Science Enrichment Program

Michelle Opoku-Mensah, intern in the lab of Dr. Matthew Bott
Michelle Opoku-Mensah, intern in the lab of Dr. Matthew Bott

Program Overview

Founded in 2017, the Science and Engineering Program (SEP, previously known as the Science Enrichment Program) was designed to provide opportunities and intellectual space to selected 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.

Now after 9 years, SEP is expanding to more areas of research that support questions in cancer biology. SEP will now seek students interested in the following areas:

  • Cancer Biology / Human Oncology 
  • Engineering/ Optics/ Imaging/ Research Tools
  • Genetics & Epigenetics
  • Computer Science/ Computational Biology/ Genomics
  • Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry and Physics
  • Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology
  • Immunology/ Immuno-oncology
  • Pharmacology & Drug Development

During the months of April to August, SEP will provide students with an in-depth introduction to cancer biology, lab skills, and biomedical research training. From April to June SEP students will join in on Wednesdays during the afterschool hrs, and in the summer they will participate in an immersive eight-week internship in a research laboratory during the summer, where they receive one-on-one mentorship as they delve into a specific research topic.

SEP Partner Schools

To learn more about becoming a partner school, email [email protected]

SEP students will receive a total stipend of $4,200. SEP is sponsored by the Pinkerton Foundation, Illumina and Morgan Stanley and is a member of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium.

Program Curriculum

  • Didactic lectures on biomedical topics related to cancer, professional development, and laboratory skills during the school year
  • 3 day bootcamp to accelerate confidence in research skills
  • 8-week mentored research project* in a biomedical or computational lab-based internship during the summer, led by a day-to-day mentor
  • Pre-program and post program survey
  • Weekly lectures during the summer and community building events with other High School cohorts
  • 2 Poster Presentations

*Over the course of the internship, SEP students complete a self-directed project that provides value to their mentor and/or a principal investigator’s overall research objectives.

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

Nomination window: November 15, 2026 – December 15

Application window: December 16, 2027 – January 15

Online interviews: Early February

Decisions releases: February 10, 2027

After school lecture start: April 7, 2027

8 week summer part: June 29, 2027

Program ends: August 20, 2027

Eligibility Requirements

The Science and Engineering Program seeks high school students who are knowledgeable, self-motivated, and passionate about a career in biomedical research.

Additionally, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Junior in high school
  • Have completed full year of biology courses
  • Members of groups historically underrepresented in medicine and science (including but not limited to individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, women, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and persons with disabilities) are strongly encouraged to apply.

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
    • Including a short statement about what type of research would they like to pursue
  • School transcript: A copy of high school unofficial transcript
  • A one-page CV
  • Academic course schedule

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 length of the program onsite through the end of the last day. There are no exceptions. Furthermore, it is expected that the selected participants attend the full 8 weeks of the immersion lab project.

May I contact the faculty member of a particular project?

Applicants and/or their parent(s)/guardian(s) should NOT 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 therefore 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?

Accepted applicants are expected to confirm their participation in the program within three days of the notification. Failure to respond during that window will forfeit their 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 [email protected].

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. Housing and/or transportation are not provided. Accepted participants are responsible for all housing and transportation costs.

What are the dates and hours of the program?

Typically, the program runs from April to mid-August. During the academic year, April to June, there is a weekly mandatory in-person lecture. June to mid-August is a full-time internship. During this stage, 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?

For assistance, please contact Program Administration via email at [email protected]. 

Due to a high volume of inquiries, we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Communications regarding the program should be initiated by the participant or the individual submitting the nomination. Parents are encouraged to support applicants by allowing them to communicate directly with program leadership whenever possible.