Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)

The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) at the Medical College of Wisconsin is one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the country. Participants receive significant hands-on research experience alongside some of the nation’s top health researchers in biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, population health, computational biology, and more!

SPUR participants make significant contributions to various kinds of medical/health research projects. View our abstract booklet here to see what participants contributed to this past summer.

Choose from over 25 areas of research that includes…

  • Biochemistry
  • Cancer biology
  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • and many more!

Click here to learn more.

Apply here for the program.

Participation requirements

All applicants must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the program and provide proof of work eligibility to participate in the program. Our faculty typically prefer students who:

  • Have a GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • Are in the summer between their sophomore-to-junior or junior-to-senior years in college
  • Are enrolled in a STEM-related major
  • Express an interest in pursuing a health-related graduate or professional degree program

Did you know? We’re one of the few programs in the country that allow international students participation. Those that are currently studying in the United States with a F1 visa or have work authorization are eligible to apply and participate in SPUR!