Research
The following organizations have offered opportunities to Princeton students in the past. They may be of interest to you if you seek health-related experiences in the U.S., beyond the scope of the University or the Borough of Princeton. If you find a program is no longer available or an organization no longer exists, or have any questions, please just let us know.
Databases to Search for Opportunities
Local Area - New York Area - Northeast & Mid-Atlantic - Midwest - West and Southwest - South
Databases of Opportunities
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
The AAMC Group on Graduate Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) maintains a list of undergraduate research opportunities for students interested in biomedical research and careers as physician scientists. ♦
National Science Foundation Research for Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
The NSF maintains a searchable database of funded undergraduate research experiences. ♦
CIRRUS
CIRRUS connects undergraduate students with research opportunities and provides a forum for those institutions sponsoring undergraduate research to announce their program to undergraduate students. The research areas supported by CIRRUS are based on the common Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR) focus areas. CIRRUS welcomes notices about undergraduate research sites from the US and those located internationally as well. CIRRUS contains other information and links pertinent to undergraduate research. ♦
Lists Maintained by Other Colleges
If there is a geographic location where you are likely to live over the summer, try to search for colleges and universities in that area that have pre-health advising offices, and check their websites for regional opportunities. Here are a few that maintain more exhaustive lists:
- Brandeis University's Office of Health Professions Advising has a list of links to summer programs, with many centered in the Boston and NYC areas.
- Syracuse University lists summer opportunities by state.
- The University of Rochester indicates when their summer co-op opportunity links were most recently updated.
Local Area
UMDNJ Biomedical Sciences
UMDNJ, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The Summer Research Experience program for undergraduate students provides the opportunity for undergraduates interested in Ph.D. degree programs to perform supervised research. Stipend: $3,000. Early applications are encouraged. For additional information and application, go to the website or call (973) 972-4511. ♦
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Biomedical Careers Program (BCP)
The Biomedical Careers Program (BCP) began in 1978 as an academic enrichment program for undergraduate students interested in careers in the health professions. The program targets undergraduates who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged . BCP offers an intensive six-week summer program to serve students at all stages of undergraduate education. Students take part in a variety of science enrichment and healthcare-oriented activities. ♦
University of Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Student Scholars Program , an NIH-sponsored program in the Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Disease at the University of Pennsylvania incorporates an organized series of summer lectures and presentations with basic research experience in the laboratory of an expert investigator. The curriculum is designed specifically for undergraduate students with an interest in biomedical research, with the eventual goal of MD, PhD, or MD-PhD degrees. For additional information and an application, go to their website or email questions to ussp@mail.med.upenn.edu. ♦
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute is pleased to announce CRISSP, The CHOP Research Institute Summer Scholars Program. CRISSP is a new, 10-week competitive summer internship program for undergraduate students interested in careers in the biomedical sciences. The internship is designed to provide students with theoretical knowledge, practical training in academic research, and critical exposure to pediatric-focused career trajectories under the direct mentorship of CHOP faculty. Full time immersion in a lab or research group allows interns to experience science and discovery first hand.
CRISSP offers opportunities in basic, clinical, behavioral, and translational research. In addition to completing an independent research project, interns learn basic techniques and gain exposure to how research is conducted under the direction of CHOP faculty. Interns present their independent research project at a commencement event open to the entire research community. A stipend will be provided. The program runs June 4 to August 11, 2012. Additional information is available on their website. ♦
Pennsylvania Oncology Hematology Associates (POHA)
Dr. David Henry, Princeton Class of '70, an oncologist/hematologist at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, is looking for a senior interested in a 1-2 year experience before going on to medical school. They are a seven-oncologist at POHA , heavily involved in patient research and are looking for a research assistant in their office to help in several areas. This person would be involved with clinical trials and have some patient contact. The ideal applicant would also be very familiar with computers, word processing, PowerPoint presentations, and researching literature on the web. A portion of your time would also be involved with writing and helping to submit manuscripts for publication at meetings and journals, with co-authorship. Those who are interested to apply for the position should contact Nicole Stavely. ♦
Jefferson College of Graduate Studies
Thomas Jefferson University is an internationally recognized academic health center with over $140,000,000 in sponsored biomedical research programs that provide a wide variety of opportunities for student research training. Jefferson College of Graduate Studies offers academic programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in a variety of biomedical areas. Information on their 2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Program is currently posted, additional information about future graduate training opportunities at Jefferson can be accessed from their website. ♦
New York area
Bellevue Hospital Research Associate
The Research Associate Internship allows students an opportunity to experience and observe many different aspects of clinical research at Bellevue. The program is comprised of clinical research shifts based in the Emergency Department. It offers the committed student a unique experience, which is intended to furnish a wealth of knowledge about the numerous options for a career in healthcare.
Columbia/Amgen
Through the generous support of the Amgen Foundation, Columbia University & Barnard College now offer a summer research program to a select group of motivated undergraduate students. You may apply if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and currently a sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior at a four-year college or university in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territory. Students work full-time in a research lab and receive a $4,000 stipend and housing. The Amgen Scholars' Program runs for ten weeks, beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. All Amgen Scholars will participate in a conference in California sponsored by the Amgen Foundation. For further information regarding the Amgen Scholars' Program, contact Dr. Alice Heicklen or go to the Columbia/Barnard Amgen Scholars' Program website. ♦
Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School is a ten-week research program that is designed for approximately 20 outstanding undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in biomedically related sciences. Students in the program have the opportunity to:
- obtain hands-on research experience in cutting edge laboratories;
- interact with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students;
- attend a weekly luncheon/seminar series of presentations by faculty;
- attend skills/development workshops to hone presentation skills, interview skills, etc.;
- attend and present at works-in-progress sessions with the cohort of SURP students;
- present their research at a special poster session at the end of the ten-week program.
Students who are interested in attending this program should email: surp@sloankettering.edu for additional information. ♦
Mt. Sinai Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, located in New York City, offers summer research internships to outstanding undergraduate students who are planning to pursue an MD/PhD or a PhD and who are interested in doing research at a leading biomedical institution. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at Mount Sinai is a 10-week program that begins in early June. SURP fellows receive intensive biomedical research training in a cutting-edge biomedical laboratory, thus gaining an insider’s perspective into Mount Sinai graduate programs and academic life. The fellowship includes free housing and a $3,500 stipend. ♦
Rockefeller University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
The Rockefeller University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates to conduct laboratory research. SURF students work with leading scientists in a broad range of areas including biochemistry; structural biology and chemistry; molecular, cell and developmental biology; immunology; virology and microbiology; neuroscience; physics; and mathematical biology.
College sophomores and juniors are eligible to spend 10 weeks during the summer in a Rockefeller University laboratory. The program begins in early June and ends in mid-August.
Additional details can be found on the Rockefeller University SURF webpage. ♦
The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences
The Sackler Institute at New York University, in coordination with the M.D./Ph.D. Program and the Office of Diversity Affairs offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Program for qualified sophomores and juniors who are interested in pursuing M.D., M.D./Ph.D. or Ph.D. degrees and a career in research. Students may work with faculty in the disciplines of Biochemistry, Biomedical Imaging, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Developmental Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Oncology, Molecular Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Physiology, Parasitology, Structural Biology, Forensic Pathology, Computational Biology and Virology. Students are matched with an investigator of their choice or placed in a laboratory working in an area of their interest. Undergraduate researchers are given their own project which they present at a poster session at the end of the summer. They are expected to perform on a graduate student level. ♦
Other Northeast and Mid-Atantic
The National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. Composed of 27 Institutes and Centers, the NIH provides leadership and financial support to researchers in every state and throughout the world. Training opportunities include the Summer Internship Program (SIP) and post-baccalaureate intramural training awards (IRTA) for students who wish to pursue research after graduation, prior to entering health professions school.
While you are visiting the NIH site, be sure to check out the National Library of Medicine. The NLM is an excellent resource for health related articles and publications. ♦
Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology (HST) Summer Institute
The Summer Institute at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology offers a unique opportunity for outstanding undergraduate college students considering a career in biomedical engineering and medical science. This highly competitive program offers a hands-on research experience in a scientific community internationally recognized for its leadership and commitment to excellence. Participants are supported by cutting-edge research facilities and expert mentors.♦
Georgetown Summer Medical Institute
Georgetown Summer Medical Institute is a program aimed at providing preparation and insight for individuals exploring the calling of medicine as a career. The program provides summer medical courses for college undergraduates and post-bacc students. These courses include Gross Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Human Physiology, and Microscopic Anatomy. For more information check the GSMI website or send an email. ♦
Johns Hopkins University Summer Institute in Anatomy for Undergraduates
The Summer Institute in Anatomy for Undergraduates is a four week course that meets for 4 hours each day, 5 days a week. It is designed to give undergraduate students an introduction to all aspects of human anatomy, and includes demonstrations using human cadavers. A regional approach will be employed, beginning with the thorax and abdomen, continuing with the limbs, and ending with the head and neck. Lectures on each topic will be given in the morning, followed by prosection demonstrations (i.e., dissections prepared by departmental staff and presented to students) on human cadavers in the afternoon. Course materials will also involve hands-on work with human bones, various imaging modalities (e.g., radiographs, CT scans), and computer programs. Student performance will be evaluated by both written and practical (cadaver-based) exams. To allow individualized instruction, the course is limited in enrollment. ♦
Institute for Community Health (Cambridge, MA)
The Institute for Community Health was founded in 2000 to be a nationally recognized organization dedicated to health status improvement through facilitation and collaborative sponsorship of community-based research, assessment, dissemination, and educational activities. The Institute was founded by Cambridge Health Alliance, Mt Auburn Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital of Partners HealthCare, and functions as a unique collaboration of these three Massachusetts health care systems. Clinical/community health research-based summer internships are available regularly - check the website for more details.
Midwest
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
CWRU offers a rich variety of paid research opportunities, including:
- Pediatrics Program in Summer Research, June-August: A 10-week program in biomedical and psychosocial research relating to pediatric disorders
- Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering, June-August: A 10-week program funded by the National Science Foundation offered through the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
- Undergraduate Research, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute: Various opportunities for juniors and seniors to gain hands-on experience in laboratory techniques and to explore careers in biomedical research.
- Undergraduate Research, Cleveland Clinic Center for Reproductive Medicine, June-August: An eight-to 12-week program in human fertility and reproductive biology research with world-renowned scientists from the Cleveland Clinic Center for Reproductive Medicine.
A full list of programs at Case is available here. ♦
Pritzker School of Medicine Experience in Research (PSOMER)
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine developed Pritzker School of Medicine Education in Research (PSOMER), an eight-week research, educational, and mentoring experience focused on fostering diversity within medicine. Rising junior and senior college students applied for this residential program from all over the country, and among the 120 applications submitted, ten individuals were selected for the program. The research they conducted ranged from bench to clinical projects, reflecting our faculty’s commitment to advancing the science and practice of medicine. Participants augmented their research work with weekly cluster group meetings on their projects and with seminars that enriched their understanding of research, ethics, health care disparities, and the tools of research. At the end of the summer, each participant presented his or her work by writing a paper, giving a power point presentation, and presenting at a poster session. Throughout the program, participants benefited from the mentoring provided by faculty and medical students. ♦
University of Cincinnati Physician Scientist Training Program
The University of Cincinnati Physician Scientist Training Program is designed and provides experience for individuals who have a potential interest in combined MD/PhD training. It offers hands-on research experience in a medical school setting, with concomitant opportunity to determine how that research can contribute to the understanding and treatment of disease. Each intern is matched with an appropriate faculty advisor based on mutual research interests. The advisor and intern design a research project within the context of the current research in the advisors' laboratory, which can result in a student-authored publication. Each intern is also teamed with a physician who they can shadow on ward rounds, and clinical service and view operations. In addition to medically relevant research, the program includes an orientation picnic, weekly journal club meetings with students in the M.D./Ph.D combined-degree program and tours of the research and clinical facilities at both the University and Cincinnati Children´s Hospital Medical Center. The program concludes with a minisymposium where students present their research findings to their peers at a poster presentation. The SURP/PSTP program has proven to be an ideal way to introduce undergraduates to the requirements of combined degree training and the professional opportunities for future Physician-Scientists. ♦
University of Cincinnati ROSE program
The R.O.S.E. program is part internship, part early acceptance to medical school, and part mentorship program for Ohio residents. The purpose of the program is to provide stimulating experiences and contact with academic medical faculty for high ability, intellectually curious pre-medical college students. ♦
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research Program (SUMR)
The Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research (SUMR) program provides highly motivated undergrads. interested in a future combined MD/PhD training an exposure to the career of the physician-scientist. Participants carry out independent research under the direction of an established mentor in a clinical or basic science department. In addition to intensive lab. experience, students have the opportunity to gain clinical exposure through shadowing experiences with physician-scientist mentors and Emergency Room personnel. Also, students participate in a weekly seminar series demonstrating how science and medicine intersect. ♦
West and Southwest
The University of California San Francisco Summer Research Training Program (SRTP)
The University of California San Francisco Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) is a 10-week summer research and professional development program for students interested in careers as researchers and physician scientists. The program is designed for students in their sophomore or junior years of college. Participants receive intensive research laboratory experience and abundant mentorship. In addition, they participate in a variety of career development programs, scientific seminars, and specific career enhancement opportunities. Financial support includes a $3,000 stipend, dormitory-style housing, and travel funds to and from San Francisco for students who are not eligible for support from their home institution. Application deadline is February 1st. The brochure and application are available online. For additional information, please email or call the SRTP office at 415-514-0840. ♦
University of Texas Southwestern Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
The SURF program at UT Southwestern is an intensive summer research training experience designed for college students who are preparing for careers in biological research. Fellows spend ten weeks, pursuing individual research projects in the laboratories of UT Southwestern Graduate School faculty members. Fellows gain experience in modern research techniques, and have a chance to plan and execute an experimental strategy to answer a scientific question. The program introduces students to the sorts of projects encountered during postgraduate research training and leads to an understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the pursuit of basic answers to current questions in the biological sciences. At the end of the summer, fellows present their research in a poster session. In addition to laboratory research, fellows attend weekly seminars given by UT Southwestern faculty members. Informal discussions about careers in science and graduate training are also scheduled. Approximately 75 fellows participate in the summer research program. Fellows are selected by the faculty mentors and assigned to a research project according to each fellow's previous training and research interests. ♦
Baylor College of Medicine Summer Medical & Research Training Program (SMART)
The Summer Medical and Research Training Program is for undergraduate students who are interested in exploring a career in scientific research. We encourage Ph.D.-oriented candidates to apply. Up to 80 students are recruited for the SMART Program from across the nation. The program offers:
- Nine paid weeks of biomedically related research in a broad range of areas
- Daily seminars designed for undergraduates
- Free SMART GRE prep workshops
- Career development activities
- Housing at Rice University dorms ♦
South
Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, in Atlanta Georgia has a wide variety of summer internship positions and other training and employment opportunities posted on their website, including many that are specifically for students from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds.. For additional information, call 1-888-CDC-HIRE. ♦
Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA)
The Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA) offers biomedical research opportunities to undergraduates who want to pursue a career in the biomedical sciences. Although each participating program operates independently, the academy unites students and provides them with opportunities for academic and social interaction. There are two major tracks within the VSSA; the Basic Science Programs for undergraduates interested in careers in research, and the Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program for undergraduates who wish to pursue a career in medicine. Participation in any one of the Summer Science Academy programs is a valuable learning experience that enhances a student's skills and makes him or her more competitive for acceptance to graduate programs. ♦