Lurie Cancer Center Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
We invite undergraduate students interested in biomedical and health sciences to participate in leading-edge cancer research and career exploration at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Participants will spend 8 weeks working full-time (35-40 hours/week) under the mentorship of top cancer researchers in state-of-the-art laboratories and help advance novel research projects in cell and molecular biology, cancer immunology, metabolism, clinical investigation, developmental therapeutics, genomics, population science, health disparities, bioinformatics and other focus areas. Students will learn key principles of cancer biology and laboratory investigation, gain hands-on laboratory experience, explore possible career paths and receive career guidance through program seminars and activities, individual mentoring, and ongoing interactions with multidisciplinary researchers, students and colleagues in the Northwestern community.
The program aims to support committed, innovative future leaders in cancer research whose efforts will improve the lives of cancer patients, their families, and the larger community.
Eligibility and Qualifications
- Standing as a college freshman, sophomore, junior or senior student in September 2026
- Demonstrated interest in the biological/health sciences with a strong record of academic achievement
- Ability to commit to 8 full weeks of programming
- US Citizen or permanent resident
Program Information
Program Dates:
-
LYRIC program: 6/15/2026 – 8/7/2026
Full-time, on-campus laboratory research and program activities.
Final student presentations: August 6-7.
Stipend: Participants who complete the program will receive a taxable stipend of $6000.
Housing and transportation: Students are responsible for arranging their own housing and transportation to campus each day. Trainees may be assigned to laboratories on either the Chicago or Evanston campuses, which are connected by a free shuttle bus. The program is unable to provide student housing for the 2026 program.
Prospective Participant Program Info Session:
- Held virtually on December 16, 2025, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00p.m. (CST) via Zoom.
- Please register for the program info session: LYRIC info session
Admission
Admission to the program is highly selective and based upon interest in the program, personal qualifications, academic achievement, letters of recommendation and space available. Mentors are assigned based on interests stated in the application and mentor availability. Students may rank up to 3 areas of research on their application. **Placement with any preferred mentor, or in any specific research area, cannot be guaranteed.
Application Instructions:
- Complete the 2026 LCC summer research internship application
- Your completed application must be received by midnight on Monday, February 16, 2026. Early application is encouraged to ensure available space.
- Arrange for letters of recommendation from 2 individuals, including at least one teacher, to be submitted online no later than Monday, February 23, 2026. Note: Recommendation requests are sent to these individuals automatically when your applications are submitted, therefore please submit applications with sufficient time for recommenders to respond. Please be sure to enter the correct email addresses.
- Select applicants will be invited to interview via Zoom with potential mentors and program staff on an ongoing basis throughout March.
You will be asked to provide:
- Current school name and address
- Cumulative GPA
- Complete college transcripts (these don’t need to be official but must contain a complete record with your name and your school’s name clearly visible. Freshmen may also include high school transcripts)
- 2 letters of recommendation (at least one should be from a teacher)
- Responses to the following:
- Describe how your background and experiences have shaped your interest in participating in a summer cancer research internship. Examples might include academic or personal experiences, or an experience related to your background. (250 words)
- Describe a scientific research area that has sparked your interest in cancer research. (250 words)
- Please describe any past research experiences. This can include informal and formal experiences. (250 words)
- How do you envision this program supporting your academic and career plans? (250 words)
- What unique perspectives and strengths would you bring to a team environment? Is there anything else you would like us to know about you that is not part of your transcript or application? (250 words)
- Optional: 2-minute video about yourself and your interests
Application deadline: February 16, 2026 (Recommendations– February 23, 2026)
Zoom interviews: TBD
Final Notifications: March 27, 2026
Commitment deadline: April 10, 2026
Program dates: June 15 - August 7, 2026
Contact Us
LCCSummerPrograms@northwestern.edu
Lyric Program Director, Gina Kirsammer, PhD
Program Coordinator: Sara Duffey, MSW
Program Administrators: Yanxi Li, BA & Nuriyya Jafarova, BA