Independent Research

Students have an opportunity to transform knowledge learned in the classroom into tangible skills and to experience science as an evolving truth by engaging in research. Under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty, students develop valuable scientific techniques and problem solving skills while learning to function independently in a laboratory setting.

Students can work in a laboratory setting through several mechanisms. Interested students should do online research, utilize the CCRF resource, and read faculty and lab web pages to get a sense of the kind of research being done on campus. Undergraduates pursuing a BS with Honors in Neuroscience will be required to complete experimental research within a laboratory setting.

Here are some tips on how to get started and what opportunities are available:

Tips for finding a research mentor

Independent Research

OUR NEW FACULTY MEMBERS ARE OPEN AND LOOKING FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS! 

Neuroscience faculty members
Visit the Faculty page to learn more about them.

FUNDED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING IN THEORY AND COMPUTATION FOR NEXT GENERATION NEUROSCIENTISTS


The Undergraduate Training Program in Computational Neuroscience (TPCN) provides an introduction to research in Computational Neuroscience. Students will spend a full year working on a funded computational research project under the supervision of a select Neuroscience faculty member. The program culminates in an oral presentation. Students will also attend a series of seminars and laboratory visits designed to introduce them to a wide range of neuroscience research topics throughout the year. The deadline for applications is March 20th, 2026.

SUMMER Internships & Fellowships

NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH METCALF INTERNSHIP

The Metcalf Internships provide opportunities for students to conduct independent research during the summer. This opportunity is competitively awarded to 2nd and 3rd year UChicago students majoring in Neuroscience. Students must work with a UChicago faculty member (= Principal Investigator or P.I.) to develop an original project that is feasible within the confines of this 10-week program.

Once accepted, student interns are expected to work full-time in a Neuroscience laboratory on campus, toward completion of their proposed project. Interns must also participate in faculty-led weekly meetings. The 10-week program occurs during the summer quarter and students may not register for any courses during this time. A $5,500 stipend is awarded to accepted applicants. The deadline for applications is March 20th, 2026.

Click the Handshake link for the application and more information: 2026 Neuroscience Research Metcalf.
All applicants must submit faculty recommendation information via email to neuromajor@uchicago.edu.

DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

The Developmental Neurobiology Undergraduate Fellowship Opportunity (DNUFO) is a summer research opportunity designed to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration. This fellowship will offer undergraduates the opportunity to take advantage of the breadth and depth of developmental neurobiology while exposing them to research outside of their immediate interests. Fellows will also have the opportunity to foster personal networks within and outside the university.

Students will be required to perform 10 weeks of full-time research in their host labs, as well as various other responsibilities. Fellows will receive a $5,500 stipend. In addition, the host laboratory will receive funds to cover expenses related to travel, room, and board related to conference attendance. The deadline for applications is March 20th, 2026.

Click the Handshake link for the application and more information: 2026 BSCD Developmental Neurobiology Undergraduate Fellowship.
Letters of recommendation are to be emailed to neuromajor@uchicago.edu.

BSCD FELLOWSHIPS IN QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY

The Quantitative Biology Summer Research Fellowship is an opportunity for students to complete a research project in any field of biology (e.g., ecology and evolution, systems biology, statistical genetics) using quantitative tools (e.g. statistical, computational, or mathematical methods). The research projects will be primarily computational in nature, although students may also engage in experimental data collection to support their aims.

In addition to working on research, students will take part in a regular student-led seminar facilitated by D. Kondrashov with the aim of acquiring new quantitative skills to support their research progress. The goal of the program is to create a community of undergraduate scholars and provide them with an intensive, interdisciplinary research and learning experience.

Click the Handshake link for the application and more information: 2026 BSCD Quantitative Biology Summer Fellowship. The deadline for applications is March 20th, 2026.

For program details and additional application requirements, please review the BSCD Undergraduate Research Opportunities webpage.

NESSTP SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM

The Neuroscience Early Stage Scientist Training Program (NESSTP) Metcalf internship supports independent research during the summer quarter for UChicago undergraduate students with an interest in Neuroscience research. No research experience is required. Interns are expected to work full-time in a neuroscience laboratory on campus, toward completion of their proposed project, and participate in weekly meetings.

The 10-week program occurs during the summer quarter, and students may not register for any courses or have other employment during this time. A $5,500 stipend is awarded to accepted applicants. Click here for more information about the NESSTP Summer Research Program.

The deadline for applications is March 20th, 2026. Click here for the application form.
Letters of recommendation should come from a University of Chicago faculty member, instructor, or TA and should be submitted by the application deadline to nesstp@lists.uchicago.edu.

 

 

 

It is only through directly experiencing

the joys and tribulations of the research process

that students can discover their own affinity for

and interest in laboratory work.

Research Library

College Center for Research and Fellowships

The College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF) helps undergraduates in the College navigate the broad array of institutional, domestic, and international undergraduate research opportunities that are available to them. Faculty-mentored research experiences complement and deepen academic work done in the classroom and provide students with key skills that prepare them for national and international fellowships, graduate study, and diverse careers.  

In support of undergraduate research, the CCRF organizes and runs: 

The CCRF also provides intensive support to College students as they prepare for nationally competitive fellowships. These prestigious opportunities fund graduate study, research, foreign language acquisition, and much more. Students are encouraged to apply for the following opportunities, among many others

neuroscience faculty list

Advising Meeting Calendar

COLLEGE Course Catalog