Am I eligible?

Interns must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents in a college or community college program in biomedical sciences.  Cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher. Those in a 4-year degree program should have completed their sophomore or junior year prior to the summer.  Students in a 2-year degree program are preferred to be entering their final year of their associate degree or in the summer prior to transferring to a 4-year college.  Preference is given to interns who are part of populations historically underrepresented in science due to our grant support (NIH definition). 

When is the program?

Interns will arrive in Iowa City and move into the dorm on Saturday May 17, 2025.  They depart on Friday July 25, 2025.   

Do I need to attend the entire program?

Yes, the entire 10-week program must be attended and participation in all required events is mandatory.  

What will I do?

The program consists of a course on cancer, intense research experience, mentoring, and professional development opportunities, including creating and presenting a scientific poster and oral presentation.  The program is full-time, which includes all of the required and recommended activities and research time.  Interns will have a near-peer from their lab who will provide direct support in the laboratory.  Most workdays will be spent conducting research.  

Interns are expected to work full-time from Monday through Friday. This includes any time spent on program activities.  Weekends are free time, and our hope is that interns relax and fully enjoy living in Iowa City. 

What kind of research is available?

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center faculty are in many different research disciplines in the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy.  Cancer research takes many forms in different kinds of laboratories and research settings.

• Basic sciences, also known as wet lab research, such as analyzing chemicals or biological samples, animal research, microscopy, and genetics
• Nursing research, such as health outcomes of patients treated for cancer and management of symptoms
• Bioengineering, working on the creation of medical devices

Who will be my mentor?

The application will ask you about research interests. It is important to select all topics or types of research of interest. The program directors will use this information to assign interns to the best mentor and laboratory fit.  Interns will be informed and be able to communicate with your mentor before the program starts. Please note that the mentor, especially if also a clinician or administrator, may have other responsibilities and may not be regularly in the lab.

The actual mentors available for the CROI mentorship depends on many factors, including the number of current lab personnel, involvement in other summer programs, poor timing such as a lab working on an important grant submission or a physician assigned to inpatient rounds during the summer. 

Who will be my near-peer mentor?

The near-peer mentor will be a graduate student, post-baccalaureate intern, postdoc, or other staff who is part of your mentor's lab.  They will be chosen by the mentor based on their research and ability to provide a teaching role.

What can I expect when I am in a lab? 

Labs can have different expectations regarding when to report to the lab, what meetings to attend, and the training that is needed for equipment and animal research (if applicable). The near-peer mentor will provide most of the daily training and support. 

What will my project be?

Research projects are selected by the mentor and near-peer to be an individual project that can be completed during the internship. It will be related to the current lab research.  Interns, with the help of their mentors, will create and present a scientific poster and give a short oral presentation at the end of the program.  

How do I get there? Will I need to pay?

Interns traveling by plane will have their flights arranged by and paid for by the program.  Those traveling via personal car will be reimbursed for their mileage.  Additional travel costs may also be reimbursed according to University of Iowa regulations.  Interns who will have their personal car on campus will receive free parking at the Hancher parking lot. 

How much do I get paid? Are the payments taxable?

Summer program interns are provided with a stipend of $6000 over the 10-week program.  This includes money for food.  Interns may choose to use any amount of their stipend for food; meal plans are not provided by the program.  

Stipend payments will be electronically directly to the intern's bank account.  CROI is supported by two grants, each of which have different requirements for how the payments can be made. Interns receive part of the payments as an employee of the University of Iowa, in which case a W4 is required and interns must chose the amount of tax withholding; social security deductions are made.

Please see IRS 2023 publication 970.  The CROI stipend is not considered to be a scholarship. CROI is a non-credit, non-degree program and the stipend is for room and board.  

Where will I live?

Interns will be housed in the Petersen Residence Hall, which is located on the West side of Campus near the biomedical laboratories.  They will live in a double room with a same-sex roommate.  Petersen Hall has one kitchen which interns can use and the program provides basic non-food supplies. 

Is there a place to work out?

We provide free summer passes to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.  This 20,000 ft² fitness space includes a climbing wall, two swimming pools, a jogging track, basketball courts, and over 200 pieces of training equipment and free weights.  It is located 5 blocks from Petersen Hall. 

Is there a way to get around town?

The Iowa City area has three bus systems, the Cambus (University), the Iowa City buses, and the Coralville buses.  Coralville is a smaller city which adjoins Iowa City.   "Transit" is a free mobile app that tracks all three bus systems and has trip planning. 

Petersen Hall is located next to the medical science part of the University of Iowa campus.  It is also just a 15 minute walk to downtown Iowa City.

What is the weather like?

Average daily low and high temperatures range from the 60s to 90s.  Rain or thunderstorms can occur and the air tends to be humid. 

Do I need my own health insurance?

Interns are required to have your own health insurance for the duration of the program.