Skip to main content

Summer research opportunities available for undergraduates


Vanderbilt University and the School of Engineering offer undergraduates numerous summer research opportunities to expand their classroom knowledge and gain valuable practical experience.

The Institute for Software Integrated Systems is hosting a virtual open house for interested students on Feb. 22 from 3 to 6 p.m. The registration deadline is Feb. 21.

Alicia Vaden demonstrates the “smart shock absorber” system she developed while participating in the summer internship program in Hybrid embedded software research. Vanderbilt/Daniel Dubois

The School of Engineering’s summer research program has project offerings in every department. Applications are open now through Feb. 5.  Students can review 2023 projects and apply for up to three.  Placement offers should arrive before or by March 15. The student decision deadline is April 1.

Students work 10 weeks on active research projects under the supervision of a faculty member and with other undergraduates and graduate students and receive a $6,000 stipend. The program dates are May 30 to Aug. 4. More information and FAQs are here.

Other summer research opportunities available include:

  • Institute for Software Integrated Systems—ISIS offers paid 10-week summer research internships for undergraduate and graduate students at Vanderbilt and other universities. The program dates are May 30 to Aug. 4. Application deadline is March 3. The latest notification of acceptance is March 24. The student decision deadline is April 3. Questions can be sent to internships@vanderbilt.edu
  • Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering—VINSE brings 10 students to campus each summer to work closely with VINSE faculty. The summer program is funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program. The application deadline is Feb. 15, and more details are here. See the list of 2023 summer projects.

Vanderbilt University research opportunities for engineering students:

  • Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program (VUSRP) provides Vanderbilt undergraduate students with the opportunity to fulfill 10 weeks of full-time research under the mentorship of any full-time Vanderbilt University faculty member, including faculty in the graduate and professional schools. More information and FAQs are here. The application for summer 2023 is now open. Applications are due no later than noon Monday, Jan. 30.
  • Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA) is an umbrella program that brings together undergraduates conducting summer biomedical research at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Approximately 70 students in 15 research programs participate in VSSA seminars, enrichment activities, and social activities. There are two research tracts. Most 2023 applications will close Feb. 1.
  • The Wond’ry Internship Network (WIN) provides opportunities in Wond’ry practice areas—Biomedical Innovation, Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Innovation Research & Design, Making, the Launch Incubator, and the Wond’ry itself—for undergraduate and graduate students from Tennessee-based universities and colleges. View the open opportunities and apply.

Contact: Brenda Ellis, 615 343-6314
brenda.ellis@vanderbilt.edu