Karen Harwell, Ph.D.
Director, Undergraduate Research

It’s not too early for your Georgia Tech student to be thinking about his/her plans for summer - especially if they involve research. Opportunities are available now for undergraduate students to spend part of the summer working side-by-side with researchers at various universities in the U.S. and abroad. Through these programs, students gain valuable experience in full-time research with a cohort of students from universities across the country - giving them a practical and cultural appreciation for research programs at peer universities. Undergraduate research enables students to learn how to investigate challenging questions and solve open-ended problems. Such experiences definitely strengthen a student’s resume and lead to the development of unique career opportunities.

Opportunities are available in programs for all majors and at various locations across the country. Programs are sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NASA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Mayo Clinic, the Department of Defense, and many others. Additionally, programs are available abroad either through the NSF or other international organizations or universities. Most domestic programs provide the participating student with a generous stipend, housing allowance, and some travel assistance. Many programs also sponsor professional development seminars and workshops throughout the summer in addition to planned social events or outings.

Most programs have deadlines in early to late February, some as early as mid-January. Many use rolling admission, so we encourage students to apply early and often! Also, many programs label their summer research as an “internship,” so students shouldn’t forget to include those opportunities in their search.

Click here for additional information on summer research options.