Biology Summer Undergraduate Research Program (BSURP) 2026
The Department of Biology, using funds from various sources including the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE), offers full-time paid research internships to current Stanford undergraduates who want to spend ,summer quarter participating in faculty research projects to learn biological research methods. Extensive experience is not required; the basic design of the research projects is provided by faculty who will guide you.
Most of these projects take place on the Stanford main campus. Some projects take Stanford students out of the area or even out of the country to experience environmental, ecological, and animal behavior research through already-established projects. Often, data is collected in the field and analyzed on campus.
Students will get the opportunity to work directly with faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students. Laboratory research often involves long hours at the bench and great attention to detail. The hours can be irregular, and the results may be few and far between. Learn the details of each project from the descriptions below and consider talking to the research sponsors to decide if it is right for you.
- Work directly with a Biology lab (faculty, postdocs, grad students)
- Present their work at our BSURP Symposium and Virtual Showcase
- Workshops to help you learn how to present and design a research poster
- Attend faculty lunches
- Participate in socials
Eligibility
The BSURP program is internally funded by Stanford and is intended for Stanford undergraduate students only. For full eligibility requirements, please visit VPUE's student eligibility requirements web page.
- 1st and 2nd-year students and 3 year+ students who have limited research experience
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As a BSURP participant, you are committed to working 35-40 hours per week for 10 weeks over Summer Quarter.
- Please note: BSURP interns are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise).
- Students must be in an undergraduate (not graduate) tuition group.
- Not already participating in another full-time commitment.
- Previous BSURP intern awardees are not eligible to apply again.
Important Dates and Commitments
- Completed application no later than Monday, January 26, 2026, by 11:59 pm PST.
- The full-time ten-week commitment to the program is from June 22nd to August 28th, 2026.
- All BSURP candidates must accept their offers by March 13, 2026 (no exemptions)
- BSURP Student Kick-Off on June 24, 2026 from 12-1:30 pm REQUIRED
- BSURP poster symposium is currently scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, 10:30 am-12 pm REQUIRED
