Summer Internships for Undergrads
“Simply put, this experience exceeded my expectations: instead of getting a mere window into research at a major institution, I felt like I was knee-deep in truly engaging work at the bench and contributing to the lab.”
Apply here for a summer 2020 internship!
Learn about Projects being offered here
Applications are due by February 9, 2020 for consideration. This year’s program runs from June 8th until August 14th.
About the Program
The Undergraduate Summer Internship is our headline program enabling undergraduate students to collaborate with our researchers, as well as their own peers, through Harvard’s Quantitative Biology Initiative and the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. Participants work in our labs, gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art tools, learn cutting-edge scientific techniques in our dynamic research environment. Students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD, and students from under-represented minorities or disadvantaged backgrounds, are especially encouraged to apply.
The internship runs for 10 weeks from June to August each year. Interns are provided with housing and a stipend of $5,000.
Our Community
Every year, the internship features presentations, seminars, lectures, networking opportunities, and a chance to have some fun with your peers. Interns will also have the opportunity to take advantage of our proximity to Boston’s diverse cultural and social scene, conveniently accessible via the T, Boston’s public transport system.
Eligibility
Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents who are currently enrolled full-time in good standing at an accredited public or private college or university in the United States or a US territory. Participants must be 18 years or older by the start of the program.
Application Process
The following materials will be required of every applicant. The materials must be uploaded to the application as PDF files.
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts:
- Transcripts should include information for all undergraduate courses you have taken at the time you apply. If you have attended multiple institutions, you can upload one transcript if that transcript lists all transfer credits. If it does not, you should upload a transcript from each institution you have attended.
- Essay
- Part 1: Describe your previous research experiences and future academic and career goals.
- Part 2: Discuss one of this year’s projects/labs and why you find it interesting. What have you learned in your undergraduate research or coursework that makes you interested in this project/lab? (NOTE: Your selection for this essay does not commit you to a certain lab.)
- Two Academic Recommendations
- We will ask for the contact info for both recommenders. They should be familiar with your work in an academic or research setting. Please be sure to give your recommenders ample advance notice and confirm that they will be able to submit their letters by the deadline.
Note for Harvard undergraduates: Harvard students who fulfill the eligibility criteria and are interested in working in one of our labs should contact the head of the relevant lab directly. We also encourage you to apply for PRISE or HCRP funding through URAF.
Contact Brittney Milligan at brittney_milligan@hms.harvard.edu with any questions.
Other Science Internships at Harvard
Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)