Discovering Research Opportunities: A Guide to UCLA Summer Internship Programs

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers a wide array of summer research internship programs designed to provide undergraduate students with invaluable research experience across various disciplines. These programs aim to cultivate the next generation of scholars by offering rigorous training, professional development, and exposure to cutting-edge research. These programs not only provide students with hands-on experience, but also prepare them for future success in leading Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs. Moreover, many of these programs are committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and removing barriers to participation in bioscience research careers.

Bioscience Summer Programs

UCLA Bioscience Summer Programs offer a rigorous research training experience for undergraduates interested in a broad range of bioscience disciplines. These programs span from molecules to organisms and from basic to translational science. The integrated professional development activities are designed to prepare students to excel in Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs.

Bruins-In-Genomics (B.I.G.) Summer Program

The Bruins-In-Genomics (B.I.G.) Summer Program is an immersive, full-time, 8-week program tailored for undergraduates eager to learn how to analyze genes and genomes. Starting in 2026, the program will focus on students sponsored by a UCLA faculty member. Student application materials are due by Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Brain Research Institute (BRI) Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BRI-SURE)

The UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI) sponsors a summer undergraduate research experience (BRI-SURE) pathway program. This program is designed for students participating in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) and other honors research programs. BRI-SURE solicits applications from students from universities and colleges across the nation, aiming to increase diversity in neuroscience and physiology research careers.

BRI-SURE is an 8-week, hybrid, intensive summer training program for exceptional students seeking to pursue research careers in Neuroscience or Physiology. The program is designed to provide a rigorous, in-depth research experience to prepare participants for top-quality Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. graduate programs. BRI-SURE selects participants based on academic achievement and leadership.

During the summer research experience, host labs will train scholars to conduct a rigorous research project, culminating in a poster competition. The experience also includes:

Analysis of data from ongoing experiments.
Modeling of biological or behavioral systems.
Computerized coding and other analysis tools/methods.
Writing a research paper.
Exploring the Ph.D. career path.
Learning about applying to programs and funding opportunities.
Participating in research journal clubs, seminars, and career panels.
Preparing abstracts and posters.
Visiting cultural centers in Los Angeles (e.g. California Museums, the California Science Center, the Hammer Museum, the Getty Center).

This program is an 8-week experience run in conjunction with the UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways and UC-HSI SOMA programs from June 15 to August 07, 2026. Applications are due by January 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.

UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways

The UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways program is an eight-week summer enrichment program for undergraduate students that attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The program is open to any undergraduate student that majors in a natural science and is in good standing at an HBCU.

The goals of the program are: to increase the impact on students and faculty at both HBCU partner institutions and UCLA, and to incentivize quality mentorship of interns in our UCLA host labs. A group of interested students, selected jointly by the HBCU partner institutions and UCLA, will be invited to spend 8 weeks on campus conducting research in appropriate host laboratories. The training, executed by host lab Principal Investigators, will be commensurate with the students’ experiences at their home institution.

The program will also host one “chaperone” HBCU faculty member per year to accompany the trainee cohort for the first week of the program, intending to foster both scientific collaboration and quality mentoring. To incentivize graduate studies at UCLA for HBCU interns, the UCLA Brain Research Institute will offer a full 5-year stipend - disbursed annually - for at least one student accepted into the graduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program (gNSIDP). Furthermore, the program will conduct outcome studies and publish them in a peer-reviewed journal.

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The program will host a comprehensive research environment for the 2026 Program by taking advantage of on-campus tools, engineering a robust and rewarding experience. Activities include, but are not limited to:

Analysis of data from ongoing experiments.
Modeling of biological or behavioral systems.
Computerized coding and a variety of other analysis tools/methods.

During the Program, host labs will train Neuroscience Pathways fellows to conduct a rigorous research project, culminating in a poster competition. Apart from conducting experiments, students will be involved in activities that enrich their summer experience, including:

Writing a research paper.
Exploring the Ph.D. career path.
Learning about applying to programs and funding opportunities.
Participating in research journal clubs, seminars, and career panels.
Preparing abstracts and posters.
Visiting cultural centers in Los Angeles (e.g. California Museums, the California Science Center, the Hammer Museum, the Getty Center).

This is an 8-week experience run in conjunction with the BRI-SURE and UC-HSI SOMA programs from June 15 to August 07, 2026. Applications are due by January 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.

UCLA-HSI SOMA Neuroscience Program

The Superior Opportunities for Maximizing Access (SOMA) to Neuroscience Program is named after the cell bodies of neurons housing the genetic programs for the critical functions of those neurons. The SOMA-Neuroscience program supports a deeper Hispanic/LatinX participation in neuroscience, and ultimately pursuit of a neuroscience doctoral degree.

The SOMA program is open to all undergraduate and Master’s students, supporting participation in neuroscience and, ultimately, the pursuit of a neuroscience doctoral degree. Each year, the program welcomes a group of interested students from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) - e.g. CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Dominguez Hills, and CSU San Bernardino, etc. - for an 8-week, immersive, in-person experience at UCLA conducting research in a host laboratory.

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The program aims to incentivize the relationship between UCLA and its partner HSI institutions on three fronts:

SOMA Fellow & UCLA Faculty: Providing UCLA mentors with summer research funds to purchase supplies supporting their research, provided that the research objectives include the SOMA trainee.
HSI Partner Faculty Mentors: Providing HSI mentors with funding to prepare SOMA fellows for participation in summer research (through a joint journal club and lab meeting). This can be used flexibly for travel, the cost of research, and/or instruction.
SOMA Alumni: The Brain Research Institute has committed to providing full stipend support for 1 SOMA alumnus admitted to and entering the Neuroscience IDP each year of the grant to incentivize the choice of a UCLA Ph.D.

The program places a heavy emphasis on collecting trainee outcome data and disseminating findings in poster form at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual meeting. The program will host a comprehensive research environment for the 2026 Program by taking advantage of on-campus tools, engineering a robust and rewarding experience. Activities include, but are not limited to:

Analysis of data from ongoing experiments.
Modeling of biological or behavioral systems.
Computerized coding, and a variety of other analysis tools/methods.

During the Program, host labs will train SOMA fellows to conduct a rigorous research project, culminating in a poster competition. Apart from conducting experiments, students will be involved in activities that enrich their summer experience, including:

Writing a research paper.
Exploring the Ph.D. career path.
Learning about applying to programs and funding opportunities.
Participating in research journal clubs, seminars, and career panels.
Preparing abstracts and posters.
Visiting cultural centers in Los Angeles (e.g. California Museums, the California Science Center, the Hammer Museum, the Getty Center).

This is an 8-week experience run in conjunction with the BRI-SURE and UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways programs from June 15 to August 07, 2026. Applications are due by January 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.

UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

The UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science offers first-in-class research opportunities that lead to undergraduates becoming well-informed about engineering career opportunities in both academic and corporate settings.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is an umbrella organization that administers and scaffolds summer undergraduate research opportunities within UCLA Samueli. SURP coordinates several programs, including the Future of Semiconductors, Functional Nanomaterials, Engineering Faculty Lab REU Supplement, and the Electrical & Computer Engineering Fast Track to Success Summer Scholars Program.

UCLA Samueli faculty will select their scholars based on project needs, skills, and interest. Faculty members who have secured funding and wish to support their undergraduate research scholars participating in SURP are required to submit a Lab Funding Form.

The 2026 SURP program will start on Monday June 22, 2026 and end on Friday August 28, 2026. Scholars will have an opportunity to hear presentations from industry partners, work independently or on small teams alongside other undergraduate and graduate students in a UCLA Samueli faculty’s lab. Each intern will be provided a research mentor who will help to identify a research topic or question that can be accomplished in the short 10 weeks.

Scholars will hone their presentation skills and prepare for fielding questions at the Final Poster Symposium by presenting a bi-monthly progress report on their research. Participants will generate a slide set and present it to the mentors and other interns about their progress and next steps. Each Scholar will have their work published in the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Program Journal. Participants will have an opportunity to hear from UCLA Samueli faculty about research conducted at our world-renown institution. Scholars are invited to ask questions and network with our speakers.

All participants are expected to present the final results of the work at the Final Poster Symposium. Scholars are encouraged to demonstrate prototypes and/or systems. Scholars, mentors, family, and friends are encouraged to attend.

The Samueli Research Scholars program is directed by Associate Dean Veronica Santos and aims to increase the diversity of students doing research in engineering. Functional Nanomaterials is an REU directed by Dr. Chee Wei Wong. The engineering faculty lab REU supplement is for UCLA students who are planning to do research at UCLA over the summer with a faculty member. The students are expected to maintain an accumulated GPA of at least 3.3 and take at least 30 units worth of honors/advanced standing classes during their four years at UCLA.

Additional Summer Research Programs

Amgen Scholars Program

The Amgen Scholars Program is a national program designed to increase learning and networking opportunities for students committed to pursuing a career in science or engineering. Students interested in summer research in any area of biomedical science, chemistry, bioengineering, or chemical engineering are encouraged to apply. Students will be paired with a UCLA faculty mentor if the student does not already have one. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA and be interested in pursuing a Ph.D. The program lasts for 10 weeks, and all participants must be able to attend the program for its entire duration.

CSU Summer Symposium and Graduate Fair

The aim of the CSU Summer Symposium and Graduate Fair is to promote scientific exchange and provide information on graduate educational opportunities as a way to strengthen interactions between CSU capstone research programs and UCLA graduate programs.

Cultivating Interest in Research Careers (CIRC) Program

The Cultivating Interest in Research Careers (CIRC) program is a partnership between the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). The program starts with a ten-week summer research program at UCLA and extends into a year-long continuum.

Labor Summer Research Program

This course invites students to become researchers by working collaboratively in a research lab and methods course centered on a real-world, applied research project, gaining experience at every stage of the research process. The course focuses on the social, economic and political realities of working students in Los Angeles County or students who attend college while also working and examines what it means to balance work and school at the same time. The course emphasizes principles of research justice and community-engaged research practices.

As part of this hands-on research methods training, students design research questions, conduct surveys and interviews, analyze data and share findings with a broader audience. By the end of the 8-unit summer course, students will not only understand research but will have conducted it by producing and disseminating relevant information that matters beyond the classroom. This program is open to all UC and non-UC undergraduates and graduates in the United States.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Writing and Research Training Program

The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Writing and Research Training Program at UCLA is an intensive writing and research program for 20 current Mellon Mays Fellows from participating Mellon Mays colleges and universities. Fellows participate in a rigorous scholarly writing and research methodology course, individual and group mentoring sessions, workshops, events, and a final research colloquium.

Morgan State University Summer Incubator Program

Morgan State University is partnering with the University of California, Los Angeles to offer research opportunities for Morgan State University students in the UCLA Summer Incubator Program. This is a virtual, entry-level six-week summer program that runs from June 22- July 31 2025 for students who are interested in pursuing research or creative inquiry on issues of diversity or social justice in the humanities, arts, or social sciences. It is for students with little to no undergraduate research experience. Students complete an original research or creative project under the guidance of a graduate student mentor and present their work at the end of the summer at the SRI Symposium.

Summer Training for Excellence in Education Research (STEER) Program

The Summer Training for Excellence in Education Research (STEER) program has been a successful staple of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies (GSE&IS) at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Through participation in the program, Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students and faculty, and GSE&IS faculty share in a research apprenticeship experience that has contributed to STEER students’ admittance to some of our nation’s finest graduate programs including the UC system. Open to all disciplines, however training will be in Education research. Applicants are expected to be seriously interested in pursuing a Ph.D.

UC LEADS Summer Research Program

This program is restricted to current University of California undergraduate students in the UC system-wide UC LEADS Program. In line with the goals of the two-year program, the 2nd summer research program seeks to develop the students by providing research and educational experiences to further prepare them to assume positions of leadership in academia, industry, government and public service. UC LEADS students who are considering UCLA for graduate studies/PhD should seriously consider applying to UCLA’s summer program as a way to familiarize themselves with the campus and to network with potential mentors.

UCLA Neuroscience Scholars Program

The UCLA Neuroscience Scholars program is a 10-week intensive summer research training experience for exceptional UCLA sophomore and junior undergraduates that are committed to pursuing a graduate degree in neuroscience. Neuroscience Scholars will be paired with a UCLA faculty mentor based on their research interests. Students will conduct discovery research in the laboratories of their faculty mentors. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA and be interested in pursuing a Ph.D.

UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program

The UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to explore the field of public health through hands-on training, structured workshops, group excursions, and leadership and professional development. Located in Los Angeles, the program offers scholars the opportunity to train at UCLA, to explore public health in one of the most diverse counties in the US, and to experience the city’s vibrant culture.

Undergraduate Research Centers

UCLA also provides resources through its Undergraduate Research Centers to facilitate research opportunities for students. The Undergraduate Research Center for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences serves students and faculty in these disciplines, while the Undergraduate Research Center for Sciences caters to students and faculty in the life and physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics. These centers promote, develop, and celebrate undergraduate student research, enhancing undergraduate education and preparing students for diverse careers.

General Information for Prospective Applicants

Most programs run for eight weeks, typically from June to August. The dates for SPUR 2026 are June 22 to August 14 (8-week programs) and June 22 to August 28 (10-week programs). All application materials and supporting documents must be received by March 31, 2026, unless otherwise stated in the program description. Preference will be given to applications that are completed by the program’s deadline.

Student participants in many SPUR programs will work with a faculty mentor with special expertise and interests matched, as closely as possible, to the student’s research interests and career goals. As a condition of acceptance into the program, program participants will be asked after their departure to update information on their educational and career activities. This tracking is done solely to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. It is critical that the program be able to conduct this long-term evaluation in order to maintain continuing funding for the programs.

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