Opportunities for Student Research Participation
In the realm of academic pursuits, summer is a time for exploration and growth, and several research programmes are opening their doors to undergraduate students. Here's a roundup of some exciting opportunities available in 2025, with a brief overview of their deadlines and focus areas.
Kicking off our list is the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programme at Binghamton University, with an application deadline of February 16, 2025. This NSF-funded initiative invites students to delve into various fields, including atmospheric science, oceanography, and geophysics.
Another noteworthy REU programme is The Echinacea Project, where applications are due on February 18, 2025, at 11:59 pm CST. This programme offers projects related to the U.S. West Coast weather phenomena, such as atmospheric rivers and the North American Monsoon, under the guidance of graduate students or postdoctoral fellows.
For those interested in environmental studies, the Center For Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) offers a 9-week internship on similar topics. However, the exact deadline for 2024 applications is yet to be determined, although past deadlines have typically been in early months of the application year.
Moving westward, the Marine Physical Laboratory (MPL) in California offers a 10-week summer internship in marine science and technology. The deadline for applications is yet to be announced, but interested students are encouraged to keep an eye on the MPL website for updates.
The Jane Teranes - Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (JT-SURF) is another promising opportunity, funded by the National Science Foundation. This 10-week programme invites students to participate in in-person, on-campus research projects or a small number of remote projects. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern time.
The Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Program at UC San Diego recruits 4-6 students each year for a 6-week paid research experience. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2025. Potential research projects span the fields of oceanography, marine biology, earth sciences, geophysics, and atmospheric sciences.
For current UC San Diego students enrolled in the Environmental Systems (ESYS) undergraduate major, the ESYS Senior Project is an interdisciplinary environmental problem or research topic. The application deadline is included as part of the major.
Lastly, the California Current Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research (CCE LTER) offers projects for students in an interdisciplinary group studying the effects of long-term climate variability on the California Current pelagic ecosystem. The application deadline for 2025 is January 31.
It's essential to note that these deadlines are specific to the REU programmes mentioned and may vary for other organisations managing multiple REU sites. Prospective applicants are advised to verify individual deadlines on the respective websites or through official communications.
In addition to these research opportunities, the UC San Diego Undergraduate Research Hub equips students with skills to become research scholars, offers scholarships for students to conduct their own research during the summer, and encourages applications from underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation college students, with many applications having deadlines in February for summer programs and/or scholarships.
Finally, for ocean lovers aged 16 and above, Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers volunteer positions. These opportunities are available for students, working adults, and retired professionals, providing a unique chance to contribute to oceanic research and education.
With these opportunities at hand, the summer of 2025 promises to be a season of discovery and growth for undergraduate students across various fields.
Students seeking to expand their knowledge in climate science and marine biology may find the Jane Teranes - Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (JT-SURF) appealing, with a deadline of February 28, 2025, offering in-person, on-campus research projects or a small number of remote projects. For those interested in online education and self-development, the UC San Diego Undergraduate Research Hub provides scholarships for students to conduct their own research during the summer and encourages applications from underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation college students, with many applications having deadlines in February for summer programs and/or scholarships.
