Additional Opportunities
Explore other undergraduate cardiovascular research programs across the nation. These opportunities complement the UA AHA SURF program and offer diverse experiences in heart research.
UH-HEART
University of Houston
UH-HEART engages rising juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds in hands-on cardiovascular research and professional development.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
- Stipend: $6,000
- Duration: 10 weeks, full-time summer experience
Benefits
- $6,000 stipend
- Hands-on research and enrichment activities
- Travel support to attend a national conference
- Mentorship by UH faculty
Application Deadline
Priority: February 23, 2026 | Final: March 9, 2026
Contact
Bradley McConnell, Ph.D., FAHA, FCVS
UH-HEART & UH-CURE Director, Professor of Pharmacology
bkmcconn@central.uh.eduUH-CURE
University of Houston
UH-CURE supports rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in cardiovascular research spanning community-engaged and population-based studies, as well as basic, translational, and applied science.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Stipend: $6,000
- Duration: 10 weeks, full-time summer experience
Benefits
- $6,000 stipend
- Hands-on research and enrichment activities
- On-campus housing at UH
- Round-trip travel to and from UH
- Travel support to attend a national conference
- Mentorship by UH faculty
Application Deadline
Priority: February 23, 2026 | Final: March 9, 2026
Contact
Bradley McConnell, Ph.D., FAHA, FCVS
UH-HEART & UH-CURE Director, Professor of Pharmacology
bkmcconn@central.uh.eduAHA Undergraduate Summer Training Program (USTP)
The Ohio State University
The OSU AHA USTP provides hands-on cardiovascular research experience for undergraduate students interested in heart and vascular research careers.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Undergraduate students
- Stipend: Contact program for details
- Duration: Summer program
Benefits
- Hands-on cardiovascular research experience
- Mentorship from OSU faculty
- Professional development opportunities
- Exposure to cutting-edge heart research
Application Deadline
Check website for current deadlines
AHA Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF/IAUST)
Purdue University
The AHA-funded SURF program at Purdue supports 5 undergraduate students annually in cardiovascular and stroke-related research through the Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training (IAUST). Students work with faculty mentors in an interdisciplinary setting combining biomedical engineering and clinical experience.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in cardiovascular research
- Stipend: $6,000 plus travel funds for scientific conference attendance
- Duration: 11 weeks (May 25 - August 7, 2026)
Benefits
- $6,000 AHA-funded stipend
- Travel funds for scientific conference attendance
- Mentorship from Purdue BME faculty
- Clinical experience through IU Health Methodist Hospital
- Professional development seminars and ethics training
- Present at Purdue Undergraduate Research Symposium
Application Deadline
Check website for current deadlines
Contact
Craig J. Goergen, PhD
Professor and Associate Head for Clinical Engagement, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
cgoergen@purdue.eduCardio-SURPh (Summer Undergraduate Research in Cardiovascular Physiology)
Loyola University Chicago
The Cardio-SURPh program provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experience in cardiovascular physiology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Sophomore or junior undergraduate year at the time of application
- Stipend: $6,000 plus $3,000 travel allowance to attend a national scientific meeting
- Duration: 10 weeks (May 26 - July 31, 2026)
Benefits
- Hands-on cardiovascular physiology research
- Mentorship from Loyola faculty
- $3,000 travel allowance to attend a national scientific meeting
- Exposure to cutting-edge cardiovascular research techniques
Application Deadline
February 28, 2026
Contact
Ivana Y. Kuo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
ikuo@luc.eduSPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research)
University of Utah
SPUR is a 10-week intensive summer research program at the University of Utah. Students work 35-40 hours per week with faculty mentors on cutting-edge research projects across multiple disciplines including health, medicine, and biomedical engineering.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Matriculated undergraduate students (not graduating before December 2026), at least 18 years old, eligible to work in the US
- Stipend: $5,000 plus up to $500 travel reimbursement
- Duration: 10 weeks (May 18 - July 31, 2026)
Benefits
- $5,000 stipend over 10 weeks
- Up to $500 travel reimbursement (non-Utah students)
- Optional on-campus housing ($250 student cost)
- Weekly professional development sessions
- Present at Summer Research Symposium
Application Deadline
January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM MT
Contact
J. David Symons, PhD
Professor, College of Health & School of Medicine
j.david.symons@hsc.utah.eduCardiovascular Research Training for Undergraduate Students
Nationwide Children's Hospital
The AHA-funded program at Nationwide Children's Hospital provides undergraduate students with hands-on cardiovascular research experience at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute. Research opportunities span cardiac and vascular development, molecular genetics and genomics, and cardiovascular stem cell biology.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Junior or senior undergraduate students (or immediately post-graduation) with GPA ≥ 3.0. US citizens or visa holders (F-1, H1, H1B, J1, PR, TN). DACA requires AHA approval.
- Stipend: $6,000 plus travel funds for scientific conference
- Duration: 10 weeks (40 hours/week)
Benefits
- $6,000 AHA-funded stipend
- Travel funds for scientific meeting attendance
- Mentorship in cutting-edge cardiovascular research
- Research in cardiac development, genetics, and stem cell biology
- Opportunity to attend scientific conference with faculty mentor
Application Deadline
February 6, 2026
Contact
Emily Cameron
Program Contact, Center for Cardiovascular Research
Emily.Cameron@nationwidechildrens.orgMHI SUMMER (Summer Undergraduate Mentoring & Meaningful Experiences in Research)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MHI SUMMER provides undergraduate students with mentored cardiovascular research experiences at UNC-Chapel Hill. The program is especially dedicated to students from non-R1 institutions and partners with North Carolina Central University.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Undergraduates from any background, with emphasis on students from non-R1 institutions
- Stipend: Contact program for details
- Duration: 10 weeks (Summer 2026)
Benefits
- Mentored cardiovascular research project
- Weekly mentor meetings
- Training in responsible and safe research conduct
- Biweekly journal club on cardiovascular science
- Career development series
- Conference attendance at Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions in Boston 2026
Application Deadline
Check website for current deadlines
CardioSURF (Cardiovascular Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
Virginia Tech
The AHA and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute CardioSURF program provides hands-on experience in cardiovascular research and cutting-edge imaging technologies including functional MRI, echocardiography, optical mapping, confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy.
Program Details
- Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors at U.S. universities with interest in research careers
- Stipend: Contact program for details
- Duration: 10 weeks (May 26 - July 31, 2026)
Benefits
- Hands-on cardiovascular research experience
- Access to advanced imaging technologies
- Hypothesis-driven independent research
- Mentorship from FBRI faculty researchers
- Experience with cutting-edge imaging equipment
- Travel and conference attendance at Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions in Boston 2026
Application Deadline
February 14, 2026
Interested in the UA AHA SURF Program?
Our program at the University of Arizona offers a unique 10-week cardiovascular research experience with world-class mentors at the Sarver Heart Center.
Apply to UA AHA SURF