Internships

Internships and research positions are available to students right here on campus, including problem-based studies and literature review, and opportunities through courses such as BIOL 395 and CHEM 395. Students interested in on-campus opportunities should contact the department for more information.

For internships outside the department, the following is not an exhaustive list but is a good starting place for those interested in enriching their education.

Biology or Botany Internships

Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation have a variety of volunteer internships available related to biology and botany.

Premedical or Predental Internships

Summer Medical and Dental Education Program
This program is available to college freshmen and sophomores, is free, and includes housing. Students spend six weeks of the summer at one of several top universities around the country (including UCLA) brushing up on basic science coursework while gaining career development, financial-planning skills, and further learning skills.

UCLA PREP Program
This program is for students from disadvantaged backgrounds or medically underserved communities who have completed one year of college biology or chemistry with a minimum science GPA of 2.5 for freshmen and sophomores, and 2.8 for juniors and above. This is a seven-week internship that helps students prepare for the MCAT or DAT, offers career and personal development guidance, and allows students to observe physicians or dentists in their everyday practices.

Public Health Internships

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation seeks to prevent the transmission of HIV to children through advocacy, funding research, and treatment and prevention. For students who are interested in public health, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS, there are internships available in Washington DC for one semester during the academic year.

Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, and Chemical Sciences Research Internships

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
This is a program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in which specific researchers at universities around the country or abroad allow undergraduates to participate in their research projects. Students should look at participating researchers and their projects, and then contact the program for application information. Students receive a stipend for the summer.

Amgen Scholars Program
This is a competitive summer research program that connects students with researchers on one of ten college campuses. Students who are interested in pursuing a PhD or MD-PhD program after graduation, are enrolled at a university for the following fall semester, have completed three semesters of college, and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 are eligible to apply.

Other Biotechnology Opportunities
There are many biotechnology companies in Southern California that may have other internships or research opportunities. This link provides a list of companies and their websites where students can find additional information.

American Chemical Society Internships
This website has many different internships for undergraduates in chemistry, in Southern California and around the country. Each internship has its own criteria and deadline dates.

Underrepresented or Minority Students Interested in Graduate Education

The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
This summer program is for students who are from backgrounds which are underrepresented in graduate education and are very interested in pursuing PhD degrees. This program will expose you to graduate-level research, as well as offer workshops on topics such as preparing research presentations, graduate financial aid and test-taking skills. This is open to students who have completed two semesters at a degree-granting college or university, are currently enrolled in a degree-granting institution, have at least one semester left after the summer program, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The program takes place on many excellent midwestern university campuses, and offers students a summer stipend of $2,800-$6,000. Most participating universities also pay for travel, housing, and meal expenses.

Other Internship Listings

AnaBios Corporation
Email Dr. Cahleen Shrier at [email protected] for details.

Opportunities for Academic Fellowships and Scholarships, Research Experiences, Sabbaticals, and Internships

Note: This information is current for the 2024-25 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.