- Summer Research Programs
- Middle School Camp in Oncology at MD Anderson
- High School Summer Program
- CPRIT CURE Summer Undergraduate Program
- CPRTP Summer Research Experience
- DISCOVER Program
- ITERT Summer Program
- Summer Imaging Research Program
- Summer Undergraduate Research Program
- Partnership Summer Research Program
- University Outreach Summer Programs
- UPWARDS Summer Program
- First-Year Medical Student Program
- Medical Student Program in Radiation Oncology
- DACCPM Summer Research Program
- Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine
- Summer Program in Cancer Research
- Undergraduate Clinical & Administration Shadowing
- Summer Experience Information
- Summer Experience Activities & Events
- 2022 UT Police at Houston Summer Intern Program
- MD Anderson MBA/MHA Summer Internship
Partnership: Careers in Cancer Science & Medicine
Forging a path to excellence
The goal of the Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine is to build a network to attract, develop and nurture underrepresented young adults across the entire academic science and medicine pipeline, from high school students through faculty appointments.
The initial focus has been on high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, particularly in the Houston area. The program aims to progressively include new initiatives for diverse medical students, interested in research, and postdoctoral fellows from across the country.
The program offers:
- Hands-on research in an MD Anderson laboratory
- Clinical shadowing and observation (when available)
- Career development advice and guidance
Selection Method
Our program partners with high schools (Houston Independent School District and Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School), as well as The Posse Foundation and universities (University of Houston – Downtown, Howard University). These entities nominate program candidates who have a strong interest in biomedical disciplines and a record of academic achievements. A final selection is made by program leaders.
We do not accept applications directly from students.
Did You Know?
This 10-week summer research program started in 2017 with a cohort of 11 high school and undgraduate students. It continued in 2018 with 20 trainees, eight of whom returned for a second summer experience.
Curriculum
Weekly seminars and workshops, which cover a broad range of topics, are held for all summer program trainees. However, hands-on research training, while conducting a mentored research project in an MD Anderson laboratory, is the main focus of the summer program. The students work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or as previously arranged with the laboratory mentor.
During the first week after Orientation, intensive training sessions (the HotStart Program) will be led by MD Anderson postdoctoral fellows to introduce The Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine Program participants to the basic concepts of laboratory methods, techniques and ethical conduct of research.
The students also receive guidance and advice on their career plans from MD Anderson underrepresented minority faculty, many of whom are professors and/or in leadership positions and role models of success, resilience and persistence.
At the end of the program, the trainees present the results of their research as scientific posters, along with trainees from other summer programs, at the MD Anderson Summer Experience Final Event and participate in an “Elevator Speech” contest.
The Program also includes opportunities to:
- shadow clinical faculty members in ambulatory clinics and operating rooms
- attend weekly lectures
- engage in career conversations
- take workshops to improve presentation skills
Stipend
The students receive a stipend of $6000, before taxes are deducted, for the 10-week program.
Housing
Housing is provided on a case-by-case basis. For those who need it, a list of housing options is provided by contacting the coordinating program leader after being accepted to the program.
Eligibility
To participate, a candidate must be enrolled at a partner school and meet the following requirements:
- be at least 16 years old at the beginning of the program
- be enrolled as a junior-level student or enrolled as a senior-level student and accepted into a college or university for the fall semester or enrolled as a college or university student during the spring semester prior to the summer program
- be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or F1, J1 Visa holder
- must attend the entire 10-week program (for Summer 2023: June 6-August 11)
- Visit the Summer Experience Information page to learn more about the program’s details.
Participant Achievements
Maxime Munyeshyaka (2019): Selected as Scholar for NIH Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program.
Sifa Opot (2018, 2019 ): Co-author Horton et al. The cell cycle-regulated DNA adenine methyltransferase CcrM opens a bubble at its DNA recognition site, Nat Commun 10, 4600 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12498-7.
Nia Griffith (2017, 2018): graduated cum laude from the University of Houston Downtown in May 2019, BS in Microbiology.
Ritu Sampige (2018, 2019): graduated from Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions as the Valedictorian in May 2019; awarded as the high school's "Outstanding Young Woman" by the HISD Board of Education.
Our Students & Alumni
2019 Cohort
New
Clydell Adams – McGovern Medical School
Oluwatoni Ajala– Posse Scholar, University of Virginia
Luis Alvarez– Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Luis Amaro– Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory
Katherine Avila – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Racheal Ayankunbi – Howard University
Polycarpe Bagereka – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Shania Baldwin – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Holly Battist– Posse Scholar, University of Virginia
Nallely Esparza – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Richard Garcia – HSD, Milby High School
Puneetha Goli – HISD, The Village School
Cesiah Gomez – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Talia Hall – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Faith Hernandez – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Carlos Hernandez Salinas – HISD, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men
Rebecca Kow – McGovern Medical School
Jennifer Lagunas – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory
Emely Larios – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
May Liew – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Angelinda Maldonado – University of Houston Downtown
Fatima Mar – HISD, High School for Law and Justice
Maxime Munyeshyaka – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Janet Nwokolo-Aniekwu – McGovern Medical School
Antonia Oduguwa – Howard University
Chidi Okoro – University of Houston Downtown
Wendy Olivares – HISD, North Houston Early College High School
Takese McKenzie – University of Houston Downtown
Meliza Perez – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Julian Ruger – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Eliora Tesfaye – McGovern Medical School
Ha Thach – HISD, Young Women's College Prep Academy
Mairena Vera Romero – HISD, Sharpstown International School
Alfonso Villegas – HISD, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men
Returning
Ayishat Mag Adeniran – Loyola University Chicago
Devin Brown – The University of Texas at Dallas
Stephanie Dunnand –Texas State University
Joly Fahim – University of Houston Downtown
Daniela Franco – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Lawrence Garvin – The University of Texas at Austin
Patrick Krause – University of Houston Downtown
Mariana Lopez –The University of Texas at Austin
Pilar O’Neal – Howard University
Sifa Opot – HISD, South Early College High School. Now at University of Houston
Ritu Sampige – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions
2018 Cohort
Termeh Ahi – Posse Scholar, University of Virginia
Stephanie Dunnand – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Texas State University
Joly Fahim – University of Houston Downtown
Daniela Franco – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Melanie Garibay – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Creighton College
Lawrence Garvin – The University of Texas at Austin
Patrick Krause – University of Houston Downtown
Mariana Lopez – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at The University of Texas at Austin
Pilar O’Neal – Howard University
Sifa Opot – HISD, South Early College High School; now at University of Houston
Juhong Peng – Posse Scholar, Texas A&M University
Ritu Sampige – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Jada Kinch – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at University of Houston
Ayishat Mag Adeniran – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Loyola University Chicago
Oluwafunto Akindona – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Jaquelin Barron – HISD, Furr High School; now at Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Victoria Martinez – Furr High School; now at Houston Community College
Boranai Tychhon – University of Houston Downtown
Nia Griffith – University of Houston Downtown
Devin Brown – HISD, Houston Academy for International Studies; now at The University of Texas at Dallas
2017 Cohort
Jada Kinch – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at University of Houston
Ayishat Mag Adeniran – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Loyola University Chicago
Oluwafunto Akindona – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Ashley Ossimetha – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Jaquelin Barron – HISD, Furr High School; now at Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Victoria Martinez – Furr High School; now at Houston Community College
Boranai Tychhon – University of Houston Downtown
Nia Griffith – University of Houston Downtown
Kaleb Duhon – University of Houston Downtown
Tassica Lim – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions; now at Stanford University
Devin Brown – HISD, Houston Academy for International Studies; now at The University of Texas at Dallas
Our Labs
Learn more about our faculty and research taking place in our labs.
Conferences
View conferences available for continuing education credit.