Summer Undergraduate
Research Program
The NITMB Summer Undergraduate Research Program offers summer fellowships to undergraduates to engage in research at the interface between mathematics and biology. Students majoring in mathematics, biology, statistics, computer science, or related fields are invited to participate in hands-on laboratory or computational research that applies quantitative concepts and methodology to understanding mechanisms in biology.
Selected students will be matched with a faculty mentor from the program.​
Anika Nazhat, 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program Participant
“Without a doubt, this cohort was most certainly the driving highlight of my summer.”
- Evan Gibbs (2024), Undergraduate majoring in mathematics, York College of Pennsylvania
2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program Participants
“The program has given me access to such an expansive support system at NITMB, Northwestern, and through the other participants. The program has also given me more confidence as a researcher and has cemented that research that intersects math and biology is a path worth pursuing.”
- Pratyush Rallapally (2024), undergraduate majoring in biology and statistics, University of California, Santa Barbara
Stipend & Support
Participants in the program receive a competitive taxable stipend. Additionally, costs for a meal plan and housing will be covered by NITMB. Travel costs to/from the site will be reimbursed. Local transportation (Metra/CTA) card will be covered for the 8 weeks.
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Eligibility
To be considered for this program, applicants must currently be freshmen, sophomores, or juniors with demonstrated interests in biology, mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, data science, and related fields. Applicants will be prioritized based on their demonstrated interest to learn and/or research at the interface of mathematics and biology.​
Zihan Yang, 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program Participant
"NITMB and my experience in this summer program has given me a look at what is really being done at this mathematical-biological interface. It has introduced me to different ways of thinking and widened my perspective.” ​
- Helen Yoo (2024), undergraduate majoring in chemistry and music, Bradley University
Expectations
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Participants are expected to devote 100% full-time effort (defined as 37.5 hours/week) to research and mandatory institutional activities during the eight-week period.
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Participants must agree not to take on any other paid work or research grants for any part of the eight-week period, and must not be enrolled in courses for any part of that period.
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Participants are expected to present a poster at the end of the program.
2025 Participant Testimonials
​Explore the research and experiences of participants in the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program