The Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program
The Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program at University of Wisconsin–Madison provides immersive, full-time bioscience research and professional development for undergraduate students as they prepare for graduate school and research careers in biology.
Applications for 2026 are closed
Applications for 2027 will open in fall. Interested in applying? Sign up to get email notifications about the program.
About the program
The Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program gives undergraduate students a full-time, mentored research experience at UW–Madison. Students spend 10 weeks on campus working in a bioscience research lab, building research skills, and learning more about graduate school and research careers in biology.
The program is designed for students who are interested in biological science research and may not otherwise have access to research opportunities. Participants complete an independent research project with guidance from trained mentors and take part in weekly professional development activities with a supportive cohort of peers.
There is no cost to participate. Students receive a stipend, summer housing, a partial meal plan, health insurance if needed, access to campus resources, and round-trip travel to Madison, Wisconsin.
Program at a glance
- 2026 dates: May 26–August 1, 2026
- Length: 10 weeks
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Support: $7,000 stipend, housing, partial meal plan, health insurance if needed, and round-trip travel
- Application status: 2027 applications will open in fall.
What you’ll do
During the program, students:
- Pursue an independent, mentored research project in a UW–Madison lab
- Build science communication skills through a poster session, research paper, and end-of-summer symposium
- Learn what graduate school and research careers can be like
- Attend faculty-led seminars on bioscience topics
- Connect with students from other summer research programs through community-building activities
Research theme: Cellular and molecular biology of stress
Students explore how organisms respond and adapt to environmental stress. Faculty mentors study many types of stress in microbes, plants, and animals, including stress caused by pathogens, nutrient availability, and other environmental challenges.
Through independent research, students investigate how cells and organisms detect stress, transmit stress signals, and activate biological processes that help them survive.
Eligibility
Review the eligibility requirements before starting your application.
You are eligible to apply if the following is true:
- Strong career interest in biological science research
- Have completed at least 2 semesters of undergraduate education by the time of the summer research experience
- Have at least 1 semester of undergraduate education remaining after completing the summer research experience
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
- Grade point average of at least 3.0 (see Frequently Asked Questions for more info)
Program priority
The CMBS program is designed to expand access to research opportunities for students who have limited access to research experiences.
Students may have limited access to research for many reasons, including attending a small college or 2-year college with fewer research resources, coming from a low-income background and needing to work during the academic year, or being the first in their family to attend college and benefiting from additional support.
All eligible students are welcome and encouraged to apply.
Accommodations
If you have questions about accommodations or would like to discuss your needs before applying, contact Amber Smith at amber.smith@wisc.edu. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accommodations.
How to apply
Applications for the 2027 program will open in fall. Sign up to be notified when applications are available.
Before you apply
Have these materials ready before starting your application.
Recommendation letters
Names and email addresses for two people who can provide letters of recommendation. Faculty members are preferred.
College transcripts
An electronic version of your college transcript. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If electronic transcripts are not available, you may use scanned hard copies.
Personal essays
Four short personal essays. Each essay has a 5,000-character maximum.
Application essays
You will be asked to create four short personal essays responding to the following prompts:
- How have your background and life experiences (including cultural, geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges) motivated your decision to pursue a summer research opportunity?
- How would your participation in a summer research program at UW–Madison contribute to your future goals and career plans?
- Which area(s) of research are of interest to you and why?
- Although previous research experience is not required to be considered for participation in our summer program, please describe any past research experience. This may include research experiences as part of a course if you do not have any other research experiences.
General application and selection timeline
| Dates | Description |
|---|---|
| November 1 | Application opens. |
| February 1 | Application closes. |
| February | Applications are reviewed. |
| February/March | Student-mentor meetings take place, and formal offers are sent. |
| Mid-March–Early April | Signed offers are due. |
| March/April | Decline emails are sent as soon as all program spots are filled. |
Information sessions
Upcoming sessions
No upcoming events found.
Recording
Can’t make it to an upcoming info session? Watch this recording for more program details.
Frequently asked questions
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has one of the strongest biological research communities in the U.S. It offers graduate training programs in over 40 areas of biological research. Participants report that this program has helped them determine whether graduate school is right for them, check out UW-Madison for grad school, and learn particular research techniques.
The program will run from May 26-August 1, 2026. Students will arrive in Madison on May 26, 2026 and begin orientation on May 27, 2026. The program will end on July 31, 2026 and students will depart on August 1, 2026.
It is common for students on trimesters or quarters to finish the academic year after the program has begun. We do make exceptions for students who can arrive in Madison no later than May 31, 2026. Please email the CMBS Program Director, Dr. Amber Smith (amber.smith@wisc.edu) to discuss the details of your situation.
Participants in the summer research program are housed in a residence hall on campus within walking distance of laboratories and State Street (i.e., downtown Madison). Participants from other summer programs are housed in the same building.
Each year the program accepts 15-30 students into the program from a pool of about 450 applicants. The size of the program is contingent upon funding.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is committed to supporting Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs like CMBS to broaden access to high-quality, immersive research experiences. Students who have not had access to research opportunities for any reason (e.g., small home institution, impact from historical or social factors, lack or resources) are encouraged to apply.
We review applications holistically and occasionally accept students whose GPAs are less than 3.0. Please share in your essay the steps you are taking to increase your GPA and highlight other skills and experiences that you believe will support your success in the program.
No, due to funding restrictions we are not able to fund UW–Madison students.
An initial screen of applicants is made by program staff. Files from strong applicants are forwarded to faculty mentors based on research interests expressed by students in their applications. Each mentor reviews the applications and determines which student(s) they would like to meet (virtually). If both the mentor and student agree there is a good fit, the CMBS program director will send a formal offer to the student.
No. Participants do research full-time (40 hr/week). The idea is to enjoy an intensive research experience when you are freed from the schedules and obligations of coursework or a job.
Testimonials
Since this is my first time doing summer research, I didn’t really know what to expect. But now that I’m here, I’m motivated to do it again….Don’t be afraid of not having experience. I thought maybe because I didn’t have much under my sleeve, that I wouldn’t be a good candidate. But this is exactly what this program is for. It’s for us to come and get the experience and learn.
I was initially very intimidated by the prospect of joining a high-level bacteriology lab this summer, and expected there to be little room to make mistakes. I was instead met with some of the most helpful, welcoming people I’ve ever met who constantly supported and were there for me as I conducted research.
My home institution is relatively small and I was excited to branch out and work with types of research not available to me there….Having had such a positive experience this summer has made me even more eager to continue doing research and has confirmed my desire to attend graduate school.”
The research has been amazing….And I’ve made friends with so many people….I would not trade this experience for anything.
This program is a huge opportunity. Because it’s not just how to do experiments in your lab, it’s the whole process of being part of research, and how to deal with feedback, how to have support with your mentor, how to write a paper or do a poster session.
Having never done independent research or worked in a lab before, I was initially nervous….However, this experience has allowed me to grow as a scientist, become more independent, and feel confident in my abilities….[It] has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I truly believe I am better for it.
I had great mentors who knew exactly how to push me for growth while showing nothing but kindness and encouragement.
My time [in this program] occurred between graduating from my community college and transitioning to a four-year university. As a student with limited resources and minimal exposure to research, the experience here has set me up for a successful career in science….[It] has allowed me to develop my passion for science and build a skillset that will increase my eligibility for future opportunities.
Explore more
Mentors & Projects
Here are some of the mentors participating in this year’s program. Learn more about their work and the research projects they offer.
Alumni Projects
Learn more about what students in past years have studied during their time in the program.
Student Stories
Get to know some of the student researchers, the diverse paths that led them here, and what they learned during their time at UW–Madison.
Leadership Team
- Amber Smith, Ph.D., CMBS Program Director, PI (NSF award # 20502567)
- David Wassarman, Ph.D., Co-PI
