Undergraduate Programs

Applications for our Summer 2025 KBS Undergraduate Programs are closed. Summer 2026 program applications will open in November 2025. Questions can be sent to KBSsummer@msu.edu

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KBS URA Program (Undergraduate Research Apprentice – paid part-time research positions for MSU students)

KBS Internship Program (paid professional positions for MSU students throughout KBS)

KBS NSF REU Program (paid full-time research positions for non-MSU students)

Students have the opportunity to live at KBS and gain a wide variety of field and lab research experiences, new friendships, and professional references at a world-renowned biological station on beautiful Gull Lake.

Our Summer 2025 Program ran from May 18-July 26, 2025.

Read about the KBS Undergraduate Research and Internship Symposium here.

Summer 2022 students take a field trip to the Detroit Zoo.

Thinking about applying for KBS courses or programs? Check out these student blog posts and interviews!

Internship Program for MSU Students

A sustainable summer: Agriculture, Academics, and a Good Book- Sarah Hubbard (MSU, Environmental Studies & Sustainability)

Avian care and art at the Bird Sanctuary: An internship experience- Marie Kroneman (MSU, Zoology)

Talking science at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary with Ezra Montero (MSU, Environmental Plant Biology)

Working and learning through a KBS Summer: Alex Sills (MSU, Zoology/Environmental Biology)

Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URA) for MSU Students

Having lots of fun-gi: A summer of mushrooms- Claire Bott (MSU, Animal Science/Environmental Sustainability)

Coffee, tacos, and mothing: A day in the life of a URA- Dereck Luecker (MSU, Integrated Biology/Zoology)

A little taste of everything: Summer classes and field research at KBS- Emily Parker (MSU, Zoology)

Waders half full, or half empty? – Sharon Carpenter (MSU, Fisheries & Wildlife)

My opportunity of a lifetime – Samantha Turner (MSU, Human Biology, DOW STEM Scholar)

To research or not to research? How I discovered my passion at KBS – Maiya Wimbley (MSU, Community Sustainability)

Learning is a contact sport: A summer at KBS – Wissam Jawad (MSU, Zoology)

Murphy’s Law – Krista Nicholson (MSU, Animal and Environmental Science)

Mating Behavior in Treefrogs – Darian Mollock (North Carolina A&T)

A Star Crossed Love Affair Between a Pre-med Student and a Diatom – Olivia Porth (MSU, Human Bio)

10 cc’s of Experience, Stat! – Parker Anderson (MSU, Biomedical Lab Sciences)

Learning is a Contact Sport: A Summer at KBS – Wissam Jawad (MSU, Zoology)

My Summer as an URA at KBS – Ally Brown (MSU, Integrative Biology)

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) for non-MSU students

Beans and best friends: A KBS Summer in the Evans Lab – Sofie Iwamasa (Case Western Reserve University)

Poco a poco: The little nopalito in a cornfield – Nicholas Vega Anguiano (Humbolt State University – LTER/Robertson Lab)

My time as a REU: Learning the research process – Audrey Hogenkamp (Augustana College; Evans Lab)

Try something new: A home away from home – Cassie Stark (James Madison University; Conner Lab)

SLAM: Scientists Love Acronyms, Man – Emily Lindback (Franklin and Marshall College; LTER/Robertson Lab)

Hot water and faster species – Tyler Treakle (College of William & Mary; Zarnetske Lab)

Uncovering a love for diatoms: A paleontologist’s nightmare – Sophia Beery (Ohio Northern U.; Litchman/Kalusmeier Lab)

The one that got away (a darter love affair) – Daniel Olivera (Clark U.; Fitzpatrick Lab)

My KBS summer research experience – Francisca Donkor (Harris-Stowe State U.; Evans Lab)

A summer I will never forget – Chris Williamson (Clemson U.; Lau Lab)

Almost failing a semester to learn about climate change – Daimer Castro Vega (U. of Puerto Rico; Robertson Lab)

Before and after – Harry Ervin (Calvin College; Evans Lab)

My amazing experience at KBS – Lauren Davis (Alcorn State U.; Lau Lab)

The forest, animals, and my missing bottles – Aleah Dungee (Norfolk State U.; Robertson Lab)

Painting with phytoplankton cultures and Michigan sunsets – Clare Harper (Beloit College; Litchman/Klausmeier Lab)

Gaining a Sense of Oneness – Ivori Schley (North Carolina A&T; GLBRC)

Clouds of Confidence – Carlneshia Johnson (Alcorn State U.; Hamilton Lab)

My Summer of Science (Fiction) – Tori Niewohner (Western Washington U.; Zarnetske Lab)

Jack of All Trades – Andrew Konieczny (Augsburg College; LTER)

Learning to be a Scientist – Julie Barrios (U. of California – San Diego; Robertson Lab)

For questions about the undergraduate programs please e-mail KBSsummer@msu.edu.