Summer Program in Cancer Research (SPCR) at the MD Anderson Cancer Center

Opportunity Description:

The Summer Program in Cancer Research (SPCR) is funded by the National Cancer Institute and hosted by the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The research strengths of the department include: cancer genetics and epigenetics; cell growth control, genome maintenance and DNA repair; stem cells; immunology, cancer therapeutics, and computational and systems biology. Department 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.

For 10 weeks during the summer, students selected for the 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 student 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 will present their research by describing their research hypotheses, approaches and results. It is not uncommon for students to make significant research contributions and to earn co-authorship on scientific abstracts and manuscripts. SPCR students will receive a stipend of $6,000 for the 10-week program. The 2022 program dates are June 6, 2022 through August 12, 2022.

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• 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 located within the United States, during the spring semester and fall semester of the application year.
• Must commit to the full 10-week program, and not be involved in other summer employment, programs or course work; must not plan to return to school prior to the end of the summer program; and must not plan to take any personal vacation or make other commitments during the summer program.
• Summer program awardees are strictly prohibited from partial, early or late program participation.  Please consult with your school or P.I. to ensure that there is no conflict in schedule before you apply to this program.

The following applicants are NOT eligible:

• Undergraduate seniors (graduating in spring of the Program year).
• High school students. 
• Students attending universities or colleges outside of the United States.
• Foreign nationals holding visas.
• Students who are taking a year off from school or who are in a gap year. 

Application Process: 

The following information will be required on the application:

• Personal information, including contact information and mailing address
• Transcripts from high school and undergraduate universities
• Personal Statement
• Two letters of reference with contact information (At least one reference should come from a science or math instructor. The other may be from an advisor, counselor, or health care advisor/mentor with whom you worked in a prior program during the past four years.)
• Please note that incomplete applications will be purged after the application deadline has passed.

Applications for the Summer 2022 program have closed. We anticipate that the program will begin to accept applications for the Summer 2023 program in November 2022.