ISA will again run a Summer Program in 2027. To be eligible, students must be currently enrolled in an ISA program. Students receive funding for summer research, attend a weekly seminar, and present a research poster at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference. The application portal will open in the early spring of 2027.

Information about the 2026 Summer Program is below to show what the program is like. Questions can be directed to ui-isa@uiowa.edu. 

 

The 2026 ISA Summer Program was held from June 3 - July 29, 2026. The program concludes with the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) on July 29th. 

Program Information

The ISA Summer Program is an 8 week program with students attending weekly seminars, doing intensive research in a lab and presenting a poster on their summer research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC). 

The ISA Summer Program requirements include: 

  • A minimum of 20 hours a week of laboratory research
  • Attendance in person at the weekly ISA Student Development Seminars
  • Presenting a poster at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC)
  • Students receive payment for summer research

Note:  Weekly seminars are held on Wednesdays with a poster practice session on Monday, July 27th. 

ISA Summer Program 2026 

6/3        Biology Building B20 12:00 - 1:00         Welcome and Overview
6/10Biology Building B2012:00 - 1:00           

Applying to Grad School, Internships, or Scholarships – How to Get Started over the Summer

Presented by Allison Bywater

6/17Biology Building B20 12:00 - 1:00           

Values and Career Choices 

Presented by Kristina Venzke, ISA Associate Director

6/24Biology Building B20 12:00 - 1:00           

Poster Design Session

Presented by ISA students Seren Castellano, Bhoomika Shettigar, Alayna Gallery, and ISA Staff

7/1ZOOM12:00 - 1:00           

ISA Alumni Panel of Graduate Students in PhD programs

Grad Student Panel:  Former ISA students Jasmyn Hoeger, Natalie Kehrli, and Jordan Luna

7/8Biology Building B2012:00 - 1:00           

Research Ethics Case Studies

Presented by Kevin Zihlman, Associate Director of Research Integrity and Security, from the Office of the Vice President for Research

7/15Biology Building B2012:00 - 1:00           

How to Network

Presented by Alicia Joens, Senior Specialist for New Student Partnerships and Career Coach, Pomerantz Career Center

7/22Biology Building B2012:00 - 1:00           

Networking Activity

Panelists:  Dr. Andrew Forbes (Biology), Dr. Greta Sokoloff (Psychological and Brain Sciences), Dr. Amy Ryan (Anatomy and Cell Biology), Clare Mulcahy (PhD candidate, Biology), and Anat Levtov (Pomerantz Career Center)

7/27

MONDAY

Biology Building East 106 and Atrium3:30 - 5:00 Poster Practice Session and Summer Program Wrap Up!  
7/29  

SURC – All ISA Summer Program students are required to present a research poster at SURC.

Poster submission deadline: Noon on Friday, July 24