The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy: A Gateway to Biomedical Research

The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope offers a unique "hands-on" biomedical research experience to young, aspiring scientists. Established in 1960, the program seeks to inspire high school and university students, fostering their passion for science and encouraging them to pursue careers in biomedicine.

A Legacy of Scientific Excellence

The program was founded by City of Hope’s director emeritus of neurobiochemistry, Eugene Roberts, Ph.D. Dr. Roberts' career spanned more than six decades. Inspired by a summer student program at the Jackson Memorial Laboratory, which nurtured future Nobel Laureates like Howard Temin and David Baltimore, Dr. Roberts established the Summer Student Academy at City of Hope.

Following Dr. Roberts' decision to step down from directing the Academy, Paul Salvaterra, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Neurosciences, served as the Program Director from 1977-2016. In 2017, David Ann, Ph.D., Associate Chair/Professor in the Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism and currently the Dean of the Irell & Manella Graduate School, became the Program Director.

Dr. Roberts' early research significantly contributed to the field of neuroscience. In 1949, his research led to the discovery of large amounts of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) in the brain and spinal cord. He subsequently demonstrated that GABA played a key role as a major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Throughout much of his career Dr. Roberts was supported by his wife, Ruth Roberts, who performed laboratory research and administrative tasks and managed the summer academy for many years. Ruth Roberts passed away in July 2023.

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A "Hands-On" Research Experience

The primary goal of the Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope is to provide young people (high school and university students) with an opportunity for a "hands-on" research experience. This program seeks to find students who are curious, passionate about science, and possesses exceptional potential for performing biomedical research. By placing these students in research laboratories where they can experience the wonder of discover through the research process, we hope to inspire them to pursue careers in biomedicine.

The Roberts Academy students design and work on their own research projects in areas of specific interests. City of Hope faculty members act as mentors providing valuable guidance and support, while also encouraging independent thought and exploration. Summer students work closely with post-doctorates, graduate students, and lab personnel of the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences. Through these experiences, students often form lifelong relationships with their mentors as they move forward on their educational journey.

Students are given the chance to select the focus of their research project based on their own interests. You will indicate your preferred area of research in the application itself. One of the previous intern’s projects looked at anti-HIV therapeutics using the RNA interference cellular pathway. Hydrogel-based delivery systems for therapeutic neural stem cells is another example of a student’s field of research.

Developing Essential Skills

An important objective of the program is to develop vital oral and written communication skills, which are so important in the world of seminars, colloquia, manuscript publication and grant writing, a world that is central to graduate student and postgraduate life. To this end, we provide students with the opportunity to present their research to their peers in a weekly student seminar series. Students also participate in Distinguished Seminar Series in which invited speakers, both internal and external. share their research and career ecperiences with the students followed by question and answer session. Through this process, the students develop an understanding of how a professional presentation is delivered while simultaneously exploring topics that they might not encounter outside of the program. The program culminates with a poster session, allowing the students to present their research to their friends and family as well as the City of Hope community as a critical step in the development of their oral and written communication skills.

Program Structure and Activities

As a City of Hope intern, you will join a biomedical research team and work with them on ongoing lab experiments and projects. Your research will involve reading lab notebooks and journal articles, followed by discussing questions with your mentors. In the end, you will present your work at the poster session and submit a written report on your research. Regarding this end goal, one student said, “Knowing I had something tangible to work towards was not only motivating but enhanced my sense of personal accomplishment.”

Along with attending their laboratory weekly meeting and journal clubs, students attend the program weekly meetings and seminars. Faculty speakers educate students on various scientific topics such as well as more career-focused discussions regarding future directions as scientists and doctors. Additionally, students are given an opportunity to present their research project to the academy in an organized presentation, and the students attending the meeting are further educated on the various research topics conducted at City of Hope.

The summer academy culminates with a poster session where you will be allowed to present your project and its findings. Moreover, you get the chance to network and discuss your research with lab members, medical doctors, and other professionals from the community. Aside from academics, the program also sets out time for social activities like field trips, movie nights, and dinners.

Additional Program Opportunities

This summer academy also offers the option of signing up for the CIRM/TEAMS program, a ten-week internship in one of City of Hope’s stem cell laboratories, and the YES2SUCCESS program, a research program for underrepresented students.

The CAMP program will provide support for undergraduate students from around the nation to participate in the Roberts Academy. Students selected to participate in CAMP will carry out research in fields spanning basic, applied, and translational topics focused in the areas of cancer, aging, obesity, and metabolic disorders. For those students selected to participate in the CAMP program, they will also have additional opportunities to participate in professional and career development programs relevant to careers in biomedical science For students interested in the CIRM SPARK or CAMP programs, please fill out the main application and check the respective boxes to indicate your desire to be considered. Only students who apply to the Roberts Academy are considered for the CIRM SPARK and CAMP program.

Selection Process and Eligibility

The Roberts Academy utilizes a two-stage selection process. In stage one, a committee reviews and scores all online applications to identify students displaying the most potential. Due to the size of our program, only the exact number of students we can fund will be accepted into the program. If a student who is accepted declines their invitation, we will reach out to students on our waitlist to join the program. The wait list provides us with one more opportunity to consider the candidacies of accomplished applicants who were not admitted. Unfortunately, we will not be able to predict our response to students on the wait list.

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Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. They must have completed high school courses in chemistry and biology.

Application Details for 2026

Application for the 2026 Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy are now being accepted via the link below. Applicants must have completed the online application by March 11, 2026; 11:59 pm PST. Most students submit additional materials such as transcripts, letters of recommendation and resumes, but these are not required. If you plan to submit supplementary documents, they must be submitted by March 12, 2026; 11:59 pm PST. Applicants must be available to participate in the entirety of the program dates: June 1 - August 7, 2026 (Time off will not approved during this time). If you plan to request a letter of recommendation, please remember to provide your recommender time to write and submit their letter. This program is limited to 14 students who will be matched with mentors whose research is focused on stem cell biology or regenerative medicine. In addition to the Roberts Academy program, these students will participate in activities including field trips, outreach, and a CIRM symposium.

A Prestigious and Competitive Program

For students who are looking to pursue careers in medicine or research, this summer internship can be highly beneficial. City of Hope is a leading cancer research and treatment center in the country, known for its cutting-edge research and contributions to the field of oncology. An internship at a renowned institution such as this one is definitely a prestigious opportunity. The fact that it’s free and comes with a stipend (details below) is a further sign of the program’s prestige.

Moreover, this is a highly competitive program. Last year they accepted 82 students from 2,100 applications which is a 3.9% acceptance rate. About half of the accepted students were from high school narrowing the chance of acceptance even further.

Financial Support

Summer program participants also receive a stipend of $4,500 for their work at the completion of their 10 weeks.

Benefits and Outcomes

Hands-on Research Experience: The kind of practical experience this internship offers is especially valuable for high schoolers since it is not typically available in school settings. You even get to work with cutting-edge facilities at a prominent institution.
Mentorship and Networking: This program provides a unique opportunity to be mentored by a member of the City of Hope faculty, all of whom are highly skilled professionals in their field. You will also get the chance to network with other members of the scientific community and form relationships that will benefit you in the future.
Significant Research Outcomes: Taking part in this internship comes with tangible results even apart from your research project.
Enhanced College Applications: Being part of this prestigious program can enhance your college applications.

A Lasting Impact

The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy has been an integral part of City of Hope for 65 years. The first two students enrolled in 1960. Today, more than 2,000 students have participated. The program stands as a testament to the vision of Eugene and Ruth Roberts, nurturing the next generation of biomedical researchers and shaping the future of scientific discovery. Alumni have gone on to enroll at renowned universities like John Hopkins University of Medicine or Pomona College.

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