Skip to main content

National Institutes of Standards and Technology

National Institutes of Standards and Technology

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is designed to inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a unique research experience that supports the NIST mission. Since 1993, SURF students from across the country have had the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience, working with cutting edge technology in one of the world's leading research organizations and home to three Nobel Prize winners.

Over the course of 11 weeks, SURF students contribute to the ongoing research of one of the six NIST facilities which are the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), and Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) (which now includes project in the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology).  The SURF Program is administered at the Boulder, CO and Gaithersburg, MD locations.  Applications are required to be submitted through USAJOBS.

Note:  Only U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful residents are eligible to participate in the SURF Program. 


German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) RISE Program

Deadline: 11/30/2025 (Tentative)

RISE (Research Internship in Science and Engineering) Germany offers undergraduate students from North American, British, and Irish universities with the opportunity to conduct summer research at a top German university or research institution.

CHOP Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP)

Deadline: 01/31/2026 (Tentative)

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP) is a 10-week competitive summer internship program for undergraduate students interested in careers in the biomedical sciences.

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates

NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.

Application dates will vary.

Subscribe to External