- Programs
- CPRIT CURE Summer Undergraduate Program
- CPRTP Summer Research Experience
- DACCPM Summer Research Program
- DISCOVER Program
- High School Summer Program
- ITERT Summer Program
- Medical Student Program in Radiation Oncology
- Med Students SOAR Program
- Neuro-Oncology Clinical Research Summer Program
- Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine
- Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research Summer Program
- STRONGER Scholar Summer Research Experience
- Summer Imaging Research Program
- Summer Program in Cancer Research
- Therapeutics Discovery and Development Internship Program
- University Outreach Summer Programs
- UPWARDS Summer Program
CATALYST Summer Research Programs
CATALYST Summer Training Programs includes multiple tracks that are catered to specific times in students' educational journey. Take a look at the different programs we have available based on your current status.
CATALYST Summer Training Programs includes multiple tracks that are catered to specific times in students' educational journey. Take a look at the different programs we have available based on your current status.
What am I eligible for?
Pre-Application Guide
Summer Program Tracks
Programs Overview
Read a quick summary of the different programs that are available through our CATALYST Summer Training Programs below.
High School Programs
DACCPM - Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine Summer Research Program. The DACCPM Summer Program is an intensive 10 week internship for high school students (ages 18 and older by the first day of the program), college students, and medical students who have completed their MS1 year. The Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine offers research trainees the opportunity to learn critical research skills in both the laboratory and clinical environment at MD Anderson. Students interested in pursuing careers in scientific research and medicine will benefit greatly from the experience. The department provides a broad range of challenging basic science and clinical research projects, and students are matched with a mentor from the division’s research or clinical faculty.
High School Summer Program - The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation for the High School Student Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences. Students selected for the program are given a rare opportunity to participate in a research project in one of the biomedical disciplines under the guidance of a full-time member of the MD Anderson faculty. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the basic principles that form the foundation for scientific investigation. Current senior students in a Texas public, private, charter, or home high school that have an interest in Allied Health and must be 18 or older by the first day of the program to be eligible to participate.
PCCSM - Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine. PCCSM Summer Program participation is by nomination only from our area partners. Motivated students with strong interest in biomedical disciplines are recommended by partners from Houston-area high schools and universities, including HISD (EMERGE), CRJ College Prep School of Houston, UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School, Univ. of Houston, Univ. of Houston-Downtown, Univ. of St. Thomas, Prairie View A&M University, Howard University, Univ. of MD Baltimore County, and the Posse Foundation (Houston). A committee of MD Anderson faculty select the final participants, including: 1) high school students, 2) undergraduate students, and 3) first-year medical students. The program offers hands-on research in any of the MD Anderson work areas, as long as the faculty mentors are available for the summer. Trainees must be 18 or older by the first day of the program to be eligible to participate.
UPWARDS Summer Program. The MD Anderson Cancer Center UPWARDS research training initiative was created to offer hands-on, laboratory-based research experience so as to encourage underserved students to enter into STEM based academic and professional careers.We provide summer programs designed for underserved high school and undergraduate students, with the objective of fostering greater enthusiasm for biomedical graduate programs and the cancer research workforce. This 10-week research training program provides hands-on laboratory research training from distinguished faculty mentors representing various disciplines throughout the institution. Trainees will spend approximately 85% of their time engaged in a research project as decided upon with their mentor. The remaining 15% of their time will be devoted to academic and professional development programming. Trainees will present their research projects at the end of summer at the CATALYST poster symposium. To help generate a greater interest in STEM amongt younger generations, UPWARDS trainees will participate in one outreach event during the summer. Eligible trainees must be 1. an incoming high school senior (18 or older by the start of the program) or a current undergraduate student (rising sophomores-rising seniors) 2. Applicants should identify as underserved which includes, but is not limited to, educationally disadvantaged, economically disadvantaged, with disabilities, and/or a first generation college student.
Undergraduate Programs
CPRTP - Cancer Prevention Research Training Program. The CTRTP Summer Research Experience is funded by a grant award from the National Cancer Institute-NCI (R25 CA056452, Dr. Shine Chang, Principal Investigator). Our program awards paid summer internships to undergraduate, graduate, and health professional students interested in cancer prevention research. Our unique program is the oldest academic fellowship program at MD Anderson. We provide a curriculum of mentored research by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) faculty, educational and career development activities, and additional funding support to present summer research findings and conferences. Students conduct research using emerging science and cutting-edge technologies, interact with faculty and other summer interns, explore the possibility of a career in science, and engage in a robust curriculum of seminars in cancer prevention, career development, and scientific communication.
CPRIT CURE Summer Program. The CPRIT CURE Undergraduate Research Program was designed for outstanding young scientists interested in an academic and/or professional career in cancer research. Open to rising sophomores to rising fifth year undergraduate seniors, this 10-week research training program provides hands-on laboratory research training from distinguished faculty mentors representing various disciplines throughout the institution. Trainees will spend approximately 85% of their time engaged in a research project as decided upon with their mentor. The remaining 15% of their time will be devoted to academic and professional development programming. All trainees will present their research projects at the end of summer CATALYST poster symposium.
DACCPM - Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine Summer Research Program. The DACCPM Summer Program is an intensive 10 week internship for high school students (ages 18 and older by the first day of the program), college students, and medical students who have completed their MS1 year. The Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine offers research trainees the opportunity to learn critical research skills in both the laboratory and clinical environment at MD Anderson. Students interested in pursuing careers in scientific research and medicine will benefit greatly from the experience.The department provides a broad range of challenging basic science and clinical research projects, and students are matched with a mentor from the division’s research or clinical faculty.
DISCOVER - Driving Innovation in SCience through Opportunities for Veterinary Engagement in Research. The DISCOVER Program is a 10-week summer biomedical research and clinical shadowing fellowship in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (DVMS) at MD Anderson Cancer Center. DISCOVER provides opportunities for pre-veterinary undergraduates and veterinary medical students to engage in biomedical research and explore career paths in comparative medicine and pathology while under the guidance of a faculty mentor in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment. Eligibility: The DISCOVER Program is designed for veterinary medical students in their first or second years of veterinary school as well as undergraduates at any level. Limited positions are available and veterinary medical students are given first priority. Pre-veterinary undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to apply for all summer undergraduate research programs for which they are eligible on the CATALYST site.
ITERT (Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training Core) - STEP (STEM Training & Education Program). The goal of ITERT-STEP is to train highly talented undergraduate students towards advanced careers in biomedical oncology research, specifically, translational molecular pathology. The primary focus is hands-on laboratory research for 10 weeks with world-class faculty within a cross-section of the academic pipeline continuum at ITERT. Our efforts in this context are geared towards fostering an interest in the scientific method, developing research skills and assisting students identify career choices through defined skills programming, awareness workshops and individual development plans during- and post-program support through our extended ITERT Mentoring Network. Program Eligibility: Applicants 18 years of age or older by the first day of the program, currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in the United States, in good academic standing and with an interest in pursuing biomedical science careers
PCCSM - Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine. PCCSM Summer Program participation is by nomination only from our area partners. Motivated students with strong interest in biomedical disciplines are recommended by partners from Houston-area high schools and universities, including HISD (EMERGE), CRJ College Prep School of Houston, UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School, Univ. of Houston, Univ. of Houston-Downtown, Univ. of St. Thomas, Prairie View A&M University, Howard University, Univ. of MD Baltimore County, and the Posse Foundation (Houston). A committee of MD Anderson faculty select the final participants, including: 1) high school students (must be 18 years old by the first day of the program), 2) undergraduate students, and 3) first-year medical students. The program offers hands-on research in any of the MD Anderson work areas, as long as the faculty mentors are available for the summer.
SIRP - Summer Imaging Research Program. The Summer Imaging Research Program (SIRP) offers experience in imaging clinical research, including one or all modalities such as CT, MRI, US, and PET/CT. Students will learn the basics of research while simultaneously learning how to navigate EPIC; students will engage in data collection and data review. Our program is open to students within their first or second year of medical school or students in their final three years of undergrad.
SPCR - Summer Program in Cancer Research. The goal of the SPCR is to provide talented undergraduate students with a research project-based laboratory experience and exposure to the different disciplines working to address the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer with an emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms. The overall Program objective is to promote careers in cancer research and clinical oncology, which is in line with the NCI mission to attract and train the best minds to become the next generation of cancer researchers. This goal will be accomplished through a formalized 10-week summer program in which students will undertake an individualized research project supervised by a faculty mentor. This program is open to all current undergraduate students.
TDD Platforms- Therapeutics Discovery & Development. The TDD-Division sponsored program is designed to introduce prospective students to one-of-a-kind opportunity to work in a biotech-like environment where cross-functional research aims to discover and develop novel therapeutic agents that benefit patients. Students will capitalize on the synergy between industry and academia by working on projects that bridge these two domains. Students will be exposed to a fast- paced work environment, as well as a variety of opportunities to work in matrix and with scientists from various disciplines and backgrounds. The graduate track is only open to those participating in the Texas A&M educational agreement with TDD.
University Outreach. The University Outreach Summer Program is a 10 week long hands on research experience opportunity for students selected from one of our partnering institutions-Augustana, Nova Southeastern, University of Notre Dame, and UT Rio Grande Valley. Eligible students must be currently enrolled at one of the aforementioned institutions.
UPWARDS Summer Program. The MD Anderson Cancer Center UPWARDS research training initiative was created to offer hands-on, laboratory-based research experience so as to encourage underserved students to enter into STEM based academic and professional careers.We provide summer programs designed for underserved high school and undergraduate students, with the objective of fostering greater enthusiasm for biomedical graduate programs and the cancer research workforce. This 10-week research training program provides hands-on laboratory research training from distinguished faculty mentors representing various disciplines throughout the institution. Trainees will spend approximately 85% of their time engaged in a research project as decided upon with their mentor. The remaining 15% of their time will be devoted to academic and professional development programming. Trainees will present their research projects at the end of summer at the CATALYST poster symposium. To help generate a greater interest in STEM amongt younger generations, UPWARDS trainees will participate in one outreach event during the summer. Eligible trainees must be 1. an incoming high school senior ( 18 or older by the start of the program) or a current undergraduate student (rising sophomores-rising seniors) 2. Applicants should identify as underserved which includes, but is not limited to, educationally disadvantaged, economically disadvantaged, with disabilities, and/or a first generation college student.
U54 Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) System. The Partnership Summer Research Program offers undergraduate, graduate, and medical trainees from the University of Puerto Rico System an opportunity to explore biomedical research as it relates to cancer, to gain firsthand experiences and mentorship in basic, clinical or translational research alongside world-renowned faculty, as well as to attend targeted institutional lectures and seminars.
Graduate Programs
CPRTP - Cancer Prevention Research Training Program. The CTRTP Summer Research Experience is funded by a grant award from the National Cancer Institute-NCI (R25 CA056452, Dr. Shine Chang, Principal Investigator). Our program awards paid summer internships to undergraduate, graduate, and health professional students interested in cancer prevention research. Our unique program is the oldest academic fellowship program at MD Anderson. We provide a curriculum of mentored research by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) faculty, educational and career development activities, and additional funding support to present summer research findings and conferences. Students conduct research using emerging science and cutting-edge technologies, interact with faculty and other summer interns, explore the possibility of a career in science, and engage in a robust curriculum of seminars in cancer prevention, career development, and scientific communication.
TDD Platforms- Therapeutics Discovery & Development. The TDD-Division sponsored program is designed to introduce prospective students to one-of-a-kind opportunity to work in a biotech-like environment where cross-functional research aims to discover and develop novel therapeutic agents that benefit patients. Students will capitalize on the synergy between industry and academia by working on projects that bridge these two domains. Students will be exposed to a fast- paced work environment, as well as a variety of opportunities to work in matrix and with scientists from various disciplines and backgrounds. The graduate track is only open to those participating in the Texas A&M educational agreement with TDD.
U54 Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) System. The Partnership Summer Research Program offers undergraduate, graduate, and medical trainees from the University of Puerto Rico System an opportunity to explore biomedical research as it relates to cancer, to gain firsthand experiences and mentorship in basic, clinical or translational research alongside world-renowned faculty, as well as to attend targeted institutional lectures and seminars.
Medical Student Programs
CPRTP - Cancer Prevention Research Training Program. The CTRTP Summer Research Experience is funded by a grant award from the National Cancer Institute-NCI (R25 CA056452, Dr. Shine Chang, Principal Investigator). Our program awards paid summer internships to undergraduate, graduate, and health professional students interested in cancer prevention research. Our unique program is the oldest academic fellowship program at MD Anderson. We provide a curriculum of mentored research by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) faculty, educational and career development activities, and additional funding support to present summer research findings and conferences. Students conduct research using emerging science and cutting-edge technologies, interact with faculty and other summer interns, explore the possibility of a career in science, and engage in a robust curriculum of seminars in cancer prevention, career development, and scientific communication.
DACCPM - Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine Summer Research Program. The DACCPM Summer Program is an intensive 6–12 week internship for high school students (ages 18 and older), college students, and medical students who have completed their MS1 year. The Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine offers research trainees the opportunity to learn critical research skills in both the laboratory and clinical environment at MD Anderson. Students interested in pursuing careers in scientific research and medicine will benefit greatly from the experience.The department provides a broad range of challenging basic science and clinical research projects, and students are matched with a mentor from the division’s research or clinical faculty.
DISCOVER - Driving Innovation in SCience through Opportunities for Veterinary Engagement in Research. The DISCOVER Program is a 10-week summer biomedical research and clinical shadowing fellowship in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (DVMS) at MD Anderson Cancer Center. DISCOVER provides opportunities for pre-veterinary undergraduates and veterinary medical students to engage in biomedical research and explore career paths in comparative medicine and pathology while under the guidance of a faculty mentor in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment. Eligibility: The DISCOVER Program is designed for veterinary medical students in their first or second years of veterinary school as well as undergraduates at any level. Limited positions are available and veterinary medical students are given first priority. Pre-veterinary undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to apply for all summer undergraduate research programs for which they are eligible on the CATALYST site.
Medical Student in Radiation Oncology. This summer research opportunity is a 10-week program that offers hands-on experience in radiation oncology research. Possible research experiences span a wide spectrum, including but not limited to laboratory-based scientific studies, large dataset analyses and review of patient clinical or imaging data. Students completing the first year of medical school are eligible to apply.
PCCSM - Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine. PCCSM Summer Program participation is by nomination only from our area partners. Motivated students with strong interest in biomedical disciplines are recommended by partners from Houston-area high schools and universities, including HISD (EMERGE), CRJ College Prep School of Houston, UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School, Univ. of Houston, Univ. of Houston-Downtown, Univ. of St. Thomas, Prairie View A&M University, Howard University, Univ. of MD Baltimore County, and the Posse Foundation (Houston). A committee of MD Anderson faculty select the final participants, including: 1) high school students, 2) undergraduate students, and 3) first-year medical students. The program offers hands-on research in any of the MD Anderson work areas, as long as the faculty mentors are available for the summer.
SIRP - Summer Imaging Research Program. The Summer Imaging Research Program (SIRP) offers experience in imaging clinical research, including one or all modalities such as CT, MRI, US, and PET/CT. Students will learn the basics of research while simultaneously learning how to navigate EPIC; students will engage in data collection and data review. Our program is open to students within their first or second year of medical school or students in their final three years of undergrad.
SOAR - Medical Students Summer in Oncology at Anderson Research. This NCI-funded program supports the participation of 25 first-year medical students in a rigorous hands-on research experience, intended to promote broader physician participation in all aspects of cancer research. Under the mentorship of our renowned faculty, students will develop technical and laboratory skills through individualized research projects and learn about delivering research-driven multidisciplinary oncology care through lectures, workshops, clinical observations and simulation trainings. This program aims to promote and support the long-term pursuit of careers in basic, translational and clinical cancer research.
STRONGER - The Supporting Tobacco-Related Ongoing Education and Research. STRONGER is a 10-week summer education and research experience designed for current medical students and those planning to attend medical school in the upcoming fall semester. The STRONGER Scholar Program will enhance trainees’ knowledge and skills in addressing patients’ tobacco use and dependency, develop or hone their abilities to conduct translational tobacco-related research through a mentored research project, and expand their knowledge of contributors to tobacco-related health inequities. We are particularly interested in working with trainees from groups underrepresented in the sciences or who are planning for a career providing care to patients from groups that experience tobacco-related health inequities.
U54 Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) System. The Partnership Summer Research Program offers undergraduate, graduate, and medical trainees from the University of Puerto Rico System an opportunity to explore biomedical research as it relates to cancer, to gain firsthand experiences and mentorship in basic, clinical or translational research alongside world-renowned faculty, as well as to attend targeted institutional lectures and seminars.
Our Labs
Learn more about our faculty and research taking place in our labs.
Conferences
View conferences available for continuing education credit.