Mission

mcbUSA’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at UC Berkeley strives to connect undergraduate UC Berkeley students to biology-related labs for meaningful summer research.

SURP 2025 Timeline 

Applications for SURP 2025 are now open and will be closing on March 20th.

The application form can be found here.

Info-Session

Info-Session Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FX6kQO2QZhjdXeLCXveW1zVk2rMXix1TBrXJpzyI17E/edit?usp=sharing

Below is the Zoom recording of the info-session on February 26th, 2025.

If you have additional questions, please email mcbusasurp@gmail.com, NOT the PIs!

Schedule for Students:

  • Info-session: February 26th, 2025 8-9 pm VLSB 2063 and on Zoom
  • Application opens: Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
  • Application closes: Thursday, March 20th, 2025, 11:59 PM
  • Extended application deadline: April 5th, 2025, 11:59 pm
  • Notification of application status: Monday, April 15th (you will receive an email with your status from your selected labs and the SURP coordinators as soon as possible).

Schedule for Labs:

  • Project participation form due (link via email): Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 at 5 pm
  • Receive applications: Friday, March 21, 2025
  • Notification of Application Status: Week of April 15th, 2024

For Lab FAQ, please visit the “For Labs” section below.

For Students

Projects

Overview:

*Note: SURP 2025 Projects may be updated on a rolling basis, so keep checking back in!

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/4/folders/1nBRLPUzOEkwfR7oQKLXK1Er3FPn3No59

FAQ:

Q: How do I join?

A: When applications open, fill out an application for each project you are interested in. You may apply to up to three projects. More details will be added here once the application opens.

Q: If I am accepted to a project, will I receive units for my participation?

A: Awarding units is up to the discretion of the lab. Earning units will require that you enroll in summer session units, and mcbUSA will not be responsible for the associated fees. Payment for units would be up to you as the undergraduate, or perhaps the lab (assuming very generous funding).

For Labs

FAQ:

Q: How do I join?

A: Fill out the SURP participation form for each project you want to have undergraduate Berkeley students for through SURP. (Note that the SURP application deadline for undergraduates is in late March, thus a lab who joins SURP on March 21 will likely not attract many applicants.)

Please email the SURP coordinators soon after you submit the participation form so that we can display your project description onto this website as soon as possible. (We will try to do so within one day.)

In order to protect the privacy of undergraduate applicants, we have withheld the participation form link. Please email mcbusasurp@gmail.com for the participation form link. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Q: Why should I join?

A: Only if you are in need of undergraduate researchers. SURP provides a communication link between you and UC Berkeley undergraduates interested in summer research.

Q: Do I need to pay the undergraduates I accept from SURP?

A: It is your choice whether or not to pay the undergraduates you accept.

Q: How are students matched to projects?

Q: If my lab is full, should I still join SURP?

A: No. SURP’s purpose is to connect undergraduates looking for summer research to labs who want undergraduate researchers. If your lab does not need more undergraduates for the summer, you do not have a reason to join.

A: You will receive them by March 21st. Please select the applicants you wish to accept by April 15th by contacting them directly and notifying the SURP coordinators of your decision by emailing mcbusasurp@gmail.com.

Q: What information will I get from the applications?

A: The application includes the applicant’s:

  • general information (name, year, classes taken, contact info, etc.)
  • statement of interest for your project
  • unofficial transcript
  • resume
  • any supplemental questions you wish to include*

Q: Will I be able to receive extra information from my applicants?

A: You will have the chance to interview your applicants before and/or after you select them on April 15th. *If you wish to ask extra supplemental questions to applicants applying to your project(s), please email the SURP coordinators at mcbusasurp@gmail.com.

If you have any residual questions, please email the SURP coordinators at mcbusasurp@gmail.com.