Bioscience Undergraduate Summer Programs and Events

The UCLA Bioscience Summer Programs provides a rigorous research training experience for undergraduates with interests in a broad range of bioscience disciplines—from molecules to organisms and from basic to translational science. Exceptional research training, integrated with professional development activities, will prepare students to succeed in leading Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs. The programs aim to contribute to diversity, inclusion, and the elimination of barriers to participation in bioscience research careers. Click on the links below to find out more.

Summer Programs:

  • Bioscience Scholars Program (BSP) – On Hiatus
  • Bruins-In-Genomics (B.I.G.) Summer Program:  an 8-week full-time immersion program for undergraduates interested in learning how to read and analyze genes and genomes. Through this program students will have the opportunity to experience graduate-level coursework, and learn the latest cutting-edge research, tools and methods used by leading scientists to solve real-world problems.
  • Brain Research Institute (BRI) Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BRI-SURE): The UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI) sponsors a summer undergraduate research experience (BRI-SURE) pathway program for students currently participating in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) and other honors research programs whose goal is to increase diversity. This program solicits applications from students from universities and colleges across the nation. BRI-SURE Pathway is an 8-week, intensive summer research- training program for exceptional students interested in pursuing research careers in Neuroscience or Physiology.
  • UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways: The UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways program is an eight-week summer enrichment program for undergraduate students that attend historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The program is open to any undergraduate student that majors in a natural science and is in good standing an HBCU. The goals of the program are: 1) to increase the impact on students and faculty at both HBCU partner institutions and UCLA and, 2) to incentivize quality mentorship of the interns in our UCLA host labs.
  • UCLA-HSI SOMA Neuroscience Program: The Superior Opportunities for Maximizing Access (SOMA) to Neuroscience Program is named after the cell bodies of neurons housing the genetic programs for the critical functions of those neurons. The SOMA-Neuroscience program supports a deeper Hispanic/LatinX participation in neuroscience, and ultimately pursuit of a neuroscience doctoral degree. Starting in 2022, we will select and invite a small group of interested students (3-7 students annually) from one of 4 partner Hispanic-Serving Institutions, or HSIs (CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Dominguez Hills, and CSU San Bernardino) for an 8-week summer immersive, in-person experience at UCLA to do research in a host laboratory.

Summer Events:

  • CSU Summer Symposium and Graduate Fair: The aim of the Symposium and Fair is to promote scientific exchange and provide information on graduate educational opportunities as a way to strengthen interactions between CSU capstone research programs and UCLA graduate programs. (Only students from a California State University campus are eligible to present a poster.)

See our calendar for all upcoming Professional Development Opportunities