Research Programs
Every program that can get you into a Berkeley lab. These are your formal on-ramps — most have structured applications, funding, and dedicated mentorship. They complement (not replace) direct outreach.
URAP
Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program
Berkeley's largest undergrad research program, connecting students with faculty across every department. You apply to specific professor projects — browse active listings and pitch yourself. Applications open in fall and spring.
Visit program siteSURF
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
A summer-intensive research fellowship that funds you to work full-time on a single project for 10 weeks. You develop a research proposal with your mentor, present at a symposium at the end. Apply in spring.
Visit program siteSUPERB
Summer Undergraduate Program in Engineering Research at Berkeley
EECS-specific summer research program, primarily for visiting students from other universities who want EECS research exposure at Berkeley. If you're already at Berkeley, SURF or URAP are more relevant. Apply in spring.
Visit program siteHaas Scholars
Haas Scholars Program
A competitive senior thesis fellowship that provides funding and a cohort of peer scholars. You need a faculty advisor committed to supervising your honors thesis. Apply in spring of your junior year.
Visit program siteData Science Discovery
Data Science Discovery Projects
Semester-long applied data science projects with real organizations and research groups. You work on a team, apply at the start of each semester. Great entry point if you're interested in ML but not yet set on a specific lab.
Visit program siteHow to strengthen your program application
- Name a specific professor. Generic applications get rejected. If you can say "I want to work with Prof. X on Y because of their paper on Z," you're in the top 10%.
- Reference their papers. Even one sentence showing you read something from the lab signals you're serious and not copy-pasting your application.
- Explain why this lab specifically. What about their approach or focus area matches what you want to learn? Show you thought about fit, not just prestige.
- Apply to programs in parallel with direct outreach. Programs have deadlines. While you wait, use the outreach strategy to contact PhD students directly — they can sometimes create informal positions even outside official program cycles.