Program Overview

Summer Program in Cancer Research

Undergraduate Research Focused on Cancer Genetics & Epigenetics

The Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis (EMC) along with partners in the Departments of Genetics and Pediatrics-Research, holds a 10-week, National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute-sponsored, Summer Program in Cancer Research (SPCR). This program provides an authentic research experience for outstanding undergraduate students considering careers in biomedical research.

Program Details

• Application Deadlines:
  • Applications Open: November 17, 2025
  • Application Deadline: January 14, 2026
  • Program Start Date: June 1, 2026
  • Program End Date: August 7, 2026
• The following information is required to apply:
  • Personal information
  • Résumé
  • Official transcript(s) from undergraduate university
  • Statement of research experience and area(s) of research interest
  • Two letters of recommendation

Eligibility

• Must have one of the following designations for the spring semester of the program year:
  • Undergraduate freshman
  • Undergraduate sophomore
  • Undergraduate junior
• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at a degree-granting institution within the United States, during the spring and fall semesters of the application year
• Must commit to the full 10-week program and not be involved in other summer employment, programs, or course work
• The following applicants are NOT eligible:
  • Undergraduate seniors (graduating in spring of the Program year)
  • High school students
  • Students who are taking a year off from school or who are in a gap year

Stipend, Housing, Expenses

• Students will receive up to $7,200 (pre-tax) in support over the 10-week training period
• Students are expected to pay for their expenses, including housing, using these funds
• 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

Mentor Match Process

• Students with interests in a specific scientific research project should include this information in the Personal Statement area of the application
• Although we make every attempt to match students with mentors in accordance with the students' declared interests, matches are based on faculty availability and preferred matches may not be feasible in all circumstances

Program Structure

• Students selected for the NIH/NCI R25-supported SPCR undertake hypothesis-driven, project-based investigations and attend a weekly lunch lecture series covering topics such as DNA structure and repair, epigenetics, stem cells, signal transduction, and apoptosis, and emerging analytical techniques
• Other program activities include social events designed to integrate summer interns into the research community, as well as tours of the MD Anderson Houston and Bastrop campuses
• The program culminates in the SPCR Scientific Symposium, during which interns present their research by describing their research hypotheses, approaches, and results

Research Areas

• Faculty's research strengths include:
  • Cancer genetics and epigenetics
  • Cell growth control, genome maintenance, and DNA repair
  • Stem cells
  • Immunology, cancer therapeutics, and computational and systems biology
• Faculty laboratories are located on both the North and South campuses of MD Anderson
• In both locations, students will have access to state-the-art resources and knowledgeable staff while performing cutting-edge cancer research