Program Overview & Goals
- 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.
- A competitive hourly wage
- Roundtrip travel to the Salk Institute from within the United States
- Local housing accommodations as needed for the duration of the program
The 2027 program will run from June 7, 2027 – August 6, 2027. 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 and with any level of research experience 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.
Upcoming Workshops
SESSION I
Salk SURF: Program Overview & Application Tips
Friday, October 23
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT
Session I registration
SESSION II
Salk SURF: Program Overview & Application Tips
Wednesday, November 18
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PT
Session II registration
Eligibility Requirements
- Be 18 years or older.
- Be a rising junior or rising senior at the time of participating in the program (summer 2027) and are currently enrolled in a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree-granting institution; OR be a community college student in their transfer year to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution.
- *If you are a graduate, 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 full duration of the SURF program and its requirements; this includes, but is not limited to, not enrolling in summer courses or participating in other internships while participating in Salk SURF.
- Be eligible to work in the United States.
Application Requirements
- Resume
- Unofficial transcript
*Applications that do not have all required materials uploaded by the deadline will not be considered.
Applications for summer 2027 will open on October 1, 2026.
Selection Process
- Applications will be reviewed through January.
- Interviews will be conducted in February.
- Selected candidates will receive an invitation/offer letter that contains the details of their internship and notification of their lab placement by the end of February.
- To participate in the program, candidates will have one week from the time of receiving their offer to provide their final decision. Offers are conditioned upon successful completion of the Institute’s background check.
Contact Us
If you have any application questions or wish to partner with the Salk Institute, please contact us at community@salk.edu.