Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - Undergraduate Research Program

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Program Starts: June 09, 2025

Program Ends: August 09, 2025

Internships

NGO & Institutes

Location(s)

  • United States of America
New York, NY

Overview

The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) at CSHL provides an opportunity for undergraduate scientists from around the world to conduct first-rate research. Students learn the scientific process, technical methods and theoretical principles, and communicate their discoveries to other scientists. Approximately 20 students come to CSHL each summer for the program, living and working in the exciting Laboratory environment.

Details

URP participants work on an ongoing research project in one of CSHL’s expert labs. Research at CSHL focuses on:

  • Molecular Biology & Cancer
  • Genetics & Genomics
  • Neuroscience
  • Plant Biology
  • Quantitative Biology

In addition to doing research in the lab, URP participants attend a series of specially designed workshops, seminars and collegial events.  Workshops focus on learning particular skills, such as Python programming, while seminars cover research topics, responsible conduct of research, and career development. At the URP Symposium at the end of each summer, students present their research to the entire CSHL community.

URP participants live and work among CSHL scientists. They are invited to all Laboratory social activities, including an exclusive dinner with CSHL President Bruce Stillman. On weekends, students are free to explore nearby New York City or the sandy beaches of Long Island.

By the end of the summer, URP participants have first-hand experience of a career in scientific research.

The 2025 URP Program will be held Monday, June 9 – Saturday, August 9, 2025.

About us 

Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program hosts more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year on its campuses in Long Island and in Suzhou, China. The Laboratory’s education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and programs for middle and high school students and teachers.

Opportunity is About


Eligibility

Candidates should be from:


Description of Ideal Candidate

Eligibility

  • Students of any nationality are eligible for the program.  
  • Students should have a strong academic background in a science. Although the Program emphasizes the biological sciences, students with engineering, chemistry, computer science, math, or physics backgrounds are also encouraged to apply.  
  • Students must be returning to an undergraduate degree program following their URP summer research experience; current sophomores and juniors, or the equivalent, are eligible. Only in exceptional cases will first-year undergraduate students, with prior independent research experience, be considered.
  • Previous laboratory research experience will help your application but is not required.
  • If your academic semester conflicts with the dates of the URP program, you are still eligible to apply. If you are accepted into the Program, we will discuss how your academic schedule can be accommodated. For instance, in past years, some students have arranged with their professors at their home university to take one or more final exam at CSHL. But please note that all URP researchers are expected to participate in the program as a single group and should therefore plan to be at CSHL during the dates of the program. 

Grades & Transcripts

  • Official transcripts are not required.
  • There is no minimum GPA required. Successful applicants generally have GPAs around 3.5 or higher in their science and math courses.
  • If your GPA is not on a 4.0 scale, then please convert your grade to a 4.0 scale. If your institution does not have a standard scaling, then calculate by dividing your average mark by the maximum possible mark and multiplying by 4.0.

International Applicants

  • Students of any nationality are eligible for the program.
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores are not required for admission to the URP program.
  • If your grades are not based on a 4.0 scale, please note your institution's grading scale and the actual class mark you received on the application. Also indicate the best possible mark.  For example, if your university scale is 1 to 5, then note your grade as X/5, 1=best. 

Dates

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Program starts:

June 09, 2025

Program ends:

August 09, 2025

Program Starts: June 09, 2025

Program Ends: August 09, 2025


Cost/funding for participants

Stipend

Students receive a stipend of $6,000. Room and board expenses will be partially covered.

Housing Environment

URP participants reside in the cabins on the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory campus. Each cabin provides housing for 8 individuals, with two single-gender students per room. Also, each room has a full bathroom. All linens, blankets, pillows, and towels are provided, along with full housekeeping services. Two arm chairs and a small table are available in each cabin, and one telephone is available in the common area. The cabins are also equipped with Wi-Fi internet access. All cabins are fully air-conditioned.

Meals are served three times a day, seven days a week in the Blackford Dining Hall. Vegetarian and Vegan options are available at all times and our kitchen will make every effort to accommodate any special needs.

Gym equipment and weights are available in the exercise room located in the lower level of the Dolan Hall. Also, washer and dryer facilities are available in Dolan.

The Laboratory owns canoes and kayaks, available for URP student use. All participants are free to use our tennis and volleyball courts, running and hiking trails, swimming pool and private beach.

CSHL holds volleyball tournaments during the summer where different laboratory buildings square off against each other. URP students are invited to join these teams, compete against the graduate students throughout the summer and the faculty at annual URP vs. PI (Principal Investigator/Lab Head) tournament, held at the end of the summer.

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