In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Goldwater Scholars and Excellence in Education Foundation is excited to announce the establishment of the Barry Goldwater Summer Research Internship Program, an initiative recently authorized by Congress.
Goldwater Summer Research Internship Program
Overview
Since its establishment by Congress in 1986, the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has supported promising young scientists, engineers, and mathematicians through its scholarship program.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary and advance its mission of encouraging undergraduate students to pursue research careers, the Foundation is launching the Goldwater Summer Research Internship Program in summer 2027. In its inaugural year, the program will support 20 research positions in Chemistry, CISE, Engineering, Life Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy.
Why Early Research Experience Matters
Student engagement in research early in undergraduate education is essential. Goldwater Scholarship recipients—most of whom apply with prior research experience—have gone on in large numbers to earn advanced degrees and pursue research careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.
The Goldwater Summer Research Internship Program will help college freshmen and sophomores build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make informed career choices and compete for future scholarships and graduate school opportunities. The program is especially intended for undergraduates with limited access to research experiences.
Mentorship and Research Community
We are grateful to the mentors who have volunteered to open their laboratories to Goldwater Summer Research Interns. Collectively, these mentors bring hundreds of years of experience supporting undergraduate researchers.
Goldwater interns will join collaborative research teams that include senior researchers, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and, importantly, other undergraduates.
The Internship
The Goldwater Summer Research Internship is a 10-week research opportunity for college freshmen and sophomores. Interns will gain hands-on experience in Chemistry, CISE, Engineering, Life Sciences, or Physics and Astronomy at academic and national laboratories across the United States.
Each project is managed independently and may have different eligibility criteria, schedules, expectations, and costs. Students should review each project description carefully, including details about start and end dates, prior experience requirements, housing, meals, and other site-specific information.
Funding
Each intern will receive $10,500 to cover the internship and internship-related expenses. Students should review the meal and housing costs listed for each site and budget accordingly and should also budget for transportation to and from the internship location.
How to Apply
Students should review the project descriptions carefully, then submit an application, identifying up to two projects for which they would like to be considered.
Timeline
Internship website opens: August 21, 2026
Application deadline: November 2, 2026
Review period: November 2, 2026 – January 8, 2027
Internships announced: January 15, 2027
Selection Process
The Foundation will collect submitted applications and share each application with the mentors for the projects the student selected.
Project mentors will review the applications associated with their projects.
Mentors will recommend the student whose background and interests best align with their project.
The Foundation will review the selection information submitted by mentors.
The Foundation will announce the Goldwater Summer Research Internship awards.
Intern Community and Scholarship Preparation
Interns will participate in a weekly Zoom meeting designed to build community across the Goldwater intern cohort.
These meetings will include a workshop to help interns begin preparing a Goldwater Scholarship applications. After completing the internship, interns are expected to apply for a Goldwater Scholarship through their home institutions in the fall.
