Research Opportunities

Participating in research is a valuable way for students to strengthen their résumés, whether they are preparing for a job or considering graduate school after graduation. Students can explore options like joining faculty research projects on campus or engaging in research programs at other universities, each providing meaningful skills and experiences that support both academic and career development.

Students are encouraged to pursue summer research opportunities, which provide hands-on experience that can clarify professional goals and align career expectations with real-world insights. These experiences offer valuable skill-building and networking opportunities, both of which are advantageous for future job searches or graduate school applications.

For Featured Research Opportunities click here!

Research Opportunities At Dominican University

ProgramProgram DescriptionDisciplineEligibilityApplication Deadline
Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Investigations (URSCI)
URSCI Career Advancement Through Research Award		Award provides support for students to assist and collaborate with a faculty mentor on research, scholarship, or creative projects in a field congruent with the students’ career interests. The student must choose/design a project with their faculty mentor and specifying goals and learning outcomes that they can directly apply to their future careers.ANYDecember 2nd, 2024 (for spring 2025)

March 19th 2025 (for summer 2025)

Research Opportunities Outside Dominican University

ProgramProgram DescriptionDisciplineEligibilityApplication Deadline
Elmhurst Summer Research ExperienceStudents will work on interesting, unique problems from a variety of STEM disciplines, and build oral and written communication skills.STEM– Be enrolled as a STEM major at one of the PUMA-STEM alliance institutions with at least one semester of coursework remaining before graduation.

– Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.		Application opens March 1, 2024.
Program in Animal Behavior NSF Research Experience for UndergraduatesA small group of undergraduate students—usually about 10—comes to Indiana University each summer to engage in animal behavior research that involves neuroscience, cognitive science, and molecular approaches as well as traditional fieldwork and behavioral analysisSTEMParticipants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate during the REU program, and they must not attend classes or hold outside employment during the term of their internships.Application will open soon.
NSF Research OpportunitiesExplore existing U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) Sites. You can search by research area, location and keyword.ANYVaries by specific Program.Varies by specific Program.
Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (ENDURE)The Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) ENDURE research program prepares undergraduates from diverse backgrounds for neuroscience PhD programs. We combine outstanding research training, a rigorous curriculum and an empowering support system so participants thrive on their path to graduate school and beyond. With support from the NIH Blueprint ENDURE initiative and Washington University, accepted students are funded for up to two years and trips to the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting. Overall, the program embeds students in a network of neuroscientists and enhances the success of trainees towards our goal of increasing diversity in neuroscience. Students will arrive on campus on Sunday, May 26, participate in our Closing Symposium on Friday, August 1, and return home that evening or on Saturday, August 2 (move out of the dorms by 11am).STEMUndergraduate students in Neuroscience. Application will open soon.
Matthew R. CoverSummer Research Programs in STEM
for Undocumented and DACA Undergraduates		ANYDACA and Undocumented Students.Varies by specific Program.
Kenny Krieger Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement – UndergraduateProvides opportunities for enhanced public health leadership training in maternal and child health, focusing on social determinants of health, elimination of health disparities, and developmental disabilities. Grant funding for this program was awarded to Kennedy Krieger Institute by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program to develop a national consortium of institutions and universities that provides undergraduate scholars with three public health leadership experiences: (1) clinical, (2) research, and (3) community engagement and advocacy.Health Sciences-Be currently enrolled as a rising junior or senior, or received their baccalaureate degree within 12 calendar months of the MCHC/RISE-UP program orientation
– Have at least a 2.7 GPA, or better, on a 4.0 scale
Interested in maternal and child health, the elimination of health disparities, or promoting social justice.
– Be a US citizen, US National, or a permanent resident
– Be able to commit to participate in program activities for the length of the MCHC/RISE-UP.		January 31 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.
National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesThe Summer Internship Program provides internships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical/biological sciences to work on a research project that entails exposure to the latest biochemical, molecular, and analytical techniques in a given field.Health SciencesTo apply for the NIH SIP, and SIP cohort programs, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In addition, you must be:
18 years of age or older on June 1, 2025
AND
currently enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school,
OR
enrolled at least half-time in an accredited community college, college, or university as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional school student at the time of application,
OR
accepted into an accredited graduate program for the fall semester with the expectation of attending at least half-time. High school graduates who completed a gap year and are starting community college or college in the fall, are also eligible to apply.
Individuals who are U.S. permanent residents must be attending or have been accepted into educational institutions in the U.S.		The SIP application will open on November 18, 2024 at 9am ET.

The SIP application will close February 19, 2025, at noon ET.

SIP reference letters are due February 26, 2025, at noon ET.
UNMC Summer Undergraduate ResearchSpend your summer in a state of the art research institution as a team member —using and expanding your scientific knowledge and skills, and learning more about health care and research options. Students will experience a 10-week full-time research placement, receive a stipend and attend enrichment seminars.Health Sciences– U.S. citizen or permanent resident
– Currently enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college (Graduated seniors will NOT be given consideration.)
– International students will NOT be given consideration
Other factors considered include:
– Cumulative GPA of 3.2 and above
– Completion of science course beyond general biology or chemistry (e.g. organic chemistry, microbiology, genetics, etc.)
– Strong letters of recommendation		November 1: Online Application opens.

February 1: Application deadline. All materials, including recommendation letters, transcripts, etc. must be received by this date. Programs will begin making admission offers.
University of Michigan/ Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars Program (MICHHERS). This program is designed to encourage rising seniors, recent B.A.s and terminal master’s students from diverse cultural, economic, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds to consider pursuing a doctoral degree in the humanities at the University of Michigan. Our goal is to attract diverse scholars with unique experiences who foster innovation and push the humanities to meet today’s challenges.Arts & CreativeWe seek rising seniors, bachelor’s degree holders, and those currently in terminal M.A. programs, who are United States citizens, permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens with DACA. Please note, those who are currently applying to enroll in a doctoral program for Fall 2024 are ineligible to participate in MICHHERS.Application will open soon.

Disciplines
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