CISC Research Opportunities
The CISC Research Opportunities page serves as a comprehensive hub for undergraduate and high school students interested in gaining hands-on experience in cybersecurity, information systems, data science, research, and related STEM fields. It highlights a wide range of opportunities including research programs, internships, scholarships, experiential learning initiatives such as Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP), and national programs that help students build technical skills, leadership experience, and professional networks.
Undergraduates
Research, internship, and fellowship programs for Computer & Information Sciences undergraduates of every year — first-years through seniors. Most of these repeat on a similar calendar every year. This is not an exhaustive list, and other opportunities may exist beyond what’s covered here.
A note on dates: most of these open around the same time each year, but exact dates shift by a few weeks — always confirm on the official page before you plan around them. Rolling means applications are reviewed as they come in, but earlier applications are more likely to get offers, so apply as soon as a posting opens!
University of Delaware Research
VIP – Vertically Integrated Projects
Multi-disciplinary teams of students work on projects centered on the work of current faculty, who act as leaders and mentors. CISC teams include High-Performance Computing, Cloud-Crypto, Virtual Reality, Drones, and Computing for Social Good. Students often join as freshmen or sophomores and stay through graduation, earning academic credit each semester.
Opens: every Fall & Spring semester • Level: undergrad
Learn more about VIP and apply
Sensify Lab (Prof. Matthew Mauriello, CIS)
A Human-Computer Interaction and ubiquitous computing lab focused on sensing and data analysis for education, health & wellbeing, and social good. Offers Research Assistant roles during the semester and Summer/Winter Fellow positions.
Opens: rolling, each semester • Level: undergrad
Learn more and apply to Sensify Lab
CIS Undergraduate Research (faculty labs)
Talented, motivated undergraduates majoring in computer science and information systems are encouraged to get involved in research with a faculty mentor. Explore faculty pages and set up a meeting to discuss opportunities in their lab.
Opens: ongoing, no fixed cycle • Level: undergrad – reach out to individual faculty via email.
Learn more and apply to CIS undergraduate research
URP Summer Scholars
A 10-week, full-time, self-proposed research or creative project with a UD faculty mentor. Scholars receive a $4,000 stipend and present their work at the Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity at the end of summer.
Opens: mid-January • Deadline: early March • Level: undergrad (esp. sophomores/juniors)
Learn more and apply URP Summer Scholars
URP Summer Fellows
A part-time version of Summer Scholars with a shorter, flexible time commitment and a pro-rated stipend — a good option alongside another summer job or internship.
Opens: mid-April • Level: undergrad
Learn more and apply URP Summer Fellows
Community Engagement Summer Scholars & Fellows
Provides highly motivated undergraduate students the opportunity to immerse themselves in community-based research or creative projects, including civic-tech and social-good work.
Opens: January • Deadline: early April • Level: undergrad
Learn more and apply to Community Engagement Scholar
CIS Teaching Assistantships & Fellow Roles
Paid TA, Learning Assistant, and Teaching Fellow positions supporting CISC courses each semester — open to upperclass undergrads, and a good way to build mentoring and CS-education experience alongside coursework or research.
Opens: each semester, ~4–6 weeks before term starts • Level: upperclass undergrad
Learn more and apply to CIS TA
URP Winter Fellows
The Winter Fellows Awards are competitive, UD-administered research grants meant to deepen undergraduates’ engagement with a discipline by easing financial pressure during the 5-week Winter Session. To qualify, students must be full-time and working under the mentorship of a UD faculty member for that session. Winners are announced by the end of the fall semester, and the award is paid as a stipend deposited directly into the student’s bank account before winter session ends. At the close of the session, fellows present their research at the Winter Fellows Showcase in early February, choosing either a poster or an oral presentation format.
Opens: ~early November • Deadline: ~November 25th • Level upperclass undergrad
Learn more and apply to URP Winter Fellows
INBRE Summer Fellows
The Delaware INBRE Summer Student Research Program is an undergraduate summer research program sponsored through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) through funding to the Delaware INBRE program. In a partnership with five state institutions, including Christiana Care, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and the University of Delaware, selected undergraduate students are able to carry out independent research projects while studying full-time under a mentor to gain knowledge of research techniques and making unique scholarly or original impacts to the biomedical sciences.
Opens: November–December • Deadline: mid-February • Level: undergrad
UDRAW (University of Delaware’s Research Apprenticeship Work-Study) (Fall Semester 2026)
UDRAW allows students with Federal Work-Study eligibility to earn their work-study wages ($15/hour) while gaining hands-on research experience with a UD faculty mentor. Participating students make meaningful contributions to an active research project while learning research methodologies in their field. Eligible students can browse open positions on the UDRAW job description listings and reach out directly to the listed faculty member to interview.
Opens: prior to & during Fall/Spring semesters • Level: undergrad (Federal Work-Study eligible)
Senior Thesis (Degree with Distinction)
A two-semester, faculty-mentored independent research project culminating in a written thesis and an oral defense before a three-faculty committee during senior year. Open to seniors across the university (both Honors and non-Honors students) with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.5 major GPA, completing a Senior Thesis earns a “Degree with Distinction” or “Honors Degree with Distinction” on your transcript and is ideal preparation for Ph.D. programs or R&D careers.
Opens: proposals due May of junior year • Level: rising seniors
Learn More and Apply for Senior Thesis
McNair Scholars Program
A Federal TRIO program designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through intensive research, faculty mentorship, and graduate school preparation. Scholars must be either first-generation college students with financial need or members of groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate education. Participants conduct full-time summer research under a faculty mentor (running early June through mid-August) and receive a $3,500 stipend, on-campus housing, and a meal allowance, alongside year-round academic advising. Questions can be directed to mcnairscholars@udel.edu.
Opens: late September • Deadline: ~mid-November • Level: undergrad (rising sophomores/juniors)
National Research Programs
NSF REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates)
NSF-funded 9–10 week paid summer research residencies hosted at universities nationwide, including CS/CISE-focused sites. Includes a stipend (often $5,000+) and, in many cases, housing and travel support.
Site postings open: ~Nov–Jan • Most deadlines: Feb 1 – Mar 15 • Level: undergrad (mostly rising juniors/seniors; some sites open to all years)
Tech Programs & Fellowships (All Years)
Google STEP (Student Training in Engineering Program)
A 10–12 week paid internship designed specifically for first- and second-year undergraduates with a passion for computer science, including students with little or no prior internship experience. A stepping stone toward Google’s standard SWE internship.
Opens: US/EU ~Sept, India ~Nov • Level: 1st & 2nd year undergrad
Learn more and apply to Google STEP
Google Software Engineering Program
Google’s standard summer SWE internship for students with at least one internship or strong project experience already under their belt — juniors and seniors work on real product teams with a host and mentor.
Opens: ~July–Oct (varies by region) • Level: junior/senior undergrad
Learn more and apply to Google Software Engineering Program
Explore Microsoft Program
A twelve-week summer internship designed for students in their first or second year of a bachelor’s degree program, covering the main phases of the product development cycle: Design, Build, and Quality.
Opens: ~August • Level: 1st & 2nd year undergrad
Learn more and apply to Explore Microsoft Program
Microsoft Discovery Program
A four-week program for incoming college freshmen exploring tech careers before they start their first semester, based in Redmond, WA or Atlanta, GA (with location eligibility requirements).
Opens: winter/spring before matriculation • Level: rising freshmen
Learn more and apply to Microsoft Discovery Program
Microsoft Research Undergraduate Program
Research-focused summer internships at Microsoft Research labs worldwide, pairing undergraduates with researchers to contribute to ongoing projects — geared toward students considering a research career or graduate school.
Opens: varies by lab, often fall/winter • Level: upperclass undergrad
Learn more and apply to Microsoft Research Undergraduate Program
JPMorganChase Fellowship Program
A five-week paid, full-time summer fellowship in select JPMorganChase offices, seeking sophomore students interested in exploring career opportunities including Software Engineering and Data Science tracks.
Opens: ~November • Deadline: ~January • Level: sophomores
Learn more and apply to JPMorganChase Fellowship Program
JPMorganChase Software Engineer Program
JPMorganChase’s core summer internship for students building and optimizing digital applications and systems at global scale, open to students of all undergraduate years.
Opens: rolling, ~July onward • Level: undergrad (all years)
Learn more and apply to JPMorganChase Software Engineer Program
Tech for Social Good (JPMorganChase)
Tech for Social Good hackathons bring together change-makers and non-profit organizations to solve real-world problems. You’ll experience firsthand how to use technology and data to inspire change, foster inclusion, and make a difference in our communities. A strong pipeline into JPMorganChase’s Software Engineer Program summer internship.
Opens: ~July • Deadline: ~September (varies by host city) • Level: undergrad (all years)
Learn more and apply to Tech for Social Good
LinkedIn First Play
Designed for students who have completed their first or second year of computer science education who want hands-on experience, mentorship, and growth opportunities early in their college journey.
Opens: ~late November (strict ~2-week window) • Level: 1st & 2nd year undergrad
Learn more and apply to LinkedIn First Play
Mastercard Program
Paid internships across technology, data, cybersecurity, and product in 40+ countries for current undergraduates.
Opens: rolling, roles post from ~June onward • Level: undergrad (sophomore+)
Learn more and apply to Mastercard Program
Salesforce Futureforce Program
Salesforce’s flagship early-talent program, placing thousands of students into paid summer engineering, product, and business roles worldwide. The Futureforce Tech Accelerator offers a fast track to interviews, including exclusive prep sessions and a trip to Salesforce’s San Francisco HQ for finalists.
Opens: late August–early September • Deadline: rolling, often filled within a few weeks • Level: undergrad (all years)
Learn more and apply to Salesforce Futureforce Program
Futureforce Tech Launchpad (with CodePath)
A Salesforce and CodePath collaboration offering hands-on learning, work experience, and mentorship over the summer; students who complete it may qualify for a Salesforce internship the following summer.
Opens: applications ~spring, program runs June–August • Level: undergrad
Learn more and apply to Futureforce Tech Launchpad
Adobe Software Engineering Program
A paid summer internship building features for Adobe’s creative, document, and experience cloud products, open to students in computer science or related fields. Rolling review, with most offers going to early applicants.
Opens: late August–early September • Level: undergrad (all years)
Learn more and apply to Adobe Software Engineering Program
Uber Career Prep (UCP)
An unpaid fellowship for undergraduate engineering students bringing transparency and visibility to the steps needed to start a STEM career in tech — five workshops, 1:1 mentorship from an Uber software engineer, mock interviews, and technical practice assignments.
Opens: ~July–August • Level: 1st & 2nd year undergrad
Two Sigma Freshman Software Engineer Program
A summer mentorship and technical program pairing first-year students from historically underrepresented groups with Two Sigma engineers, working on real open-source and internal projects while building core software engineering skills.
Opens: ~September–October • Deadline: ~December • Level: 1st year undergrad
Learn more and apply to Two Sigma
Goldman Sachs Possibilities Summit
A year-long virtual program for first-year students that builds industry skills, professional networks, and resume/interview readiness, to set participants up for Summer Analyst recruiting in their sophomore and junior years.
Opens: ~September–October • Deadline: ~mid-November • Level: 1st year undergrad
Learn more and apply to Goldman Sachs Possibilities Summit
Goldman Sachs Emerging Leaders Series
A program for second-year undergraduates offering technical training, mentorship, and transparency into Goldman Sachs’ recruiting process, helping build the network and skills needed to land a Summer Analyst internship the following year.
Opens: fall • Level: 2nd year undergrad
Learn more and apply to Goldman Sachs Emerging Leaders Series
Susquehanna International Group (SIG) Discovery Programs
Multi-day discovery events for students not yet eligible for internships, covering trading, technology, and quantitative research at SIG — including panel discussions, employee meet-and-greets, and hands-on gaming/trading simulations.
Opens: varies by session (roughly Jan–May) • Level: 1st & 2nd year undergrad
High School
Pre-college programs, research pathways, and early-career scholarships for high school students interested in computer science, programming, and engineering—as well as bridge programs for graduating high school seniors preparing to start college in the fall.
University of Delaware & Regional Pathways
UD Edge Summer College Program
A three-week residential summer program at the University of Delaware for talented rising high school juniors and seniors. Students live in UD residence halls, take actual college-level courses alongside faculty, and can earn transferable UD college credit before graduating high school.
Opens: ~winter • Deadline: ~May • Level: rising high school juniors & seniors
Learn more and apply to UD EDGE
UD Dual Enrollment & Early College Credit
Delaware high school juniors and seniors can get a head start on their computer science degree by taking introductory UD coursework (including foundational CISC courses) either online or on campus at a significantly reduced tuition rate, earning official University of Delaware credit while still in high school.
Opens: each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) • Level: high school juniors & seniors
Learn more and apply to UD Dual Enrollment
CIS High School Research Opportunities (Faculty Labs)
Select CISC faculty labs occasionally host motivated local high school students for summer research internships in areas like Human-Computer Interaction, cybersecurity, and biomedical data analysis. Interested high school students should review CISC Research and CIS Undergraduate Research to identify labs aligned with their skills, and reach out directly to faculty via email in the late winter or early spring with a resume and brief statement of interest.
Opens: ongoing (best to reach out Jan–March for summer) • Level: high school juniors & seniors
National Pre-College CS Programs & Scholarships
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship & Internship
Awards high school seniors planning to major in computer science or engineering with up to $40,000 in college scholarship funding ($10,000/year) plus a guaranteed paid software engineering internship at Amazon after their first year of college. Applicants must have completed an AP Computer Science course or equivalent CS coursework/assessment.
Opens: ~October–November • Deadline: ~December–January • Level: high school seniors
Learn more and apply to Amazon Future Engineers
Microsoft Discovery Program
A four-week program for incoming college freshmen exploring tech careers before they start their first semester, based in Redmond, WA or Atlanta, GA (with location eligibility requirements).
Opens: winter/spring before matriculation • Level: rising freshmen
Please help us keep this list updated by reporting inaccurate or useful information to cpusincisc@udel.edu.