For up-to-date information, please visit each program's individual web page.
Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH)
Harvard Griffin GSAS administers the Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) program, but you may be interested in other programs at Harvard's many schools and affiliated hospitals.
Other Summer Programs
Programs in the Life Sciences
Broad Summer Research Program
The Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) is a nine-week summer research opportunity designed for undergraduates with a commitment to biomedical research and an interest in genomics. Students spend the summer performing original computational or experimental-based research in labs across the Broad's research areas. BSRP features a rich curriculum outside the lab that emphasizes science communication, collaborative problem-solving, graduate school preparation, and demystifying scientific careers. At the end of the summer, students deliver oral and poster presentations on their research. Additionally, participants will receive a stipend, summer housing, and travel support. Eligibility is limited to US citizens, permanent residents, or non-US citizens with employment authorization.
Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC)
The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) introduces Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students to cancer research. Each year, CURE selects several students to participate in full-time summer internships lasting 7 to 11 weeks. Interns are assigned individual mentors who oversee their research and offer guidance. In addition to working on a research project, participants benefit from various program activities, such as a comprehensive orientation, scientific research and professional development seminars, journal club discussions, networking, and social events. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a biomedical or health-related research career. Students receive a weekly stipend.
Du Bois Scholars Program
The Du Bois Scholars Program is a fully-funded, nine-week summer research internship at Harvard College for scholars from select R2 and research-focused Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Prospective Du Bois Scholars will apply to the program by selecting the project and faculty mentor they desire to work with during the summer. Scholars will receive dedicated hands-on mentorship and gain access to a rigorous research and learning environment that fosters intellectual growth and personal development. The program will conclude with a final presentation of their research to fellow scholars, faculty mentors, and teams. Accommodations include on-campus housing, a stipend, a meal plan, and travel costs.
Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program
Harvard-Amgen Scholars will conduct biotechnology-focused research with Harvard scientists over the course of this 10-week summer program. Scholars will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and other members of the academic community at Harvard through scholarly and pre-professional development activities that include workshops on scientific communication, careers in STEM, and preparation for graduate/medical school application processes and student life. Scholars have opportunities to explore the Boston area through a variety of social activities and outings, and attend the Amgen Scholars North America Symposium. Applicants must be currently enrolled undergraduates from colleges and universities within the US and its territories intending to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD in fields related to biotechnology and biomedical research who meet the program’s eligibility criteria. Prior research experience is not required. Housing and meals on Harvard’s Cambridge campus, travel allowance, and a stipend are provided.
Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology
The Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology is an 11-week research program that allows students to participate in ongoing research at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. Projects focus on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest ecosystems including global warming, hurricanes, forest harvesting, and invasive organisms. Researchers come from many disciplines, and specific studies center on population and community ecology, paleoecology, land-use history, phenology, biogeochemistry, soil science, ecophysiology, and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges. Students work with mentors from Harvard and collaborating institutions. Responsibilities may include field sampling, laboratory studies, data analysis and scientific writing. Students attend seminars given by nationally known scientists and workshops on career and graduate school preparation. At the end of the summer, students present their research results by writing an abstract and presenting their findings at a student research symposium. The program provides room, board, travel expenses, and a competitive stipend.
Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program (HIP)
The HSCI summer internship program (HIP) for undergraduates is a nine-week experience dedicated to hands-on research in the laboratory of an HSCI faculty member. The program is an open door; an invitation to learn and do as much as you can to develop your own interests within the overarching topic of stem cell science. Our interns arrive from a wide variety of colleges and universities worldwide. Some have extensive prior academic and research experience with stem cell science, while others have little, or even none at all. This diversity is part of what makes our program rich and unique.
Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP) at Harvard Medical School
SHURP is a 10-week summer research program for undergraduates who are considering a PhD in the life sciences. We especially encourage applications from students belonging to groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. In addition to laboratory-based research with Harvard Medical School faculty, the program includes sessions on career and professional development and research discussion, a peer mentoring program, and social outings. Students will also attend and present at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium. Stipend, housing, and travel are provided. Strong applicants will have at least one summer or semester of experience in a research laboratory and have taken at least one upper-level biology course. Students apply through the Leadership Alliance SR-EIP. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School
The Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics (SIBMI) is a nine-week (June-August) full-time extensive research opportunity with a curriculum including didactic lectures and clinical case studies. Students are carefully matched with faculty mentors from the Harvard Medical School Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) for a research project and presentation of findings. The program is for undergraduates with majors such as computer science, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, mathematics, and other quantitative interests and skills who aspire to contribute to translational advances in biomedicine with a future PhD or research-oriented MD or MD/PhD. The majority of SIBMI students go on to pursue their PhD, MD, or MD/PhD. A stipend, housing, and a travel allowance are provided. If you are an undergraduate with a strong quantitative background and interested in innovation and methodological rigor in your approach to scientific inquiry in biomedicine or in the translation of computational methods to engineering/software applications in medicine, this is the summer program for you! US citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Summer Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health
The BPH Summer Internship Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers rising juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to conduct laboratory research on global public health issues. This highly competitive, eight-week program provides a $4,000 stipend, housing at Emmanuel College, and travel to/from Boston. Interns work on independent research projects under Harvard faculty mentorship, culminating in a research presentation. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents, 18 or older, with a GPA of 3.0+ and a strong interest in public health research.
Summer Undergraduate Program in Immunology at Harvard Medical School
Our 10-week summer internship program incorporates laboratory research, faculty lectures, and workshops led by current graduate students. Weekly lectures by program faculty will expose students to the areas of current research in immunology, emphasizing the contribution of the immune system to both the cause and treatment of many human diseases. Current PhD students in the Immunology Program serve as teaching fellows (TFs) for the course. TFs will give lectures providing a basic immunology overview to assist students’ understanding of their summer research project and expose them to the diverse topics encompassed by immunology. TFs will also explain common immunological laboratory techniques. Finally, TFs will be available to answer questions about the PhD process, from applying to graduate school to life as a full-time student researcher. Students will be chosen based on undergraduate background, interest in studying life sciences at the graduate level, and letters of reference. Preference will be given to students in their sophomore or junior year. Students from colleges where immunology is not taught, where undergraduate research opportunities are not abundant, and from disadvantaged backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must be eligible for employment in the US, with at least one year of undergraduate study remaining.
Systems Biology Summer Internship Program
The Systems Biology Summer Internship Program is a paid internship that enables undergraduates from domestic institutions to work on research projects spanning many scientific fields, including systems biology, biophysics, bioinformatics, genomics, applied mathematics, and computational biology. Participants learn a range of cutting-edge techniques in the exciting and dynamic research environments in quantitative and systems labs across Harvard. Participants must be US citizens or permanent residents, at least 18 years old, and enrolled in an accredited US institution or university. Our applications open in late November and decisions are made by the middle of February. The program provides a stipend, housing, and travel costs, as well as professional development opportunities and a suite of cohort activities that build community and provide students with mentoring during and beyond the summer program.
Programs in Medicine (MD and MD-PhD)
Four Directions Summer Research Program
The Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP) provides an opportunity for talented Native American undergraduates to explore careers in the medical profession under the guidance and supervision of staff from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The FDSRP is an eight-week summer research opportunity offered to undergraduate and first-year medical students with a commitment to the health of Native American communities. Interns engage in basic science or translational research projects under the supervision of Harvard Medical School faculty advisors. Students also receive career development training, meet faculty from across the hospital and medical school, and participate in a variety of social networking events. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. A stipend, housing and travel costs are provided.
Harvard/MIT Early Access to Research Training (HEART) MD-PhD Summer Program
HEART is a track in the Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP) for undergraduate students interested in pursuing MD-PhD training. In addition to the benefits of being a SHURP student, HEART students also shadow clinicians at Harvard teaching hospitals, gain hands-on experience in clinical simulations and skills workshops, and have a career and professional development series tailored toward the MD/PhD. HEART applicants must submit the Leadership Alliance SR-EIP application and the HEART supplementary application available on the HEART website before February 1. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine
The Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine (HSRPKM) offers a robust and varied introduction to the world of kidney medicine (nephrology) for undergraduate college students considering a career in science or medicine and particularly suited for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD. The program is an intensive research experience and students are encouraged to become immersed in their project by reading about the focus of the laboratory and participating in meetings and events hosted by the laboratory. Students will be assigned to a laboratory that does research in kidney medicine in one of four research institutions connected to Harvard Medical School: Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston’s Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program
The Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) is administered by the Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. The SSRP provides undergraduate students with intensive laboratory and clinical research experience under the guidance of faculty and fellow mentors. Undergraduate students with a GPA of at least 3.5 are encouraged to apply. Each student should plan to dedicate eight consecutive weeks, between June 1 and August 31, with a 35-hour commitment per week. A stipend is provided but housing and travel are not provided. Scheduling conflicts may be worked out with mentors on an individual basis.
Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
The goal of the eight-week Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) is to provide underrepresented minority students with an overview of opportunities available in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Students are assigned to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) laboratories or clinical sites where they undertake original research projects and prepare presentations of their work under the mentorship of an MGH investigator. In addition to this research experience, students will attend weekly seminars, career development workshops and networking events. The program is open to underrepresented minority students who have completed at least three years of college or who are first-year medical students; no prior research experience is necessary. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Housing, meals, and a stipend are provided.
Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship (STARS) Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital
The STARS Program provides underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduate and first-year medical students with a strong interest in pursuing advanced careers as research scientists, physicians and/or health care professionals with an opportunity to engage in basic, clinical and translational research projects during an eight-week summer program at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS). Interns participate in a research project under the supervision of an HMS faculty mentor. Additional activities include "Research 101" education and training sessions, social networking opportunities, weekly roundtables with BWH Faculty and the Office for Multicultural Faculty Careers, and community health center/clinic shadowing. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Housing, travel, and a stipend are provided.
Programs in Public Health
Fostering Advancement & Careers through Enrichment Training in Science (FACETS)
Fostering Advancement & Careers through Enrichment Training in Science (FACETS) offers participants coursework as well as professional development and networking opportunities. Participants in the six-week program explore public health research topics with the help of a research mentor and a graduate student mentor.
Summer Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health
The BPH Summer Internship Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers rising juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to conduct laboratory research on global public health issues. This highly competitive, eight-week program provides a $4,000 stipend, housing at Emmanuel College, and travel to/from Boston. Interns work on independent research projects under Harvard faculty mentorship, culminating in a research presentation. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 18 or older, with a GPA of 3.0+ and a strong interest in public health research.
Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology at the Harvard School of Public Health
The Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology is an intensive six-week introduction to biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health research. Based at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, this program is designed to introduce qualified undergraduates and post-baccalaureates to the use of quantitative methods for biological, environmental and medical research, and to demonstrate the application of quantitative methods to the study of human health. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Programs in the Physical Sciences
Center for Astrophysics (CFA) Solar Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program
Scientists from the Solar and Stellar X-Ray Group (SSXG) and the Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Group (SSP) at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) host undergraduate students from around the US. For 10 weeks, these students will participate in cutting-edge astronomical research about the sun and the heliosphere and learn the skills necessary for a successful scientific career. Projects range from data analysis to computer modeling to instrument building. Special seminars will be held to increase students' public speaking and computer programming skills. Students will learn from experience about scientific research and how to apply their academic work to real-world problems. Some time will also be devoted to exploring Cambridge, MA and the surrounding area. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. A stipend, housing and travel costs are provided.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is a 10-week program that introduces undergraduates to bioengineering, materials science, nanoscience, environmental and earth science, and engineering, while providing a coordinated, educational, and dynamic research community that inspires them to seek a graduate degree. REU research opportunities are arranged in conjunction with the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), the Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS), the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, as well as other Harvard-based engineering and science entities. Professional development workshops, faculty seminars on research and ethics, and community activities are integrated into the program. Students receive a stipend and housing. Students must be US citizens and permanent residents who will not graduate before December of the program year.
Programs in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Du Bois Scholars Program
The Du Bois Scholars Program is a fully funded, nine-week summer research internship at Harvard College for scholars from select R2 and research-focused Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Prospective Du Bois Scholars will apply to the program by selecting the project and faculty mentor they desire to work with during the summer. Scholars will receive dedicated hands-on mentorship and gain access to a rigorous research and learning environment that fosters intellectual growth and personal development. The program will conclude with a final presentation of their research to fellow scholars, faculty mentors and teams. Accommodations include on-campus housing, a stipend, a meal plan, and travel costs.
Program for Research in Markets & Organizations
The Program for Research in Markets & Organizations (PRIMO) provides an opportunity for Harvard and non-Harvard undergraduates (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled full-time at a US institution) to work closely with Harvard Business School faculty, gaining exposure to business research on a variety of cutting-edge ideas. The primary goal of the program is to build and foster a strong community of scholars committed to excellence in research as part of the Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village. Students must commit to the 10-week program and are provided with Harvard campus housing, meals, and a research stipend.