About the Program
The Summer Scholars Research Program is a six week internship focused on exposing students to cancer research.
Ten to twelve students will work one-on-one with a Winship physician or lab-based researcher, conduct research in a working lab or clinic setting, attend field trips to places like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention David J. Sencer Museum and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and hear lectures from a variety of specialists in oncology-related careers. Through this exposure and education, we hope to encourage students to pursue cancer research.
All eligible students interested in cancer research are encouraged to apply. Thanks to a generous gift for the program from Mrs. Lou Glenn, a long-time advocate for science education and cancer research, we are able to offer stipends of $2,400 for accepted students who complete the six week program.
What to Expect
The program will run for six weeks from early June through mid-July, with a mandatory orientation day at the start. You will be working a typical schedule (e.g. 9am – 5pm) alongside your team at Winship to advance incredible cancer research. Students will present their final projects at a symposium on the last day of the program and are encouraged to invite their families and teachers to attend.
- Work one-on-one with a Winship researcher or clinician who will mentor them through a research project.
- Attend lectures given by Winship oncologists and research faculty to gain a better understanding of the breadth of cancer research
- Create life-long friendships with like-minded peers
- Present your research to Winship doctors, researchers, and graduate students
2023 Summer Scholars Research Program students included Sunney Gao, Olivia Hardman, Raymond Song, JiNeigh Grant, Kunsh Sharma, Jada Ennin, Peter Davis, Helen Kerr, Sadid Kabir, Tafara Nenguke, Anya Ellis and Erin Yoo.
Olivia Hardman, Sunney Gao and JiNeigh Grant attend a faculty research lecture.
Anya Ellis views cells under the microscope, with guidance from Yong Teng, PhD, and Fanghui Chen, PhD.
Vikas Gupta, MD, PhD, reviews Western blot results with Erin Yoo and JiNeigh Grant.
Program co-director Cynthia Giver, PhD, discusses her research with students as part of the faculty lecture series. These lectures, held throughout the six-week program, were also attended by 20 additional students via Zoom.
Jada Ennin works on a tissue culture experiment in the lab of David Frank, MD, PhD.
Students take notes during a faculty research lecture.
Wei Zhou, PhD, and Raymond Song go over experiment details in the lab.
Olivia Hardman asks a question during a faculty research presentation.
Students must be 17 years old by June 3, 2024 to be eligible for the program and should be rising or graduating high school seniors. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to the set age requirement due to regulations set by Emory Healthcare.
If you have any questions, please email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions below.
Application Process
Please watch for the 2024 cycle to open in October 2023. Applications for the 2024 cycle will be due in February 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are common questions we receive from applicants to the program:
- How do I begin the application?
You can access the Summer Scholars Research Program Application online. To begin an application, you will need to create an account. Make sure that you use an e-mail address that you check regularly. - How many recommendation letters can I submit?
Two letters from teachers are required, one of which must be from a STEM teacher (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and a maximum of three recommendation letters can be submitted. Additional letters will NOT be reviewed. - May I submit an unofficial transcript?
Yes, applicants may submit an unofficial transcript. - How will I know if my references submitted my recommendation letters?
To view the status of your recommendation letters, log on to the Summer Scholars Application and click the "Recommendations" tab. Under the "Status" column next to your reference's name, the status of the recommendation letter will be indicated. Please note that you will not be able to submit your application until both mandatory teacher recommendations are complete. - How will I know that my application was submitted?
Applications will be submitted automatically once all portions of the application have been completed. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of submission. - How do I resubmit if I need to update my application?
If you make updates to your application before the deadline, make sure to save your changes at the bottom of each page. You will receive an e-mail confirming resubmission. - When will I hear back about the status of my application?
You will be notified of your application status via e-mail in March 2024. If this changes, applicants will be notified via email. - If I am waitlisted, when will I find out if I have been accepted to the program?
Waitlisted applications will be notified of a change in their application status via e-mail. For more specific information regarding the notification date for the current year, please check the website for updates or contact us via email. - Are international students (outside of the U.S.A) eligible for the program?
Unfortunately, international students are not eligible at this time due to program logistics. - I am a current college student (freshman/sophomore etc.) with a strong interest in medicine/cancer research. Am I eligible to apply to the program?
No, only rising or graduating high school seniors, who are 17 years old by the program start date, are eligible to apply for the Winship Summer Scholars Program. - Can I still apply if I have an obligation (school/exams/etc.) that will prevent me from attending certain days or weeks of the program?
Students are generally expected to be at Winship full time Monday through Friday from 9:00AM – 5:00PM for the duration of the program. If you have a conflict that will prevent you from fulfilling this expectation, then you are not eligible to apply for the program.
Here you'll find answers to general questions regarding the Summer Scholars Research Program at Winship.
Program Directors
Cynthia R. Giver, PhD
- Associate Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology
- Emory University School of Medicine
Dr. Giver has extensive research experience in the area of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Nisha Joseph, MD
- Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology
- Emory University School of Medicine
A board certified hematologist, Dr. Joseph specializes in plasma cell disorders and bone marrow transplantation.