High School Summer Research Experience in Cancer (SURE-CAN) Program

Program dates:

June 26 - August 8, 2025

Application dates:

December 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025

Kick-start your science career at Roswell Park

Roswell Park is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Upstate New York. As a free-standing cancer center, we offer a unique internship experience for high school students in the region through our Summer Research Experience in Cancer (SURE-CAN) Program. The SURE-CAN program leverages the expertise and innovative research programs of our faculty and benefits from state-of-the-art technologies at our cancer center.

As an intern in our SURE-CAN program, you will experience an immersive 6-week curriculum comprised of lectures, group discussions and hands-on ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ lab research.
You will be introduced to the fundamentals of cancer sciences including cancer biology, imaging, genomics and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) methods.
You will be exposed to basic statistics, research ethics and rigor-reproducibility in cancer research.
You will learn how mathematics, physics, and engineering are integrated with biology in cancer research and allow us to accelerate discoveries and improve outcomes in cancer patients.
The core research experience will be complemented by seminars and professional development activities including methods of scientific communication and discussions on careers in cancer sciences.

The SURE-CAN program internship will culminate in a research symposium where the interns will make formal scientific poster presentations of their research rationale, goals, and findings.

This six-week program will allow you to get a sneak peek into all the career opportunities in the health sciences including cancer research, engineering, information technology, medical imaging, and research administration.

Why choose a research experience at Roswell Park?

A male high school student smiles at the camera in a lab as part of the High School Summer Research Program

Hands-on lab experience

A female high school student writes notes on a board in a Roswell Park lab

Classroom instruction

Poster presentation

High school summer research program flyer and information

All high school juniors enrolled in school in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus or Chautauqua county are encouraged to apply!

Ready to get started?

Review the eligibility criteria below, then read through the Frequently Asked Questions. If it sounds like a good fit, get your application in by January 31, 2025. We’ll let you know by early April if you’ve been accepted.

You must meet all of the following criteria at the time of application:

Enrolled in junior year (graduating class of 2026) of high school, or maintain junior year status as per credit hours.
This is exclusively a program for high school students who are local residents of Western New York. Students must be resident (permanent address) of, and enrollment in school districts in, the following counties in Western New York: Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua. This is a commuter-based only program, there are no exceptions. Enrollment and residency will be verified.
U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident
15 years of age or older at the start of the program on June 26, 2025
All participants in Roswell Park's experiential research programs will be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).
Scan or copy of most recent report card (all pages).

There are no application fees.

Limited funding is available to support subsistence allowances for a select number of applicants to the summer program. These subsistence allowances are awarded based on the qualifications of applicants and eligibility criteria required by our outside funding sources.

The High School Summer Research Experience is scheduled to begin on June 26, 2025, after the Physics and Chemistry Regents Exam. Scheduling conflicts are not anticipated this year.

How to apply

Step 1 - Prepare your personal statement that answers the following questions (limit to 300 words):

What are your educational goals and how do you think this program can help you get there?
How have prior opportunities in science (or lack of access to such opportunities) impacted your path into science?
What would you want your mentor to know about you (personal, work-wise, or anything else you want to share)?

Step 2 - Review available mentored research experiences above.

It is highly recommended you print or reference this list when ranking your choice of mentor in the online application.

Step 3 - Download the Parental Consent form.

Download and have your parent or guardian complete and sign the form. This will be uploaded as part of the application.

Step 4 - Complete the online application by January 31, 2025.

Apply here