Undergraduate research: get involved
Careers in science often start by working in a lab while an undergraduate, which can be a fantastic experience in its own right, along with being a gateway to both graduate school and medical school. There are many programs that support undergraduate research, both at UMD, at local institutions such as NIH, and more broadly. Should you decide to try the next level, most science graduate schools (outside of professional schools like medical school) are free, and even pay you.
Find out more about undergraduate research:
- UMD online introduction to Undergraduate Research. Current UMD students can also fill out this survey to gain access via the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research to the MCUR listserve and ELMS resource page.
- UMD Neuroscience Program guide for Steps for Success in undergraduate research.
- UMD Neuroscience Program guide to Reaching Out to research labs you are interested in.
- Yearly UMD Undegraduate Research Day (April 26, 2023: next year TBA).
- HHMI Catalyst Seminar (offered spring semesters)
- First-year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) Program
- BioFIRE living-learning program
- Biology-related research programs at UMD: Biology, Brain and Behavior Institute, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES), Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, and Genomics (CBBG), Molecular and Cellular Biology (MOCB), Physiological Systems, ...
Undergraduate research opportunities at UMD
| Maryland Center for Undergradute Research Center at UMD dedicated to promoting and facilitating reearch experiences for undergraduate students. It includes a searchable database of fall and spring research opportunities. |
| CMNS Research page Information about undergrad research within the UMD College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (CMNS), including listings of internships at local institutions |
Summer research programs
| Maryland Summer Scholars Program The Maryland Summer Scholars Program (MSS) provides opportunities for University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) undergraduates to spend much of the summer working closely with faculty mentors on ambitious research, scholarly, or artistic projects. The MSS program provides awards of $3,000 to approximately 25-30 outstanding undergraduates each summer. Yearly application deadlines in February. |
| National Institute of Health Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research An overarching internship program geared towards undergraduate and graduate students. Internship locations include the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD as well as NIH satellite centers (e.g., Research Triangle Park, NC). |
| NIH postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Program The Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) is a biomedical research program that enables eligible recent college graduates who are planning to apply to graduate or professional school to spend one or two years working in full-time paid positions with investigators at the NIH. |
| Pathways to Science Database of STEM fellowships, scholarships, research opportunities by geographical region and field |
Specific DEI resources supporting undergraduate research