Biology students are encouraged to engage in a number of extracurricular activities that include internships, shadowing, and undergraduate research (both internal and external).
Below are lists of internships and external research opportunities for our undergraduate students. If applying for one or more of these opportunities, consider contacting a member of the science faculty for references/recommendations, and make an appointment with OCU Career Services for assistance in updating resumes.
Application dates will vary from year to year. Check with the appropriate institution/agency for up-to-date information.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) funded REUs. to see a comprehensive list of the NSF funded REU programs in the Biological Sciences.
- The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has an extensive list of summer research opportunities across the U.S.
- University of Nebraska. Summer Research Program. This intensive summer research experience provides mentoring and research experiences while allowing scholars to preview graduate school life. Students with a strong interest in graduate programs are particularly encouraged to apply, as are those from populations traditionally underrepresented in graduate education. Priority review begins Feb. 1 and all applications must be completed by March 1. .
- The Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease (CIHMID) is accepting applications for the NSF-funded Microbial Friends & Foes Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Program. Students will receive a stipend of $6,000 travel subsidy, meal allowance and on-campus housing. Applicants will be asked to identify three laboratories of interest, and will be selected in a two-step review process by the program organizers and potential mentors. Applications are due Feb. 1.
- The NSF funded NeuroNEM REU is a nine-week summer program for undergraduate students to work collaboratively on brain dynamics research projects related to neuronal networks underlying epilepsy and memory. The program provides financial support, educational and career advancing opportunities, with hands-on graduate-level laboratory research experience and guidance by dedicated mentoring faculty and research staff at universities across three states: Louisiana, Alabama, & Arkansas. Application deadline is mid-February.
- Applications are now being accepted for the summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Population Biology of Infectious Diseases, hosted by the University of Georgia. Students will receive a $5,175 stipend for the summer, free housing at the University of Georgia, and travel assistance to Athens, GA. Application deadline is mid-February.
- The OU-TU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa is offering a six-week Summer Undergraduate Internship. Interns who successfully complete the program will receive a $750 award to be used for future educational expenses (at OU or other institutions). Application deadline is March 1.
- Rising juniors (current sophomores) and rising seniors (current juniors) are encouraged to apply to be part of the Dean of Medical Education's Academy for Research, Clinical, and Health Equity Scholarship (ARCHES) program at Georgetown School of Medicine. Spend your summer shadowing physicians, engaging in independent research, and learning our health equity in the Washington DC area. Application deadline is mid-February. .
- The Sens Research Foundation Summer Scholars Program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct biomedical research to combat diseases of aging, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's Disease. Application deadline is mid-January.
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) Fleming Scholar Program. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- The Texas A&M University College of Medicine’s Summer Research Program received support from the American Heart Association SouthWest Affiliate that will provide $4,000 stipends to selected students who perform cardiovascular research during the 10-week program. Application deadline is Feb. 1.
- State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical Center. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF). The aim of the SURF program is to expose undergraduate students to biomedical research. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) at Michigan State University seeks to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. Applications will be reviewed through Feb. 1.
- The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) has several opportunities for summer research. Different programs have different deadlines. .
- Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences sponsors a ten-week research program for outstanding undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the biomedical sciences. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) in Cancer. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)-Cancer Program at UT Southwestern's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is an intensive summer research training experience designed for college students who are preparing for Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. careers in biomedical research. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program. The POE program offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, or public health to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- Colorado State University. Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Molecular Biosciences. Program offers qualified undergraduates from throughout the country the opportunity to conduct research projects in biochemistry and molecular biology for ten weeks each summer. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- University of Georgia. Fungal Genomic and Computational Biology. Hands-on research in Genomics and Computational Biology will bring participants recruited nationally from underrepresented groups to the University of Georgia campus for 10 weeks in the Summer of 2024. Application deadline is March 1. .
Application dates will vary from year to year. Check with the appropriate institution/agency for up-to-date information.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) funded REUs. to see a comprehensive list of the NSF funded REU programs in the Biological Sciences.
- Each year the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) matches approximately 40 students with mentors from around the world. Students have opportunities to work on a wide array of ecological and evolutionary field projects. This is a wonderful opportunity for students thinking about a career in the sciences. RMBL is located in Gothic, Colorado, a stunningly beautiful location in the Rockies. Applications are due by March 1. .
- University of California Santa Cruz. Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program. Exposes early-career college students to the field of environmental conservation through field research, leadership and professional training. Application deadline is Feb. 1. .
- Brooklyn College and the City University of New York are now accepting applications for our summer REU in Urban Ecology and the Environment (BUEE), which will run this summer from June 4 through Aug. 9. BUEE offers an integrative summer research program aimed at developing early-career undergraduate students into mature and thoughtful environmental scientists. Students are provided with a competitive stipend, housing and food allowances, and relocation credit for travel from outside the region. Applications from STEM-underrepresented students are especially encouraged. Applications are due by April 1. .
- Tarleton State University is now accepting applications for our NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) cohort. Students hired for the REU will spend 10 weeks on Tarleton’s Stephenville campus while conducting research at Timberlake Biological Field Station. Their research will focus on restoring cattle ranches for sustainable land and water resources. Application are due March 1. .
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) has run our Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program on Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Changing Coastal Environments since 2011. REU students are immersed in the LUMCON community and will have the opportunity to participate in seminars, laboratory outreach programs, social events, and more throughout the summer. Application deadline is mid March.
- Little Rock Zoo Summer Internship Program. The Little Rock Zoo will soon be accepting applications for 2025 summer animal care and conservation educator internships. Application deadlines vary.
- The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's (SERC) Internship Program offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental research and public engagement. This program enables students to work on independent research projects under the direction of a SERC mentor. Application deadline for summer is mid Feb. Winter and fall applications are also accepted on Nov. 15 and June 1 respectively.
- The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology’s research experience for undergraduates program, “Exploration of Marine Biology on the Oregon Coast” (EMBOC) offers fellowship opportunities for undergraduate students from both 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities to participate in ongoing marine science research at the University of Oregon’s marine lab during the summer months. Application deadline is mid Feb.
- Miami University (Oxford, Ohio). "The Ecology of Human Dominated Landscapes". Rolling application deadline is first of December with final deadline as mid March. .
- Michigan State University, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). NSF funded KBS REU positions give students an opportunity to conduct full-time research. Application deadline is mid February. .
- The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Natural History Research Experiences. A 10-week summer internship program hosted at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Application deadline is mid Jan. .
Application dates will vary from year to year. Check with the appropriate institution/agency for up-to-date information.
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis. Summer Research Experiences (SRE) for Undergraduates and Teachers. Participants from all over the country work in teams with NIMBioS postdocs and University of Tennessee, Knoxville faculty on research at the interface of mathematics and biology. Application deadline is Feb. 1.
- Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Summer Instructor or Teaching Assistant. Review of applications vary.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) funded REUs. to see a comprehensive list of the NSF funded REU programs in the Chemistry.
- The Summer in Cyprus: Pre-Med program is an exciting opportunity for students interested in the medical profession. Through its courses and labs it will allow students to become familiar with clinical settings while obtaining substantial exposure and experience in the medical field. The program will be hosted by the University of Nicosia and its prestigious newly-established Medical School. .
- The University of Oklahoma Biological Station @ Lake Texoma offers several courses each summer. Application deadline is in May of each year.
- The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory offers several courses each semester. Application deadline is in April of each year. .
- Ecosystem Field Studies offers summer-break sections of Caribbean Ecosystem Field Studies (June 7-27) and Colorado Ecosystem Field Studies (July 19 – Aug. 8).
Financial Aid
If you have a 3.0 GPA or higher, you may qualify for Academic Scholarships.