Program Overview
The Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Computational Biology & Medicine (CBM) and the Office of Science Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center invite applications for the 2022 Computational Biology Summer Program (CBSP). This 10-week program is designed to bring approximately 15 outstanding computer science/applied math undergraduate rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in pursuing a career at the intersection of computer science and biomedicine for a research experience on the Memorial Sloan Kettering, Weill Cornell, and Rockefeller University campuses.
The 10-week program begins on June 6 and ends on August 12, 2022.
Students who are accepted into the CBSP will:
- Adapt their computer science skills to answer biomedically-focused research questions in cutting-edge laboratories
- Interact with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students
- Attend weekly luncheon/seminar series of presentations by faculty
- Attend professional development workshops
- Present a poster on their work at the end of the program
Students will receive a stipend of $6,000 for the summer. Housing is available.
CBSP is sponsored by an NCI grant to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (1 R25 CA233208-01) and the Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Computational Biology & Medicine Program.
Areas of Research
Students will partner with faculty from Memorial Sloan Kettering, Weill Cornell, or Rockefeller University who have expressed a strong interest in working with students with computational skill sets. The faculty listed below are conducting research in diverse areas of biomedical sciences, and will welcome the added expertise provided by computationally-trained undergraduates. Information about their scientific projects can be found by visiting their respective web pages:
- Emre Aksay
- Zhirong Bao
- Michael Berger
- Jian Carrot-Zhang
- Ethel Cesarman
- John Chodera
- Olivier Elemento
- David Eliezer
- Winrich Freiwald
- Benjamin Greenbaum
- Iman Hajirasouliha
- A. James Hudspeth
- Marcin Imielinksi
- Samie Jaffrey
- Steve Josefowicz
- Alex Kentsis
- Ekta Khurana
- Eric Lai
- Dan Landau
- Ashley Laughney
- Christina Leslie
- Marcelo O. Magnasco
- Christopher Mason
- Quaid Morris
- Thomas Norman
- Kenneth Offit
- Elli Papaemmanuil
- Dana Pe’er
- Jorge Reis-Filho
- Ed Reznick
- Nikolaus Schultz
- Sohrab Shah
- Tuomas Tammela
- Wesley Tansey
- Alipasha Vaziri
- Andrea Ventura
- Jonathan Victor
- Joao Xavier
- Li Zhao
How to Apply
Current domestic undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are majoring in computer science, applied math, or related fields are invited to apply to CBSP.
We strongly encourage students from groups historically underrepresented in science (disadvantaged, disabled, Black, Hispanic/LatinX, Native American) to apply.
Students can complete and submit the online application here starting November 1, 2021.
Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the US.
Application Timeline for Summer 2022
November 1: Applications open
February 1: Application closes on February 1 at 11:59pm EST
Decisions will be announced no later than March 15, 2022
Application Considerations
- Should have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Completed college-level computer science courses in C/C++, Perl, Python, R or other languages
- Courses in general biology and/or introductory chemistry would be preferred but are not required
- Have an interest in application of computation techniques to biological problems
- Two letters of recommendation must also be submitted via the online submission system. These letters should be written by faculty members who are familiar with the applicant’s academic progress and credentials.
- In addition to the application form and an admissions essay, applicants should upload and submit an unofficial transcript from their college or university directly into the application system. (Only those accepted into the internship will need to submit an official transcript after acceptance).
- If you have any questions or concerns about transcripts, please contact oset@mskcc.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Computational Biology Summer Program?
This 10-week program is designed to bring outstanding computer science/applied math undergraduate rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in pursuing a career at the intersection of computer science and biomedicine for a research experience on the MSK, Weill Cornell, and Rockefeller campuses.
What will CBSP interns do?
CBSP interns will adapt their computer science skills to answer biomedically-focused research questions in cutting edge laboratories. Each intern will have an independent project and will work with an assigned lab faculty/mentor. In addition to working in the lab, interns will attend didactic classes, journal clubs, scientific and professional development seminars. At the end of the 10-week program, the CBSP intern will present a poster on their project.
Is the summer program limited to specific majors?
No, Those who have completed college-level computer science courses (C/C++, Perl, Python, R or other languages), are prioritized. We welcome candidates that have taken some courses in general biology and/or chemistry (preferred but not required) and have an interest in the application of computational techniques to biological problems. We are most interested in those who would like to pursue graduate work in computational biology.
Where is the internship located?
Interns will be hosted on site in one of the tri-I faculty labs listed on the CBSP website (MSK, Weill Cornell or Rockefeller) in New York City.
Is this a paid internship?
Yes, interns receive a stipend of $6,000 for the summer paid on a bi-weekly basis. A small number of interns may be able to stay longer than 10 weeks, but housing would not be available for a longer duration.
How many slots are available for this program?
The program enrolls 15 interns per summer.
Is summer housing provided?
Yes, summer (dormitory) housing is provided for free to any who need it. Interns will be paired in groups of 2 per room and by gender.
What amenities are included in housing?
The assigned space consists of a twin-size bed, a dresser, a desk, and closet space. All apartments have two bedrooms, each suite has a kitchenette which contains a microwave, electric stove-top burners, sink, cabinets, a large refrigerator and private bathroom (Utilities and Wi-Fi included). Dishes, utensils and cooking supplies are not provided.
Does the program cover travel costs?
Yes. For those CBSP interns arriving from out-of-state, the program will reimburse travel costs. The CBSP is sponsored by an NCI grant to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (1 R25 CA233208-01).
More Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
Questions? Contact Program Administrator at OSET@mskcc.org.
