The UMass Boston – DF/HCC Partnership is an active advocate for student training. We have several training programs for students to develop skills needed to excel in scientific research, specifically in the area of cancer and health promotion. Programs target students from undergraduates to postdocs and focus on critical areas to develop to become successful and innovative cancer researchers.

Partnership research training opportunities

Community-based research

The Outreach Core offers paid summer research and outreach opportunities for high school, undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students who are interested in cancer, public health, and community outreach. OC interns will be selected and matched with an internship site, depending on interest, and can be placed at DF/HCC community-based research labs, community-based organizations, or faith-based organizations in the Boston area or Lawrence, MA. Interns will be required to attend professional development workshops and the Annual Education Day, as well as present a poster of their research at the end of the summer.

Applications are currently closed for summer 2025. Contact U54Outreach22@gmail.com for program details.

Lab-based research

The Research Education Core (REC) offers paid summer research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in cancer research. Trainees are matched, depending on interest, and placed at a UMass Boston or DF/HCC research lab. Trainees are required to participate in professional development activities and present their work at local and national conferences.

Applications are currently closed for summer 2025. Contact U54REC@umb.edu for more information.

Young Empowered Students for Continued Research Engagement (YES for CURE)
YES for CURE is a two-and-a-half-year training program for high school and undergraduate students interested in a career in science or research. Students engage in hands-on, mentored research with basic, clinical, or population science or nursing research investigators at DF/HCC.

Applications are currently closed. Visit the YES for CURE website for more program details.

Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Summer Program
The CURE program introduces high school and college students to the world of cancer research by placing them in real research settings at local cancer research institutions. The goal is to encourage students to pursue careers in cancer research and to expand their interest in basic, clinical, and/or population science research.

Applications are currently closed. For more program details, visit the CURE Program’s website.

Non-Partnership research training opportunities

Research Funding / Training Opportunities

Publishing Your Research

If you have written a scientific paper for a class or during a research experience, you may be able to publish your paper in an undergraduate journal. Ask your supervisor if your paper would be appropriate to submit for publication.

Presenting Your Research

Presenting your research at a conference is a great way to stand out when applying for jobs or graduate school. It costs money to register for a conference, but the Biology Professors Fund and Undergraduate Research Funds listed above can help cover these costs.

Finding Internships / Jobs

The search engines below are a good place to start looking for an internship or job. If you find an interesting position, you can Google the job title to find similar opportunities. Example job titles include: Clinical Research Coordinator, Research Data Specialist, Translational Research Coordinator, and Research Assistant.

PAID SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES – Applications closed