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Biophysical Sciences Institute
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Undergraduate Summer Research Bursaries

Our Summer Research Bursaries are for motivated undergraduate students from Durham University, and allow them to take part in boundary-breaking interdisciplinary research. 

Summer Research Bursaries

What is in it for Undergraduates?  

BSI Summer Bursaries have been awarded since 2011, and in that time we have awarded over 100 bursaries, as well as providing supporting to students working on interdisciplinary biosciences summer projects who have received external funding.  

Many of our summer research bursary holders have gone on to PhDs, PDRAs and taken graduate roles in industry. Alumni of this scheme now hold academic positions at institutions across the world and senior positions in industry.  

Our scheme includes activities that promote the development of research and communication skills. These will be evidenced through news items on the BSI website and through this page, providing a resource to refer to for prospective employers.   

  • Gain hands-on experience

    “The studentship allowed me to find out what scientific research is really like day-to-day and confirmed to me that a research career is something that I would like to pursue.” 2019 Summer Internship holder.
    students smiling and chatting while working on laptops

  • Develop key skills desired by employers

    “Working as part of a larger team and attending talks helped me to understand the importance of an interdisciplinary environment, where individuals with differing specialties work together to achieve a common goal.” 2019 Summer Internship holder.
    Two female students studying

Gain hands-on experience

“The studentship allowed me to find out what scientific research is really like day-to-day and confirmed to me that a research career is something that I would like to pursue.” 2019 Summer Internship holder.
students smiling and chatting while working on laptops

Develop key skills desired by employers

“Working as part of a larger team and attending talks helped me to understand the importance of an interdisciplinary environment, where individuals with differing specialties work together to achieve a common goal.” 2019 Summer Internship holder.
Two female students studying

New Thematic Bursaries    

For 2026 we are introducing clustered projects – a group of summer bursaries of the available summer bursaries will be ringfenced to focus on a specific research challenge – with an emphasis on exploring the theme from different disciplinary perspectives. This offers greater depth to the research involved in these projects and more opportunities for the bursary holders to experience collaborative research.  

The 2026 thematic area will be: Next-generation network modelling for complex systems 

To support these themes we can offer: 

  • Organisation of cluster team meetings and space for these.  
  • Focussed sessions to deliver training needed for the clustered students.  

To find out more about Thematic Bursaries, please email bsi.manager@durham.ac.uk.  

 

Supporting New Research  

Alongside the Thematic Bursaries, we will continue to support the most innovative research from across our research portfolio. All projects that fall within the remit of interdisciplinary biosciences at the boundaries of the life sciences and other physical sciences are considered. 

Get in touch with bsi.manager@durham.ac.uk if you would like help to link up with a potential collaborator (for academics) or supervisor (for undergraduates).  

BSI Summer Research Bursaries

What is in it for Supervisors? 

The 2025-26 Bursary scheme focuses on building new links and collaborations between academic groups, particularly in new areas of research. Projects can be between academics in Durham, or external colleagues and industrial partners. 

Forming new research collaborations

Our 2022 project supervisors reported that all bursary projects had led to further research in their host groups
Network Connections Image

New research directions

2/3 Of our 2022 cohort's projects supported funding applications in their host groups.
Scrabble tiles showing the word research

Timelines 

  • Launch Event: 12 March 2026, 1-2 pm 
  • Applications open: 12 March 2026 
  • Closing date: 24 April 2026 
  • Core weeks: Will depend on cohort availability.   

 

Summary - Scheme at a glance 

  • Open to Durham University students only
  • 6-8 weeks of research embedded in an interdisciplinary research laboratory
  • Cohort project and mini-symposium associated with projects
  • £423 per week funding
  • Two supervisors required per project 
  • Closing date: 24 April 2026. 

Application form: BSI Student Summer Bursary Application Form 2026

Bursary Information Booklet 2026: BSI Bursaries Booklet 2026

External Undergraduate Summer Research Bursary Schemes 

Learned Societies

Other Universities/Institutions