Psych-Summer Research Program

The Psych-Summer Program enables Stanford undergraduates to spend the summer working on a research project supervised by a Stanford Psychology faculty member.

Eligibility 

Applicants must be Stanford University students with an interest in psychology. Preference is given to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who want to get started in research. Juniors and seniors who already have research experience are not given priority for Psych-Summer funding, since VPUE grants are already available to support summer research by more advanced students.  (Juniors eligible for the Honors Program should speak with a faculty mentor as soon as possible about applying for a Major Grant.)

Expectations

The program will run from June 24 through August 30, 2024 with a research poster session held on August 31. Students will work full-time. Students wishing to work only part-time must arrange this with their advisor well in advance of their start date.

Stipend

Each student will receive a $7500 base stipend for the 10-week program as a full time intern. Additional need based (up to $1500) supplement may apply.

All projects are full time unless otherwise stated in their description below. This is paid as a stipend through VPUE.

Restrictions

Students from other universities are not eligible for this program.

Housing

Housing is the responsibility of the student. For those who want to apply for on-campus summer housing, fees such as room, board, house dues, and other academic expenses are paid by the student. Students are responsible for paying their university summer bill, which will include any other academic expenses incurred. Students may review the summer room and board rates on the Summer Housing Allocation website.

How to Apply

Applications are now open and are due on February 21, 2024. 

Please review the projects listed below and complete the application form attaching your unofficial transcript. 

Faculty will review the applications and make selections. Notifications will go out by the end of March.

Apply here

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get academic credit for doing research as a Psych-Summer intern?

It is possible to receive academic credit for research conducted during the summer by enrolling in Summer Session.  However, students receiving academic credit for summer research are not considered part of the Psych-Summer program.  Stanford guidelines prohibit students from acquiring both monetary compensation and academic credit for the same job on campus.  

Will Psych-Summer support an off-campus research project?

The Psych-Summer Program supports involvement in a closely supervised project directly related to the research program of a Stanford Psychology faculty member.  If the off-campus project you develop fits this criterion (as in, fieldwork in which the faculty mentor is actively involved), then you are eligible for Psych-Summer support, even if you would not be living and working on campus.    

How do you decide who gets awarded a Psych-Summer stipend?

Because we have more applicants than stipends available, the Psych-Summer program is competitive.  Decisions will be made based on several factors, including motivation for doing research, initiative in exploring research options, academic record, and availability of a good match between a student and a research mentor.