Research projects may be done on a volunteer basis or for academic credit. This may be funded entirely by your lab, or arranged as a work-study position. If none of those options are available, the programs below provide research grants on a competitive basis.

BSI Programs

BSI Scholars in STEM Undergraduate Research

The BSI Scholars program is available to currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduates on the CU Boulder campus who are interested in pursuing an independent research experience. Students must be working under the guidance of a faculty mentor from either the CU Boulder campus or the CU Denver Anschutz Medical Campus. Projects are funded during the AY or the summer with a preference given to biology-related research and STEM majors.

Other Research Opportunities

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CU's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

UROP offers funding and support for students engaging in academic research across all disciplines on campus. Grant funding for projects is available for the AY and summer terms. See the UROP website for proposal deadlines and application instructions. 

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CU's Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program (for Engineering students)

CU undergraduate engineering students in the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program earn hourly wages while engaging in research with college faculty and graduate students. Positions are announced in early April, and applications are accepted through the end of April for apprenticeships during the following academic year.

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Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 187 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.

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YOU'RE @ CU (for engineering students)

The Your Own Undergraduate Research Experience at CU program (YOU'RE @ CU) may be for you! YOU'RE @ CU is an exciting opportunity to gain practical research experience in engineering by linking with a graduate student mentor. Get hands-on experience during your undergrad that will inspire you to make a world of difference! You'll work on a research project 3–5 hours per week and participate in a 15-week seminar course on research practices during the Spring semester. You'll also develop your own research hypothesis and work through the research process, culminating with a research paper and a poster session.

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STEM Routes Uplift Research Program

Our mission is to empower underrepresented minorities in STEM by offering them opportunities to engage in research and coupling that with the professional development offered by the greater STEM Routes program, which includes educational workshops surrounding applications to graduate school as well as graduate-student mentorship and guidance. Uplift research positions are awarded to students who are traditionally underrepresented, low-income, or first-generation. STEM Routes Uplift has no annual or semesterly deadlines; students may apply and begin research upon being accepted by a faculty advisor.

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Wuttke & Beckman Foundation Biochemical Sciences Research Award

The Wuttke and Beckman Foundation Biochemical Sciences Research Award provides support for undergraduate students who are majoring in Biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, in order to reduce financial barriers that may prevent students from obtaining appropriate research support. Recipients will be students who are pursuing research opportunities in laboratories of faculty members who are rostered in a science department.

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Renée Crown Wellness Institute Undergraduate Research Fellow

A three-year research fellowship working closely with a community of students and faculty from psychology and neuroscience.  Are you passionate about mental health and building a world in which every young person thrives? Do you want to learn about psychological science by doing research with close mentoring from world-renowned faculty? Apply to join a community of undergraduate students who share this passion and become an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the Crown Institute! 

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Summer Research Opportunities beyond CU

Are you interested in summer research opportunities around the country? If so, this list has opportunities you might be interested in. While extensive, this list is not comprehensive. BSI updates this list periodically, but does not claim that all links and programs are still active. If you are interested in these programs, please note that many of them have very early deadlines usually in January or February. Good luck!