Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Molecular and Quantitative & Computational Biology (SURP)

This program is for current Princeton MOL rising-seniors (doing lab theses) and Princeton rising-sophomores and juniors working with LSI faculty. You do not need to apply. The department will send out information in February. MOL students contact Katie Pyott, [email protected], and LSI students contact Ben Zhang [email protected], with questions.

2024 Program Dates: June 3-August 2

Program Overview

Each summer, the Department of Molecular Biology and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics provide intensive laboratory research experiences to Princeton students. Each student joins a world-class research group—headed by a Faculty member and carries out an original research project. Participants are immersed in a culture of close collaboration with other undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty, and thereby experience first-hand what it is like to be a scientist. Other highlights of the program include:

  • Research discussion groups (learn to analyze and present data)
  • Faculty forum (attend weekly seminars given by Princeton Faculty)
  • Poster session (present your research to respected scientists)
  • Career forums (interact with former program participants)

Faculty Adviser

Dr. Zemer Gitai

Questions? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].


For current MOL juniors:

Molecular Biology Juniors writing a laboratory-based Senior Thesis are invited to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. No application is necessary. Students interested in participating should inform their adviser and contact Katie Pyott with any questions or concerns. Molecular Biology Juniors are provided with a $6,000 stipend but are responsible for their own housing and travel.

Employment (other than the research program) is only permissible during evening hours or weekends, and should not interfere with research activities. Students may take non-credit bearing courses, such as MCAT review courses or EMT training, but they cannot enroll in a credit-bearing course (one that would fulfill a requirement or count for academic credit at Princeton) and participate in the SURP.

Rising sophomores and juniors interested in participating are welcome to join the program if the student is able to secure a position and funding in an affiliated laboratory. There is no formal mechanism for placing rising sophomores and juniors in laboratories; rather it is left to the initiative of the interested student to contact the faculty member. Students who have secured a position should contact Katie Pyott to be included in the activities. One possible funding source for sophomores and juniors is the Office of Undergraduate Research OURSIP program.

For other students working with LSI faculty:

Students are responsible for finding a research lab to work in over the summer. Please note that students will need to work in the lab of an LSI faculty member in order to be eligible for funding through the Lewis-Sigler Institute; a list can be found here:  https://lsi.princeton.edu/people/faculty. The lab must be onsite at Princeton University.  A contract must be signed by both student and faculty member in order to confirm participation, and contracts are usually due in mid-March. Eligible students will be sent a contract to review and sign sometime in February from the QCB program administrator. 

Other funding opportunities may be found here:  https://studentfunding.princeton.edu/.                                                           

Questions? Please contact the QCB program administrator Ben Zhang.