wide program designed to create a pipeline of highly qualified talent in disciplinary fields that support mission-critical areas of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)The DOE Scholars Program provides opportunities designed to introduce DOE missions, functions, and operations to talented undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates.

Website: DOE Scholarship Program

Southern Methodist University Data Science for Social Good REU

Learn how to use data science tools for improving the lives of people.  You will join a team of researchers using data to find solutions to pressing economic and environmental problems affecting neighborhoods in the city of Dallas, Texas.

Program Participants Receive

  • Stipend of $4800
  • Free on-campus room and board
  • Social activities 

Website: SMU REU