Paid Summer 2026 Research Experiences for BSOS Undergraduates

Paid summer 2026 research experiences for BSOS undergraduate students. Please read websites carefully for due dates and application criteria.

UM Scholars Program - Paid research opportunities for UMD students through MPowering the State. Closing date is February 22, 2026, but apply early as applications will be read on a rolling basis. Students will work with researchers at the Maryland Department of Health or with faculty at University of Maryland Baltimore in summer 2026.  You do not have to propose your own project. You will be joining an existing research team. Each student receives a stipend.

BSOS Summer Scholars - Supports individual undergraduate research projects in any behavioral and social sciences discipline in the summer ($3000 stipend). Proposals are due on February 27, 2026. You need to have your own proposal idea and a BSOS research mentor. The application for summer 2026 can be submitted via InfoReady, the campus research funding application portal. Questions: bsosresearch@umd.edu.  

SPIRE - Student Proposed Innovation & Research Experience provides opportunities for UMD undergraduates to work closely with faculty mentors on summer research projects while actively engaging with the broader community of SPIRE researchers. Stipends are $3000 and students should have a proposal idea and research mentor. Applications are due February 12, 2026.

BSOS Summer Research Initiative (SRI) -  The program provides rising juniors and seniors with an 8-week intensive, residential summer experience to develop research skills, learn about doctoral training, and increase graduate training readiness. Each student receives a stipend. Applications are due on February 10, 2026.  You do not need to have your own project or research mentor as one will be assigned.

Clinical Research Coordinator Opportunities - Brain Injury Research Center of Mount Sinai

3 full-time Clinical Research Coordinator opportunities at the Brain Injury Research Center of Mount Sinai, starting in Spring/Summer 2026. The full job postings are attached for reference.

 

Each position supports a distinct ongoing research program at the center:

 

1. Clinical Research Coordinator – Traumatic Brain Injury
1. This role supports the Late Effects of TBI (LETBI) Project, a multicenter prospective longitudinal brain donor program focused on identifying clinical characteristics and postmortem neuropathology associated with post-traumatic neurodegeneration. Responsibilities include conducting longitudinal follow-up semi-structured interviews, administering cognitive assessments (structured neuropsychological tests), and coordinating brain donation procedures. 
2. Clinical Research Coordinator – Veteran Brain Health
1. This position supports the Late Effects of TBI in Military Service Members (LETBI-MIL) Project, a longitudinal brain donor program examining post-traumatic neurodegeneration among U.S. military service members and veterans. Responsibilities include conducting longitudinal follow-up interviews, administering cognitive assessments, and coordinating brain donation procedures with military service members and veterans.
3. Clinical Research Coordinator I – Brain Health
1. This role supports the Resilient Together for Dementia (RT-D) program, a tailored dyadic intervention delivered via live video to individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and their spousal care-partners. Responsibilities include study coordination, participant screening and enrollment, follow-up interviews, Institutional Review Board submissions, and reporting to the federal funding agency.

 

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to Brittany Engelman atbrittany.engelman@mountsinai.org:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Writing sample
• Contact information for two professional references

: Open Seats-MLAW378T:Employment Discrimination and the Law

There are quite a few seats left in  MLAW378T: Employment Discrimination and the Law, offered on Tuesdays 3pm-5:30pm. The course is being taught by Marley Weiss, who is an esteemed professor at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Professor Weiss is an excellent and well-sought-after instructor. Students at UMD have really enjoyed this course. 

This course will examine the law, public policy, human resources practices, as well as sociology and economics underlying federal and state law regarding discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. There is a detailed review of the various practical and administrative processes within employment and human resources law.

TYS - NEUR111 (Stress: The Science of Mind and Body)

 

EDHD488G: “Wired to Change: Brain Plasticity in Human Development and Experience”

EDHD488G: “Wired to Change: Brain Plasticity in Human Development and Experience”

Did you know that your brain physically changes as you learn, face challenges, or bounce back from stress? In this course, you'll discover how experience shapes the brain across life - from building skills to adapting under pressure. We'll dive into the science of brain plasticity to understand how everyday experiences, big and small, rewire who we are. No prior neuroscience coursework is required. BC TRACK COURSE

Topics will include:

• What Is Brain Plasticity? — What does it mean for the brain to be plastic, and why doesn’t the same experience change every brain in the same way?
  
• Developmental Plasticity and Sensitive Periods — When does experience matter most, and why are some changes harder later in life?
  
• Perceptual Learning — Can experience change how we perceive the world?
  
• Reorganization and Compensation after loss — What happens to the brain when expected input disappears?
  
• Learning, Training, and Expertise — Can extended practice and training reshape the adult brain?
  
• Constraints on Plasticity Across the Lifespan — Why isn’t the brain infinitely flexible?
  
• Memory as Plasticity — How does experience leave lasting traces in the brain?
  
• Language, Culture, and Thought — Does language shape how we think and perceive the world?
  
• Stress, Adversity, and Calibration — How does stress shape the brain for adaptation or vulnerability?
  
• Resilience and Recovery — Why do some brains adapt better than others after adversity?
  
• Maladaptive Plasticity — When does plasticity go wrong?
  
• Plasticity, Technology, and the Future Brain — How far can brain plasticity extend, and should all forms of change be encouraged?

CMNS recruitment ambassadors

CMNS Recruitment Ambassadors help prospective freshmen and transfers learn why UMD is a great place to study CMNS! 

Ambassadors assist with student panels and CMNS information tables at admissions open houses, meet individually/in small groups with prospective students, sit on virtual Zoom panels, represent CMNS and their peers, and provide feedback about the mindset of the students with whom they interact. Typical time commitment for this volunteer position is one hour a week, though it will depend on your schedule as you can decide what events to sign up for. The best ambassadors can easily express what they love about UMD, regardless of whether it was their original first choice college when they applied for admission. You will never be asked to “sell” UMD – you can simply talk about your experiences and answer questions to help students make the best decision for them. Ambassadors make connections with faculty and staff in CMNS and gain valuable leadership and public speaking skills.

 

Request an application now by emailing Eden Hurley at egarosi@umd.edu. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026;  those who apply by January 21^st at 11:59 p.m. will have priority consideration for an interview.

Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 by

email to egarosi@umd.edu . Those who apply by January 21 st at 11:59 p.m. will

have priority consideration for an interview.

Name:

UID:

Email address:

Phone number:

Major(s), minors, etc.:

Career goals (if known):

Current year in college (please circle/highlight one): freshman, sophomore, junior

UMD cumulative GPA (must be 3.0 or above):

Home city, state, and name of high school:

Special Academic Programs (such as College Park Scholars, Honors, Gemstone,

ILS, ACES, FIRE, Carillon, BioFIRE, BK, QUEST, departmental honors, etc.) –

participation in one or more of these is not a requirement:

Name, title/relationship, and email address of a UMD faculty or staff member who

would be willing to act as a reference for you (no letter needed):

Please list research/internship, leadership, volunteer, clinical, GSS/TA/LA, study

abroad, alternative breaks, community service, club or intramural sports, elected

positions, or other substantive involvements on/off campus (you may attach your

resume instead):

Please attach a short essay (typed, no more than 3 pages, double-spaced)

including all of these points:

 what you wish you’d known about UMD when you were deciding which

college to attend,

 your favorite things about being a Terp,

 why you are a good fit for this volunteer position,

 and what strengths you will bring to the ambassador organization.

The selection committee will be in touch with all applicants with further information

following the application deadline. Please contact Eden Hurley at egarosi@umd.edu

with any questions or concerns. GO TERPS!

BSOS Peer Mentor Application

The BSOS Peer Mentor Program is a component of the services the Feller Center Advising Center in BSOS offered to students. Through their service to fellow students, Peer Mentors gain valuable skills in public speaking/presentation, professionalism, and leadership. Peer Mentors primarily facilitate BSOS Graduation Planning Workshops each semester and conduct various presentations in BSOS UNIV100 and BSOS361 classes. In preparation for these activities, all new Peer Mentors attend a mandatory class session once a week for their first semester as a Peer Mentor.  All applicants are expected to serve for a minimum of two semesters.  The program will be held in person once weekly.  

Peer Mentors earn one graded academic credit after each successfully completed semester.

Eligibility Criteria:
• Must be a BSOS major
• Intent to return to the University in Spring 2026
• At least a 2.5 GPA  
• Must be in good judicial/academic standing

APPLY HERE