Summer Scholars Research Program

Ten to twelve students are each paired one-on-one with a Winship physician or lab-based researcher to conduct hands-on research in an active laboratory. In addition, students take part in field trips to locations such as Michael C. Carlos Museum and Emory Proton Therapy Center, engage in roundtable discussions with cancer survivors, and attend faculty-led lectures on cancer biology and career paths in oncology. Through these experiences, we aim to inspire students to pursue careers in cancer research.

All eligible students with an interest in cancer research are encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from students of all backgrounds, including those attending Title I high schools, prospective first-generation college students, and individuals from groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

Thanks to a generous gift from Mrs. Lou Glenn, a long-time advocate for science education and cancer research, we are able to offer stipends of $2,400 to accepted students who complete the six-week program.

The program will run for six weeks from June 8, 2026, through July 17, 2026, with a mandatory orientation day at the start of the program. You will be working a typical schedule (e.g. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) alongside your team at Winship to advance cancer research. You will be expected to be on site 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.

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 investigator 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

To be eligible for the program, students must be at least 16 years old by June 8, 2026, and must be rising or graduating high school seniors. Applicants for the in-person program must be U.S. citizens or have U.S. Permanent Resident status. There will be no exceptions to these eligibility requirements for the in-person program. Other students please refer to the virtual-only option below.

We're now accepting applications for the 2026 cycle. Applications including letters of recommendation are due by February 6, 2026. 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.

New Virtual-only Option

New for Summer 2026, students may apply for a virtual-only option. This option includes:

• Live access to the virtual lecture series, including 10–12 sessions, each lasting approximately 1.5 hours.
• Lectures are held between 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Mondays, Wednesdays and occasional Fridays during the six-week program. The lectures are not recorded or offered at any other times.
• Lecture topics cover cancer biology, clinical and laboratory research methods, and oncology careers.
• A Certificate of Attendance will be provided to students who attend at least 70% of the sessions
• To be eligible for the virtual-only option, students must be at least 16 years old by June 8, 2026, and must be rising or graduating high school seniors. Applicants for this option are not required to be U.S. citizens or have U.S. Permanent Resident status.
• The application for the virtual-only track is the same as for the in-person program, including required essays and recommendation letters.
• There is no stipend offered for the virtual-only track.

This flexible option is ideal for students who are unable to participate in person but still wish to engage with the program’s educational content.

Students who apply for the in-person program, but are not selected, will automatically be eligible for the virtual-only track.

Please note, the program directors are not able to facilitate lab rotations or research experiences for students not accepted into the in-person program.

Here are common questions we receive from applicants to the program:

• 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.
• Can I resubmit if I want to update my application?
  Do not submit the application until it is fully complete, including the letters of recommendation. Once the application has been submitted, you will not be able to make any updates. You may save your application as you work on completion of the required fields. However, once you click submit, the application cannot be updated. Please make sure ALL fields are in final form before clicking on the submit button.
• When will I hear back about the status of my application?
  You will be notified of your application status via e-mail by the first week of April. 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.
• Can students outside the state of Georgia apply for this program?
  Applicants can be from anywhere in the United States. Please note, however, that we do not offer on-campus housing. Off-campus care and housing for students under 18 are the responsibility of the parent and/or local guardian.
• Are international students eligible for the in-person program?
  Applicants for the in-person program must be U.S. citizens or have U.S. Permanent Resident status. International students outside the U.S. and those in the U.S. under visa status are not eligible to apply. However, applicants for the virtual-only option are not required to be U.S. citizens or have U.S. Permanent Resident status.
• 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 16 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 in the in-person program are expected to be at Winship full time Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 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 in-person program. Please consider whether the virtual-only option will fit your schedule.