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Forge Your Path in Research

Summer Scholars Program

In partnership with the Center for Diversity and Health Equity, the Science Education Department is excited to offer the Summer Scholars Program (SSSP).

The Summer Scholars Program provides undergraduate students with a paid summer internship opportunity to engage in basic, clinical, community-based or translational research projects at Seattle Children’s Research Institute under the mentorship of experienced researchers and principal investigators.

This program is for students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the biomedical and health sciences, including those listed below. Students from these groups are highly encouraged to apply.

Program Components

  • Hands-on mentored research at a leading research institution
    Summer scholars do authentic research as part of Seattle Children’s research teams, meet with mentors, and gain valuable research experience. Over the course of the nine-week program, scholars spend 35 hours per week performing mentored research on a project they selected during the application process.
  • Curriculum to strengthen research knowledge and skills, consider research pathways, and explore cultural issues in research
    Five hours per week is allocated to completing the core curriculum. The curriculum is intended to support scholars in learning the principles of responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR), to provide professional development that helps them discover or clarify their short- and long-term career goals, and to provide opportunities for networking and community building.
  • Publish and present research
    The program culminates with each scholar publishing an abstract of their research project and presents their research at the poster symposium in the program's final week.

How to Become a Summer Scholar

Those interested in applying to the program should start here to review eligibility criteria, expectations  and available supports. Applications for Summer 2025 will be open from December 17, 2024, through January 15, 2025.

Review guidelines for applicants now

How the Summer Scholars Program Is Meeting Its Objective

Every year, scholars complete a post-program survey which is analyzed to gauge program impact and to inform program improvements. Download our annual report:

Scholar Profiles and Research Abstracts

A Summer of Research and Discovery

In 2023, the Summer Scholars Program welcomed 49 new students. Over nine weeks, the Summer Scholars assisted with 44 lab and clinical research projects involving 39 principal investigators at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

Read about each of the 2023 Summer Scholars and the research abstracts.

More Than a Paycheck: Seattle Children’s Summer Scholars Program Provides Path to Science Careers

As part of Seattle Children’s work to inspire and develop the next generation of talent in research and medicine, meet some of the members of the 2023 Summer Scholars Program.

The Next Generation of Researchers: SCRI Summer Scholars Program Provides Path to Science Careers

In the 2023, 49 college students worked side by side with scientists they might join as peers one day, showing that a summer job can not only help pay for expenses, it can cultivate a career.

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the Summer Scholars Program team.

Seattle Children’s complies with applicable federal and other civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people or treat them differently based on race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin (ancestry), age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Washington, Alaska, Montana or Idaho.