It’s not too early to start thinking about summer opportunities. Through the federal-funded National Science Foundation, researchers from across the country can pay undergraduate summer researchers in their labs. Though you will have to apply to the individual lab (and be accepted), you will have the opportunity to work on your own research project and contribute to the lab’s research. Start your search by visiting the link below to see a list of universities and researchers in the NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program (if the link is disabled, search for “NSF REU sites Biological Sciences”):

https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.jsp?unitid=5047