Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP)

The Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP) aims to expand and diversify the pool of future potential cancer researchers in the biomedical workforce.

The program is a collaboration between UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T).

The three aims of CUREP are:

1. To expose students from underrepresented groups to biomedical research in cancer through mentored, hands-on research experience for ten weeks in the summer
2. To increase student interest in pursuing careers in cancer research by providing professional development activities necessary to compete and gain admission to graduate and professional schools successfully
3. To provide academic year-long group coaching (summer, falls and spring) to facilitate the integration of academic and life skills to enhance the likelihood of the participants successfully completing their degrees

About the program

Each year, the program will recruit 12 students from underrepresented groups in cancer research.

A unique feature of CUREP is an academic year-long transformational and holistic coaching component consisting of study skills, academic writing, time management, self-efficacy, career planning, and wellness that will allow participants to integrate academic and social/life skills.

Students will conduct independent cancer research projects in basic science or translational research, applying genetic, molecular, and genomic methods under the guidance and supervision of PI mentors, graduate students, and postdoctoral students in their host laboratories.

The student research experiences will also be supported with training in research ethics and professional and career development activities such as journal club, critical reading of scientific papers, writing an abstract, writing a personal statement, and applying for graduate school.

More information and applications for CUREP to be posted