PROMISE Program
PROMISE Program
The recent 2025 PROMISE Program participants gathered around the Nittany Lion statue in the college courtyard.
“I loved the way we were able to interact with the other PROMISE students with no worry of competition. Everyone was incredibly supportive, and all the faculty members only had the best in mind for us and gave great advice.”
“I found the elevator pitch session at the MATES retreat to be very helpful in enhancing my scientific communication skills.”
Participants from the Penn State Cancer Institute, Maryland University and Fox Chase Cancer Center met at Penn State's York Campus for the 2025 MATES Retreat.
“The mentorship aspect meant a lot to me, both in my lab and through the program. I really liked that everyone was encouraging for me to find my own place in cancer care."
PROMISE participants participated in social activities throughout the summer, including weekly soccer games.
Program participants attended weekly educational career sessions such as this Next-step Workshop.
PROMISE participants present their research at the program's concluding Poster Symposium.
Eligibility
Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
College undergraduates who have completed at least two years of college in a STEM major (including engineering, computer science, statistics and biological sciences).
Medical students from an accredited US medical school between the first and second years.
3.0 GPA is recommended.
Key Dates
Dec. 1, 2025: Applications open for Summer 2026
Jan. 23, 2026: Applications close for Summer 2026
May 26, 2026: Start of experience and orientation
Jul. 31, 2026: End of experience
Notes: Start/end dates for medical students are flexible to accommodate curriculum differences. The PROMISE program runs for 10 weeks; a minimum of 8 weeks (full time) commitment is required.
Contact the Program
For questions, please contact the PROMISE team at promise@psu.edu.
Program Details
Contribute to advancing cancer health outcomes through collaborative research.
"Research for Life" training focus: learn how lives can be saved through effective cancer prevention and cancer treatment.
Experience the language, techniques, strategies and concepts used every day by cancer researchers.
Develop networks and professional skills to support your future career.
Program mentors include PhD, MD and MD/PhD faculty with active research grants or clinical trials, and a strong history of mentorship.
"Cancer in Real Life" events with survivors, patients and humanities faculty reinforce why we do research: to positively impact the lives of individuals. Watch a video from the 2025 Cancer in Real Life dinner.
Workshops focused on professional and personal skills needed for sustained research careers.
Capstone Research Symposium and Mid-Atlantic Trainee Retreat provide multiple opportunities to develop oral presentation skills and create a career network.
Limited clinical shadowing opportunities are available (optional).
You will need: your undergraduate college transcript (unofficial); information from your resume or curriculum vitae; a personal statement; and names/email addresses of two references who will provide letters of support. We will contact the references directly.
Your personal statement is one of the most important components of the application. This must describe why you are motivated to explore pursuing an oncology or cancer research career and why you are interested in the PROMISE program.
In the “Achievements” section, list your research experience; authorship on publications; conference presentations (oral or poster); and any honors/awards you have received.
Medical students: on the application, “College One” is the institution where you are currently enrolled in medical school; “College Two” is your undergraduate institution. For students attending a pass/fail medical school, please enter 0 as your GPA; reviewers will understand this entry to mean pass/fail.
The program will accept up to 22 students (undergraduate and medical).
Participants will be selected based on demonstrated interest in the program, scholarship, research experience and reference letters. Personal statements are required and are a critical part of the selection materials. Applicants must describe their motivation for an oncology career or interest in cancer research.
The participant will receive $6,000 for the full 10-week experience.
The PROMISE program will cover travel costs to Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The PROMISE program will provide partial support for on-campus housing. A need-based summer housing allowance is available for qualified participants. .
Penn State Cancer Institute is a center for cancer research, career enhancement and clinical care within central Pennsylvania.
The College of Medicine campus in Hershey, Pa., is an ideal and stimulating environment, due to the presence of faculty mentors, near-peers and peers (graduate and post-graduate trainees) from basic, population and clinical sciences at a single location.
Leadership
Advisory Committee Members
Rachel Blansfield, BS, PROMISE Medical Student Alumni, Medical Student, Penn State College of Medicine
William Calo, PhD, JD, MPH, Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences and Family and Community Medicine and Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement, Penn State Cancer Institute
Sinisa Dovat, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Developmental Therapeutics Program in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Carla Gallagher, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lincoln University
Bernadatte Gilbert, MD, Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, Penn State College of Medicine
Monika Joshi, MD, Professor of Medicine and Medical Director, Penn State Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Office
Shannon Nowotarski, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State Berks
Jeffrey M. Peters, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Interim Director of the Penn State Cancer Institute
Lauryn Six, BS, EP-C, PROMISE Undergraduate Alumni, Certified Exercise Physiologist, Penn State Cancer Institute
Lisa Shantz, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell and Biological Systems and Associate Director, Woodward Center for Excellence in Health Sciences Education
Gail Thomas, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Co-Director, Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute TL1 Translational Research Training Program.