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Program Overview & Goals

The Salk Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Salk SURF) is a transformative 9-week program designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to scientific research and professional development in STEM. The experience includes access to:

• World-class research facilities
• Hands-on training to learn and build research skills
• A network of mentors
• Foundational experiences for students interested in pursuing a career in STEM

The mission of Salk SURF is to broaden access to summer research experiences that inspire and empower students to identify their strengths and explore research, academic, and career possibilities. Our vision is that, through their participation in the program, students will build relationships and confidence to persist through the scientific training and workforce pipeline.

Salk SURF provides the following:

• A competitive hourly wage
• Roundtrip travel to the Salk Institute from within the United States
• Housing accommodations as needed

The 2026 program will run from June 8, 2026 – August 7, 2026. The program kicks off with a virtual SURF Immersion week composed of training and soft skills development, followed by 8 weeks of in-person hands-on research and mentorship at the Salk Institute.

Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This program aims to build and sustain a strong biomedical research pipeline to advance the Institute’s mission for training the next generation of bold, innovative scientists.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older.
• Be currently enrolled in a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree-granting institution or be a community college student in their transfer year.
• Be entering their junior or senior year at the time of participating in the program and/or have at least one full semester/quarter remaining of their undergraduate education following the completion of the program.
  *If you are a graduate of a two- or four-year institution, please consider applying to one of our open positions.
• Be pursuing a STEM or related degree.
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in science courses.
• Be able to commit to the program dates and requirements; this includes, but is not limited to, not enrolling in summer courses or participating in other internships while participating in the Salk SURF.
• Be eligible to work in the United States.

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete an online application and submit all supplemental documents:

• Resume
• Unofficial transcript

*Applications that do not have all required materials uploaded by the deadline will not be considered.

Applications for summer 2026 will open on October 1, 2025.

Selection Process

1. Applications will be reviewed through December.
2. Interviews will be conducted in January/February.
3. Final candidates will receive an invitation letter that contains the details of their internship and notification of their lab placement in mid-February.
   • Candidates must formally accept their invitation letter within a week of receiving their offer. Offers are conditioned upon successful completion of the Institute’s background check.