High School and College Undergraduates
High School Students
Yale Pathways to Science
Yale Pathways to Science connects local middle and high school students with hands-on STEM opportunities at Yale University. Over 1,900 Scholars are invited to campus year-round for lectures, lab tours, demonstrations, and special events. While the program is open to students in New Haven, West Haven, and Orange public schools, many events are open to all K–12 students.
For additional information, contact: yalepathways@yale.edu.
Discovery to Cure High School Internship Program
The Discovery to Cure Summer Internship Program exposes high quality students from both local and international high schools to Yale's laboratories and possibly open their minds to future career opportunities in medicine and biomedical research. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the program is 8 weeks long and is offered to motivated high school students following their junior year.
Cancer Research Discovery Program (CRDP)
The Cancer Research Discovery Program (CRDP), managed by Yale Cancer Center’s Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) Office, is a dynamic, half-day outreach program developed in partnership with local high schools and colleges. The program is designed to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals by providing meaningful exposure to careers in cancer research and clinical care.
CRDP features diverse speakers across the STEM field, a networking lunch, and interactive laboratory experiences. Participants connect with Yale medical and PhD students while exploring state-of-the-art facilities and gaining firsthand insight into cutting-edge cancer research.
The program is open to high school and college students and can be tailored to meet the needs and interests of different age groups.
Questions or want to learn more, contact us at CRTEC@yale.edu.
Future Deaf Scientist Program
Yale Cancer Center’s Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) has joined forces with Stanford University, Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Rochester (parent grant holder), and the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford to launch an inclusive, mentored research and education program for Deaf high school students.
This four-week program empowers students to envision themselves as future STEM leaders dedicated to advancing cancer research and addressing disparities in cancer care. Participants gain hands-on experience in laboratory activities, attend engaging lessons, shadow researchers in the lab, and connect with Deaf scientists and medical professionals from across the country.
Our goal is to inspire the next generation of Deaf students to pursue careers in cancer research and contribute to meaningful change in the fight against cancer.
Have questions or want to learn more? Contact us at crtec@yale.edu.
Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Each summer the Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program brings a group of qualified undergraduates to Yale for eight weeks. The experience is meant to familiarize students with the kind of work they can expect to do in graduate school, provide them with insight into the many steps involved in building a career based on PhD level training, as well as foster a sense of confidence regarding their own abilities and potential.
The focus of the program is primarily on research and on the methods of professional research. Students in the natural sciences learn advanced laboratory methods and conduct PhD level research in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Students in the humanities and social sciences work closely with mentors and have at their disposal the considerable archival resources found in the Yale University libraries.
CRTEC Compass for HS & College Students
CRTEC Compass is a monthly career-navigation series coordinated by CRTEC. The series is designed to support trainees as they explore career pathways and plan their next steps within cancer research and education. Led by Dr. Michaela Dinan, these interactive sessions provide a supportive space for trainees to ask questions, seek mentorship, and gain practical guidance. Whether participants are exploring career options, refining professional goals, or unsure where to begin, CRTEC Compass offers structured conversation and meaningful insight.
This is a standing monthly event, held on the third Wednesday of each month, and is open to all trainees, including external trainees. Participants will explore:
- Strategies for mapping potential next steps
- Career pathways within and beyond Yale Cancer Center
- Mentorship opportunities and available resources
For meeting details and calendar email CRTEC@yale.edu.
College Undergraduates
eCLOSE Undergraduate Bridge to Research
Undergraduate Bridge to Research is an intensive immersion into research, modeled on the format of a graduate school rotation. Participants (rising high school seniors through undergraduates) conduct a genetic screen to identify diet-derived or other ingestible compounds that affect driver mutations of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, neurodegeneration, and even viral infection and then develop fully independent projects to address key questions focused on the health disparities within their own families or communities. The program is comprised of 3 phases:
During Phase I: boot camp, students learn critical lab techniques, including using a balance, pipetting, dilutions, creating solutions needed for the experimental program, basic fly husbandry, connections of genotype and phenotype, and setting up the genetic screen described above.
In Phase II: Independent research, students build independent projects using a series of menus to hone their interests into feasible, fundable new projects. Techniques span fly behavior, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology, all of which have been adapted to be used in an at-home environment. The goal of Phase II is for students to find their "science soul" and establish research interests that will be lasting throughout their careers.
In Phase III: Students present the results of their work in short oral presentations. Even if you do not send students this year, please plan to participate in the presentation day on August 11! It's mind blowing every year.
eCLOSE Undergraduate Bridge is conducted using a virtual hybrid format. Students receive fully equipped research stations in the mail, set up research labs in their homes or dorms, and gain instruction and support from eCLOSE experts via Zoom. To date, over 75% of eCLOSE UG Bridge participants have moved on to paid fellowships in research labs, with one student so far matriculating in a Ph.D. program at Thomas Jefferson University. There are no restrictions for participation- we welcome all demographics, cultures, and ideas, with the goal of mixing different perspectives and experiences to create completely novel and synergistic research projects. If your university is interested in sponsoring students, we are more than happy to talk funding. So far, two universities have committed to sponsoring, which is fantastic and helps us ensure support for anyone who needs it. We are also happy to support efforts to attain local funding and have successfully helped multiple institutions acquire funding to support their students' participation. Whatever it takes to get kids research experiences, we are all in!
Yale VIBES (Virtual Internship in Biomedical Science)
A paid, virtual academic-year internship for undergraduate students seeking additional biomedical research experience. Especially designed for students from non–research-intensive institutions and those interested in pursuing graduate school. Open to domestic and international students currently attending a U.S. university.
Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2026
Learn More
Learn more on the Rachel Perry Lab website or contact Rachel.Perry@Yale.Edu (Assistant Director, CRTEC)
American Cancer Society (ACS) Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training (CICRT) Internship for College Undergraduates
The Yale Cancer Center hosts the ACS CICRT Internship, a 10-week summer program designed to inspire the next generation of leaders in cancer research.