Positions

Each year, approximately 180 undergraduate students from around the U.S. come to Mayo Clinic's campuses to work beside both young and established scientists on a broad range of biomedical research questions.

Fellowships are available at the Mayo Clinic campuses in Jacksonville, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Rochester, Minnesota. Applicants can select the campus they prefer. This program is a full-time commitment. Students are expected to be in the labs for at least 40 hours a week for the duration of the 10-weeks.

Admission requirements

The SURF program dates are scheduled for June 1-Aug. 6, 2027, and attendance at orientation is required. Students must begin the program on June 1 to participate. No alternative program dates will be offered.

Prerequisites

Applicants to the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) must: 

• Have completed their sophomore year of college prior to the start of the program.
• Be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale)
• Be seriously considering a biomedical research career as a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. (as opposed to a fulltime practicing physician).

*Please note that applicants who have or will graduate with their first bachelor's degree prior to the program do not meet eligibility requirements.

Applicants who are strongly considering an M.D. degree should check out our Clinical Research Internship Program (CRISP).

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

International students who are attending a U.S. college or university as full-time students are eligible to apply. International students are responsible for confirming their eligibility with their academic institution and obtaining all required CPT, OPT, or other employment authorization prior to the start of the program. Mayo Clinic does not provide visa sponsorship for SURF participants.

Additional information regarding federal student employment regulations is available through the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website.

How to apply

Application timeline

The 2027 program is scheduled to run from June 1, 2027- August 6, 2027.

You can only submit one application per application season.

Application instructions

Complete the following steps to apply:

1. Create an account to begin the online Application for Admission
• Select – Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• Select – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
2. Complete each section of the application and submit
3. After submission, view the required Supplemental Items and Documents
• Upload each required item in the Supplemental Items section 
• Complete the Recommendation Request section 

Additional required items

• Personal statement to include a one to two page description of your career goals, and the steps you have already taken to achieve those goals.
• Unofficial transcripts of courses from all colleges or universities attended must be uploaded in the Supplemental Items area for application purposes. Competitive applicants will upload their most recent transcript with fall semester grades.
• Two letters of recommendation (from research mentors and science instructors) are required. Within the Recommendation Request section, you will provide contact information for each letter writer. Each recommender will receive an email with a link to complete a rating form and upload a letter.

Application review

If you are selected as a SURF fellow, you will be matched with a mentor in the research area you have selected.

Acceptance

Offers of acceptance will go out by email on a rolling basis from mid-February through mid-March. After the acceptance process is complete, the remaining applicants will be notified by email.