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Students can apply to any of the programs described below by using the SCSE Summer Research Common Application.
Students may apply to multiple summer research programs using the same application, but may accept only one award if selected for more than one program.
Making A Difference Through Research
UMD students impact our world through the work they do and the knowledge they pursue.
Every year, hundreds of Swenson College students get involved in research on campus by partnering with our dedicated faculty. They work in campus labs, in forests, on lakes even in other states and countries to pursue new information. It’s one reason many of our students love it here - you don’t have to wait to dive into your field of study.
As an undergraduate student (freshman through senior), you can get hands-on research experience at Swenson College. Taking advantage of research opportunities will:
- Challenge you to achieve high goals
- Help you learn what you like and dislike in a given field
- Introduce you to other students that share your passion
- Connect you with faculty mentors that will help you reach your goals
In addition to working with faculty on their areas of expertise, you can conduct research on things you are passionate about that will assist you in the pursuit of your degree.
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Biological Undergraduate Research in Science and Technology (BURST)
Biological Undergraduate Research in Science and Technology (BURST)
Host: Biology Department
Research Advisers: Biology faculty in this list.
Duration: 10 weeks
Stipend: $6,100
Research expenses: $600
Housing, health insurance, & transportation: Not included.
Requirements: Attend weekly seminars, research group meetings, recreational activities, and present at the Poster Symposium.
Summer research opportunity
The Biology Undergraduate Research in Science and Technology (BURST) fellowship program is designed to give qualified UMD Biology majors the opportunity to take part in an in-depth summer research project. For students interested in pursuing further education once they attain their bachelor’s degree, this is an excellent opportunity to experience what in-depth research outside the classroom is like. The BURST program is intended to be an intensive research experience for students who already have some less intensive experience (e.g. UROP, lab volunteering, etc.).
The BURST program runs for ten weeks from Late May to early August. Fellows are expected to work full-time during that period. Due to the nature of biological research, this may on occasion involve working in the evening or on weekends. Fellows are expected to be willing to make reasonable accommodations in this regard as required for their specific research projects. The BURST program will end with a poster session in early August at which fellows will present their research to other BURST fellows, members of the UMD Department of Biology, and donors who have contributed to funding the BURST program. In addition, it is expected that many BURST research projects will lead to peer-reviewed publications in which the BURST fellow will be a co-author. This may involve additional participation beyond the ten-week summer period for data analysis and manuscript preparation. All BURST fellows will be appropriately recognized for their contributions to research that leads to a peer-reviewed publication.
Application Details
The application will be accessible on the SCSE Undergraduate Research Page starting January 14, 2026.
Applicants will be notified in March if they will be offered a BURST fellowship, and will be expected to accept or decline the fellowship within one week.
Eligibility:
- UMD Biology major
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in Biology major coursework (per APAS)
- Must be returning to UMD in the fall semester
- Students are not eligible to receive summer UROP funding concurrently with this award
- Please note that this is a full time research commitment. While May semester courses that conclude in early June may be allowed, students should not enroll in additional courses during the summer
Application Material:
- Essay describing past research experience (if any) and future plans in biology (500 words limit)
- Unofficial transcript(s)
- List up to three Biology faculty (unranked) you are interested in working with
For questions, please contact Jared Strasburg at [email protected]. The BURST Fellowship Committee and the UMD Department of Biology reserve the right to not award a fellowship if no applicant is deemed as meeting established criteria.
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Limnology Undergraduate Research Experience (LURE)
Limnology Undergraduate Research Experience (LURE)
Host: Large Lake Observatory
Research Advisers: LLO Faculty.
Duration: 10 weeks
Stipend: $6,100
Research expenses: $600
Housing, health insurance, & transportation: Not included.
Requirements: Attend weekly seminars, research group meetings, recreational activities, and present at the Poster Symposium.
Application Details
The application will be accessible on the SCSE Undergraduate Research Page starting January 14, 2026.
Applicants will be notified in March if they will be offered a LURE fellowship.
Eligibility
- SCSE major (any discipline)
- Must be returning to UMD in the fall semester
- Students are not eligible to receive summer UROP funding concurrently with this award
Application Materials
- Name of proposed LLO research supervisor
- A short paragraph (100-200 words) describing the research idea, motivation, and how the experience aligns with your goals
- A brief paragraph from the proposed LLO supervisor confirming willingness to mentor and the project’s alignment with LLO’s mission
For more information, contact Ted Ozersky at [email protected].
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Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
Host: Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
Research Advisers: Typically Chemistry or Biochemistry faculty; students may continue research with mentors outside the department.
Duration: 10 weeks
Stipend: $6,100
Research expenses: $600
Housing, health insurance, & transportation: Not included.
Requirements: Attend weekly seminars, research group meetings, recreational activities, and present at the Poster Symposium.
Application Details
The application will be accessible on the SCSE Undergraduate Research Page starting January 14, 2026.
Applicants will be notified after Spring Break if they will be offered a SURP fellowship.
Eligibility
- UMD Chemistry or Biochemistry major
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Must be returning to UMD in the fall semester
- Must have completed at least one year of college-level chemistry
- Students are not eligible to receive summer UROP funding concurrently with this award
- Preference is given to:
- Students completing their third year of the curriculum
- Students planning to attend graduate school
- Students who have not previously received a SURP award (repeat applicants still welcome).
Application Materials
- Personal statement (up to one page) describing professional goals and how SURP fits into those goals
- Unofficial transcript(s)
- Two letters of recommendation
- At least one from a faculty member
- At least one addressing laboratory skills (from faculty or a Graduate Teaching Assistant)
For more information, contact the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at [email protected].
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Swenson College Opportunities for Research Experiences (SCORE)
Swenson College Opportunities for Research Experiences (SCORE)
Host: Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Research Advisers: Any SCSE research active faculty
Duration: 10 weeks
Stipend: $6,100
Research expenses: $600
Housing, health insurance, & transportation: Not included.
Requirements: Attend weekly seminars, research group meetings, recreational activities, and present at the Poster Symposium.
Application Details
The application will be accessible on the SCSE Undergraduate Research Page starting January 14, 2026.
Applicants will be notified in March if they will be offered a SCORE fellowship.
Eligibility
- SCSE major (any discipline)
- Must be returning to UMD in the fall semester
- Students are not eligible to receive summer UROP funding concurrently with this award
Application Materials
- A short statement describing your research interest and goals
- Name(s) of faculty you are interested in working with
- Unofficial transcript
For more information, contact Alessandro Cembran [email protected] or Victor Lai [email protected].
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APPLY HERE for SCSE Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences
Students can apply to any of the programs described by using the SCSE Summer Research Common Application.
Students may apply to multiple summer research programs using the same application, but may accept only one award if selected for more than one program.
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Important Dates for Summer 2026
Important Dates for Summer 2026
- Application opens: January 14, 2026
- Application deadline: February 13, 2026
- Program begins: May 26, 2026
- Poster Session: July 30, 2026
- Program ends: July 31, 2026
How do I Get Involved in Research?
Most research-active faculty are looking for undergraduate students to engage with their research! Here are some steps to take to inquire about research opportunities:
Step 1: Identify faculty you are interested in working with. Perhaps a professor talked about their research in class that piqued your interest. Or you really enjoyed a particular professor’s class and would like to work with them on research. You may also visit individual Faculty pages to learn more about their research and find research topics that interest you.
In addition, a list of faculty who have actively expressed interest in engaging undergraduates for their research may be found here. Note that this list is not exhaustive - reach out to any faculty you are interested in, even if their names do not appear on this list!
Step 2: Contact the faculty to express your interest in their research. If you are writing an email, you should give a brief description of yourself (name, major, year in school), why you are interested in their research, and request a meeting with them to discuss further.
Do not be discouraged if you do not get a reply! Faculty are busy - a non-response may not mean they are not interested. Send a follow-up email or visit their office hours if you do not hear back after a week.
Step 3: Think about how you want to get involved. Once a meeting has been scheduled, prepare for the meeting by thinking about how you would like to get involved. Some common options include:
- Volunteering in the lab. This is one of the most common options for new undergraduate students to try out research (“get their feet wet”), while allowing the faculty mentor to assess whether the lab/research is a good fit for the students. Different departments administer volunteering for research differently, e.g., registering for an Independent Research credit (pass/fail), signing a waiver form, etc.
- Registering for Independent Research credits as an elective course. Some departments offer Independent Research as an option to satisfy an elective course for their major program.
- Paid Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URAs). Some faculty researchers may have funding for paid positions for undergraduate research assistants.
- Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). This is a University of Minnesota system-wide program that is available to all undergraduates from every college, major, and discipline to partner with a faculty member on research or creative projects. While a new undergraduate researcher may apply for a UROP, most applicants typically have experience working in a research lab and are already familiar with the mentor’s research project.
During the meeting, be prepared to discuss how research aligns with your personal goals, what project(s) interest you, and ways you could get involved. It is not uncommon for faculty to ask new students to first volunteer in the lab (option 1) for at least the first semester to allow both parties to assess whether there is a mutual fit before exploring other options that require greater commitment.
Still have problems finding a research mentor? Contact us! Reach out to Dr. Victor Lai (Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering) or Dr. Alessandro Cembran (Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry) to make an appointment. We are happy to discuss your interests and provide advice on next steps.