ViSUR Program

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The Summer 2026 application is closed. The 2027 application cycle will open in Mid-October.

The Vision Science Undergraduate Research Program (ViSUR)

Program Dates: June 1 – July 31, 2027
Opens: Mid-October. Please check back for updates.
Closes: End of January. Please check back for updates.
Semi Finalist Interviews/Admission Decisions: February 2027 – March 2027.

Stipend
Each student will receive a stipend of $5,000. In addition, housing and travel expenses will be coordinated and provided by UC Berkeley.

ViSUR 2026
The 2027 ViSUR program will take place on the UC Berkeley campus between June 1st and July 31st, 2027.

What is Vision Science?

Vision science is an interdisciplinary study of visual systems and perception and incorporates many disciplines, including optometry, ophthalmology, molecular genetics, neuroscience, and physiological optics. Vision science is the source of an array of research questions relating to how we see, how and why vision fails, and what can be done about it.

Researchers in vision science conduct human and animal research and modeling, yielding cutting-edge discoveries and applications in disciplines that include clinical care, adaptive optics, neurobiology, cell biology, bioengineering, perception, and public health.

To read more about the fields of vision science, please click the button below.

Vision Research

How to Apply

To apply for the ViSUR program, please submit an application by completing the Google form below. To submit your letters of recommendation, please have your recommenders complete the Recommender Form below.

Apply Here Recommender Form

ViSUR 2026 Application Timeline

Application Opens: Mid-October. Please check back for updates.

2025-26 Information Sessions:
– TBD

Application Deadline: End of January. Please check back for more updates.

Semifinalist Interviews and Admission Decisions: Begin February 2027 through March 2027

Program Duration: 8 weeks. June 1 – July 31, 2027.

Learn More

Vision Science at Berkeley

Renowned for its breadth of academic and faculty excellence, UC Berkeley is home to the nation’s leading vision research program. This research program embraces a multi-disciplinary, collaborative, and comprehensive approach to understanding the visual system and its connections to health and cognition. Underscoring the fundamentally interdisciplinary nature of vision science, our program is led by the largest academic vision science research group in the country and includes globally recognized leaders in optics, psychophysics, infectious disease, and immunology from at least 11 different departments – bioengineering, molecular and cell biology, neuroscience, psychology, and public health among them.

We study all aspects of the human eye and encourage a robust flow of ideas and a broad scope of research which includes how best to correct refractive error and other optical defects, developing optical systems for emerging technologies, addressing epidemic and visual maladies such as glaucoma and myopia, and much more. UC Berkeley’s vision science program has a track record for advancing innovative, high impact research while preparing our exceptional graduate student body to become future leaders in eye-opening and sight-saving research for the benefit of a diverse and inclusive society.

Eligibility Requirements

The following are eligible to apply:

A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at a four or two-year college in the U.S. with plans to return to their home institution in Fall 2025.
A rising sophomore, junior or non-graduating senior. Sally Casanova Scholars are also eligible to apply as long as they are returning to their institution in the Fall of 2026.
Interested in one of the Ph.D. programs being currently offered at UC Berkeley.

Supporting Documents

Letters of Recommendation: The application requires two letters of recommendation from faculty. Letters should address how your academic interests and preparation make you well suited to the program. If you cannot obtain two faculty letters, you may submit one faculty letter and one letter from a Graduate Student Instructor who can comment on your academic performance and research potential. Please keep in mind that the letters of recommendation are significant elements of your application.

Curriculum Vitae: Your resume.

Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose is an opportunity for the applicant to provide the selection committee with additional information and/or context to to evaluate your fit for a summer research opportunity for the cohort of summer research scholars.

In 500 words, please respond to the following prompt: How have your life experiences and educational background prepared you to undertake rigorous academic research at UC Berkeley? Be certain to discuss how this opportunity will impact your career trajectory.

ViSUR Participants

Click the buttons below to learn more about our past and current participants and their research interests.

ViSUR 2022 ViSUR 2023 ViSUR 2024 ViSUR 2025 ViSUR 2026

Student Testimonials

Jocelyn Tao
Jocelyn, a recent Psychological and Brain Sciences graduate from UC Santa Barbara, joined ViSUR to explore vision science in a new academic environment. At Berkeley, she applied her computational background to clinical research on amblyopia in the Levi Lab, gaining new skills and insight into PhD-level work. Her experience helped shape her academic direction, and we’re excited to welcome her back this Fall 2025 semester as a PhD student in the Vision Science Program!

“Even though I entered ViSUR with prior vision science experience, the program’s flexible and welcoming structure made it accessible and engaging for anyone with an interest in eyes and vision. From basic science to high-level applications and from computational theory to clinical perspectives, ViSUR offered it all, with opportunities spanning academia and industry.”

Read what Jocelyn and fellow ViSUR participants had to say about the program by clicking the button below.

Testimonials

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the ViSUR program, please contact Alex Marquez, at:
ammarquez@berkeley.edu.