Don’t miss January application deadlines for summer cancer research programs at the University of Illinois Cancer Center for high school, undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students. Specific details are listed for each program below, as well as links to application tutorial videos. We also invite you to watch a series of videos to hear from past students about their experiences in the programs.


High School Students

CHESS – Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars
  • Who can apply: High school students completing their sophomore, junior, or senior years from backgrounds underrepresented in science and healthcare.
  • Apply by: January 20, 2025 
  • Program dates: June 16 – August 8
  • Program description: The Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS) program is an eight-week summer program that trains and mentors underrepresented minority high school students interested in careers focusing on cancer research and other health professions. CHESS is a collaboration between the University of Illinois Cancer Center and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Urban Health Program. Students will receive a $3,000 stipend for completing the program. 

Video featuring 2024 CHESS students.
Video featuring 2023 CHESS students.

ResearcHStart Program
  • Who can apply: High school students completing their junior or senior year 
  • Apply by: January 20, 2025
  • Program dates: June 18 – August 8
  • Program description: The ResearcHStart program is a collaborative training program between the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Cancer Center, Rush University, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Students gain hands-on research experience, working in a UIC faculty lab on an independent project. At the end of the summer, students present their work during the Cancer Center’s student research symposium. Students will also attend workshops, lectures, and other activities focused on building research, professional and academic skills.
Video featuring 2024 ResearcHStart students.

Undergraduates and Postbaccalaureates

UI DICR – University of Illinois Diversity in Cancer Research
  • Who can apply: College students (at the time of application must be a freshmen, sophomore or junior) interested in careers in research and healthcare who are underrepresented in the biomedical workforce.   
  • Apply by: January 26, 2025  
  • Program dates: June 9 – August 15
  • Program description: Students conduct their own cancer research project under the mentorship of a University of Illinois Cancer Center faculty researcher with a focus on healthcare disparities. Students participate in skill-building workshops, research symposiums and social functions. Participating students can expect to commit up to 40 hours per week and will receive a $5,000 stipend.
Video featuring 2024 UI DICR students.
Video featuring 2023 UI DICR students.

ChicagoCHEC – Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative Fellows Program
  • Who can apply: Undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students at Northeastern Illinois University, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Northwestern University, the City Colleges of Chicago, and other Community or Junior Colleges in the Chicago metropolitan area who are planning to apply to graduate or medical school.
  • Apply by: February 5
  • Program dates: June 9 – August 1
  • Program description: This program is focused on the development of academic, technical and professional skills in preparation for careers in social, behavioral and biomedical research and in healthcare. ChicagoCHEC Fellows will spend the summer in seminars, workshops and research lectures learning from leading researchers, including at the University of Illinois Cancer Center, which is part of UI Health, the academic health system at UIC.
Video featuring more information about the ChicagoCHEC Fellows prorgam.
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