Summer Opportunities for Undergraduates

Below are lists of summer opportunities for our undergraduate students in research and courses at other institutions.  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.

Biomedical Science Research

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) funded REUs.  Click here to see a comprehensive list of the NSF funded REU programs in the Biological Sciences. and here for programs in Chemistry.
  • Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF). Fleming Scholar Program was founded in 1956 as a way to give Oklahoma’s high school and college students “hands-on” biomedical research experience. Scholars are paid $5,000 for the summer. Application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information.
  • The OU-TU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa is offering a 6 week Summer Undergraduate Internship, June 3 to July 15, 2022.  Interns who successfully complete the program will receive a $750 cash award to be used for future educational expenses (at OU or other institutions).  Application deadline is March 1. Click here for more information.
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.  The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) 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.  The stipend for the 10-week program is $5,000.  Application deadline is Februray 1.  Click here for more information.​
  • The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has an extensive list of summer research opportunities across the US.  Click here for more info.
  • ​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 of applications begins February 1. ​ Click here for more information.
  • 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 $6500 travel subsidy, meal allowance and on-campus housing.  Applicants will be asked to identify 3 laboratories of interest, and will be selected in a two-step review process by the program organizers and potential mentors. Applications are due February 1. Click here for more info.
  • Applications are now being accepted for the summer of 2022 Research Experience for Undergraduates in Population Biology of Infectious Diseases, hosted by the University of Georgia from May 23-July 22, 2022. Students will receive a $5175 stipend for the summer, free housing at the University of Georgia, and travel assistance to Athens, GA.  Application deadline is February 16, 2022. Click here for more info.
  • Academy for Research, Clinical, and Health Equity Scholarship (ARCHES) program at Georgetown School of Medicine, June 22-Aug. 5, 2022 with $4000 stipend. Spend your summer shadowing physicians, engaging in independent research, and learning our health equity in the Washington DC area. Application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information. 
  • ​​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.  Applications deaadline for these 10 to 12 week internships is January 15.  Click here for more information.
  • Texas A&M University College of Medicine’s Summer Research Program is a 10-week program consisting of students working closely with Texas A&M University College of Medicine faculty on research projects in basic or clinical science disciplines. Selected participants are matched with a faculty mentor in their area of interest and will assist with a research project gaining insight into the development and implementation of biomedical research and receive $4,000 stipends.  Application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information.
  • 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.  SURF offers up to $3500.00 stipend with dates of June 6-August 12, 2022.  Applications deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information. 
  • 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.  SROP offers upt to $4500.00 stipend with dates of May 16-July 29, 2022.  Applications deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information.
  • The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) has several opportunities for summer research.  Different programs have different deadlines.  Click here for more information.
  • 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.  Applications deadline is February 1.   Click here for more information.
  • 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. The 11-week progarm begins May 9, 2022 and comes with a $400/week stipend.  Application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information. 
  • 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 (May 31-August 4, 2022) with $5750 stipend.  Application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information.
  • 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 (May 16-July 26, 2022) with $6000 stipend.  Application deadline is March 1.  Click here for more information.​

Field Biology/Ecology Research

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) funded REUs.  Click here to see a comprehensive list of the NSF funded REU programs in the Biological Sciences.
  • Each year the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) matches 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.  June 8-August 14, 2022 with $5750 stipend.  Applications are due by March 1.  Click here for more information.
  • 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 February 1.  Click here for more information.
  • 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 through August.  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.  Click here for more info.
  • ​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 March 1. Click here for more info.
  • ​Little Rock (AR) Zoo Summer Internship Program. The Little Rock Zoo is now accepting applications for summer animal care and conservation educator internships. Application deadlines vary.  Click here for more information.
  • Blandy Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program emphasizes experimental ecology and evolutionary biology including a wide variety of topics such as plant-animal interactions, pollinator behavior and ecology, insect population ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Program dates are May 23-August 5, 2022. Successful applicants will receive a $6325 stipend, additional money for food, and free housing.  The application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information.
  • 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 February 1.  Click here for more details.
  • Miami University (Oxford, OH). "The Ecology of Human Dominated Landscapes".  Application deadline is January 15.  Click here for more information.
  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.  Summer Student Fellowship is 10 to 12 week program with stipend of $650/week.  Application deadline is February 1.  Click here for more information. 
  • Michigan State University, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.  Research Expericence for Undergraduates (REU). NSF funded KBS REU positions give students an opportunity to conduct full-time research. May 22-July 30, 2022 with $6000 stipend.  Application dealine is February 1.  Click here for more information. ​​

Summer Courses

  • Biology @ OKCU offers several sections of courses during the summer.  We offer SCI 1003 Methods of Scientific Inquiry during Maymester and online during Summer I and II.  Dr. Stancampiano will once again offer a trip to Alaska during Maymester 2022.  Dr. Ryburn will offer BIOL 3603 Economic Botany online during Summer II 2022.  Talk with an biology advisor for more information about these courses.
  • 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 our partner institution in Cyprus, the University of Nicosia, and its prestigious newly-established Medical School. Click here for more information.
  • The University of Oklahoma Biological Station @ Lake Texoma offers several courses each summer.  Application deadline is in May of each year.  Click here for more information.
  • The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory offers several courses each semester.  Application deadline is in April of each year.  Click here for more information.​​
  • Ecosystem Field Studies offers summer-break sections of Caribbean Ecosystem Field Studies (June) and Colorado Ecosystem Field Studies (July).  Click here for more information.​​​