Undergraduate Programs in Cancer Research

Summer Research Programs

  • Basser Summer Scholars
    This eight-week internship will consist of exposure to research in the following areas related to cancer genetics:
    • DNA damage repair basic science research
    • Ovarian cancer research
    • Clinically oriented cancer genetics and genomics research.
      Students will have the opportunity to meet with a diverse group of faculty and staff members to gain exposure to various career paths in basic science and clinical/translational medicine. The internship will culminate in a presentation by each intern on a topic of their choice.
  • Department of Radiation Oncology SUPERS Program
    The primary goal of the program is to provide talented and motivated undergraduates with a individualized science-based learning curriculum. The core component of the program is a hypothesis-driven laboratory research experience. Students are paired with faculty mentors from the Departments of Radiation Oncology (Biology and Physics), Radiology (Imaging) or faculty who are members of the Radiobiology and Imaging Program of the ACC (Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacology, etc.). This large pool of mentors allows the program to place each student into a research laboratory based on their academic major and general research interests. In addition to their research projects, students participate in a didactic course that provides them with a foundation in cancer biology, radiation biology, radiation physics and math, and cancer imaging.
  • Biological Graduate Studies Summer Undergraduate Internship Program
    The Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) is designed to provide an immersive research experience to students interested in graduate study in the biomedical sciences. Interns complete 10 weeks of full-time laboratory research, attend research seminars on current topics, and give scientific presentations to their peers and mentors. Interns also receive training in responsible conduct of research, laboratory safety and presentation skills. Additionally, interns are invited to attend career counseling sessions in which faculty and program administrators discuss graduate school and career opportunities for biomedical scientists.
  • Gastroenterology Undergraduate Student Scholars Program
    The Division of Gastroenterology offers the Undergraduate Student Scholars Program (USSP), which consists of summer lectures and presentations, combined with basic research experience in the laboratory of an expert investigator. This program is open to students from the University of Pennsylvania as well as outside of the university, and the curriculum is designed specifically for undergraduate students with an interest in biomedical research, with the eventual goal of MD, PhD, or MD-PhD degrees. Applications from women and members of underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged.
  • Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) Undergraduate Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP)
    This 10-week summer research experience includes substantial mentorship in clinical and translational approaches to understanding a disease and developing effective therapeutic modalities. The mentored summer research experience includes a didactic curriculum with research seminars, professional skills development workshops, student presentations, career panels, and social engagements. Students receive one-one-on advising from their mentor(s) and ITMAT Ed Leadership. Students are expected to work 40 hours per week in their mentors' research lab and participate in the entire program experience.
  • Short Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER) summer undergraduate research program
    The Center of Excellence in Experimental Toxicology oversees the Short Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER) summer undergraduate research program for students interested in the intersection between environmental health sciences and cancer.

Penn Access Summer Scholars at the ACC

ACC-PASS

The ACC has partnered with the American Cancer Society to offer undergraduate students an 8 to10-week cancer-related summer research experience.

  • 30 hour/week research experience in the laboratory of an ACC member
  • weekly enrichment activities geared toward career development and creating a physician identity
  • individualized mentoring
  • project presentation opportunities
  • additional activities with summer undergraduates in the Perelman School of Medicine and with students at all levels supported by the American Cancer Society

Penn Access Summer Scholars (PASS) and Johnson Scholars Program
The PASS program provides two summers of research (8 weeks each summer) for students enrolled at Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Howard University, Morehouse College, Oakwood University, Spelman College, and Xavier University. The outcome of this program is to prepare students to matriculate in medical school. For students interested in matriculating at the Perelman School of Medicine, there is a linkage program for eligible students.

HOW TO APPLY:
The application cycle for summer 2025 is closed.

QUESTIONS:
To learn more about the program, please contact:
Cauleen Noel
Administrative Director
ACC Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC).

Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PennPREP) at the ACC

The ACC has partnered with the American Cancer Society to support post-baccalaureate scholars who are enrolled in the highly structured Penn Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PennPREP) and aspiring toward academic careers in cancer research as a PhD or MD-PhD scientist. As one of four affiliate programs of the PennPREP program, the ACC coordinates additional programming for PennPREP fellows selected for cancer research so that they may engage with ACC faculty and students across all levels and network with peer post-baccalaureate fellows at the American Cancer Society annual meeting.

Learn More

Please visit PennPREP to learn more about the program including eligibility and the application process. All questions for PennPREP may be directed to ideal_research@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. To indicate your interest in cancer research in your PennPREP application, select Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group from the list and enter Abramson Cancer Center as your affiliated program of interest.