The UH Cancer Center High School Cancer Research Program is a one-week structured course to introduce students to the world of cancer research and related careers. The program emphasizes hands-on activities in population science research to cultivate an interest in education and research careers focused on cancer prevention and health disparities in Hawaiʻi.

Program Components

Cancer related presentations and group activities lead by a team of multidisciplinary faculty members. Topics covered include epidemiology, genomics, public health, behavioral health, and dry-lab activities.

Eligibility

The program is for students who:

1. Are interested in learning about cancer risk factors and research.
2. Are rising 11th and 12th graders.
3. Are selected or recommended by a science teacher at their high school.

Please note: This is not an open application process. The program will send invitations for application in Spring 2025 directly to individual science teachers, who will then select the students.*

High school students seeking mentorship for a school projects may reach out to our Cancer Research Training (CRT) Office to assess the availability of research faculty available to mentor trainees.

Eligibility

1. High school students with a genuine interest in cancer research.
2. Due to policies regarding minors, individuals under the age of 18 cannot be placed in a laboratory setting. However, opportunities may exist for minors to receive guidance from a faculty mentor on their research paper or engage in projects related to population sciences.

Please note that this process does not guarantee placement in a research project or with a mentor.

To apply

Interested students should submit their resume, along with a brief project proposal outlining the project idea, objectives, and any preliminary research conducted. Applications can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..