Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) 2027

The Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) 2027 programme offers undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake supervised scientific and academic research at the California Institute of Technology in the United States.

Established in 1979, SURF is organised through Caltech's Student-Faculty Programs Office.

The programme introduces students to the process of developing and carrying out independent research under the guidance of experienced faculty members.

Unlike summer programmes that assign students to predefined internships, SURF follows a research proposal model.

Applicants must identify a suitable Caltech faculty mentor and work with that mentor to design a meaningful research project before submitting their application.

The proposed project should have significant academic value and offer students opportunities to develop independent research and problem-solving skills.

Research Opportunities

Caltech offers research opportunities across several scientific and technical disciplines, depending on available faculty mentors and projects.

Research areas may include:

• Physics and Applied Physics
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Environmental Science
• Earth and Planetary Sciences
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Other relevant academic disciplines

Applicants should check the official 2027 research announcements to identify projects available to visiting undergraduates.

Programme Structure

Selected fellows undertake ten weeks of full-time, in-person research.

During the programme, participants work closely with their research mentors to investigate a problem, develop methods, analyse findings and document their results.

Participants must submit two interim reports, a research abstract and a final technical paper.

At the conclusion of the fellowship, students present their research findings at one of Caltech's SURF Seminar Days.

The programme also provides opportunities to attend faculty seminars, professional development activities, communication workshops and social events.

International Participation

The regular Caltech-campus SURF programme welcomes eligible undergraduates enrolled at international universities.

However, students wishing to conduct research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) must meet separate citizenship or permanent residence requirements.

International students should therefore distinguish between regular Caltech SURF and SURF@JPL before contacting mentors.

Applicants must meet the relevant undergraduate eligibility requirements.

For Caltech Students

• Be a continuing undergraduate student.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Have completed the third academic term at Caltech or an approved equivalent programme.
• Be eligible to register for the autumn academic term before beginning the research project and no later than 1 July.
• Not be under any academic or disciplinary sanctions.

For Visiting Students (Non-Caltech Applicants)

• Be enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate programme.
• Remain eligible for undergraduate enrolment in the following autumn term.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5/4.0.
• Have completed at least the second semester or third quarter at the home university.
• Not be under any academic or disciplinary sanctions.
• Obtain the support and approval of a Caltech faculty mentor before applying.
• Be available for the complete ten-week research commitment.

International Student Eligibility

International undergraduate students are eligible for research placements on the Caltech campus.

Students travelling from universities outside the United States may receive instructions on obtaining the appropriate F-1 or J-1 visa after being offered a SURF award.

International students already enrolled at US institutions must obtain appropriate off-campus employment authorisation before beginning the programme.

JPL Restriction

Research placements at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are available only to:

• US citizens.
• US permanent residents.

Special Institutional Arrangements

Students from the University of Iceland and certain Cambridge colleges must apply through their established institutional exchange arrangements.

Selected SURF fellows receive the following benefits:

• $8,354 Research Award: Financial support for the complete ten-week research period in 2027.
• Research Mentorship: Supervision from experienced Caltech faculty members and researchers.
• Practical Research Experience: Opportunities to conduct an original research project.
• Professional Development: Access to sessions about research careers and postgraduate study.
• Scientific Seminars: Opportunities to attend presentations by Caltech faculty and JPL scientists and engineers.
• Communication Workshops: Training activities focused on presenting and explaining research.
• Research Presentation: An opportunity to present findings at a SURF Seminar Day.
• Technical Writing Experience: Preparation of a final research paper.
• Networking Opportunities: Engagement with academic mentors, researchers and other participating students.
• Social and Cultural Activities: Access to relevant programme enrichment activities.

Applicants must prepare the following:

• Online Application: Complete the official SURF application through SFP Online.
• Research Proposal: A technical description of the proposed project, developed with the prospective Caltech mentor.
• Unofficial Academic Transcript: Required for visiting applicants from institutions other than Caltech.
• Two Confidential Recommendation Letters: Submitted directly by nominated referees.
• Faculty Recommendation: At least one recommendation must come from a faculty member.
• Academic and Personal Information: Information requested in the application system.
• Research Mentor Details: Information identifying the Caltech faculty member supporting the project.

Caltech evaluates applications based on:

• Quality of Research Proposal: Whether the proposal clearly explains the research problem, its importance and the planned methodology.
• Academic Preparation: Whether the applicant has sufficient coursework, background and experience for the proposed project.
• Research Feasibility: Whether the project can reasonably be completed within ten weeks.
• Intellectual Contribution: Whether the student can take meaningful ownership of the research.
• Publication Potential: Whether the project could contribute to research suitable for publication in a refereed journal.
• Mentor Evaluation: Whether the Caltech research mentor provides a supportive assessment.
• Faculty Recommendations: Strength of the supporting recommendation letters.
• Previous SURF Experience: Returning applicants are expected to demonstrate more advanced research preparation and proposals.

• Research experience: Gain practical experience in an academic research environment.
• Faculty mentorship: Work with experienced Caltech researchers.
• Independent thinking: Develop a meaningful research proposal and investigate an original question.
• Research communication: Gain experience writing technical reports and presenting scientific findings.
• Postgraduate preparation: Build skills useful for future master's and doctoral research.
• Professional networking: Connect with researchers and undergraduate scholars.
• Academic exploration: Discover research opportunities beyond a student's usual coursework or discipline.