Summer Research and Project-based Experiences

Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduate students (REU)

A number of Rice faculty host REUs on campus each summer. These full-time, paid research experiences allow students to join a PhD-led research team at Rice for the summer (usually 8-10 weeks). Students gain experience as part of the team, contribute to a project, develop research and/or lab skills, and often have an opportunity to present or publish their work. These are competitive opportunities that require an application, but Take Flight students can receive a competitive edge for their involvement with the program.

Please see this page listing all the Rice REU programs for more information.

Short Summer Programs for Take Flight students

The Take Flight program also partners with Rice faculty to offer several shorter-term (2-3 weeks) paid research/project-based experiences for Take Flight students each summer. These on campus programs provide introductory experiences and exposure to lab/project work and require less of a time commitment compared to a full REU. These opportunities vary year to year depending on faculty interests and funding. Past experiences include the Laboratory Program in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (led by Dr. Jamie Catanese and Dr. Jose Olmos), the Laboratory Program in Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology (led Dr. James Chappell) , and the Digital Health Scholars Program (led by Dr. Joe Young and the Office of STEM Engagement).

Students interested in these opportunities should contact their program leaders at our partner institutions Lone Star College and San Jacinto College.