How to Apply & FAQ
1. Launch the Application: Click the 'apply here' link on the home page to launch the CATALYST Inquiry Form.
2. Read the required three (3) sections before completing the inquiry form:
1) Please Read Before You Apply,
2) Additional Documents Required If Selected As A Final Candidate
3) Onboarding Contingencies That Require Early Action
3. Complete the Inquiry Form and upload the required documents:
- Personal Information (e.g., name, email, etc.)
- Current Enrollment (i.e., your current school and enrollment dates)
- Upload Resume/CV
- Official Transcript(s)
- Screenshots, print-outs, and class schedules are not acceptable
- Statement of Research Experience and Interest (Max 5000 characters inclusive of spaces and punctuation)
Double-check these items before clicking the SUBMIT button. The Slate system will not accept revised documents.
4. Create your Slate Account. After clicking the SUBMIT button, you will receive an email from UT MD Anderson Education & Training (trainee@mdanderson.org), subject line: "Complete your Trainee Position Inquiry Request". If you are unable to locate it in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. Follow the instructions and click the hyperlink in the email to create a Slate account and request your letters of recommendation.
5. Complete the Application
- Read the Application Instructions
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation:
- In the Recommendations screen, enter the contact information for both individuals who will write your letters of recommendation. Ideally, recommenders should be anyone who has known you for more than a year and preferably a faculty mentor, professor, research lab manager, or other professional in academia. After the applicant enters the recommender's information in the Slate system, the recommender will receive an email notification from trainee@mdanderson.org, subject line "Recommendation Request from YOUR NAME for MD Anderson Cancer Center" and a link to upload the letter of recommendation to your account. (if your referee cannot locate the email in their inbox, please advise them to check their spam/junk folder). You will receive an email when the letter has been successfully uploaded.
- Letter Requirements
- Written by qualified individuals who are in position (i.e., advisors, professors, teachers, lab managers, etc.,)
- Must comment on the applicant's knowledge, capabilities, and performance related to the program(s) they are applying for
- Letter must be dated
- Signed (wet ink or docusigned) on institutional letterhead (must include title & contact info)
- Please note: letters from prospective MDA mentors, peers, or family members/friends will not be considered.
- Complete the Additional Demographics and Future Plans form
- Complete the Internship or Graduation Requirement form
- Complete the Academic Awards and Honors form
Note: There is no submit button in the "Complete the Application" stage. To check the status of your application, log on to your Slate account and select 'Status' from the menu. Your application is complete when all sections are complete and both letters of recommendation have been uploaded to your account.
Acceptance notifications will be sent out February 22nd and trainees will have until March 3rd to respond on whether they would like to accept their offer. Please note all application reviews (1st and 2nd choice) are considered complete after this time.
Applications open November 16- January 13
2027 Program Dates
June 7 - August 13
FAQ
What is the application period?
Applications for summer 2027 will be collected from November 16, 2026-January 13, 2027. All appplication materials, including letters of reccomendation, are due by 11:59 pm CST on January 13, 2027. Incomplete applications will not be considered. We realize that letters of recommendation can be difficult to secure around the holidays so please carefully monitor the status of your letters, which will be submitted directly by your referees in the application portal, and prompt your referees as needed to ensure they are submitted before the deadline. Please ensure you are following all letter requirements listed above.
Who is eligible for the CATALYST programs?
We have over 21 unique programs geared towards trainees at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. Please refer to the individual program pages for the unique eligibility requirements for each program. If you have any questions related to the eligibility of a specific program, please reach out directly to the Program Director listed on the program page. High school students must be 18 or older come the start of the program (June 7, 2027) to be eligible for any CATALYST program due to institutional youth protection policies. Students who will be under the age of 18 at the start of the program are encouraged to explore the ONCORE Youth Programs.
International students: Please review the specific program webpage to confirm your eligibility, as requirements may vary by program. Programs that accept international students require participants to maintain a valid J-1, F-1, or H-1B visa status throughout the duration of the program.
Can I apply to more than one program?
You may rank up to two programs (if applicable) to be considered for. Please carefully review the eligibility criteria of any program(s) that you are interested in before applying. If you wish to only be considered for one program, you may rank the same program as your first and second choice. Please do not submit multiple applications as each applicant may only be considered for up to two programs. Duplicate applications will not be reviewed.
I have obligations to my school which may prevent me from starting on time or requiring me to depart the program early. What should I do?
Before applying, please reach out to your prospective Program Director as some programs do not provide flexibility and thus require their trainees to be present for the full 10 weeks. If your program does allow for exceptions, please note that your pay will be prorated to reflect days not worked. We are not able to accommodate requests to start earlier than June 7th or continue past August 13th to make up for lost time. Additionally, because the program is only 10 weeks in length, a start date more than two weeks after the official start date is not recommended.
I am still waiting to hear back from another program that I applied to, can I get an extension to respond to my MD Anderson offer?
Unfortunately, not as we are working with a tight timeline to process summer appointments. Applicants are encouraged to decide which program is more important. Please do not accept an offer from our program if you know you will accept another pending offer
Is it okay if I work part-time or take some classes during my summer internship?
We do not recommend for trainees to take concurrent courses or other employment in conjunction with the CATALYST summer training program. If you are considering taking summer courses, you must contact your respective Program Director before enrolling in summer school. The summer program is an intensive 10-week program and does not allow flexibility to attend classes.
My family takes a vacation every summer; will I be allowed to take this time off?
Time off is usually not allowed. Please consult the individual program for their attendance policy as soon as possible.
How many hours per week are students expected to work during the summer program?
Forty (40) hours per week, with a 1 hour for lunch. Students typically work 8am to 5pm. If accepted into the CATALYST summer program, we ask that you work with your respective Program Director and mentor to define your final working hours for the summer. Trainees will not receive overtime pay for working late or weekends and are free to work after business hours if permission is granted from the faculty mentor.
How much will I be paid and are benefits included?
All trainees will receive $18/hour. For a full-time 10 -week program, students will receive a $7,200 stipend, please note this amount is subject to federal and state deductions. The amount deducted in taxed depends on the designated allowances on the federal tax form completed by the student during the onboarding process. If you start the program late or depart early, compensation will be prorated based on the number of days worked. Paychecks are distributed biweekly. Please note, due to the program start date, you will not recieve your first paycheck until mid June.
Because this is a short-term internship, awardees of the UT MD Anderson CATALYST Summer Training are not benefits eligible. Summer students will not receive any type of health insurance (medical, dental, etc.), retirement benefits, life insurance, paid time off, or reimbursement for parking, transportation, or moving expenses.
Housing is not provided; the trainee is responsible for obtaining their own housing for the duration of the program. The CATALYST team and respective
program leaders will provide accepted students with various resources to identify housing options in and around the medical center.
Need Help?
To check the status of your application, please visit the application portal
For IT and SLATE assistance, please email the application system team.
For any general application questions, please email the CATALYST Team.
For any questions relating to a specific program, please reach out to the point of contact listed on the program's webpage.
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