Oakland University is offering undergraduate students an opportunity to gain hands-on scientific research experience through its Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry.
Organized through Oakland University’s Center for Biomedical Research, the Summer Research Program allows students to conduct independent research projects under the guidance of faculty members.
Research opportunities can involve biological science, biomedical science, chemistry or environmental science, providing students with exposure to the methods and practices used in professional scientific research.
According to the official Oakland University information, applications for the Summer 2026 programme were accepted through February 27, 2026.
Importantly, the supplied university source does not state that participants are paid $15 per hour and does not describe this programme as a “Research Assistant” job. Therefore, a $15/hour claim should not be attached to this opportunity without a separate official source confirming that rate.
About the Oakland University Research Opportunity
Oakland University’s Center for Biomedical Research supports several student research opportunities intended to provide experiential learning and exposure to research-related careers.
Among these opportunities is the:
Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry
The programme gives students an opportunity to undertake independent scientific research while receiving guidance from a faculty member.
Oakland University explains that the programme is intended to expose talented undergraduate students to the practices of a professional scientific career.
Research Areas
Participants in the Summer Research Program can conduct independent projects in areas including:
- Biological science
- Biomedical science
- Chemistry
- Environmental science
The exact research undertaken by an individual student will depend on the available projects and faculty mentorship arrangements.
This makes the programme relevant to undergraduate students seeking practical research exposure in science-related disciplines.
Independent Research Experience
A major feature of the programme is the opportunity to conduct an:
Independent research project
Students undertake their research under the guidance of a faculty member.
This gives participants an opportunity to move beyond classroom learning and gain direct exposure to scientific research methods.
The programme is designed to help students understand what professional scientific research involves.
Faculty Mentorship
Research projects are undertaken with guidance from Oakland University faculty.
The official programme information includes sections relating to mentors from:
Biological Sciences
and:
Chemistry
Faculty guidance is an important part of the programme because students are being introduced to the methods and practices involved in professional scientific research.
Skills Students Can Develop
Oakland University states that by the conclusion of the programme, students are expected to demonstrate improved:
- Technical skills
- Critical-thinking skills
- Communication skills
These skills are important for students considering future academic research, graduate education or scientific careers.
The programme combines independent research with faculty guidance to provide practical research experience.
Technical Skills
Scientific research requires students to understand and apply appropriate research methods.
Through participation in an independent project, students can gain exposure to the technical aspects of research within their chosen field.
The exact techniques used will depend on the student’s research area and project.
The supplied source does not list specific laboratory techniques or software that every participant will use.
Critical Thinking
Oakland University specifically identifies improved critical-thinking skills as one of the expected outcomes of the Summer Research Program.
Students conducting independent research must engage with scientific questions, research methods and evidence.
The programme is therefore intended to provide experiential learning rather than only classroom-based instruction.
Communication Skills
Communication is another skill area highlighted by Oakland University.
At the conclusion of the programme, students are expected to demonstrate improved communication skills alongside their technical and critical-thinking abilities.
The supplied source does not specify whether students are required to complete a formal presentation, research paper or poster, so those requirements should not be assumed.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is specifically identified as a:
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
The supplied page does not provide complete detailed eligibility criteria in the excerpt provided.
It does not establish a universal:
- Minimum GPA
- Minimum age
- Citizenship requirement
- Residency requirement
- Specific year of undergraduate study
- Previous research requirement
Prospective applicants should therefore consult the complete programme guidelines when a future application cycle becomes available.
Is This a Research Assistant Job?
The supplied source does not describe this programme as a Research Assistant job.
Instead, Oakland University calls it the:
Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry.
This distinction is important for accurate reporting.
The programme clearly provides research experience, but the supplied information does not establish that participants are hired as university employees with the formal job title “Research Assistant.”
A separate Oakland University employment listing would be required to substantiate such a claim.
Does the Opportunity Pay $15 Per Hour?
The supplied Oakland University source does not mention a $15 hourly wage.
It does not provide any hourly pay rate in the information supplied.
Therefore, the headline:
“Research Assistant 2026: $15/Hour Opportunity at Oakland University”
is not supported by this source alone.
Unless a separate official Oakland University vacancy confirms a $15/hour Research Assistant position, that salary should not be published as a fact.
Is There a Fellowship or Stipend?
The programme page contains a section identified as:
Fellowships
and directs users to that section for the application form.
However, the supplied excerpt does not provide a specific fellowship amount, stipend, hourly wage or other financial award.
It would therefore be inappropriate to invent a funding figure.
Applicants should consult the applicable programme guidelines for financial information.
Programme Location
The Center for Biomedical Research is based at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
The supplied contact information identifies:
Center for Biomedical Research
Hannah Hall of Science, Room 276
244 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester, MI 48309-4451
The source does not describe the Summer Undergraduate Research Program as a remote opportunity.
Application Deadline
For Summer 2026, Oakland University states that applications were accepted through:
February 27, 2026
As the current date is after February 27, that application period has passed.
Students interested in a future edition should monitor the official Center for Biomedical Research page for updates rather than attempting to use the expired 2026 application date.
Is the 2026 Programme Still Open?
Based on the supplied official information, the Summer 2026 application period is no longer open.
The university states:
“The Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry for Summer 2026 will be accepting applications through February 27, 2026.”
Students should therefore monitor the page for information about future application cycles.
Other Student Research Opportunities
The Center for Biomedical Research page identifies several categories of research opportunities.
In addition to the Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, it lists:
- SUPER Program in ERI
- Research at OU
- External Research Opportunities
Students interested in research experience may explore these categories to determine whether other opportunities are currently available.
The supplied source does not provide enough detail to describe the funding, eligibility or application status of each of these programmes.
About the Center for Biomedical Research
The opportunity is promoted through Oakland University’s Center for Biomedical Research (CBR).
The Center supports several student research opportunities and encourages experiential learning that gives students exposure to careers connected with research.
Students can use these opportunities to develop professional experience while participating in scientific research.
How to Apply
The official page provided an application link for the Summer 2026 programme.
However, because the stated application period ended on February 27, 2026, prospective applicants should first check the current programme status rather than submitting materials under the assumption that applications remain open.
Oakland University Student Research Opportunities
Students can use the official page to monitor future programme updates and review available research opportunities.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Oakland University |
| Unit | Center for Biomedical Research |
| Programme | Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry |
| Programme Level | Undergraduate |
| Location | Rochester, Michigan |
| Research Experience | Independent research under faculty guidance |
| Biological Science | Yes |
| Biomedical Science | Yes |
| Chemistry | Yes |
| Environmental Science | Yes |
| Technical Skills Development | Yes |
| Critical-Thinking Development | Yes |
| Communication Skills Development | Yes |
| 2026 Application Deadline | February 27, 2026 |
| Current 2026 Application Status | Deadline has passed |
| $15/Hour Pay | Not stated in supplied source |
| Research Assistant Job Title | Not stated in supplied source |
| Specific Stipend Amount | Not stated |
| Remote Option | Not stated |
Important Note
Students should be careful not to confuse a student research programme with a formal Research Assistant employment vacancy.
The Oakland University information supplied confirms an undergraduate summer research programme, but it does not establish:
- A Research Assistant job title
- $15/hour compensation
- A specific stipend amount
- Remote work
- A universal GPA requirement
- Citizenship requirements
- A future application deadline
Those details should only be published if they are supported by the applicable Oakland University announcement.
Final Thoughts
The Oakland University Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biological Sciences and Chemistry provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain practical scientific research experience through independent projects supervised by faculty members.
Research can involve biological science, biomedical science, chemistry and environmental science, giving participants exposure to professional scientific research practices.
Oakland University specifically identifies improvements in technical, critical-thinking and communication skills as expected outcomes of the programme.
For Summer 2026, applications were accepted through February 27, 2026, meaning that application period has already passed.
Most importantly, the supplied official source does not support the claim that this is a $15/hour Research Assistant job. No hourly salary is provided, and the opportunity is described as a Summer Undergraduate Research Program rather than a Research Assistant employment position.
Students interested in future opportunities should monitor Oakland University’s official Center for Biomedical Research page for new application dates and updated programme information.
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