Michelle Opoku-Mensah, intern in the lab of Dr. Matthew Bott
Program Overview
Founded in 2017, the Science Enrichment Program (SEP) is a ten-month program designed to provide opportunities and intellectual space to selected underrepresented high school students who are science curious and passionate about cancer research. SEP partners with specific New York City schools and can only consider nominations from teachers at partner schools.
SEP Partner Schools
- Brooklyn Latin School
- Cathedral High School
- The High School for Health Professions and Human Services
- Lincoln High School
- Uncommon Collegiate Charter High School
Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers provide students with an in-depth introduction to cancer biology, lab skills, and clinical research training after school beginning in November. Students also participate in an intensive eight-week internship during the summer, where they receive one-on-one mentorship as they delve into a specific cancer research topic.
Science Enrichment Program students will receive a total stipend of $4,200. SEP is sponsored by the Pinkerton Foundation and is a member of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium.
Program Curriculum
- Didactic cancer biology, professional development, and laboratory skills during the school year
- 8-week mentored research projects during the summer
- Pre-program quiz, midterm, and final and post-program quizzes
November-June
- Cancer Biology
- Clinical / Transformational Research
- Lab Skills
- Computational Sciences
- Professional Development
July-August
- Mentored Research Project
- Poster Presentation
Each participant in the Science Enrichment Program is assigned to an eight-week biomedical or computational lab-based internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Students are paired with a mentor who supervises their activities and helps them develop appropriate skills. Over the course of the internship, students complete a self-directed project that provides value to their mentor and/or a principal investigator’s overall research objectives.
Areas of Research
- Cancer biology
- Cell & Molecular & Developmental Biology
- Chemistry/Chemical biology
- Computer Science/ Computational Biology/ Genomics
- Engineering/ Optics/ Imaging/ Research Tools
- Immunology/ Immuno-oncology
- Pharmacology & Drug Development
- Structural Biology
Programmatic Deadlines
- June 30: Partner Schools nominate participants for the next year
- September 1: Applications Due
- September 30: Acceptance Notification
- November 15: Start Date
- August 26: End Date
Eligibility Requirements
The Science Enrichment Program seeks high school students who are knowledgeable, self-motivated, and passionate about science.
Additionally, students must meet the following criteria:
- Interested in STEM careers
- Junior in high school
- Have completed full year of biology courses
- Self-identify as underrepresented in the U.S. biomedical sciences and fields, as defined by the Notice of NIH’s interest in diversity
Application Process
Successful SEP applicants typically demonstrate strong academic achievement and leadership skills and are interested in biomedical sciences and translational cancer research. All applications must be submitted electronically.
The following materials must be submitted for an application to be reviewed:
- School nomination: Students must be nominated by their SEP Partner School to apply
- SEP application form, including short essay responses
- School transcript: A copy of high school unofficial transcript
- Academic course schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Science Enrichment Program?
Please see the above section on Eligibility Requirements. We cannot accept applications from individuals without a nomination from a partner school
May I participate in the program for a shorter time?
Participants are required to complete the full ten months of the program onsite through the end of the last day. There are no exceptions.
May I contact the faculty member of a particular project?
Applicants and/or their parent(s)/guardian(s) are not permitted to contact individual faculty members during the application process. Violating this policy will automatically disqualify the applicant from consideration.
Can my research project be used for competition in national science contests?
The research conducted at MSK is the lab’s Principal Investigator’s intellectual property so a student intern must get permission from the lab head before submitting to an external outlet such as a school project or science fair. If the data that is being collected is under an MSK Institutional Review Board Protocol, the intern will need to be added to that protocol.
Competition Submission
As noted above, submissions to competitions based on MSK research are contingent on agreement with the lab PI.
How many students are accepted to this program?
The program enrolls 12 interns per year.
If I am accepted, how long will I have to confirm that I will participate in the Science Enrichment Program?
After you are accepted, you are expected to confirm your participation in the program within three days of the notification. If you don’t, you will forfeit your spot in the program.
Can I mail in my application?
No. All parts of the application (including recommendation letters) must be submitted through our online application system. If you have issues uploading your application, email your documentation to OSETHSPROGRAMS@mskcc.org.
Where are you located? Do you provide housing and/or transportation?
All student research will be conducted on the Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. We do not provide housing and/or transportation. Should you be accepted into the program, you are responsible for all housing and transportation costs.
What are the dates and hours of the program?
Typically, the program runs from November to mid-August. During the academic year, November to June, there is a weekly in-person cancer biology and research course. June to mid-August is a full-time internship, so students are expected to commit to 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Students’ hours vary depending on the mentor’s schedule but usually are either 9AM-5PM or 10AM-6PM.
Whom should I contact if my parent or teacher has further questions?
Please contact Program Administration by e-mail at OSETHSPROGRAMS@mskcc.org or by calling 646-888-2013. Please note that we prefer responding via e-mail due to the high volume of requests.