undergraduate training

Spend your summer working with leading neuroscientists

The Medical Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program provides a strong foundation for college students to develop research skills in neuroscience.

an undergraduate student explains her research

Applications Closed

The deadline has passed to apply for the 2025 Medical Neuroscience Undergraduate Summer Research Program. Applications for the 2026 program will open in October 2025.

Build a strong foundation of research skills

a researcher works in the lab The Medical Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program is an eight-week, intensive program at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The program provides a strong foundation for students to develop research skills in the field of neuroscience.

Students will get a deep dive into life as a neuroscience researcher, learning basic and translational research specialties from expert faculty mentors. This experience is designed to prepare students for graduate school. Addiction, neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopment, neuroimaging, ocular neurobiology, neuropsychiatric disorders, pain, sensory systems, spinal cord/brain injuries are some of the research areas represented in the program. Once the admission decisions are complete, participants will have the opportunity to select from an open lab list, which will detail specific projects. The program has a limited number of labs participating, so admission is competitive. Final decisions on admission into the program will not be made until March of each year. Participants must be actively enrolled in an undergraduate program (no recent graduates).

I loved pretty much everything about the program. My favorite aspect was how integrated I was into the lab; my lab did a great job of making me feel more than just a summer student.

2025 Medical Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Program Student

Participant Benefits

$4,000 stipend
Housing is provided for those living outside of the Indianapolis area
Mentorship by graduate students, postdoctoral, and faculty
Community building within the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Medical Neuroscience graduate program, and other IU School of Medicine programs
Present poster of summer research project at the Stark Summer Science Symposium at the end of the program

Applicants are expected to participate full-time during the eight-week program. Participants may not enroll in courses or have outside employment during the program. The program will recognize campus holidays (Juneteenth and the Fourth of July).

Eligibility Requirements

Minimum of 3.25 GPA (college level)
Current undergraduate student (we cannot accept high school students)
Must be a U.S. resident or have current F1 Visa

Application deadline (with all supplemental materials) is Jan. 15 of each year. The application requires college transcripts, personal statement, resume/CV, and at least one letter of recommendation (from an academic setting).

Please direct all questions regarding the summer program to mneuro@iu.edu.