UPWARDS Summer Program

The MD Anderson UPWARDS High School Summer Research Training Program will support 10 high school trainees per year. 

Eligibility

All applicants must be a local high school student (incoming sophomore-incoming senior for the fall of 2023) who identifies as an underrepresented minority in science which includes ethnic or racial minority groups (African American, Hispanic, American Indian/Native American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian), economically disadvantaged, educationally disadvantaged, with disabilities, or first-generation students.

What will my days look like? 

Accepted students will take part in a paid/ full-time (40 hours a week) on campus summer research experience at MD Anderson. Through this experience, you will be paired with a faculty member working in his/her lab gaining hands-on research experience, participate in didactic coursework and training, and receive mentoring to guide you in your future academic and professional pursuits.

All trainees accepted into the UPWARDS summer high school experience will be required to participate in one outreach activity during the 10week long training program. The outreach activity will be selected by the leadership team and conveyed to the trainees at the earliest opportunity. Please expect for this activity to occur outside of work hours (at the end of the workday or on a weekend). We will work with your mentor to account for hours worked as part of this outreach event. 

Stipend

On-site participants receive a stipend of up to $6000 for the 10-week program; no additional allowances are available. Paychecks and stipend are based on actual days worked and will be issued on the 5th and the 20th of each month, deducting the required federal tax.

How to Apply

The deadline for the 2023 summer program has now passed. Please monitor our website as we will begin acceptimg applications for the summer 2024 program late November/early December.

The following information is required on the application:

• Personal and demographic information
• Resume
• Proof of enrollments- Please upload your current progress report/report card
• Statement of research experience and interest (max 700 words)
• Two letters of recommendation. One letter must come from a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) teacher. Both letters should be submitted by your referees directly into SLATE. Once you submit your application, you will be prompted to create a SLATE account where you can add the contact information for your referees. Once this is done, they will receive an email prompting them to upload their respective letters to the portal.

Applications must be completed and submitted before the deadline. Incomplete applications will be purged after the deadline has passed. If the information found here did not provide the answers you need, please feel free to email the Program Director, Kara Lewis, Dr.P.H. (keleonard@mdanderson.org) or Program Manager, Valoree Solis, M.B.A. (vdsolis@mdanderson.org).

The MD Anderson UPWARDS Undergraduate Summer Research Training Program will support 20 undergraduate trainees per year. 

Eligibility

Applicants must be a college or university student who has completed their freshman, sophomore or junior year by June 2023 and are in good academic standing. Fifth year seniors returning to their undergraduate program for the Fall 2023 semester may also apply. All applicants must identify as an underrepresented minority in science, which includes ethnic or racial minority groups (African American, Hispanic, American Indian/Native American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian), economically disadvantaged, educationally disadvantaged, with disabilities, or first-generation students. International students may apply if they hold a current visa through the duration of the program. Undergraduates of all majors are invited to apply!

What will my days look like?

Accepted students will take part in a paid/ full-time (40 hours a week) on-campus summer research experience at MD Anderson. Through this experience, you will be paired with a faculty member working in his/her lab gaining hands-on research experience, participate in didactic coursework and training, and receive mentoring to guide you in your future academic and professional pursuits. Students will attend scientific lectures, seminars and career development events, and will have the opportunity to present their work at a poster session at the conclusion of the program. Students cannot earn credit from their home institutions for participating in the R25 UPWARDS program. Accepted students will take part in a paid/ full-time (40 hours a week) on campus summer research experience at MD Anderson. Through this experience, you will be paired with a faculty member working in his/her lab gaining hands-on research experience, participate in didactic coursework and training, and receive mentoring to guide you in your future academic and professional pursuits.

All trainees accepted into the UPWARDS summer undergraduate experience will be required to participate in one outreach activity during the ten-week long training program. The outreach activity will be selected by the leadership team and convey to the trainees at the earliest opportunity. Please expect for this activity to occur outside of work hours (at the end of the workday or on a weekend). We will work with your mentor to account for hours worked as part of this outreach event. 

Stipend

On-site participants receive a stipend of up to $6,000 for the 10-week program. This stipend may be used for housing, living, and travel expenses; no additional allowances are available. Paychecks and stipend are based on actual days worked and will be issued on the 5th and the 20th of each month, deducting the required federal tax.

How to Apply

The deadline for the summer 2023 program has passed. Please monitor our website as we will begiin accepting applications for the summer 2024 program in late November/early December.

The following information is required on the application:

• Personal and demographic information
• Resume
• Proof of enrollment- Please upload your official transcript from undergraduate university
• Statement of research experience and interest (max 700 words)
• Two letters of recommendation. One letter must come from a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) professor. Both letters should be submitted by your referees directly into SLATE.  Once you submit your application, you will be prompted to create a SLATE account where you can add the contact information for your referees. Once this is done, they will receive an email asking them to upload their respective letters to the portal.

Applications must be completed and submitted before the deadline. Incomplete applications will be purged after the deadline has passed. If the information found here did not provide the answers you need, please feel free to email the Program Director, Kara Lewis, Dr.P.H. (keleonard@mdanderson.org) or Program Manager, Valoree Solis, M.B.A. (vdsolis@mdanderson.org).