Advancing Cornell Career Experiences for Science Students (ACCESS)
The ACCESS Summer Internship Program at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences will run an in-person program from June 2nd to August 1st, 2025. Any changes to the program’s format will be communicated to our applicants via email.
The program is designed for undergraduate students to enhance their understanding of modern biology and medical research. Interns gain hands-on experience in a biomedical research laboratory and are encouraged to apply to PhD programs. Selected students are placed in laboratories at the Weill Cornell Medicine or the Sloan Kettering Institute under the mentorship of experienced faculty members.
In addition to the laboratory experience students attend lectures and discussions aimed at enhancing their understanding of the current status of biomedical research, the pathways available for entering research careers, and the range of available career opportunities. Students also participate in weekly journal clubs, attend workshops that teach them how to prepare for interviews and seminars, and take part in social activities.
ACCESS Summer Cohort 2023, WCGS Summer Graduate Assistants, and Office of Student Diversity team at LANS 2023
Program Details
Program Details
The ACCESS program strives to be inclusive and identify PhD-bound undergraduate students with a broad range of lived experiences needed to advance scientific discovery. These lived experiences include those who are first generation in college or graduate school, those with socioeconomic disadvantage, those with lived or chosen experiences that generate a keen orientation to the needs of marginalized individuals and underserved communities, persons with disabilities, persons from under-resourced educational backgrounds, and who have overcome significant hardship in pursuit of higher education. All candidates who believe their lived experiences meet this description are encouraged to apply.
Duration - The program will be 9 weeks during the summer and is scheduled to begin on June 2nd to August 1st, 2025. At the end of the program, a celebratory award ceremony is held in which students give poster and oral presentations on their research.
Location - Weill Cornell Medicine is located in the heart of New York City, one of the world's foremost capitals of science, campus culture, arts, and business. Situated in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, overlooking the East River, WCGS enjoys one of the loveliest residential neighborhoods in the city. Within walking distance are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, The Museum of Modern Art, The Frick Collection, The Asia Society, The Hispanic Society, and a plethora of art galleries.
Housing and Stipend - Each student participating in the regularly planned on-campus program receives a generous stipend of $6,000 and up to $500 for travel expenses. On-campus housing is provided free of charge to those who are not from the New York City area. If the program is run virtually, the stipend and duration of the program may be reduced.
ACCESS 2022 Community Building Activity in the Upper East Side in New York City
Curriculum
Laboratory Experience - Selected students are placed in laboratories at Weill Cornell Medicine or the Sloan Kettering Institute under the supervision of an experienced faculty member. They will have the choice of performing research in one of these eight disciplines: Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology, Biophysics, & Systems Biology, and Computational Biology and Medicine.
Journal Club - Students will learn to analyze and discuss scientific journal articles by participating in weekly journal clubs.
Seminar Series - Students attend lectures and discussions aimed at enhancing their understanding of the current status of biomedical research, the pathways available to enter a research career, the range of career opportunities available, and the requirements for admission to graduate school.
ACCESS 2023 Research Seminar Series
Presentations - At the end of the program students give an oral presentation during the Leadership Alliance National Symposium and present a poster during our end of summer Closing Ceremony.
The Leadership Alliance - Weill Cornell School of Medicine is part of The Leadership Alliance, a consortium of universities from around the U.S. that is invested in fostering the intellectual and professional growth of students at different levels of their career. ACCESS students present their summer research to the Leadership Alliance community at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium that occurs in late July.
Professional Development - Students attend these sessions geared towards applying to a PhD, attending a conference, next steps after graduation, networking tips, stereotype threat, just to name a few.
Community building activities - ACCESS students have the opportunity to experience New York city by attending different community building activities organized by the program's graduate assistants.
ACCESS students at LANS2023
Eligibility
Applicant Eligibility:
- Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in an accredited public or private college or university in the United States or its territories, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Have completed at least two semesters and have at least one semester remaining of their undergraduate education by the start of the summer program.
- Demonstrate a committed interest to pursue graduate study toward a PhD. The ACCESS program is not designed for students pursuing professional training for careers in clinical medicine.
- Be a documented U.S. citizen or permanent resident in possession of an alien registration receipt card (I-551) or other legal document of such status at the time of application. International citizens studying in the United States with an F-1 Visa are not eligible.
- Applicants must have individual medical insurance for the duration of the program.
How to Apply
Please complete all sections of the application:
- Statement of Purpose - In this section, please indicate why you would like to participate in this summer research program, discuss your previous research experiences and also indicate your short- and long-term career goals. Please keep your essay to 1000 words. See SREIP instructions for detailed information
- Transcript/Academic Record - Upload an unofficial transcript(s) to the Leadership Alliance SREIP portal. Transcripts for every college or university you have attended must be submitted.
- Letters of Recommendation - Please enter contact information for 2 recommendersto be sent via the SREIP portal. It is recommended, though not required, to have letters of recommendation from: 1) A research faculty member from a lab you have worked in or who is familiar with your research potential. 2) A letter of recommendation from a science faculty instructor or research program director commenting on your motivation and potential for scientific research
- Education and Experience - In this section, please utilize the most up to date version of your resume in this section to highlight your most significant experiences with a few descriptive paragraphs. You will have the opportinity to provide upto 5 research experiences and 5 relevant experiences (work/extracurricular activities). See SREIP instructions for more details.
To apply:
The ACCESS Summer Program Application is closed. Please stay tuned for updates on the next cycle, which will be announced here.
Contact Us
Fernando Arzu
Senior Administrative Specialist
fea4002@med.cornell.edu
Other Summer Research Opportunities at Weill Cornell
Other Summer Research Opportunities at Weill Cornell
The ACCESS program is not designed for students pursuing professional training for careers in clinical medicine. The Travelers and Gateways Programs provide summer research opportunities for students interested in a medical degree or MD/PhD dual degree.
The Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program for Premedical Students
Contact: Dr. Joy Howell, Assistant Dean of Diversity and Student Life
Weill Cornell Medicine
http://weill.cornell.edu/education/programs/tra_sum_res.html
Gateways to the Laboratory Program
Contact: Dr. Catharine Boothroyd, Program Director
Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program