Intern - Salk Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Salk Institute for Biological Studies; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies offers the SURF program, a 9-week summer undergraduate research fellowship with a virtual prep week. Interns gain hands-on lab experience, mentorship across levels, and professional development, culminating in a capstone presentation to a broad audience.

Participants engage in experiments, learn data analysis, and present their findings. The program includes training sessions, lab meetings, and opportunities to develop STEM careers in a collaborative

Qualifications

• Be 18 years or older.
• Be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program OR be a community college student in their transfer year to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution.
• Be entering junior or senior year during summer 2027.
• Have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and 2.5 or higher in science courses.
• Be able to commit to full program dates and requirements; this includes not enrolling in summer courses or participating in other internships.
• Be eligible to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and conduct experiments under the guidance of a research team.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions with the Office of Community & Engagement.
• Read and discuss relevant research articles and learn how to do so if needed.
• Adhere to all safety protocols and guidelines for a safe working environment.
• Follow lab policies including proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials.

Skills

Attention to detail

Notetaking

Time management

Analytical thinking

Written and oral communication

Collaborative

Education

Undergraduate student/transfer year

Job description

The Salk Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) is a 9-week mentored research program with a virtual component the week before arrival that provides access to world-class research facilities, hands-on training to learn and build research skills, access to a network of mentors, and foundational experiences for students interested in, or actively considering, pursuing a career in STEM.

Salk SURF interns will engage in hands-on laboratory research, gaining practical experience in a dynamic scientific environment. They will collaborate closely with research staff across multiple levels of expertise and actively contribute to ongoing scientific dialogue through regular group discussions and lab meetings.

Interns will actively engage in a range of structured internal programs designed to enhance both research-focused career development and broader professional skills. These offerings provide valuable exposure to scientific inquiry, collaboration, and career-building tools. At the end of the summer, interns will present their research at the Capstone Presentation Symposium—an event attended by a live and virtual audience including family, faculty, mentors, advisors, and members of the Salk community. This culminating experience allows interns to demonstrate their scientific communication abilities and share the significance of their work with a broader audience.

The 2027 program will run from June 7, 2027 - August 6, 2027.The program kicks off with a virtual SURF Immersion week composed of training and soft skills development, followed by 8 weeks of in-person hands-on research and mentorship at the Salk Institute

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values all members of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Prepare and conduct experiments under the guidance of a research team.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions with the Office of Community & Engagement.
• Read and discuss relevant research articles (learning how to do so if this is not an existing skill).
• Adhere to all safety protocols and guidelines to ensure a safe working environment.
• Follow laboratory policies and procedures, including proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials.
• Record and analyze experimental data accurately and maintain detailed laboratory records.
• Maintain lab notebooks.
• Participate in professional development opportunities.
• Participate in lab meetings, other trainings, and research.
• Prepare comprehensive slides and a presentation summarizing the research experience/project.
• Present the summer research experience/project to a broad audience, articulating findings and insights effectively.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong attention to detail and effective notetaking skills.
• Self-starter, organized, strong time management abilities.
• Motivation and ability to investigate and troubleshoot problems that may arise in research.
• Willingness to ask questions and be proactive in clarifying understanding.
• Interest in data analysis and curiosity in approaches to it.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, and flexibility.
• Respect and understanding for individuals with different backgrounds and experiences from your own.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be 18 years or older.
• Be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program OR be a community college student in their transfer year to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution.
• Be entering their junior or senior year at the time of participating in the program (summer 2027).
• Have a minimum of 3.0 overall GPA and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in science courses.
• Be able to commit to the full program dates and requirements; this includes, but is not limited to, not enrolling in summer courses or participating in other internships while participating in the Salk SURF.
• Be eligible to work in the United States.

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $17.75 hourly." Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete an online application and attach all supplemental documents:

• Resume/CV
• Unofficial transcript

Applications that do not have all required materials uploaded by the deadline will not be considered.

You will not be able to view your application responses after submission, so we recommend completing the essay questions in a Word document (or a similar program) first to save it on your end, then copying and pasting it into this form.

• Please review and utilize the following information when completing the application questions:
• Question #13 - NASA Minority Serving Institutions List
• Question #14 - Institute Classification Search

We encourage all applicants to review the scoring rubric when completing their application responses.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk’s pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym I CARE provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

1. Any combination of characteristics.
2. A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
3. A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.