STEM Awards

A variety of opportunities exist for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines and careers. These include undergraduate scholarships, summer research experiences, and graduate school funding. Other competitive awards and opportunities are generally open to STEM students, as well, so students should consider opportunities beyond this list.

AAAS Minority Science Writers Fellowship: This program places minority students interested in journalism as a career and who want to learn about science writing at Science Magazine for 10 weeks over the summer. Interns experience what it’s like to cover the scientific and technological issues that shape our global community.

Amgen: Summer research experience in the sciences in the U, Europe and Japan, includes seminars, networking and symposia participation.

Argonne National Laboratory: Argonne offers fall, spring and fall research programs in Physical and Life Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, and applied research programs relating to Energy, Conservation, Environmental Impact and Technology, Nanomaterials, and Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems.

Boston-- Harvard Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology: The Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology offers diverse undergraduate students a unique opportunity to learn about the use of quantitative methods for biological, environmental, and medical research alongside Harvard faculty, researchers, and graduate students.

Boston – UMass Summer Research Fellowship: Funded by the NIH, The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity is a non-credit, ten-week, structured research experience sponsored by UMMS Office of Outreach Programs. The program consists of "hands-on" laboratory research with an investigator serving as a mentor, role model and advisor.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital - DePauw Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): The SURF Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center offers undergraduates the chance to explore clinical and basic science research in laboratories in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. This paid 10 week program allows students to participate in scientific writing courses, and present their research at the end of the program poster session and develop a foundation for making career choices in the biomedical sciences. For more information, contact Dr. Colleen McCracken, Health Professions Advisor at colleenmccracken@depauw.edu.

DAAD RISE: Summer internships at German Universities and Research Institutes for students in biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and engineering. Knowledge of German not required. Open to students from the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

EPA Research Fellowships: Undergraduate fellowships for students in environmental fields. Support for junior and senior years and paid EPA summer internship.

EuroScholars: EuroScholars is a unique research abroad programme designed for advanced and talented undergraduate students from US and Canadian institutions looking for an international research experience. The EuroScholars Program offers these students to conduct research at one of the 6 internationally renowned European Research Universities. In this programme, students have the opportunity to undertake one course in the classroom and then work under the direct supervision of professors and other academic staff on a specific academic research project chosen by both the student and the faculty. There are an abundance of academic research projects in a variety of fields to choose from within the participating universities. You must apply to the Hubbard Center for Student Engagement to be eligible to study on this program.

Goldwater: Supports 1-2 years of undergraduate study for students who intend careers in mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: Offers generous financial support for the junior and senior years and a paid 10-week summer internship to undergraduates interested in oceanic and atmospheric science.

James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE) Fellowship Program: The Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE) Fellowship Program is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded, nine-week summer program providing educational and professional development opportunities for fellows interested in infectious diseases research and/or health disparities.

Johns Hopkins Medicine - Diversity Programs - Summer Internship Program: The Summer Internship Program (SIP) provides experience in research laboratories to students of diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minority students, students from economically disadvantaged and underserved backgrounds and students with disabilities that have completed one - two or more years of college.  The purpose of this exposure to biomedical and/or public health research is to encourage students to consider careers in science, medicine and public health.  The program runs ten weeks and a minimum stipend of $3,000 is provided.  Housing is provided near our undergraduate campus; the University has a shuttle service that provides convenient transportation between the Johns Hopkins Medicine Institutions (JHMI) and the undergraduate campus.

Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship: Academic and professional support for individuals who intend to teach high-school level mathematics, physical sciences, or biological sciences. Applicants must have a teaching credential by the September of the fellowship year.

Leadership Alliance -Student Research - Early Identification Program: Student Research - Early Identification program is a fully paid summer internship that provides undergraduates with training and mentoring in the principles underlying the conduct of research and prepares them to pursue competitive applications to PhD or MD-PhD programs. SR-EIP offers closely mentored research experiences in the life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at 20 research institutions across the country.

Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement - Undergraduate Program: The MCHC/RISE-UP Program provides opportunities for enhanced public health leadership training to focus on elimination of health disparities and promotion of health equity. 

McNair Scholars Program: The McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential.

NIH Oxford/Cambridge: An accelerated, individualized doctoral training program for outstanding science students committed to biomedical research. The projects culminate in the award of a D.Phil or Ph.D. in science from either Oxford or Cambridge. Students may also pursue combined M.D./Ph.D. training through partnerships the program maintains with a broad range of American medical schools.

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program: For students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research.

NIH-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - Diversity Summer Research Training Program for Undergraduate Students: The DSRTP Program provides an independent summer research experience at NIH laboratories to undergraduate students interested in research careers. The STEP-UP Program provides hands-on summer research experience for high school and undergraduate students interested in exploring research careers.

National Institute of Standards and Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURF): The SURF Program is designed to inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a unique research experience gaining valuable, hands-on experience, working with cutting edge technology in one of the world's leading research organizations and home to three Nobel Prize winners. Over the course of 11 weeks, SURF students contribute to the ongoing research of one of the seven NIST facilities.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs): The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships: Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, fellowships support research-based master’s or PhD programs in a supported discipline, which includes the hard sciences as well as, in some cases, some social sciences, such as anthropology, sociology, political science, psychology, urban planning and economics.  US citizenship required.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Oak Ridge National Laboratory offers science, technology, engineering or math research internships to incoming and current college students. Additional opportunities are available for seniors and alumni.

Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program: The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed by the Department of Defense (DoD) upon degree completion.

Stanford Genome Sciences Summer Research Program: The Stanford Summer Research Program/Amgen Scholars Program (SSRP) in Biomedical Sciences is a fully funded, eight week, residential internship program. It offers undergraduates who want to prepare for and enter Ph.D. programs in the sciences a unique opportunity for advanced research experience within a world class university. The residential program runs for 8 weeks from mid June-mid August.

School for International Training (SIT): SIT is an approved off-campus study program. At many of its sites, students pursue an independent study project that  involves conducting original fieldwork, giving a final presentation, and writing a formal research paper, all under faculty guidance. You must apply to the Hubbard Center for Student Engagement to be eligible to study on this program.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURF): SURF is a 10-week summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) designed to engage students in diverse and exciting Earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences research at a world-renowned institution. In particular, the SURF program seeks to increase the diversity of students successfully prepared to pursue Earth and ocean sciences career pathways, and to recruit individuals from institutions with limited undergraduate research opportunities. SURF is supported with funding from the National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences.

Summer Health Professional Education Program (SHPEP, ex-SMDEP): The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. These students include, but are not limited to, individuals who identify as African American/Black, American Indian and Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino, and who are from communities of socioeconomic and educational disadvantage. SHPEP, formerly known as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP), expanded in 2016 to include a broader array of health professions.

Udall Scholarship: Undergraduate scholarship for students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care.  Required: US Citizenship, US National or US Permanent Resident. 50 awards made.

University of Washington Genome Science Summer Research Program: The Department of Genome Sciences, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, provides summer research opportunities for undergraduate students. We are looking for students who aspire to enroll in either PhD or MD / PhD programs after their undergraduate studies.

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship: $30,000 stipend to support pursuit of master's in teaching; mentoring and training for secondary school teaching in STEM subjects.  Training takes place in Georgia. Major or professional background in a STEM field required.  US citizenship or permanent residency required.

Other Resources
There are a number of sources that can be used to explore a variety of opportunities:

• Association of American Medical Colleges – The AAMC has a searchable database of summer enrichment and pipeline programs. https://services.aamc.org/summerprograms/

• ORISE: Undergraduate Research Opportunities - The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) administers a variety of internship programs for undergraduate students at national laboratories and other federal research facilities across the United States. https://orise.orau.gov/

• Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Registry of Undergraduate Researchers - A matchmaking tool for undergraduate researchers who want to pursue graduate degrees in their field. https://www.cur.org/what/projects/

• Pathways to Science - A searchable database of summer research opportunities in the sciences. http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Undergrads.aspx

• WebGURU - An online guide for undergraduate research with links to research opportunities and to journals for undergraduate research in the humanities, social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences. http://www.webguru.neu.edu/

• Zintellect - This website provides listings of internships, experiential learning opportunities, academic fellowships and scholarships funded by government and private sector organizations. https://www.zintellect.com/Catalog