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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Stark Neurosciences Research Institute
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.

Apply for the summer program
students stand near poster boards in a long room

Build a strong foundation of neuroscience research skills

The Medical Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program is an intensive, multi-week program at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

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).

Applications

The application window for the  2027 Medical Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program is open from Oct. 1 to Jan. 15.

2027 Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Dates
June 6 to July 31

Gain Skills
Scientific communication, scientific writing, tools and resources for data analysis, scientific integrity, rigor and reproducibility.

Present your data
Create and present a poster based on your research experience at the annual Stark Summer Science Symposium.

a group photo of undergrad students

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 Research Program Student

Participant Benefits

  • Competitive 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.

INSPIRE summer research program

Investigating Neurosciences, a Summer Program to Ignite Research and Education (INSPIRE) is an immersive research education program for early-stage undergraduate students to study alongside nationally and internationally recognized experts in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias within the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at the IU School of Medicine. This program will run in tandem with the Medical Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program.