The Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience Program

Summer 2026 Applications are NOW OPEN!

Deadline for applications and letter of recommendation: January 10, 2026

Join us for an information session:

Session 1: Monday, November 10, 12-1 pm PST
Session 2: Monday, December 1, 12-1 pm PST

A Message from the Director

Hello and welcome to the Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience! Housed at the University of California, Irvine's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, this program aims to immerse undergraduate students in authentic, hands-on research in neuroscience-related areas and prepare scholars for success in graduate school and beyond. Each year, our program enrolls 20 students, with 10 of them receiving funding from the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program and the remaining 10 supported by the University of California UC-HBCU Initiative. Our overarching goal is to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that nurtures a diverse community of scholars poised to lead the groundbreaking discoveries of the future.

For those interested in learning more about our program, I encourage you to explore the insights and experiences shared by our past participants in the spotlight videos from 2023, 2024, and 2025. The summer 2026 application portal will open November 3, 2025 and will be due January 9, 2026. Join the mailing list to receive updates.

Detailed information about the program and application process can be found below. Please feel free to reach out to explorethebrain@uci.edu should you have additional questions.

Warmly,

Manuella Oliveira Yassa, PhD

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Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience research program funded by NSF REU and UC HBCU

ABOUT

The Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience Program is an intensive 10-week program that immerses undergraduate students in neuroscience research and trains them with the skills necessary for success in graduate school and beyond.

The program admits 20 students each year. Ten are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF-REU) and ten are funded by the University of California Office of the President's UC-Historically Black Colleges and Universities (UC-HBCU) Initiative. Students will engage in 2 weeks of remote programming, which includes onboarding, literature reviews, online safety courses, research methods and data analysis workshops and activities that encourage cohort building. Weeks 2-10 will be held in person on the UC Irvine campus in Irvine, California. Students will be housed together in dorms. Transportation to and from UCI, housing and meals will be covered. Additionally, students will receive a stipend of $700/week for 10 weeks.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

May 2025: Laboratory Placements

Weeks 1-2 (June 8-19): Remote Programming
These two weeks of remote programming are designed to equip students with the logistical, safety, and background knowledge and skills necessary for a productive residential experience. Students will engage in daily cohort-wide sessions and will participate in laboratory-specific trainings and activities. Students will travel to UC Irvine at the end of week 2 (Sunday).

Programming during weeks 1-2 will include:

Weeks 3-10 (June 21-August 14): In-Person Programming
The two weeks of remote programming will be followed by 8 weeks of in-person immersion. Students will engage in one cohort-wide session daily and will spend the remainder of each day in the laboratory with their research group.

Programming during weeks 3-10 will include:

Journal club
Scientific seminars
Methods workshops
Professional development workshops
End of the summer research symposium

ELIGIBILITY

Undergraduate students who meet the criteria below are encouraged to apply:

3.0 grade point average (exceptions reviewed on a case by case basis)
US citizen or permanent resident
Must have completed 1st year of undergraduate studies by June 2026
Must be enrolled as a full-time student
Must be graduating in 2027 or later (those graduating in 2026 are not eligible to participate)

Participants will be selected based on interest in pursuing neuroscience research, academic preparation, overall achievements, personal statement, and responses to short answer questions.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please complete your application on the ETAP website by clicking here. Deadline: January 9, 2026

Application includes:

Personal Statement
CV or resume
Unofficial transcript
1 letter of recommendation
Brief responses to 3 prompts:
- Describe your research interests and why you are interested in participating in this summer research program.
- Reflect on a challenge or difficult circumstance that you feel you have overcome and learned from. What was the challenge or circumstance, and what did you learn?
- Please describe your career goals. How do you feel your participation in the Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience help you to achieve your goals?

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU)

Department of Defense Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (DoD ASSURE)

University of California Office of the President UC-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Initiative (UC-HBCU)

Meet the 2025 Cohort!

Learn about the program from the participants themselves and check out how the 2025 Summer Institute Scholars spent their summer!

Watch Now!

Meet the 2024 Cohort!

Watch Now!

Read about the 2024 Program!

During the summer of 2024, the Summer Institute in Neuroscience hosted 11 students from around the country to participate in neuroscience research at UC Irvine. Read more about their experience!

Learn more

Meet the 2023 Cohort!

Watch Now!

Read about the 2023 Program!

During the summer of 2023, the Summer Institute in Neuroscience hosted 10 students from around the country to participate in neuroscience research at UC Irvine. Read more about their experience!

Learn more

Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience Alumni