Description
Interested in joining a cohort of undergraduate students for a PAID international research experience in Sweden this summer?
The Bee Health and Ecology Research Objective (Bee-HERO) is a unique opportunity to gain valuable research experience in ecology, evolution, genetics, and more. Bee-HERO students will participate in a five-part program that includes a PAID eight-week international research experience in Sweden, personalized mentorship, and a series of hands-on, experiential activities.
Application Deadline – Thursday, January 2nd, 2026
The Bee Health and Ecology Research Objective (Bee-HERO), implemented by Sacred Heart University, is an international research experience that will provide undergraduate students the opportunity to study bee parasites and viruses at the Centre for Honey Bee Research in Uppsala, Sweden at the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences.
This project provides research and personalized mentoring experiences to undergraduate students in STEM fields. All costs associated with program participation are covered for Bee-HERO students, who also receive a summer research stipend. To foster the development and success of every participant, each Bee-HERO student engages in five mandatory program components and gains valuable experience in science communication by presenting their findings to the public and to their academic peers at a scientific conference. They will also develop lasting personal and professional relationships to support their ongoing success and development.
Bee-HERO is funded by the National Science Foundation’s International Research Experiences for Students (NSF-IRES) program.
Requirements
Applicants to the program must be U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents and have successfully completed a full year of introductory biology.
Students from community colleges and primarily undergraduate institutions are especially encouraged to apply, given an integral goal of Bee-HERO is to offer mentorship and research experience to undergraduate students. Prior research experience is not required.
Bee-HERO covers all travel costs to SHU and the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences. Therefore, the program is primarily recruiting participants from SHU’s student body and candidates within an approximate two-hour geographic radius of SHU (e.g., Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island). If the budget allows, the program can admit participants from greater distances.
