Who is eligible to be an Engage Scholar?

The MSK Engage Program is open to current juniors enrolled in a NYC based college or university; and who: 

• Are strongly committed to apply to a PhD in biomedical fields.
• Self-identify as underrepresented in the U.S. biomedical sciences and fields, as defined by the Notice of NIH’s interest in diversity.
• Are US citizens or legal permanent residents. (We welcome applicants with DACA status but note that many DACA holders have experienced significant wait times to renew their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and we would need to work together with a long lead time.) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center cannot sponsor visas for the MSK Engage program.  

Do I need lab experience to be accepted into the program?

Lab experience is not required, but ideally prospective Engage Scholars will have had some laboratory exposure through science lab coursework at least.

I am an undergraduate in my last year in college (senior). Can I apply?

Only students who are currently enrolled in an accredited college institution based in NYC, within commuting distance of MSK, and who are in their junior year are eligible to apply for MSK Engage.

I am a junior undergraduate in an institution outside NYC. Can I apply to Engage?

Only students who are currently enrolled in an accredited college institution based in NYC, within commuting distance of MSK, and who are in their junior year are eligible to apply for MSK Engage. Housing will not be available for Engage Scholars, therefore accepted applicants will need to be a commutable distance away from the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

If I am interested in an MD-PhD or an MD can I apply to Engage?

MSK Engage is intended for students committed to applying to PhD programs only.

How do I apply?

Students who are currently enrolled in an accredited college institution based in NYC and who are in their junior year are eligible to apply at https://sam.mskcc.org. The application opens in early November and closes on February 1^st every year. There is no fee to apply for the MSK Engage program. 

What is required for the application?

• Candidate’s personal statement (no more than 2 pages, single spaced) answering the following prompts:
  • How has your background, experience, and academic journey prepared you for a career in science or shaped your aspirations to pursue a scientific career?
  • What do you expect to get from the MSK Engage program and from the research experience at MSK?
  • How would MSK Engage fit into your career journey?
• Candidate’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume (3 pages maximum), listing anything else considered important for a judgment of abilities such as articles, thesis, books, other published materials, patented inventions, academic honors, prizes, awards, scholarships and leadership activities, etc. Information about previous work experience could also be included in the CV/resume.
• Unofficial transcripts must be submitted with the application. Upon acceptance, the candidate’s official transcript from each college or university(s) that the applicant has attended will be required. For every college or university listed in the CV, an unofficial transcript will be required. If there are discrepancies between the official and unofficial transcripts, the program will rescind acceptance.
• Two letters of recommendation enumerating the applicant’s credentials related to laboratory research or relevant work experience, and their potential to be successful as a PhD student. 

If I am applying to another MSK Summer program, can I still be considered for Engage?

In order to be considered for the MSK Engage program, students interested in the Engage program have to submit an application to Engage at https://sam.mskcc.org.

I am interested in applying to Engage, how will my recommenders submit their letters?

Once the applicant enters the recommender(s) information in their application, the recommender(s) will receive a notification from the application portal to submit a recommendation letter.

Can I change my recommender(s) after I have submitted my application?

Applicants can change a recommender in their application form, only if they have not formally submitted their application. After the application has been submitted, the applicant cannot make any changes. If an existing recommender needs to be changed, please email us at [email protected] with the new name and email of the new person, and also the applicant needs to notify the original recommender that they no longer are required to submit a letter. In order for the new recommender to receive a notification, the new name and email will have to be manually entered by our team.

Can I include more than two letters of recommendation?

Once the system receives two letters for any applicant, the application will be considered complete and will be moved into the review process.

Who ensures that the two letters of recommendation are received?

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the program receives the letters of recommendation by the deadline. If the recommender is having issues uploading the letter, please have them email the letters in PDF format directly to the Engage Leadership at [email protected].

Is there a deadline to receive the letters of recommendation?

In order for an application to be considered as complete, all letters of recommendation must be received by the program’s deadline for that year, usually in early February.

After I submit my application, can I make changes to it?

No, changes cannot be made to an application that was submitted. If you have any issues or questions, email us at [email protected].

When can I expect to hear about the status of my application?

A decision letter will be sent via e-mail in early April.

Where is the MSK Engage program located?

The MSK Engage program will take place in person in the research buildings of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side of New York City.

Is MSK Engage program a paid program?

Yes. MSK Engage Scholars will receive the following:

• Summer stipend (10 weeks): $6,500
• One year of part-time internship (up to 12 hours/week), up to $7,500. (Student must be enrolled in their last year in college during this part time year). 
• Gap year as a research technician (after graduating college): $50,000 plus health benefits

Is housing provided?

No, housing is not provided for Engage Scholars.

Does the MSK Engage program cover relocation expenses?

No, relocation expenses for Engage Scholars are not provided.

Can I attend only the summer part of the MSK Engage program?

The MSK Engage program is intended to be a 26-month commitment to a lab, starting with 10 weeks in the summer when the student is a rising senior in a NYC based college/ university. While circumstances may arise that may necessitate an early departure, MSK Engage Scholars are expected to commit to the 26-months to the program. Engage Scholars may be dismissed for poor performance or if their academic standing does not allow timely graduation. A third year in the same lab may be possible but will be up to the discretion and funding availability of the Lab’s principal investigator.

Which courses do MSK Engage Scholars typically take?

In the 2nd (last) year of the program, MSK Engage Scholars will take coursework aimed at expanding scientific proficiencies and strengthening interpersonal skills. In addition, Engage Scholars will receive individualized guidance toward PhD applications and interview preparation.

Summer as a rising senior:

• During the first week of June, after a mandatory orientation together with other summer interns, Engage Scholars will participate in four daily foundational cancer biology lectures as well as a bootcamp in lab basics lead by colleagues at RockEdu. For the rest of the summer, Engage Scholars will join the programming in place for other MSK summer interns, including a variety of professional development, poster sessions, and educational lectures. Scholars will also take required lab safety training (Responsible Conduct of Research, Biosafety and Fire Safety, Radiation Safety, Animal use and care, and C-14 laboratory certification).

Part-time during the senior academic year:

• Fall: Engage Scholars will be invited to participate in a scientific skills-building workshop in one of the following topics: proteomics, animal models of cancer, imaging handling & analysis, and various computational biology courses. 
• Winter & Spring: Scholars will be invited to the lectures offered under the HOPP Res-TeP program.

Full time postbaccalaureate year as a lab technician:

• July: Upon completion of their undergraduate degree, Engage Scholars who meet the eligibility criteria will transition into a full gap year in the same lab and will join the MSK’s Bridge Postbac Program. Scholars will meet once a week to participate in journal club, as well as professional development coursework on communication, networking, presenting at conferences, conflict resolution, and grantsmanship. (*Note: Continuation into the gap year part of the program is contingent upon maintenance of good standing in undergraduate institution and successful graduation.)
• Fall/Winter: Engage Scholars will participate in a skill building class, a 6-part class on the Fundamentals of Cancer Biology (modeled after the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School Cancer Biology Core Course); and they will also be invited to attend an intensive three-day virtual event in September, Demystifying the Graduate School Application Process, as well as other application submission and interview prep workshops.
• Individualized mentoring will be provided related to personal statements, other graduate school application materials and interview preparation.

Further coursework will be at the Scholar’s discretion.

How are Engage Scholars matched to a lab?

Once an applicant is accepted into the MSK Engage program, the program leadership will match the accepted Scholar with a potential principal investigator (PI) from among those listed on the program website. The matching will be determined based on applicant’s qualifications and research interests that align with the PI’s. All Engage-specific PIs have pledged a commitment to hosting and providing mentoring to Engage Scholars to build a strong foundation in biomedical wet-lab and/or computational research. Information about the scientific focus of participating labs can be found by visiting their respective web pages as noted above in the program faculty webpages. MSK Engage program leadership will take an active role in working with each accepted applicant to find a scientific home.

Does participating in the MSK Engage program guarantee admission into one of the MSK graduate schools?

Participation in the MSK Engage program does not guarantee admission into MSK’s graduate programs. Engage Scholars will need to apply to program(s) during their second year in the MSK Engage program (usually with early December deadlines). However, during the program, Scholars will have ample opportunities to interact with deans, directors, faculty, and those on admissions committees, which may improve their chances of admission into the graduate program(s).

What kind of support and advising can a MSK Engage Scholar expect to receive?

Scholars will receive extensive individual academic and professional guidance. This will include individual monthly meetings with their PI; oversight by a day-to-day mentor (postdoc, senior grad student and/or other lab member), and quarterly meetings with the Office of Scientific Education & Training (OSET) team and MSK Engage program’s leadership.