Forge Your Path in Research

Summer Scholars Program

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.

Scientific advancements and biomedical research benefit everyone. Therefore, we are committed to recruiting students from all communities to become the next generation of leaders in science and medicine.

Students must have a strong background and interest in one of the following fields: biology, biochemistry, microbiology, neuroscience, mathematics, behavioral health, public health or a related scientific field.

Prior formal research experience is not required. Program applicants seeking their first formal research internship will be prioritized over applicants who have completed other research internship programs.

Applicants:

  • Must be at least 18 years of age by the start of the program and eligible to work in the U.S.
  • Must be currently enrolled, or will be enrolled, in an undergraduate, community or technical college, and in good standing with your academic institution. Undergraduates graduating during or prior to the program start date are not eligible. Those in graduate school or medical school are not eligible to apply.
  • Must have excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, including attention to detail.
  • Must follow all procedures for maintaining confidentiality and protecting privacy of any data or information related to research projects and to Seattle Children’s business operations.
  • Must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Seattle Children's policies.

Applications for the 2025 program are closed. Please check back in October for program updates and guidelines for applicants.  

Program Components

  • Hands-on mentored research
    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 contemporary 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 presenting their research at the poster symposium in the program's final week.

Scholar Profiles and Research Abstracts

Program Reports, Scholar Profiles and Research Abstracts for summer 2023 and 2024 are available upon request

Questions?

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