Pathways to Research in the Biosciences at Stony Brook

Entering Research Workshop

The purpose of this workshop is to facilitate independent research opportunities for students in the life sciences. Our goal is that all qualified students who are interested in doing undergraduate research in the biological sciences can learn more about these opportunities by the spring semester of their junior year.

Students in their first semester at Stony Brook, either as new freshmen or as a first semester transfer student are not encouraged to apply, but instead to spend this semester establishing themselves as members of the Stony Brook community both academically and socially.

The Fall 2025 Entering Research Workshop will comprise three approximately two-hour in-person meetings from 5:30 - 7:30 PM in the Biology Learning Laboratories wing of the Centers for Molecular Medicine. The workshop dates for the Fall 2025 semester are Thursday October 21, Thursday November 11, and Thursday December 2. Participants are expected to attend all three sessions.

Application Opens: Friday, September 5, 2025

Application Deadline: 11:59 PM Sunday, September 28, 2025

If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please apply here.

If the above link does not work, please paste this URL into your browser:

https://stonybrookuniversity.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bjtWkSz1Ioq23yK

Explorations in STEM Program

Provides summer stipend support for a mentored research experience in combination with career development programming for students who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM disciplines. Applications encouraged for students with financial need or from under-represented groups; freshmen and sophomores with little to no research experience are encouraged to apply. The Undergraduate Biology Program has used donations in the past to specifically fund students conducting biology research within the Explorations in STEM Program.

Stony Brook iGEM

(International Genetically Engineered Machines)

Student-led summer-long research project in synthetic biology that is presented at the International iGEM Jamboree. Although there is no dedicated stipend support, students have access to institutional facilities, receive faculty guidance and have support from a number of sponsors, and donations have been absolutely instrumental to supporting past iGEM teams. Appropriate for students at all levels with interests in synthetic biology.

The application for the 2025 iGEM team opens on Monday, November 18th. To be considered for the 2025 iGEM team, please fill out the iGEM 2025 Application by 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 31st, 2024. Please email application_igem_2025@stonybrook.edu with any questions. Good luck!!

INSPIRE

Include New Students through a Peer Introduction to Research Experience

The INSPIRE program is a multi-disciplinary mentoring initiative developed by Undergraduate Biology to promote engagement of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in research. Undergraduate researchers (INSPIRE Mentors) will be paired with students who are currently not in research (INSPIRE Fellows), and each Fellow will observe their Mentor in a research setting to learn about the culture of a research environment and the daily experiences of an undergraduate student researcher.

The INSPIRE Spring 2025 program application will open on Thursday, October 31st. Click this link to access the application.

URECA

Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

URECA coordinates undergraduate research activities across all disciplines at Stony Brook and offers competitive summer awards to support faculty-mentored research experiences for undergraduates. URECA also offers travel awards for students participating in off-campus conferences and sponsors a campus-wide research symposium in the spring.

Please see the URECA website for more information.

INDUCER Program

The long-term goal of this proposed project is to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing research careers in the biomedical sciences with an emphasis on studying the biology of cancer. The overall strategy is to recruit and select highly qualified students and to provide them with quality laboratory experiences.