ResearchUpcoming cycle
Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Internship/Practicum
Boston University — Summer Term
A six-week summer program where rising seniors conduct university laboratory research with BU faculty mentors (Internship track) or structured group research in computational neurobiology or data science (Practicum), ending in a poster symposium.
Who should apply
Academically strong rising seniors who want genuine faculty-led laboratory research in biomedical, life-science, or engineering fields and may pursue science competitions.
Eligibility
Domestic students (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) entering senior year. Selective (~10% admit); strongest applicants have an A-/A unweighted GPA.
What you get
- Six weeks of hands-on research (Internship: ~40 hrs/week with a faculty mentor; Practicum: lectures plus lab work)
- Areas include biology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, psychology, and public health
- Final research poster symposium
What the application involves
- Full high school transcript beginning in 9th grade
- Internship applicants list three faculty members whose research aligns with theirs (max 250 words)
- Recommendations
- $75 nonrefundable application fee
Application tips
- For the Internship track, research faculty carefully and explain specific alignment with their work.
- Apply for need-based financial aid early if cost is a barrier — this is a tuition program.
Good to know
Founded 1978; admits roughly 110–130 students nationally (~10% admit rate). Not free, but need-based financial aid is offered.
ResearchSTEMFaculty-mentoredSelective