Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Yes. International students who attend a U.S. college or university as full-time students are eligible to apply. Once accepted, international students will be asked to submit Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) documentation.

Yes. Eligible students from all majors, including those who have not yet declared a major, may apply. SURF is a biomedical research program, so applicants should demonstrate how their interests and goals align with biomedical research and the opportunities available through SURF.

No. Prior research experience is not required to apply. Applicants should clearly communicate their interest in research and how participating in SURF relates to their academic and career goals.

The Illinois SURF application requires completing an application form, and providing a personal statement (maximum two pages), transcript or web academic history, and two letters of recommendation.

Your selection helps the Selection Committee understand your research interests. It does not determine your specific SURF project or mentor.

The campus preference you indicate on the Illinois application does not affect the Illinois selection decision. Most Illinois SURF students complete their summer experience in Rochester, Minnesota. When completing the Mayo Clinic application, the location you select will determine the campus where you are assigned.

Through the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance for Technology-Based Healthcare, Illinois selects seven students each year to participate in SURF at Mayo Clinic. Additional Illinois students may be selected through Mayo Clinic’s application process, so the total number of Illinois SURF participants vary from year to year. In 2026, 12 Illinois students participated in SURF.

Finalists will participate in a virtual interview with the Illinois SURF selection committee on Zoom. The interview provides an opportunity to discuss your interest in biomedical research, your goals, and how the SURF experience aligns with your academic and career interests.

Finalists for the Illinois preselection will be invited to interview in early December. Students will be notified of selection decisions by early January.

Yes. Students interested in Illinois preselection should first complete the Illinois application. Students selected by Illinois must then complete the required Mayo Clinic SURF application to be added to their payment system. Students who are not selected through the Illinois application may still apply directly to SURF through the Mayo Clinic application portal.

Students selected through the Illinois process will be asked to submit their application materials to Mayo Clinic by the application close date on the Mayo Clinic SURF website. This is a required step for Mayo Clinic to process participants in its system, but students selected by Illinois are not being considered for selection again.

SURF is a full-time, 10-week summer experiences at Mayo Clinic. Students should expect to spend 40 hours per week in research, meetings, program activities, and other required experiences. Specific schedules may vary depending on the research project and mentor and may include occasional evening or weekend hours.

SURF is a full-time summer program and should be your primary commitment during the 10-week experience. Students should not plan other work, courses, or commitments that would interfere with their SURF schedule or required program activities.

No. SURF does not provide academic credit. Participants receive a stipend for the 10-week summer experience.

No. Students are responsible for arranging their own housing for the summer. SURF participants receive a $6,000 stipend to help cover living expenses during the 10-week program, including housing. Housing information and resources are available to help students identify options near Mayo Clinic.

Students are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel to and from Mayo Clinic, housing, meals, local transportation, and other living expenses during the 10-week program. SURF participants receive $6,000 to offset those costs.

Yes, SURF students prepare and present a poster highlighting their summer research at the Mayo Clinic poster session. Illinois students also present their work at the annual Illinois Poster Session & Celebration after returning to campus, so students should bring their Mayo Clinic research posters back to Illinois for the event.