NSF Summer Internships for Undergraduates: A Comprehensive Guide

The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers various summer internship opportunities for undergraduate students, providing valuable research experience and career development. These programs, including Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites and Supplements, the Summer Scholars Internship Program (SSIP), and opportunities through the Pathways Program, aim to engage undergraduates in STEM fields and prepare them for future careers.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

The NSF REU program offers two primary avenues for undergraduate involvement: REU Sites and REU Supplements.

REU Sites

Faculty can apply for funding to support a group of undergraduate students in research projects designed specifically for the NSF REU program (an REU Site). Undergraduates (college and university students) can apply directly to REU Sites to participate in research projects across the United States and the world. REU-supported students receive stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing, meals, and travel. To find existing REU sites, visit the NSF REU Site Search. Students must contact an REU site for information and application materials.

Examples of REU Sites:

Design of Nanomaterials for 21st Century Energy ‐ University of South Carolina: This REU program, in partnership with the Savannah River National Laboratory, focuses on designing and synthesizing nanostructured materials for energy conversion and storage processes. Research topics include CO2 capture & conversion, Li-based battery materials, solid-state energy storage devices, efficient ammonia synthesis, lightweight load-bearing materials, and nuclear waste digestion.
NSF ERC Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture: This REU Program seeks undergraduates. Students work with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Florida, Purdue University, or the University of California, Merced, on technologies that advance food, energy, and water security. Projects include IoT sensors, autonomous robotics, energy and communication devices, AI‑driven digital twins, and decision‑support interfaces for agricultural management.
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Quantum Information Science ‐ University of South Carolina: In partnership with SC Quantum and the Boyd Innovation Center, the REU offers a nine-week, fully funded summer research experience focused on cutting-edge topics such as quantum software testing, AI-driven quantum compiler optimization, and quantum machine learning. Participants receive stipends and travel support.
Paid: 10-week Summer REU in Engineering and Sustainable Technologies ‐ University of Kansas: FROST: Fostering Research Opportunities in Sustainable Technologies is a 10-week immersive undergrad summer program for students in the field of HVACR systems with a focus on sustainable refrigerants. The program includes a stipend, covered room and board, and travel expenses.

REU Supplements

Faculty can apply for additional funding to involve undergraduate students in a new or ongoing NSF-funded research project (an REU Supplement).

International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)

Students must contact researchers with IRES funding for information and application materials. To find active IRES projects, visit the NSF IRES Project Search. Participants are mentored by researchers at a foreign lab, allowing them to build their professional network.

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NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program (SSIP)

The NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program (SSIP) focuses on developing the potential of undergraduate and graduate students interested in gaining professional experience working in science administration. At NSF, students will be:

Exposed to relevant science and engineering policy, research and education issues, and NSF programs.
Provided with the opportunity to contribute their talent and skills on a project for the NSF.
Encouraged to earn graduate degrees and pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The NSF partners with two host organizations to provide a full-time, paid, 10-week experience, where students work with NSF offices that typically align with their academic interests. The program is hybrid, with students working for several days at NSF headquarters in Alexandria, VA, at the beginning and end of the internship, and teleworking for the majority of the time.

Pathways Program

The federal Pathways Program is designed to recruit the next generation of the best and brightest to the federal workforce. Students interested in a Pathways internship at NSF must apply through USAJOBS.

The Internship Program is for current students in high schools, colleges, trade schools, and other qualifying educational institutions. Interns on indefinite appointments may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program. However, conversion is not guaranteed.

The Recent Graduates Program provides developmental experiences in the Federal Government.

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For more than three decades, the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program has been the Federal Government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree (e.g., masters or professional degree) candidates. Fellows may be appointed at grade GS-9, GS-11, or GS-12 level.

Additional Summer Research Opportunities

Besides NSF-sponsored programs, several other organizations and institutions offer summer research opportunities for undergraduates:

PathwaysToScience.org: This website has a searchable database of 600+ summer research programs for undergraduates in all STEM disciplines. These are all fully funded opportunities including programs sponsored by NSF, NASA, NIH, etc. They also have a selection of resources to help you strengthen your applications.
CUR (Council on Undergraduate Research): CUR provides a list of summer research opportunities, though the information is self-entered and not validated by CUR.
Data Analytics for Science Immersion Experience (DASIE) ‐ Carnegie Mellon University: The Data Analytics for Science Immersion Experience (DASIE) is a fully funded, weeklong program that introduces undergraduate students to the many ways data informs scientific work. DASIE brings together students from across the country for an opportunity to learn about data-enabled science, connect with the CMU Mellon College of Science community, and explore potential academic and professional paths in fields where data plays a meaningful role.
Political Science Predoctoral Summer Institute ‐ Georgetown University: The Political Science Predoctoral Summer Institute (PS-PSI) is a week-long training program for students who are considering pursuing a Ph.D. in political science or a closely related field.
Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science (SIBDS) ‐ Florida Atlantic University: OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRAD MAJORS IN MATH, STATISTICS, AND DATA SCIENCE-NIH FUNDED SUMMER TRAINEESHIP!
American Museum of Natural History (New York, NY): REU in Evolutionary Biology. The Research Experience for Undergraduates Program in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology is funded by the National Science Foundation and has been in place for 24 years.
The Amgen Scholars Program at UCLA: The UCLA Amgen Scholars Program offers an intensive research experience working in the labs of distinguished UCLA faculty members. Students are matched with faculty mentors.
Environmental Defense Fund (New York, NY): EDF Climate Corps Fellow, Multiple Locations: 10-12 week Summer Fellowship. EDF Climate Corps selects and trains graduate students from a wide range of programs.
New York University (New York, NY): Center for Neural Science REU. The Center for Neural Science hosts a summer research experience program for undergraduates with an interest in neuroscience. This program is designed to foster entry into a neuroscience career.
Simons Foundation (New York, NY): Simons-NSBP Scholars Program. The Simons-NSBP Scholars Program is a unique summer research opportunity for undergraduate members of the National Society of Black Physicists. Scholars come to New York City.
Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Chemistry REU. Research Experience for Undergraduates gives undergraduates the opportunity to join research projects for the summer.

Finding and Applying for Opportunities

NSF REU Site Search: Use the NSF REU Site Search to find existing REU sites.
NSF IRES Project Search: Use the NSF IRES Project Search to find active IRES projects.
USAJOBS: Search for Pathways internships at NSF through USAJOBS.
PathwaysToScience.org: Utilize the searchable database on PathwaysToScience.org to find a wide range of summer research programs.
Contact Specific Programs: Contact the specific program for application information. Additionally, programs may submit their specific application information for publishing in the list below.
NSF Funding Search Page: If you're interested in supporting undergraduates with NSF funding, explore NSF's funding programs on the Funding Search page. Most of NSF's programs allow proposers to include undergraduate employees in their project budget.

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