The CDU/UCLA Undergraduate Cancer Research Training Program (UCRTP) is a 10 week summer research internship designed for outstanding underrepresented undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in basic, clinical, or community-based science. Hosted by Charles R. Drew University's Center for Cancer Innovation and Translation, in collaboration with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, this individualized 10-week program is developed for each undergraduate participant, who will be paired to work with a faculty researcher and associates at CDU or UCLA laboratories on a selected cancer research project. UCRTP's goal is to ensure that each undergraduate student acquires the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to pursue a career in cancer research.
Upon completion of the program, each undergraduate trainee will have worked on a hypothesis-driven research project in cancer and have developed a research paper (based on the findings of the ancillary project). Students will also have the opportunity to present their findings before a regional or national conference and benefit from seminar series' focused on translational cancer health research.
We strongly encourage eligible students interested in a career in cancer research and public/community health to apply!
Objectives
- Participate in an innovative cancer research project
- Build research skills through mentored and directed hands-on research activities
- Participate in lectures and seminars held at Charles R. Drew University (CDU) and collaborating institutions
- Develop a seminar during our Cancer Journal Club and your progress at lab meetings
- Prepare a professional research paper and research poster to present your project findings at our end-of-summer research symposium
- Learn about cancer research from a multidisciplinary persepctive which contains topics on community, social determinants of health, and more
Program Duration
The Undergraduate Summer Internship Program is a 10 week program aimed with a start and end date of Monday, June 15th, 2026 to Friday, August 21st, 2026
Eligibility
- Underrepresented students in STEM are encouraged to apply
- Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with an interest in any STEM discipline
- Pursuing a career in biomedical-related sciences with interest in community-health
- Applicants must be in good academic standing with at least a 3.0 overall GPA
- Applicants must be full-time students and cannot be enrolled in summer courses concurrent with the internship
- Applicants must have a reliable form of transportation to travel to assigned campus and/or the main campus (CDU) on the weekly basis
- Basic lab experience is highly preferred
- No prior research experience required
Please Note
- Students obtaining their bachelor's degree before or during the summer program are ineligible to apply.
- Housing is not provided by the program or it's affiliated insitutions (CDU and UCLA), and therefore the responsibility of the applicant.
Stipend
Students accepted into the program will receive a stipend for their participation.
Housing
CDU and UCLA do not provide housing and/or meal plans. Students will need to secure their own housing accommodations and confirm a local address prior to program start.
Transportation
Students accepted into the program will be expected to have reliable transportation to CDU and/or UCLA.
Commitment
The research program will be equivalent to a full time job ~ (40hr/week). Students must commit approximately 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship. The internship program will run for 10 weeks from June 13th to August 21st, 2026.
This program is funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS), Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training Internship grant.
CDU/UCLA Undergraduate Cancer Research Training Program - Summer 2026
The CDU/UCLA Undergraduate Cancer Research Training Program (UCRTP) is a 10 week summer research internship designed for outstanding underrepresented undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in basic, clinical, or community-based science. Hosted by Charles R. Drew University's Center for Cancer Innovation and Translation, in collaboration with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, this individualized 10-week program is developed for each undergraduate participant, who will be paired to work with a faculty researcher and associates at CDU or UCLA laboratories on a selected cancer research project. UCRTP's goal is to ensure that each undergraduate student acquires the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to pursue a career in cancer research.
Upon completion of the program, each undergraduate trainee will have worked on a hypothesis-driven research project in cancer and have developed a research paper (based on the findings of the ancillary project). Students will also have the opportunity to present their findings before a regional or national conference and benefit from seminar series' focused on translational cancer health research.
We strongly encourage eligible students interested in a career in cancer research and public/community health to apply!
Objectives
- Participate in an innovative cancer research project
- Build research skills through mentored and directed hands-on research activities
- Participate in lectures and seminars held at Charles R. Drew University (CDU) and collaborating institutions
- Develop a seminar during our Cancer Journal Club and your progress at lab meetings
- Prepare a professional research paper and research poster to present your project findings at our end-of-summer research symposium
- Learn about cancer research from a multidisciplinary persepctive which contains topics on community, social determinants of health, and more
Program Duration
The Undergraduate Summer Internship Program is a 10 week program aimed with a start and end date of Monday, June 15th, 2026 to Friday, August 21st, 2026
Eligibility
- Underrepresented students in STEM are encouraged to apply
- Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with an interest in any STEM discipline
- Pursuing a career in biomedical-related sciences with interest in community-health
- Applicants must be in good academic standing with at least a 3.0 overall GPA
- Applicants must be full-time students and cannot be enrolled in summer courses concurrent with the internship
- Applicants must have a reliable form of transportation to travel to assigned campus and/or the main campus (CDU) on the weekly basis
- Basic lab experience is highly preferred
- No prior research experience required
Please Note
- Students obtaining their bachelor's degree before or during the summer program are ineligible to apply.
- Housing is not provided by the program or it's affiliated insitutions (CDU and UCLA), and therefore the responsibility of the applicant.
Stipend
Students accepted into the program will receive a stipend for their participation.
Housing
CDU and UCLA do not provide housing and/or meal plans. Students will need to secure their own housing accommodations and confirm a local address prior to program start.
Transportation
Students accepted into the program will be expected to have reliable transportation to CDU and/or UCLA.
Commitment
The research program will be equivalent to a full time job ~ (40hr/week). Students must commit approximately 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship. The internship program will run for 10 weeks from June 13th to August 21st, 2026.
This program is funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS), Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training Internship grant.