Summer Undergraduate Research Internship
2025 Summer Research Internship Co-Hort
About Our Program:
Featured in this photo: Program Director Dr. Corina Rosales alongside the 2025 High School Emerging Researchers (H.E.R.P.) and Summer Undergraduate Research Interns (SURI)
About Our Program:
The Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (SURI) is the premier summer program at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, offering a transformative 10-week experience for undergraduate students dedicated to biomedical research and translational science.
Interns are carefully matched with renowned faculty mentors who provide expert guidance in mastering essential laboratory techniques and navigating complex research projects. Each student is assigned a unique focus within an ongoing study, allowing for deep exploration of their scientific interests and meaningful contributions to advancing medical knowledge.
SURI emphasizes comprehensive professional development alongside research training. Interns engage in didactic lectures, skill-building workshops, and career panels designed to enhance scientific communication, ethical understanding, and leadership abilities. The program also fosters a strong sense of community through networking events, social gatherings, and team activities, connecting interns with mentors, clinicians, and peers.
The internship culminates in the MAPTA Summer Research Symposium, where interns present their research findings through formal poster presentations. This event provides valuable experience in scientific communication and an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments. Many participants collaborate with mentors on publications or national conference presentations, paving the way for future academic and professional success.
A competitive stipend supports the interns throughout the summer. Graduates of the program often continue their relationship with Houston Methodist, returning for further research opportunities, advanced training, or professional roles. With its focus on mentorship, diversity, and innovation, the SURI program is a distinguished pathway for emerging leaders in biomedical science.
Internship Guidelines & Requirements
Applications for the 2026 Summer Internship Programs will open on December 1, 2025, and close on Jan 30, 2026. The programs will begin on May 25, 2026, and end on July 31, 2026. The internship is held at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center (6565 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030).
All programs require a full-time commitment for the 10-week duration (May 25–July 31, 2026). Daily attendance is required of each student for a full 8-hour workday, approximately 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with the exception of the July 4th holiday. Please review our comprehensive FAQ for more information.
Eligibility:
- You must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program to participate
- Only US citizens, legal permanent residents, and Foreign Nationals who already hold a legal visa status (F-1, J-1, EADs) are eligible to apply to any of the internship programs
Application Requirements:
- Completed summer Internship program application
- Two required essay questions and one optional
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current transcript (official or unofficial): The grades from your current academic year must be included for your transcript to be accepted. Your transcript MUST include your grades for the current 2025 fall semester.
- Resume
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
“Allison Nef, a 2025 Summer Undergraduate Intern and Texas A&M University-Brown Scholar, reviews her research poster in preparation for the judges' arrival at the 2025 MAPTA Symposium.”
Reflections from Our 2025 SURI Interns
Featured Interns in the Photo: Sahasra Saravanan (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Lois Jung (Hallym University), Jennifer Le (Texas A&M University), Rashawn Hamlette (North Carolina A&T State University), and Chinaza Ijezie (Texas Southern University)
“The Houston Methodist Summer Internship Program has been a transformative journey—one that exceeded our expectations in every way. We came from different corners of the world: from Texas and North Carolina to New York and South Korea. Each of us arrived with hopes of gaining hands-on research experience, but we walked away with so much more.
This program gave us access to leading researchers, innovative laboratories, and opportunities that many students only dream of. But beyond the academic and professional growth, we found community. We supported one another through experiments that didn’t go as planned, cheered each other on as we prepared for symposium presentations, and had real conversations about what it means to pursue science, medicine, and leadership as young scholars in a rapidly evolving world.
From early morning commutes to long days of data collection to bonding over boba and late-night group study sessions, our cohort became more than just colleagues—we became friends. We gained clarity in our career goals, confidence in our ability to succeed, and a deeper understanding of the impact we can make through our work.
What makes this program truly special is its commitment to diversity, collaboration, and excellence. The Houston Methodist Summer Internship Program not only opened doors for us—it empowered us to open doors for others. We’re leaving with memories we’ll always cherish, mentors who believed in us, and a renewed passion for using science and research to improve lives.”
— 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Interns