Explore summer research opportunities at Harvard through URAF!
Resources listed here are not exhaustive, but highlight some key residential summer programs and independent funding options to start.
See additional options at the end of this page to expand your search for summer opportunities!
Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village (HSURV) Programs
The Research Village is a collection of residential summer research programs for Harvard College students that run for 10 weeks from June through August (summer dates to be confirmed in January 2024). Students conduct research, participate in professional development workshops, program cohort meetings, and program-specific and Village-wide social activities. Students showcase their research achievements in the final week of their summer program through research presentations. Students from the programs of the Research Village live together in the same River House on campus, creating a robust and exciting living, learning, and social community of undergraduate researchers. Students admitted to Research Village programs receive a stipend, free housing, and meals. Programs that comprise the Village are led by URAF and other partnering offices and academic departments at Harvard. Each program has specific application, eligibility and participation requirements and February deadlines. For application instructions, see each individual program page or this page. Please explore these opportunities thoroughly to find the best option for you!
- Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE)
- Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science (SPUDS) - led by Harvard Data Science Initiative
- Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH) Program - led by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI)
- Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program (SHARP)
- Building Learning Inquiry for Social Sciences (BLISS) - led by FAS Social Science
- Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO) - led by Harvard Business School
- Kempner Research in Artificial & Natural Intelligence for Undergraduates with Mentorship (KRANIUM) - led by the Kempner Institute (new for Summer 2024)
- Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) - led by the Salata Institute (new for Summer 2024)
Want to get a glimpse of past work from PRISE, SHARP, BLISS, PRIMO, SPUDS, SURGH fellows? See here: HSURV Abstract Books
Additional Village affiliate programs
Additional summer programs run by URAF and other Harvard schools and departments live in the same River House as the core Village programs mentioned above. Each program will have different application requirements, eligibility criteria, programming and benefits. Please explore which program is the best fit for you.
- Harvard Amgen Scholars Program
- Harvard SEAS Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) - led by the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Office of Education Outreach & Community Programs
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute Program (HIP) - led by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute
- Generative AI Research Program
Independent Project Funding Programs
URAF provides funding for Harvard College students to pursue their independent summer research projects. Independent funding programs typically do not offer organized housing and meals as part of the award; instead they offer larger stipends for use towards accomodations arranged by awardees themselves. Unlike residential programs, these funding programs offer the flexibility to set start and end dates over the summer, and to do research in the field and/or remotely, outside of Cambridge, Massachusetts. There are no obligations to attend workshops and other on-campus programming over the summer. To be considered for funding through these programs, students must have the autonomy and independence over the design, implementation and execution all aspects of the research project proposed. Independent funding awards administered by URAF are:
- Harvard College Research Program – independent project mentored by Harvard faculty
- Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program – independent projects mentored by Harvard OR non-Harvard faculty
There are many more independent research funding options offered through academic departments and research centers. Explore the following resources:
- CARAT - database of funding opportunities at Harvard, including department based thesis research funding, funding at research centers and more
- Microbial Sciences Initiative Fellowship
- Research Centers and Institutes
Want to expand your search for more summer opportunities, see here: