Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program

Summer 2026 VUSRP applications are open November 12, 2025 and close January 28, 2026!

The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program (VUSRP) provides Vanderbilt undergraduate students with the opportunity to fulfill 10 weeks of full-time research during the summer under the mentorship of any full-time Vanderbilt University faculty member, including faculty in the graduate and professional schools. VUSRP strongly prioritizes research that our Vanderbilt students do within the context of a Vanderbilt faculty person’s research program. In-person research and mentoring is favored, though with adequate justification, virtual research and mentoring will be considered.

VUSRP
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Applications for Summer 2026 open on November 12, 2025 and close on January 28, 2026.

  • VUSRP is a 10-week program that allows students to work with any full-time Vanderbilt faculty member on the faculty person’s research.
  • The main component of the program is the scholarly work done by the Vanderbilt undergraduate student (VUSRP student) in collaboration with their faculty mentor.
  • VUSRP involves highly collaborative, full-time work.
    • Participants will engage in research with a VU faculty mentor on campus or in another research and/or field setting.
    • Participants are not permitted to take courses during the program.
    • Participants are expected to give top priority to the VUSRP research during the ten-weeks dedicated to the program.

Apply for Summer 2026 VUSRP

  • A $6000 stipend is awarded.
  • Stipends are intended to cover necessities and room and board.
  • Students who accept VUSRP stipends are required to:
    • attend a spring workshop to review program logistics.
    • complete 10 weeks of full-time research on campus or in another research and/or field setting with their faculty mentor over the summer
    • participate in a roundtable presentation toward the end of the 10-week period.
    • present at the fall or spring Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Symposium (VURS). 
  • No courses can be taken that overlap with the ten-weeks of research.
  • Students who accept VUSRP funding are encouraged to use the experience to satisfy their Immersion Vanderbilt requirement.
  • Vanderbilt faculty may support up to two applicants per cohort.
  • Successful applications are the result of intentional and detailed research plans between a student and a faculty mentor. Students who are considering multiple research opportunities at the same time must discuss this with their potential mentors. Students may submit only one VUSRP application per cycle.

Students and faculty mentors in the summer cohort will receive information about summer workshops, roundtable presentations, and other programming as applicable via Vanderbilt email. Information about registering for the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Symposium will be shared toward the end of the 10-week period.

VUSRP Info Session Recording

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VUSRP Info Session Slides

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Participants will fulfill their research on campus or in another research and/or field setting. The goal of VUSRP is to encourage and enhance student-faculty mentoring and joint research and discovery efforts.

Sincere thanks to our sponsors who contribute to this impactful summer experience for Vanderbilt undergraduates.

  • 10

    VUSRP is a 10-week program that allows students to work with any full-time Vanderbilt faculty member.

  • $6000

    Awarded students receive a $6000 stipend to support their summer living costs, like room and board.

  • 53%

    53% of applicants were awarded funding to complete VUSRP projects in Summer 2025.

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research during the summer