We invite rising sophomore-junior students from primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), Deaf-serving institutions, or those who hold PEER identities to engage in one of many possible independent research topics that use imaging and modeling approaches to study biological systems across departments, including Physics, in Raleigh, NC. During this 10-week NSF-funded summer program, students will actively engage in a research project under the mentorship of a participating faculty member. Participants will receive housing on campus, travel expenses to the site, a food allowance, and a stipend of $6,250. The program kicks off with a one-week microscopy short course, where participants will build community and learn critical laboratory skills. Participants will pursue independent research projects for the remainder of the summer, under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor. Students will also have weekly cohort meetings to work with their peers to practice science communication and present what they are learning to the public through a blog, an outreach program for high school students, and a poster presentation at the campus-wide undergraduate research symposium at the end of the summer.