Faculty Openings

Find current faculty employment opportunities listed on the Dean of Faculty site.


Summer Research Opportunities: Science Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) Program at Amherst

Two programs provide summer research opportunities for Amherst College students:

  1. The 2021 SURF program involves an 8-week commitment and focuses on research in science, statistics, and mathematics fields. 
  2. The SRP program runs for 6-8 weeks and supports students in all areas of academic research.

Both programs are open to non-US citizens/residents. 

SURF Program

[[{"type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-image","height":"100px","title":"","width":"100px"}}]] The 2021 SURF Program is an 8-week program, running from June 7 - July 30, 2021.

The SURF (Summer Science Undergraduate Research Fellows) Program provides opportunities for Amherst College students to immerse themselves in a hands-on, collaborative science research project for 8 weeks* during the summer. Research fellows work closely with their faculty mentors to design and execute their research project, and all Fellows take part in group educational and social activities. In early fall, Fellows present their findings at Amherst's annual poster session and are then encouraged to present their work at a regional or national conference. Fellows receive on-campus housing and a salary based on minimum wage, so pending hours reported, fellows are paid between $480 - 510 per week. (*In the event that the 2021 must go remote for health and safety due to the nature of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be modified to 6 weeks. Candidates will be notified in time to decide whether or not they would like to continue in a remote version of the program.)

Summer 2021 SURF Opportunities

Are you a first- or second-year student considering a career in science or as a medical professional? A SURF  research experience may help you determine if this career path is right for you by providing you with valuable research skills, experience using state-of-the-art instrumentation and research techniques, and connections to a vibrant community of research scientists. Find out more about faculty research areas and Amherst's SURF program.

NEW THIS YEAR: We will be planning several live & recorded SURF panels with former SURF students and 2021 SURF mentors. Once these panels are scheduled, that will be posted here and in the Daily Mammoth.

Summer fellows have contributed to recent breakthrough discoveries at Amherst: “[Prof.] Hall...said his team’s experimental work arose out of interest from Amherst summer student researchers at a group meeting in 2011...”

Some SURF Fellowships are discipline-specific and include unique components. Learn more about specific funded SURF opportunities and their requirements. 

Students interested in applying to any of the fellowship opportunities below should complete the common SURF application before March 1, 2021. 
 

 Learn more about the SURF program: The 2019 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience


External Summer Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

The Fred Hutch site (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) offers a pdf list of biomedical research internships offered nationwide.  This site features approximately 260 biomedical research internships... for high school, under-graduate,  post-baccalaureate, graduate, and first-year medical students. 

Frequently the Chemistry Department receives notices of summer research programs for undergraduates; see these opportunities below.

2024 CNF REU Program Announcement: During the summer of 2024, the Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility will host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (CNF REU) Program from June 4th through August 9th. Engineering and science students with broad interests across disciplines focusing on nanotechnology are eligible to apply (see complete list of restrictions and eligibility requirements online). The chosen undergraduates taking part in this ten-week program will receive hands-on nanoscience and technology experience through research, with applications to bio-engineering, chemistry, electronics, materials science, optics, optoelectronics, physics, and the life sciences. CNF REU interns work with their assigned faculty and graduate students on projects using the unique resources offered at CNF and Cornell University. Convocations are held in August to allow interns the opportunity to present their work to their peers in concise scientific presentations. Interns also must complete a written report, akin to a research paper, summarizing the findings of their research project. These reports are published and distributed to the interns and sites, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and many others. CNF REU interns receive a $6,000 stipend, plus housing and reasonable travel expenses. Full participation in the ten-week program, convocations, program evaluations, and final reporting are all mandatory. A complete application includes: the online application, an unofficial transcript, a personal essay and resume, and two Letters of Recommendation. Please note we have TWO deadlines! Online application materials are due Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Recommendations are due one week later, by Wednesday, February 21, 2024.  The online application for the 2024 Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility Research Experiences for Undergraduates (CNF REU) Program is now live at https://www.cnf.cornell.edu/education/reu

Other nationally funded undergraduate research programs:

Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) - broad.io/bsrp; The Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) offers students with a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM disciplines the opportunity to conduct intensive research in a collaborative community. BSRP participants spend the summer performing original computational or experimental-based research in labs across the Broad Institute’s research areas, from cancer to infectious disease to computational biology. In addition, the program features a rich curriculum outside the lab that emphasizes career development, personal development, and teamwork in a small cohort. Deadline: January 10, 2024  If you have any questions, please visit our FAQ or email us at bsrp@broadinstitute.org

Broad Biomedical Post-Baccalaureate Scholars Program - broad.io/bbps  An innovative, two-year program, BBPS offers participants a comprehensive, structured, and immersive experience that includes groundbreaking research and academic and career guidance. BBPS participants will participate in research as paid, full-time Computational Associates or Research Associates, working alongside leading scientists within the Broad Institute.  Eligibility - seniors or recent graduates who majored in the biological, physical, or computer sciences, engineering, or mathematics and are interested in pursuing a graduate degree (Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D.) Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale and cannot be enrolled in another post-bac or graduate program. Application details - Applicants must submit two applications for this program in parallel. 1) Application to the Early Career Researchers program for a research position at the Broad Institute; 2) Application for the BBPS program. Deadlines: Primary Review- February 1, 2024; Final Deadline- April 1, 2024. If you have any questions, please email bbps@broadinstitute.org

For additional opportunities for Spring 2024 graduates, visit our website, https://www.broadinstitute.org/careers/recent-grads

Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CanSUR) funded by the National Cancer Institute.  It aims to provide each student with a solid foundation in cancer biology, followed by a laboratory assignment with one of our Case CCC researchers to study cancer genetics, cancer cell signaling, experimental therapeutics, and cancer prevention and epidemiology research.  Annually, the CanSUR program supports 40 undergraduates for a 10-week period (June through August).  Undergraduates are accepted from colleges and universities across the country.  Participants receive a stipend of $5,000 for the 10-week program, and housing and travel allowances are available for non-local appointees.  The link to CanSUR Website & Application is here.  The link to the CanSur Flyer is here.  The application deadline is Friday, January 19, 2024.