Summer Research Internships

Marica Thomas and Dr. Bob Poage

In addition to the internship opportunities listed here, additional opportunities, including job information, can be found on these Biology Department web pages: Sites for finding Jobs and Internships and Careers in Biology.

  • Agroecology Scholars Program in Research and Extension (ASPIRE): 10-week paid program ($4,500 stipend, housing, and opportunity for post-summer travel to a scientific meeting) that prepares undergraduates with technical skills to understand sustainable agriculture and community food systems from a broad systems perspective, while receiving close mentorship and access to hands-on, cutting edge research and professional development training. Preference is given to rising juniors and seniors. Program runs from May 22 - July 28, 2023.   Deadline for applications is February 3, 2023. 
  • American Indian Student Interpretive Ranger Program. This is a paid, nine-week (40 hours per week) summer program.  The Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association will hire two American Indian college students to work as Interpretive Rangers at the Medicine Wheel/Medicine Mountain and Fort Phil Kearny National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming. Program benefits include certification training, $200 weekly stipend, housing, travel support, tribal mentor support, and payment for independent study course credits (optional). Position runs from  June 12 - August 11, 2023.  Submit a letter of interest and resume with three references to Dave McKee at daveabtmckee@gmail.com .  Deadline for applications is March 1, 2023.
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (US Department of Agriculture) Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Internship: for students interested in veterinary medicine or biomedical sciences.  Paid internships—with tuition assistance—are available at the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Student interns work alongside APHIS veterinarians and other experts at the forefront of animal health to protect American agriculture. Pays $22.37 - $44.02 per hour (GS 7 - 9 pay scale) or $16.14 - $29.06 per hour (GS 4 - 5 pay scale). Must apply online by way of www.usajobs.gov. Locate the announcement using the key words “Saul T. Wilson” in the search engine under the “Student and Recent Graduates” tab. You must have a USAJOBS account to apply. Deadline for applications is February 22, 2023.
  • BeeMore -- Bees and Microbes in Organized Research Experiences at NC State University.  This is an eight-week, paid ($500 per week, plus housing and food allowance) summer program that runs from May 26 - August 1, 2023.  Undergraduates will explore diverse topics that highlight the importance of bees as pollinators, the role of pollinators in crop productivity, the importance of microbes in earth ecology, and the specific role of microbes in bee health and disease.  Deadline for applications is January 31, 2023.
  • Biological Research in Ecological and Evolutionary Developmental-Biology (BREED) is a NSF Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in the Departments of Biology at San Francisco State University and the Estuary & Ocean Science Center, SFSU's marine lab. Excursions include field sites around central California to discuss environmental and biodiversity issues with experts! Program includes a $5500 stipend with limited support for travel and living costs. Program runs from June 5-August 6, 2023.  
  • Biomedical Engineering in Simulations, Imaging, and Modeling (BME-SIM) at East Carolina University: 10-week, NSF-funded REU program for rising juniors and seniors.  Program includes a $6,000 stipend, on-campus housing, meal plan, and more.  Students from underrepresented groups (women, minorities and persons with disabilities), veterans, and students from academic institutions with limited research opportunities are encouraged to apply.
  • Conservation Scholars Program:  Conservation immersion program at the University of Washington that runs for two summers. The program is for freshmen and sophomore students who are passionate about nature conservation and/or environmental justice.  Includes professional development, internship opportunities, all expenses paid, and $4400 per summer. First summer runs from June 19 to August 14, 2023.  Deadline for applications is January 27, 2023. 
  • Disturbance Ecology in Central Appalachia: NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Eastern Kentucky University. Eastern Kentucky University is seeking applicants for a summer REU program. The theme of the research is disturbance ecology. Students will work at Lilley Cornett Woods (a field station with old-growth forest in eastern Kentucky) and in other areas in the region This is a 9-week program running from May 29 – July 28, 2023.  Student benefits include a stipend of $5400, housing, a food allowance, travel costs to and from EKU, research travel during the summer, and research supplies. Deadline for applications is February 17, 2023. More information including the application can be found at https://bioreu.eku.edu/. Questions can be sent to bioreu@eku.edu.
  • Ecology in Human Dominated Landscapes: 10-week, paid ($5500) Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF funded) in Ecology and Environmental Science offered by Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Preference given to sophomores and juniors.  Internship runs from May 28 to August 5, 2023, and review of applications begins March 1, 2023.
  • Environmental Specialist (Entomologist) is a temporary, short-term position with the NC Natural Heritage Program (Department of Natural and Cultural Resources). Work includes daytime field surveys for the rare Appalachian Grizzled Skipper butterfly in Ashe and Alleghany counties. The position pays ~ $24/hour and runs from late March through April 2023. Deadline for applications is January 16, 2023.
  • Farm to Early Care and Education Supply Chain Internships has 10-week paid ($15/hour, 40 hours per week) summer internships that run from May 22-July 28, 2023.  Learn about child care environments and their food services as well as rural farming systems and local food procurement systems. Travel and housing are not provided.  Deadline for applications is February 3, 2023.
  • Friday Harbor's REU for undergraduates (Research in Integrative Biology & Ecology of Marine Organisms): 8-week paid ($500 per week, plus financial support for lodging and round trip travel) program in marine research at the University of Washington's field station in the San Juan Islands. This is a full immersion research experience for motivated undergraduates and post-baccalaureates. Program runs from June 12 - August 5, 2023.  Application period is January 2-31, 2023.
  • HBCU/MIHE Summer Internship Program is a paid, ten-week program that engages and educates students by giving them tangible, real-world experiences, professional development, leadership training, and networking opportunities. Applications are open to rising juniors, seniors and graduate students. Interns work for $15 per hour for 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. Applications for 2023 are now available.
  • Integrative Microbial and Plant Systems Undergraduate Research Experience is a 10-week, paid summer program at NC State University, in which students engage in faculty-mentored research focused on questions about plant-microbe interactions in the face of climate change and global food security hardships. Participants receive housing on campus, travel expenses when applicable, food allowance, and a $6250 stipend. The program is open to rising sophomore, junior and senior undergraduate students with a demonstrated interest in molecular biology.  Program runs from May 23-July 29. 2023.  Deadline for applications is February 24, 2023.
  • Lakes Undergraduate Research Experience (NSF REU) is a 9-week paid, summer program in beautiful Menomonie, Wisconsin. Students explore the underlying causes for phosphorus pollution and, by way of an interdisciplinary focus, learn about eutrophication and environmental sustainability. Participants receive a $5400 stipend, free housing, $450 food allowance, and $500 round trip travel allowance. Program runs from June 4 - August 5, 2023. Deadline for applications is February 1, 2023.
  • Missouri Botanical Garden's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in Plant Systematics, Conservation Biology, and Ethnobotany: 10-week, paid ($600 per week, plus food and housing) for independent mentored projects. Participants will have access to the Garden’s herbarium, botanical library, garden collections, laboratory facilities, and the Shaw Nature Reserve.  Program runs from June 6 - August 12, 2022.  Deadline for applications is February 28, 2022.
  • Mountain Lake Biological Station's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU-Sites) program in Virginia: ten-week, paid ($6250) summer program of guided, independent, original research in field biology.  Program covers room and board, project budget, and travel to and from the station.  Program runs from May 23 - late July 2023. Deadline for applications is February 20, 2023.
  • National Science Foundation's Education and Training Application (NSF ETAP) portal allows you to search for multiple research experiences for undergraduates (REU) and to upload application materials that can be used for multiple REU programs.
  • Native American-Serving Institutions Program is an 8-week paid summer position at one of eight Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) offices around the country. Open to undergraduate students in any field of study, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  UNCP Biology alumna Denise Salvetti, MPA (USDA/APHIS/LPA and Office of National Tribal Liaison), manages this program on the UNCP campus. 
  • Native American Summer Research Internship (NARI) in health sciences in Utah.  Paid 10-week summer research internship for Native American junior and senior undergraduates who are interested in Health Science research. Each student will participate in approximately 40 hours/week of internship activities. Approximately 30 hours/week will be for research related activities, and approximately 10 hours/week will be for academic/professional development. Deadline for applications has been extended to February 21, 2023.  Click here for an online application.
  • NOAA Inclusive Fisheries Internship Program (IN FISH) is a ten-week undergraduate summer research and resource management internship that places students in several offices and laboratories around the nation. Includes a $5,000 stipend and pays tuition, room & board, and travel to/from program. Application deadline is February 10, 2023.
  • The Office for Community & Civic Engagement in partnership with the SECU Public Fellows Internship Program has numerous paid, summer internship opportunities, such as working with housing authorities, district attorneys, nonprofit organizations, and more. To apply, go to this web address -- tinyurl.com/SECUinternships --, and you will be immediately directed to the UNCP job site portal, called Handshake. 
  • Rare Plant Survey Intern is a temporary, full-time position available from the NC Natural Heritage Program (Department of Natural and Cultural Resources). The intern will join lead biologists in Buncombe County for field surveys of natural communities and rare plants, and will manage data and prepare maps and reports. Position pays $12/hour and runs from May 22-July 28, 2023. Application deadline is January 9, 2023.
  • REU in Tropical Ecology and Evolution is a 10-week, faculty-mentored summer research program in the tropical rainforest and the El Verde Field Station of Puerto Rico. Financial support includes stipend, round-trip plane ticket (up to a maximum), housing, and food allowance. Program runs from May 29 - August 4, 2023.  Application portal opens on December 1, 2022.
  • Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) grant program in the UNC system--specifically here at UNCP.
  • SPIRE Undergraduate Summer Research Program. 10-week paid ($6000) research experience for undergraduates.  Available only to sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.  Offers innovative research at UNC Chapel Hill and development of professional skills as a scientist. The program will run from May 22-July 29, 2022.  Deadline for applications is February 28, 2022.  Housing is provided.  
  • Summer Internships in Animal Behavior at Indiana University in Bloomington. Usually 10 weeks. The programs runs from May 22 - July 28, 2023.  Deadline for applications is February 15, 2023.
  • Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Biological Mechanisms at UNC-Chapel Hill (SURE-REU): 10-week, paid ($6000, plus food and travel allowances) program of mentored research in the biological and biomedical sciences.  Include workshops on graduate school, invited speakers, journal clubs, community-building activities.  Program runs from May 22 - July 28, 2023. Deadline for applications is February 17, 2023.
  • Summer Systematics Institute 2023 at the California Academy of Science has internships for undergraduates.  The 9-week paid ($5,400, plus housing and travel) program features a state-of-the-art research facility and museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, with the first week spent at University of California Point Reyes Field Station.  The program runs from May 30 - July 28, 2023.  Deadline for applications is February 13, 2023.
  • Summer 2022 Sustainability Experiential Immersion at the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainability, located at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.  This is a 4-week paid ($2500, plus room and board) for African American students who are rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors and who are majoring in environmental science or related disciplines.  Includes field and laboratory experiences in urban farming and urban monitoring of water quality.  Program runs from July 5 - August 3, 2022.  Deadline for applications is March 1, 2022.
  • TECBio REU Program in Computational Biology is a 10-week paid program at the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) that involves quantitative analysis and computer modeling across multiple scales (e.g., molecules, cells, tissues, organisms, and populations). Program offers a $6250 stipend, housing, travel, and VR equipment.  Program runs from May 22- July 28, 2023. Deadline for applications is February 13, 2023.
  • The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) usually has some undergraduate summer fellowships.
  • NASA Undergraduate Internships.
  • The National Science Foundation has listings of numerous summer research opportunities, especially Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), across the country.
  • Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. www.turpentinecreek.org
  • Sciencejobs.com lists regular jobs and some internships/short-term jobs.
  • Smithsonian Research Training Program. 10-week internships, typically 24 positions available.
  • Student Conservation Association. Internships and volunteer opportunities in our National Parks. 
  • Wildlife summer internships in North Carolina are offered by a variety of organizations and programs, including the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.  Internships range from outdoor activities (e.g., watershed management) to indoor activities (e.g., developing educational materials).
    More opportunities are listed under the photograph below
Cheyenne Lee

Graduate School Information:

  • Assistance for Beginning Graduate Students: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides three years of financial support for students at or near the beginning of graduate studies.