pink pipettes in lab

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

These are opportunities available to undergraduate students and alumni in the Department of Biological Sciences. Please email [email protected] if you have an opportunity to post for our students.

Part Time Volunteer/Paid Research Positions

New York Academy of Sciences is now recruiting scientists for our NYC K-12 mentoring programs! These programs offer Scientists a meaningful opportunity to share their love for science with NYC public school students over a semester or year-long placement.

 We are currently looking for undergraduate students (for ASMP), graduate students, postdocs, and STEM professionals who are interested in volunteering in a K-12 STEM classroom to mentor students and inspire curiosity, confidence, and a lasting interest in STEM. Participants not only develop their teaching and mentoring skills but also receive a $500 stipend, travel support, and a one-year membership to the Academy!

Now accepting applications:

  • Scientist-in-Residence (SiR): This program matches scientists with classroom teachers and supports them in developing a year-long project with students. Scientists help design experiments, support classroom instruction, and guide the creation of a final presentation.
  • The Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program (ASMP): Can’t commit to a full year? Scientists receive training in STEM curriculum and youth development and work alongside site staff to co-implement engaging, hands-on activities over the course of a semester.

Space is limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Don’t miss your opportunity to give back to your community and inspire the next generation of Scientists! 

Important links:

Posted April 7, 2026

 

NASA EarthRISE Developers Academy is offering 10-week, paid research opportunities this summer that are open to current students and recent graduates, as well as transitioning/early career professionals. The Academy builds the next generation of science and technology leaders through an immersive, experiential model applying NASA Earth observations to real-world challenges.

For the summer 2026 term, EarthRISE Developers Academy will provide in-person opportunities at Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA), Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL), and Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO). Additionally, a limited number of projects are available for virtual participation. Through collaborative projects, professional development, and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private partnerships, the Academy equips participants with the skills to accelerate innovation and bridge Earth science with the future of space exploration.

The Academy is an interdisciplinary activity, where we accept participants with experience in a variety of fields, as well as from different phases of their career. Applicants with demonstrated skills in Earth, environmental, and/or planetary sciences, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and/or computer science are encouraged to apply. Participants will work together on teams, guided by NASA scientists and science advisors and in partnership with community organizations, to expand their skills to use NASA science data to address environmental concerns from urban heat, air quality, disaster management, agriculture, ecological conservation, and water resources to lunar science in support of NASA’s Moon to Mars strategy.

Applicants must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. EarthRISE Developers Academy offers hourly, paid positions with rates that are determined by education level and working location. During the term, selected participants should be able to commit to 25 – 29 hours per week, Monday – Thursday during normal business hours.

Please see details about this opportunity including eligibility, tentative project themes, and application instructions at https://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/nasadevelop. The application window is open now through March 6th, 2026, for the 10-week, summer 2026 project term taking place from June 1st – August 7th. US citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status is required to apply.

Contact: Kait Lemon ([email protected])

Posted February 13, 2026

Full Time Job Opportunities

This is a paid research opportunity in the Synthetic Regeneration and Systems Physiology (SRSP) Laboratory at Columbia University that would be an excellent fit for your highly motivated graduating seniors or recent alumni.

This role is specifically designed as a springboard for students planning to pursue an MD or PhD. We are looking for someone who wants one to two years of rigorous, mentored research experience before taking their next academic step.

The incoming technician will be deeply involved in disease modeling and receive hands-on training in cutting-edge genomic platforms, including single-cell RNA sequencing. They will collaborate closely with the Columbia Stem Cell Initiative and the Columbia Genome Center, and with a direct path to co-authorship on publications at high-impact journals.

We are seeking candidates with good research experience, a strong work ethic, and a deep curiosity about biology. We place a premium on character, team work, and follow-through, which should be supported by three strong references who can speak to to this.

See here for the full job description. Please feel free to circulate this among students in your department who would thrive in a dynamic and highly collaborative research environment. 

Contact: Applications can be sent directly to [email protected]. Our target start date is June 1st.

Posted: May 4, 2026
 

In this role, the successful candidate is responsible for conducting independent basic science experimentation based on research conducted in the assigned laboratory under the mentorship of a senior scientist. Individual is expected to seek to build a portfolio of research accomplishments in preparation for acquiring a higher degree in biomedical research or medicine.

Job Responsibilities:

  • After a period of time working in the laboratory, the candidate will be expected to train graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in experimental design, technique and performance.
  • Generates hypotheses and designs and performs experiments to test them.
  • Executes multiple experiments simultaneously over time independently.
  • Records all experimental findings in a laboratory notebook, analyze and interpret experimental findings.
  • Based on results, independently suggests and tests modifications to protocols.
  • Prepares figures and diagrams for presentations and publications.
  • Communicates results and collaborates with other professionals in the lab.
  • Demonstrates a significant level of intellectual input into the design of the project.
  • Presents findings at lab meeting, responds to challenges, and participates in exchanges of ideas to advance the science.
  • Reads and understands relevant scientific literature.
  • Contributes to the preparation of articles on research outcomes and progress and to the submission of same for publication.
  • Participates in the editing and proofing of grant proposals, annual grant reports, and manuscripts for publication and recommends modifications to the Principal Investigator.

Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify you must have a College graduate with a B.S. or B.A. in Biomedical or Physical Sciences. A minimum commitment of two years is required and placement in position may not exceed three years.

Preferred Qualifications:
B.S. or M.S. in Biology, Fisheries, or related fields.
Aquaculture experience.
Research experience (laboratory or field).
Excellent time management ability.
Capacity to work alone and with others.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Basic understanding of Mendelian genetics.

Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.

Contact: Apply online at https://jobs.nyulangone.org/job/23270029/research-associate-new-york-ny/

Posted May 4, 2026


 

We are a young and vibrant group applying biological, physiological and computational tools to understand and identify new treatments for motor and sensory neuron diseases. The laboratory is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic research assistant with experience in molecular biology and in particular stem cell biology to support preclinical studies related to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and pain. The research assistant will contribute to the intellectual development of a project, attend and present at lab meetings, and engage in the scientific community through opportunities to attend conferences and publish papers. The major responsibilities will include stem cell culture and differentiation, analysis of molecular disease-related phenotypes using patient and control as well as gene-edited iPSC lines, quantitative analysis of expression and sequence data, general molecular biology techniques such as immunohistochemistry, RNA isolation and PCR to analyze cells of interest. Additional work will include assistance with ordering, laboratory maintenance and animal husbandry. Two year commitment required.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:         

  • Stem cell culture and differentiation
  • High-content imaging and physiology (calcium imaging/ optogenetics)
  • Bioinformatic analysis of expression and sequence data
  • Mouse brain and spinal cord dissection
  • Purification of RNA and PCR
  • Perform tasks associated with ordering, animal husbandry, and lab uptake
  • Grant applications & protocols for Biosafety, Animals, and IRB
  • May assist with drafting or contributing to the preparation of research papers, manuscripts or other documents for publication and/or presentation.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED: 

  • Must be an enthusiastic, diligent and professional team player with excellent time management skills.
  • Meticulous detail about laboratory techniques and documentation are required. Accurately maintaining records of laboratory work in sufficient detail for reproduction of the experiments, organizing, analyzing and summarizing acquired data.
  • Must be able to work independently and as a member of a team.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

EDUCATION: BA/BS in neurobiology, molecular biology, or related field             
EXPERIENCE: One year of previous relevant laboratory work experience strongly desired.

PLEASE CONTACT AND INCLUDE COVER LETTER, CV, AND TRANSCRIPT: Brian Wainger: [email protected] 
Susan St. Pierre: [email protected] 

Posted February 13, 2026

Job Description: 

The Bandopadhayay Lab (www.bandolab.org) at DFCI (with co-affiliations with Boston Children’s Hospital and the Broad Institute) is seeking a motivated research assistant to join our efforts to find better treatments for children with brain tumors. We apply cutting-edge genomic technologies to identify drivers of childhood cancers and to determine mechanisms of resistance to current and novel treatments. Our lab is highly translational and spans efforts from acquiring patient samples to generating and analyzing high-throughput datasets from those samples through to functional genomics and mechanistic biology. To that end, the individual will engage in experiments that utilize molecular biology techniques such as cell culture methods, recombinant DNA and gene transfer technology, and other cell biology assays including the use of genetic perturbation approaches such as CRISPR and base-editing technology. There will be opportunities to learn and assist in computational methods of analysis. The individual will also assist in daily laboratory operations and organization as part of a larger lab management team.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills:

A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent is required, preferably in the biological, biochemical. We encourage all applicants that are enthusiastic about scientific discovery and are passionate about helping improve patient outcomes to apply. Prior research experience in biochemistry, molecular biology, or genetics is required. The ideal candidate will be a team player, highly self-motivated, and eager to engage in translational research. We are looking for candidates with a minimum of two years of availability, starting in summer 2026.

For more information and to apply, please visit https://careers.dana-farber.org/job/423/research-technician-bandopadhayay-lab-research-laboratory-us-ma-boston-450-brookline-ave/

Posted February 12, 2026

 

About the lab

Dr. Achkar is an NIH-funded physician-scientist specialized in Infectious Diseases with an additional master’s degree in clinical research methods. Her translational research program is focused on the evaluation of immune and other host responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients at various states of infection towards the development of better diagnostic tests for active tuberculosis (TB) and the study of protective antibody functions against M. tuberculosis. Achkar has several national and international collaborations with investigators from a broad range of expertise in areas such as clinical trials/research, bio-design, biochemistry, epidemiology, and biostatistics. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Achkar analyzes her laboratory data in the context of clinical findings to contribute critical data to the field of TB diagnostics, immunotherapy, and vaccine development. 

Job Description

The research trainee will be involved and trained in techniques relevant to our translational research program. The focus will be on identifying M. tuberculosis antigens in human body fluids. These could serve as biomarkers and diagnostics for TB. This will include participation in subject enrollment and techniques such as the culturing of mycobacteria, the production of antigens, human sample preparations, data recording, and the performance and analysis of antibody detection assays such as immunoblots, ELISAs and microarrays.

Please note: This is a full-time position. Applicants must be able to make a minimum two-year commitment to the lab. This will confer extra responsibilities, including more independence and data analysis.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Prior laboratory experience with a bachelor's degree in biology or a related scientific field
  • Broad skill base in standard techniques (such as ELISA, Western Blot, DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, and protein purification)
  • Detail-oriented, organized, and have at least a simple understanding of scientific literature 
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and self-directed work ethic

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Specific research experience and/or extensive coursework in microbiology and immunology 
  • Experience using GraphPad Prism and Endnote 

Contact: If interested, please send your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. Please do not directly contact the lab by phone, unless otherwise stated. Interviews will be held through Zoom.

Posted August 11, 2025

Research and Career Resources

Through this web portal, the EVPR’s Office is providing a place where Columbia undergraduates can find research opportunities and mentors from across the entire university and Columbia faculty can post projects seeking undergraduate researchers. We hope our undergraduates and faculty take advantage of this portal to find each other to engage in cutting-edge research together.

The LifeSci NYC Internship Program offers the chance to complete a single application to gain access to paid internship and f/t job opportunities at dozens of NYC life sciences companies and organizations. Students from all majors are eligible to apply, as a wide range of science, tech, and business roles are offered.

The MSK Bridge program aims to provide post-baccalaureate trainees from traditionally underrepresented (URM) groups with a strong foundation in science and research, as well as guided mentoring that will help them successfully transition into biomedical PhD programs. Successful applicants to the program — known as Bridge Scholars — will conduct a research project in one of MSK’s scientific laboratories for up to 24 months. The overarching goal of MSK Bridge is to increase the participation of URM scientists in biomedical fields.

Bridge Scholars will receive a stipend of $41,000 per year. Health benefits are included. Housing will be available through MSK. MSK Bridge is part of the Maximizing Excellence in Research Education and Training (MERIT) program and is supported by Dr. Charles and Susan Sawyers, the Center for Experimental Immuno-Oncology, and for those entering computational labs, the Computational Oncology Program.

Thinking Caps is a boutique tutoring company that provides the following services to NYC-area students:

  • Study and executive functioning skills instruction
  • Individualized subject tutoring (including English, math, foreign languages, and science)
  • Test prep support (ISEE, SSAT, SAT, ACT, SHSAT, SAT subject tests, etc.)

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Spend two years teaching math or science in schools in low-income areas.

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Explore careers in Genetics posted to the ASHG job board.

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Explore careers in the field of primatology on the AVP job board.

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Explore careers in the field of Marine Biology on the MATE job board.

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Explore careers in Evolutionary Biology using a job board hosted by McMaster University.

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Explore careers in Cell Biology using a job board hosted by The American Society for Cell Biologists.

Dates of hire: Ongoing

Explore careers in Conservation Biology using a job board hosted by the Society for Conservation Biology

Dates of hire: Ongoing