Memorial Sloan Kettering and Weill Cornell Medicine are pleased to invite applications for the 2020 Engineering Summer Program (ESP). ESP is designed to bring together undergraduate rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in engineering and biomedicine for a summer research experience in labs at MSK or Weill Cornell. Applicants must have a background in engineering, physical sciences, computational, or related fields.
The 10-week program begins on June 1 and ends on August 7, 2020.
Students who are accepted to ESP will:
- Adapt their engineering skills to address biomedically-focused research questions in cutting-edge laboratories
- Interact with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students
- Attend weekly luncheon/seminar series of presentations by faculty
- Attend professional development workshops
- Present a poster on their work at the end of the program
Students will receive a stipend of $6,000 for the summer. Housing is available.
Areas of Research
Students will partner with faculty who have expressed a strong interest in working with students with engineering skill sets. The faculty listed below are conducting research in diverse areas of biomedical sciences and welcome the added expertise provided by undergraduates from engineering backgrounds. Information about their scientific projects can be found by visiting their respective web pages:
- Elena Kaye (medical imaging, image-guided interventions)
- Jan Grimm (nanotechnology, molecular imaging)
- Michelle Bradbury (nanotechnology, molecular imaging)
- John Humm (molecular imaging instrumentation and probes)
- David Scheinberg (nanotechnology, drug delivery)
- Kayvan Keshari (molecular imaging, bioengineering and electrical engineering)
- Milind Rajadhyaksha (optics and imaging)
- Daniel Heller (nanotechnology, drug delivery, imaging probes)
- Thomas Reiner (molecular imaging, nanotechnology)
- Michael McDevitt (nanotechnology, drug delivery)
- Jason Lewis (molecular imaging, radiochemistry, nanotechnology)
- Alexandros Pertsinidis (optical microscopy)
- Richard White (cancer research tools)
- Travis Hollmann (pathology, microscopy instrumentation and probes)
- Alex Kentsis (nanoscale chromatography, mass spectrometry)
- Emre Aksay (neural integration and plasticity)
- David Christini (cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia therapy; optogenetics)
- Moonsoo Jin (cancer immunotherapy and nanotechnology)
- Rebecca Jones (functional MRI, wearable devices and eye tracking)
- Conor Liston (neuronal circuit mechanisms; optogenetics)
- Frederick Maxfield (optical microscopy and biophysical techniques to study the properties of living cells)
- Suzanna Maher (design of joint restoration scaffolds/implants)
- Kristen Pleil (neuronal circuit characterization using microscopy, electrophysiology, and in optogenetics)
- Nicholas Schiff (recovery of consciousness following brain injuries)
- Robert Schwartz (stem cell models of human liver disease)
- Stephen Solomon (minimally invasive image-guided cancer treatments)
- Yi Wang (MRI for cardiovascular, cancer & neurological diseases)
How to apply:
ESP seeks current domestic undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are majoring in engineering, physical sciences, computational, or related fields. We strongly encourage students from disadvantaged and underprivileged backgrounds to apply.
Students can complete and submit the online application here starting November 1, 2019. The application portal will remain open until February 2, 2020.
Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the US.
Application considerations:
- Completed college-level engineering, physical sciences, or computer sciences courses
- Have an interest in the application of engineering to biological problems in the laboratory/clinic
- Have some hands-on experience with engineering/computational or laboratory work
- Two letters of recommendation: These letters should be written by faculty members or employers who are familiar with the applicant’s credentials, especially with respect to any engineering practice, laboratory, or related work experience
- In addition to the application form and an admissions essay, applicants should submit an official transcript from their college or university. Transcripts can be emailed from your school’s registrar to oset@mskcc.org or mailed to:
Office of Scientific Education and Training
c/o Romina Rodriguez
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
ZRC 6th floor (Office # 677)
New York, NY 10065
** Applicants will receive notification of a decision no later than March 15, 2020.
