Launch Your Future in Cancer Research
Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research (CanSUR) gives you the chance to work side-by-side with leading cancer researchers while exploring what a future in science, medicine, and biomedical research could look like for you.
CanSUR is a 10-week, paid summer research experience designed for undergraduate students who are passionate about science and discovery. Regardless of where you attend college or university, whether you are considering graduate school, medical school, biotechnology, public health, or research careers, and as long as you are a U.S. citizen, CanSUR helps you build skills, connections, and confidence while working on real cancer-focused projects in the labs of Case CCC members.
What You Gain from CanSUR
Get Paid to Do Meaningful Research
Receive a $5,000 stipend for participating in the program. Housing and travel allowances are also available for select students.
Build Hands-On Research Experience
Work directly in a cancer research lab with experienced faculty mentors and research teams. This is not shadowing—you actively participate in research design, experiments, data interpretation, and scientific reporting.
Strengthen Your Resume and Graduate School Applications
CanSUR helps you stand out when applying to:
- PhD programs
- MD and MD/PhD programs
- Research fellowships
- Biotechnology and pharmaceutical careers
- Public health and clinical careers
Gain experience presenting research, networking with professionals, and learning how scientists communicate discoveries.
Explore Career Paths in Cancer Science
Throughout the summer, meet:
- Scientists
- Physicians
- Graduate students
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Industry professionals
- Community outreach leaders
Learn about career opportunities in:
- Cancer biology
- Medicine
- Drug discovery
- Clinical trials
- Public health
- Biomedical engineering
- Community engagement and survivorship research
What Your Summer Looks Like
Week One: Cancer Research Immersion
Quickly build a strong foundation in cancer science. Participate in:
- Interactive lectures on cancer biology
- Discussions about current cancer therapies
- Introductions to cutting-edge research technologies
- Tours of advanced research facilities
- Networking and team-building activities with fellow scholars
Topics include:
- Fundamentals of cancer biology
- Current cancer treatments
- Cancer discovery techniques
- Translational and clinical research
This experience helps you feel prepared and confident before entering your research lab.
Mentored Research Experience
Spend the majority of the summer embedded in a research laboratory with a faculty mentor from Case CCC. Your work may include:
- Conducting experiments
- Analyzing scientific data
- Learning laboratory techniques
- Participating in research meetings
- Interpreting findings
- Contributing to ongoing cancer studies
Gain firsthand experience in how scientific discoveries move from the laboratory toward improving patient care.
Weekly Scientific and Career Enrichment Lunches
Participate in professional development sessions focused on helping you succeed in science and healthcare careers. Topics include:
- Communicating scientific research
- Presenting research findings
- Graduate and medical school preparation
- Leadership development
- Responsible conduct in research
- Emerging cancer technologies and discoveries
Build relationships with students and professionals who can support your future career goals.
Cancer Career Opportunities Dinner
One of the highlights of the program is an evening with:
- PhD students
- MD students
- Physician-scientists
- Residents and fellows
- Postdoctoral scholars
This informal networking experience gives you the chance to ask honest questions about different career paths and hear what life is really like in cancer research and medicine.
Present Your Research at the CanSUR Symposium
This gives you experience:
- Explaining scientific findings
- Creating professional research presentations
- Answering questions from researchers and peers
- Building confidence as a scientist
Presenting research is a major advantage when applying for graduate school, medical school, scholarships, and future research opportunities.
ACS-CanSUR: Research + Community Impact
Connect Science with Real Communities
A specialized CanSUR experience, ACS-CanSUR, gives you the opportunity to explore how cancer research connects with patients, communities, and public health. Led by Ruth Keri, PhD, Case CCC’s Associate Director of Basic Research, ACS-CanSUR supports eight undergraduates each year through longitudinal activities focused on:
- Cancer biology
- Prevention
- Detection
- Therapy
- Survivorship
You also work on educational storytelling projects that help communicate cancer science to the public.
You will:
- Work alongside a cohort of approximately 40 students
- Receive paid research experience
- Attend networking and career seminars
- Collaborate with researchers and community members
- Present your work at a final academic symposium
This experience helps you understand how science, healthcare, communication, and community engagement work together to improve cancer outcomes.
How to Apply
Applications for 2027 open in November
What You Need to Apply
To complete your application, you need:
- A copy of your transcripts
- Contact information for two references
- One reference must be a science professor or teacher
- Your ranked list of top five preferred mentors from Case CCC’s list
- Responses to three application essay questions
Eligibility Requirements
Due to National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines, applicants must be:
- U.S. citizens, or
- Permanent residents of the United States
CanSUR strongly encourages applications from students with a passion for:
- Biomedical sciences
- Clinical research
- Behavioral sciences
- Social sciences
- Cancer research and healthcare innovation
The program is committed to building a talented and collaborative scientific workforce that reflects a broad range of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.
Why Cleveland?
Located in Cleveland, CanSUR gives you access to one of the country’s most collaborative cancer research environments. As an NCI-designated consortium comprehensive cancer center, Case CCC brings together researchers and clinicians from:
- Case Western Reserve University
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
- Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
That means you will learn in an environment where scientists, physicians, engineers, and healthcare professionals collaborate to solve complex cancer challenges together.
Questions?
Please contact:
Gena Richmann
Education Program Manager
gnb15@case.edu
ACS Post-Baccalaureate Fellows Program
Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research (CanSUR) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded program meant to generate excitement in highly motivated undergraduates to pursue a future in cancer research and prepare them for the next stage of their careers.
The CanSUR Program supports 32 undergraduates for a 10-week period from June through August to work in labs with Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Undergraduates are accepted from colleges and universities nationwide. Students receive a $5,000 stipend for the program, and housing and travel allowances are available for select appointees.
Key Components
Week One Cancer Immersion
To ensure that all trainees start out with a solid understanding of cancer biology and the current state of cancer research, week one is devoted to interactive cancer research lectures (The Fundamentals of Cancer Biology, Current Cancer Therapies, Cancer Research Discovery Techniques, and tours of the state-of-the-art research facilities available at Case CCC). Social interactions allow students to get to know each other, learn how to work in teams, and establish critical networking skills.
Mentored Research Experience
Scholars participate in a hands-on, cancer research experience including project development, execution, interpretation, and reporting of research results in select Case CCC members’ laboratories.
Weekly Scientific and Career Enrichment Lunches
Scholars have the opportunity to discuss new advances in cancer research and cutting-edge technology. Scholars gain critical insight into professional development, including how to communicate and present research findings, guidance on preparing graduate/medical school applications, leadership training, and responsible conduct in research, among other topics.
Cancer Career Opportunities Dinner
Scholars enjoy a meal with PhD and MD students, postdoctoral scholars, and hematology/oncology residents and fellows while learning about diverse cancer career opportunities in academia (PhD and MD/PhD paths), medicine, community outreach, and industry.
CanSUR Symposium
Scholars present their research at a CanSUR Symposium during the final week of the program.
Applications
Thank you for your application for CanSUR 2026! The application portal is closed for this year.
Questions?
Please contact Education Program Manager Gena Richmann at gnb15@case.edu.