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 2023 Timeline 

Applications for SURP 2023 are now closed. Thank you for your interest! Applications for SURP 2024 will open this fall.

Infossession

We held an info session on Zoom on March 10th, 2023, and the recording can be found below. Slides can be found here.

Spring 2023 Infosesssion Recording:

Schedule for Labs:

  • Project participation form due (link via email): Saturday, February 25th, 2023
  • Receive applications: Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023
  • Notification of Application Status: Friday, April 7th, 2023

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

Schedule for Students:

  • Infosession: March 10th, 2023 7-8pm on Zoom (recording above)
  • Application opens: Friday, February 24th, 2023
  • Application closes: Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023, 11:59 PM
  • Notification of application status: Monday, April 24th-27th (you will receive an email with your status as soon as possible).

For Students

Projects

Overview:

*Note: SURP 2023 Projects may be updated on a rolling basis, so keep checking back in!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BAVEJWm9TccCUkRf0zE4I_pbMZyg8-NPAnL7aaXUA0k/edit#gid=0

FAQ:

Q: How do I join?

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?

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?

A: Students apply to up to three projects. If applicants apply to your project(s) through SURP, SURP will send you all such applications. You decide which students your lab wishes to accept.

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 summer 2023, you do not have a reason to join.

Q: When will I receive the undergraduates’ applications?

A: You will receive them by March 22nd. Please select the applicants you wish to accept by April 7th 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 7th. *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.