SPUR – Programs and Disciplines

The chart below provides a quick reference of participating summer programs at UCLA and their related academic fields. Additional research programs available at UCLA during the summer, see other UCLA programs.

 

Program Name Open to Depts/Disciplines Academic Level
Amgen Scholars Program Biochemistry; Bioengineering; Bioinformatics; Biopsychology; Biotechnology; Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Chemistry; Immunology; Medical Pharmacology; Microbiology; Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology; Molecular Genetics; Molecular Medicine; Molecular Pharmacology; Neurobiology; Neuroscience; Pathology; Physiological Psychology; Physiological Science; Statistics; Toxicology. Sophomores (with 4 quarters or 3 semesters of college experience), Juniors and non-graduating Seniors who are returning in the fall to continue their undergraduate experience.
Bioscience Scholars Program (formerly known as SPUR LABS) Bioscience Scholars Program solicits applications from outstanding students whose goal is to pursue a career in bioscience research. The program aims to prepare and inspire a diverse population of undergraduates for graduate study in biosciences. Students from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Rising Juniors & Seniors
Bruins-in-Genomics (B.I.G. Summer) Applicants must be: a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or F-1 visa holder; preference will be given to students planning to apply to graduate school in Fall 2024 or Fall 2025; have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; have some familiarity with at least one programming language (e.g. python, pearl, R, Java, MAT-LAB, C++, etc.); preferably have taken bioinformatics or biostatistics courses. Rising sophomore, junior or senior
Brain Research Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BRISURE) For Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) scholars in Neuroscience or Physiology. Rising Juniors and Seniors; open to current CSU/HBCU/MARC students
California State University (CSU) Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program Open to all current CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars, both graduate and undergraduate. 8 week program. CSU Scholars complete only the UCLA SPUR online application after they have approval from the UCLA SPUR Coordinator; do not submit supplemental materials. To become a CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar, please contact the program representative on your CSU campus. If you’re interested in learning more about the UCLA Summer Research program for current CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars , please email askgrad@grad.ucla.edu. Juniors, Seniors and Master’s-Level Students.
Cultivating Interest in Research Careers (CIRC) Official Academic Transcript Two Letters of Recommendation : One from an Instructor Completed Application A current high school senior who has taken at least a semester of community college classes and plans on transferring to a community college in the Fall,

OR Current community college student attending a community college in Los Angeles County (Must have at least a year of classes to complete before transferring to a four-year college or university) attending a community college in Los Angeles County
Community College Field Biology Alliance Interest in environmental science, ecology, animal behavior, botany, and similar fields. Ability to attend all monthly meetings and field excursion (all expenses covered by the program). Current community college students.
The Diversity Project Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Marine Biology, Environmental Science and related disciplines. Some funding dedicated to students from Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
 Preferences for rising juniors and seniors, but well-qualified rising sophomores are encouraged to apply.
HBCU – Evolutionary Medicine Must be student at an HBCU institution. Interdisciplinary interest in ecology and evolutionary biology, anthropology, psychology, zoology, systems biology and microbiology with medicine. Current junior or senior.
Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) U* STAR Program  Open to Life/Physical Sciences or Engineering majors who are conducting research (or planning to conduct research) with a “biomedical” application.  For UCLA students only. Junior or senior standing (completed 90 or more units) by the time that the student will begin as a MARC trainee, AND have two years remaining at UCLA at the start of the program. 
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Writing and Research Training Program Open to students who are currently Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows at their home institutions.
 Rising juniors and seniors
Summer Nursing Program Nursing majors only. Must be qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Currently a junior undergraduate student. Preference given to first-generation college students and applicants who are attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), Tribal Colleges and Universities Programs (TCUP). Cumulative, minimum GPA of 2.80 Rising Seniors

 

 
Summer Training for Excellence in Education Research (STEER) Applications must be undergraduates from Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Delaware State University and interested in pursuing a PhD in Education
 Juniors and Seniors may apply
University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) 2nd Summer Must already be in the UC system-wide UC LEADS Program. Open to all departments and disciplines in Science, Engineering & Math.

 

 Open to 2nd-Summer UC LEADS STUDENTS (those from other UC campuses who have completed their first year in the program).
UCLA-HSI SOMA Summer Fellows
UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program Interest in exploring a career in the field of public health • Open to all majors/disciplines • By the start of the program, be enrolled in a four-year institution (community college transfers eligible) and have completed at least two years of undergraduate education OR graduated by the Spring term or after and have not officially enrolled in a graduate program. • Ability to be present in LA and participate in the 8-week summer program from mid-June to mid- August • Willingness to attend social and volunteer events on evenings and occasional weekends • Willingness to stay engaged with program for alumni tracking, professional development opportunities, maintaining contact with cohort, and participate in recruitment for future cohorts • Successful submission of all application materials • There is no GPA requirement • For questions, please contact phscholars@ph.ucla.edu By the start of the program, be enrolled in a four-year institution (community college transfers eligible) and have completed at least two years of undergraduate education OR graduated by the Spring term or after and have not officially enrolled in a graduate program
UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program
 Open to all HBCU undergraduate students. Open to rising Juniors and Seniors from any HBCU institution.
UCLA Neuroscience Scholars Program (NeuroScholars) Neuroscience, Physiological Sciences, Psychobiology, and other neurobiology-related fields. Sophomores and junior undergraduates. Candidates must be enrolled at UCLA or any other accredited University in the US.
Vision Science Summer Research Program  Open to life science majors; pre-med Rising Junior or Senior.