Organized Summer Internship Programs at Universities and Other Academic Research Institutions
By Michael Koelle, Director of Undergraduate Studies, MB&B, Yale University
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About organized academic summer research programs
A number of universities and medical centers have organized summer research internship programs. Generally these programs exist so that these institutions can bring outstanding students in for a summer with the hope of getting the best ones to come back for graduate or medical school. Even the top programs in the country are in a battle with each other to recruit the very best, and these summer programs are one tool they use. A few of the very best research institutions in this country are not associated with undergraduate programs (e.g. Rockefeller University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the University of California, San Francisco, and UT Southwestern). Since these institutions don’t have a home-grown source of undergraduates for summer research projects, they rely entirely on organized internship programs to get good students from outside. Thus these programs provide special opportunities, but may be highly competitive.
Students fill out an application, and if chosen for the program are matched with a professor at the institution with whom they carry out a summer research project. Typically funding and housing are provided. Sometimes there are nice bonuses, like special lectures for the students in the program, and a research symposium at the end of the summer at which students present their research. The organized nature of these programs means that all of the logistical details (finding a lab, finding housing, getting funding) are taken care of for you. Also, you will meet other students in the internship program that you can hang out with over the summer.
The downside of these organized internship programs is that you may not be able to choose in advance the specific professor or lab in which you will do your research, and this is what will primarily determine the quality of your experience. How this works varies with each program, so keep this issue in mind when looking at these programs. Because some of the programs are at outstanding institutions with many world-class labs, if you work things right you can have an excellent experience in these programs.
Listing of organized academic summer research programs
Located on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, Rockefeller University is one of the world’s premier biomedical research institutions. Do great science and live in a great part of Manhattan! This is a highly competitive program. The application deadline is February 1.
Located on Long Island, just across the Sound from Yale, this is one of the world’s premier research institutions. It is also famous for the parade of famous visiting scientists who come through each summer for scientific meetings and to teach advanced courses. The lab buildings are situated in the woods, right next to the water. Application deadline is February 1.
You may not have heard of UCSF because it doesn’t have an undergraduate program. But it has one of the very best graduate schools and medical schools in the country, and it is located in San Francisco! Application deadline is February 1.
The NIH has a very large research institution located in Bethesda, Maryland (plus smaller facilities scattered at other locations around the country) where government scientists carry out biomedical research. This is a unique institution that is funded and organized differently from the research labs headed by professors at universities or medical centers. The NIH labs do not have undergraduate or graduate programs, so the only students in these labs are the summer interns who come in through this program. This is a large internship program that many Yale students have participated in. The quality of your experience will largely be determined by the lab you end up being assigned to once you are accepted in the program. The application deadline is March 1.
The Weizmann Institute is one of the world’s premier scientific institutions. Their summer internship program, I am told, provides full funding for Yale undergraduates. This is an opportunity to get a fully funded overseas internship that should also be an outstanding scientific experience. The deadline for the program is quite early: December 31
Live in Paris! The Institut Pasteur is a France’s premier research institution and has a grand history. The internship program provides a $4,000 stipend but no other money for travel or housing. Application deadline January 15.
Mount Sinai is a well-respected research institution located in a nice part of Manhattan, and the program provides you with housing right there in the student residence hall. Application deadline is February 1.
Another opportunity to live in New York City and do research at a well-respected institution. Application deadline is February 1.
Yet another opportunity to live in New York City and do research at a well-respected institution. Application deadline is February 1.
Located in the Bronx, this is a well-respected research institution. Application deadline February 1.
Baylor is a large and well-respected research institution located in Houston Texas. Application deadline January 10.
UNC has an outstanding research program. Application deadline March 1.
For students interested in biotechnology engineering. Application deadline March 1, 2007. This program is funded for summer 2007 by the National Science Foundation, but may not continue in future years.
Application deadline February 28.