Fellowships Skip to main content
Simmons Center for Cancer Research

Fellowships

The BYU Simmons Center for Cancer Research (SCCR) is dedicated to training undergraduate and graduate students in experimental oncology in an effort to make a significant contribution to finding a cure for cancer. Each year the center sponsors numerous cancer research fellows. These students are given the opportunity to perform full-time cancer research during spring and summer terms at BYU or abroad, and for a few, year-round.

Selection for fellowship opportunities is competitive, and those chosen receive a generous stipend in order to allow them to give full attention to their research during their fellowship. Funding varies accordingly to location and duration of fellowship.

While not all students will receive a fellowship award, SCCR faculty members are welcoming to undergraduate and graduate student researchers in their labs. Please see our faculty page to read about our mentors, their research, and ways to contact them.

On-campus PhD, Graduate, and Undergraduate Fellowship Programs

  • Location:
    Brigham Young University, Provo, Ut.

    Time Frame:
    Spring/Summer terms (up to 16 weeks). Approximately April 28, 2025 -August 15, 2025.

    Qualifications:
    All BYU undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis based on their merits by a committee of Simmons Center faculty. Fellows are then selected by the Simmons Center Executive Board. Students should already be participating in a BYU lab working with a mentor.

    Description:
    On-campus fellows gain valuable mentored experience as they work in BYU research labs full-time over spring and summer terms. The fellowship sharpens their focus on future careers in cancer research, strengthens their applications to graduate and health professional schools, and advances their training in pursuit of careers.

    Fellow Expectations:

    • Fellows receive up to $10,000 for 16 weeks of full-time research during spring/summer terms. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job. Students will be hired on contracts or hourly and are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. We encourage fellows to not take classes during their fellowship.
    • If awarded the year-round fellowship, mentors will receive an additional $500 supply stipend to their research account.
    • Attendance at weekly seminars during Spring/Summer is mandatory.
    • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
    • The SCCR staff may host tours of your lab. During a tour, fellows should be willing to meet with guests touring the facility and describe the work they are doing.
    • Each fall the SCCR hosts an appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to attend and prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
    • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation to your assigned donor, whose contributions made your fellowship possible, at the end of your fellowship.

    Application:
    1) Fill out THIS application.

    2) Have your BYU mentor fill out THIS form.

    One application is allowed per person.

    • Your application will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed without the above TWO forms.
    • Awardees will be notified at the end of February.

    Due Date:
    January 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

  • Location:
    Determined by mentor’s collaborative center.

    Time Frame:
    Spring/Summer terms (up to 16 weeks). Approximately April 28, 2025 -August 15, 2025. Start/end dates negotiable with provider.

    Qualifications:
    All BYU undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis based on their merits by a committee of Simmons Center faculty. Fellows are then selected by the Simmons Center Executive Board. Students should already be participating in a BYU lab working with a mentor who does collaborative research with another institution.

    Description:
    Collaborative fellows gain valuable mentored experience as they continue work on their BYU research in collaborative labs off-campus. The fellowship sharpens their focus on future careers in cancer research, strengthens their applications to graduate and health professional schools, and advances their training in pursuit of careers.

    Fellow Expectations:

    • Fellows receive a stipend of up to $10,000 for spring/summer research. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job and students are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. Fellows may not take classes during their fellowship.
    • Students will receive a one time payment at the beginning of the fellowship into their BYU account. Any outstanding debts on your BYU account will get paid off first when that money hits your account.
    • Collaborative fellows receive an additional $500 to help with your travel. It is up to you to manage all travel and housing arrangements.
    • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
    • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense. The SCCR Program Coordinator will coordinate.
    • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation to your assigned donor, whose donation has provide for your fellowship, at the end of your fellowship.

    Application:

    1) Fill out THIS application.

    2) Have your mentor fill out THIS form.

    • One application is allowed per person.
    • Your application will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed without the above TWO forms.
    • Awardees will be notified at the end of February.

    Due Date:
    January 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

  • Location: Brigham Young University, Provo, Ut.

    Time Frame of Internship: Fall 2025 - end of Summer 2026

    Description: Year-round fellowships are awarded to the highest quality doctoral student(s) who demonstrate exceptional research productivity and commitment to a career in cancer research. They gain valuable mentored experience as they work in BYU research labs full-time over the course of an academic year. The fellowship also provides a competitive stipend. The goal of the fellowship is to support these promising student researchers who one day will become principal investigators and ground-breaking contributors to the cancer research field.

    • Fellows receive up to $33,000 for full time research from fall semester 2025 through the end of summer term 2026.. The fellowship is intended to be a full-time job. Fellows are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. If awarded the year-round fellowship, mentors will receive an additional $3000 supply stipend to their research account.
    • You will be hired on contract through your department.
    • The Simmons Center staff periodically hosts lab tours. During a tour, fellows should be willing to meet with donors touring the facilities and describe the work they are doing. 
    • Attendance at weekly seminars during the spring and summer term 2026 is mandatory. If unforeseen circumstances arise which preclude attendance, the fellow should notify the Program Coordinator prior to the seminar to inform them of those circumstances.

    • Fellows are required to give a 10 minute presentation near the end of the fellowship. The Simmons Center Program Coordinator will reach out to coordinate.
    • Each fall the Simmons Center hosts an appreciation dinner for donors and friends of the center. If invited, you will need to attend and prepare a poster of your research, and may be invited to speak. The Simmons Center will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
    • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation to your assigned donor at the end of your fellowship.

    Qualifications: Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis based on their merits by a committee of Simmons Center faculty. Fellows are then selected by the Simmons Center Executive Board. Students should already be participating in a BYU lab working with a mentor.

    • Fill out THIS application.
    • Have your mentor fill out THIS form.

    One application is allowed per person. All applications and mentor forms will be accepted from now until Monday, June 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Submissions will not be accepted after that date and time.

    • Your application will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed without the above forms. We will review all applications and make awards in mid July.

    Due Date: Monday June 2, 2025, 11:59pm.

External Undergraduate Fellowship Programs

  • Location:
    Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT.

    Time Frame of Internship:
    Spring/Summer terms (up to 16 weeks). Approximately April 28, 2025 -August 15, 2025. Start/end dates negotiable with provider.

    Qualifications:
    All BYU undergraduates are eligible. Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis based on their merits by a committee of Simmons Center faculty and Executive Board. They are then presented to HCI faculty for final selection. Students may be contacted by HCI for an interview. Awardees will be notified in March.

    Description:
    The Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) is divided into four research programs that include laboratory, clinical, and population-based efforts. Participants in this program will complete up to 16 weeks of cancer research. Fellows will be expected to work effectively with colleagues, be self-motivated, and have excellent communication skills. Students participating in the program conduct research under the direction of a faculty member. Research assignments are made based upon availability of research opportunities and according to the mutual interests of the faculty mentors and student participants. Find more information about HCI click HERE.

    Fellow Expectations:

    • Fellows receive a stipend of up to $10,000 for up to 16 weeks of summer research. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job and students are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. Fellows may not take classes during their fellowship.
    • Students will receive a one time payment at the beginning of the fellowship into their BYU account. Any outstanding debts on your BYU account will get paid off first when that money hits your account.
    • Fellows receive an additional $500 to help with travel. It is up to you to manage all housing and travel arrangements.
    • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
    • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
    • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation at the end of your fellowship to your assigned donor, whose donation has provided for your fellowship.

    Application:
    1) Fill out THIS application.

    Due Date:
    January 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

  • Locations:
    Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Washington University-Saint Louis, John Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, and Loma Linda University.

    Time Frame:
    Spring/Summer terms (up to 16 weeks). Approximately April 28, 2025 -August 15, 2025. Start/end dates negotiable with provider.

    Qualifications:
    All BYU undergraduate students are eligible. Some research experience is helpful.

    Description: This program places BYU students in research positions at prominent medical institutions across the country. Students have exceptional opportunities to learn research methods and execute research studies, often from beginning to end. Students have conducted research in many areas including:

    • Oncology
    • Endocrinology
    • Anesthesia
    • Neurology
    • Global/public health
    • Pulmonology
    • Gastroenterology

    The Simmons Center only funds students doing work in cancer.

    Students who submit applications will be asked to select the area of interest they would like to pursue; however, the primary investigator at each lab ultimately accepts an individual student and makes the offer; hence no position in an area of interest is guaranteed. Applicants are encouraged to be open to a wide range of opportunities.

    Duties:
    Duties and expectations vary widely among internships. Students can be involved in any part of the research project: literature review, creation of hypotheses, study development and implementation, data collection, data analysis, and presentation and dissemination of findings.

    Timeline:
    Internship applications are due December 15, 2024. Upon reception of applications, primary investigators will select and interview their top applicants. Offers will typically be made in January or early February. Although most internships start in May and end in August, specific dates vary widely based on the individual and the lab/primary investigator.

    Application:
    Please apply through the Pre-professional Advisement Center HERE.

    Fellow Expectations:

    • Fellows receive a stipend of up to $10,000 for up to 16 weeks of summer research. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job and students are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. Fellows may not take classes during their fellowship.
    • Students will receive a one time payment at the beginning of the fellowship into their BYU account. Any outstanding debts on your BYU account will get paid off first when that money hits your account.
    • Fellows receive an additional $500 to help with travel. It is up to you to manage all housing and travel arrangements.
    • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
    • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
    • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation at the end of your fellowship to your assigned donor, whose donation has provided for your fellowship.

    Application Deadline:
    December 15th, 2024

  • Location:

    The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC), Columbus, Ohio.

    Time Frame:
    May 19, 2025 – July 25, 2025

    Qualifications:
    The program is intended for undergraduate students with background in science and interest in social science or laboratory-based research relevant to cancer. Projects focus on analyzing disease impact on individuals and communities. We invite applications from current undergraduate sophomores (rising junior), or juniors (rising senior). There is a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5. Please note if you are graduating in May 2025, you are not eligible for the program.

    A committee comprised of OSUCCC staff and faculty will review applications and determine internship recipients.

    Description:
    The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC), Center for Cancer Health Equity (CCHE) Undergraduate Summer Research Internship Program provides summer research experience to qualified undergraduate students. Participants in this program will complete a 10-week cancer research internship at the OSUCCC during the summer of 2025. Each student/intern will work directly with a mentor and conduct research under the direction of a faculty member and his/her staff. Research assignments are made based upon availability of research opportunities and according to the mutual interests of the faculty mentors and student participants.

    • Obtain hands-on mentored research experience
    • Professional development
    • Journal club
    • Experience in community-based participatory research to better understand health disparities
    • Become proficient in presenting scientific concepts to peers and mentors
    • Interact with other trainees on campus from many other programs

    Each scholar will produce a final paper, poster, and deliver an oral presentation to the CCHE staff, OSU and OSUCCC staff, faculty, and invited guests.

    Awardees will be notified at the end of February.

    More information HERE.

    Simmons Center Fellow Expectations:

    • Fellows receive a stipend of up to $6,250 for 10 weeks of summer research. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job and students are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. Fellows may not take classes during their fellowship.
    • Students will receive a one time payment of at the beginning of the fellowship into their BYU account. Any outstanding debts on your BYU account will get paid off first when that money hits your account.
    • Fellows receive an additional $500 to help with travel. It is up to you to manage all housing and travel arrangements.
    • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
    • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
    • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation at the end of your fellowship to your assigned donor, whose donation has provided for your fellowship.

    Application:
    Please do the following and return all supporting documents to:

    Raegan Waddell: Raegan.Waddell@osumc.edu

    1. Fill out THIS application along with the essay questions.
    2. Current Resume,
    3. Recommendation letter from a faculty member at your university who can comment on the qualifications for this research position.

    Due Date:
    January 15th, 2025

    • Locations:
      Please negotiate with provider.

      Time Frame:
      Spring/Summer terms (up to 16 weeks). Approximately April 28, 2025 -August 15, 2025.

      Qualifications:
      All BYU undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Prior research experience is helpful but not necessary.

      Description: Students often find exceptional opportunities to do mentored cancer research throughout the United States. This application allows students to apply for funding for an opportunity they found on their own.

      Duties and expectations can vary widely. Students can be involved in any part of a research project: literature review, creation of hypotheses, study development and implementation, data collection, data analysis, and presentation and dissemination of findings.

      Simmons Center Fellow Expectations:

      • Fellows receive a stipend of up to $10,000 for up to 16 weeks of research during the spring/summer terms. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job and students are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. Fellows may not take classes during their fellowship.
      • Students will receive a one time payment at the beginning of the fellowship into their BYU account. Any outstanding debts on your BYU account will get paid off first when that money hits your account.
      • Fellows receive an additional $500 travel stipend. It is up to you to manage all housing and travel arrangements.
      • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
      • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
      • You will be required to a letter of appreciation to your assigned donor, whose donation has provide for your fellowship, at the end of your fellowship.

      Application:
      1) Please follow THIS link to apply.

      Application Deadline:
      January 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

    International Undergraduate Fellowship Programs

    • Location:
      Melbourne, Australia

      Time Frame:
      10 weeks during BYU's Spring/Summer terms. Start/end dates negotiable with provider.
      *Students may not remain in the country longer than 12 weeks.

      Qualifications:
      All BYU undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Prior research experience is helpful but not necessary.

      Description: 
      WEHI (https://www.wehi.edu.au) was founded in 1915 and is the oldest medical research institute in Australia. In its 107-year history, WEHI has produced one Nobel Prize winner, Frank MacFarlane Burnet in 1960, and four Lasker Award winners, Frank MacFarlane Burnet in 1952, Donald Metcalf in 1993, Mark Feldmann in 2003, and Jacques Miller in 2019.

      From the beginning, WEHI has partnered with the University of Melbourne (UoM) and is the Department of Medical Biology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences. WEHI’s scientific staff are honorary UoM academic staff members and all students are enrolled through the UoM. WEHI also enjoys a research relationship with the UoM and all scientists work collaboratively on projects and share scientific resources.

      WEHI currently houses 14 research divisions structured around five key themes: Cancer Research and Treatments, Healthy Development and Ageing, Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, Computational Biology, New Medicines and Advanced Technologies. More than 90 faculty members lead research groups with major research areas in cancer, immune health and infection, and development and ageing and are supported by professional service teams. 1300 staff and students work in a collaborative environment and use interdisciplinary methods to address their research questions. WEHI has a reputation for performing influential research and clinical translation that leads to long-term improvements in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

      The International Student Program in Research Experience (InSPIRE) was founded in 2016 and is committed to forging new and stronger education and research collaboration links with top institutions. Since its start, it has since developed collaborative relationships all over Asia, and is starting its United States collaborations by partnering with Brigham Young University's Simmons Center for Cancer Research.

      WEHI is seeking undergraduate students in the fields of life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, bioinformatics, computational biology, and medicinal chemistry to participate in the program. Students gain research experience in laboratories working in a range of research fields, such as:

      Students will have the opportunity to:

      • Undertake a 10-week program
      • Attend weekly lectures provided by scientific leaders
      • Gain support from other Institute students and participate in social activities 
      • Experience Melbourne and Victoria

      Students are matched to laboratories based on their research interests. During the 10-week internship, the interns are imbedded in a research lab and are expected to contribute to the labs ongoing research.

      WEHI will attempt to secure housing at the University of Melbourne Graduate House for successful applicants, which includes room, breakfast 7 days a week and dinner 5 days a week. Early bookings are essential as this accommodation is in high demand and costs approximately $300USD per week. Students are also welcome to make their own accommodation arrangements.

      Fellows can come in on subclass 600 or 601 with an eligible passport (US is eligible).

      More information HERE.

      Fellow Expectations:

      • Fellows receive up to $6,250 for 10 weeks of full-time research during spring/summer terms. The fellowship is intended to be a full-time job. Fellows are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. 
      • Students will receive a one time payment at the beginning of the fellowship into their BYU account. Any outstanding debts on your BYU account will get paid off first when that money hits your account.
      • International fellows receive an additional $500 flight stipend to help with travel. It is up to you to manage all travel arrangements. 
      • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
      • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
      • You will be required to write a letter of appreciation to your assigned donor, whose donation has provide for your fellowship, at the end of your fellowship.

      Application:
      1) Please follow THIS link to apply.

      Due Date:
      January 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

    • Locations:
      Please negotiate with provider.

      Time Frame of Internship:
      Spring/Summer terms (up to 16 weeks). Approximately April 28, 2025 -August 15, 2025 (negotiate start and end daets with provider).

      Qualifications:
      All undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Prior research experience is helpful but not necessary.

      Description: Students often find exceptional opportunities to do mentored cancer research internationally. This application allows students to apply for funding for an opportunity they found on their own.

      Duties and expectations can vary widely. Students can be involved in any part of a research project: literature review, creation of hypotheses, study development and implementation, data collection, data analysis, and presentation and dissemination of findings.

      Simmons Center Fellow Expectations:

      • Fellows receive a stipend of up to $10,000 for spring/summer research. The Fellowship is intended to be a full-time job and students are expected to work 40 hours a week in line with the productivity expectations of their mentors. Fellows may not take classes during their fellowship.
      • Fellows receive an additional $500 travel stipend. It is up to you to manage all housing and travel arrangements.
      • Fellows are required to give a 7 minute presentation during the last week of the fellowship.
      • Each fall the SCCR hosts a Donor Appreciation dinner. If invited, you will need to prepare a poster of your research. The SCCR will print your poster for you and cover the expense.
      • You will be required to a letter of appreciation to your assigned donor, whose donation has provide for your fellowship, at the end of your fellowship.

      Application:
      1) Please follow THIS link to apply.

      Application Deadline:
      January 15, 2025 at 11:59pm.