The ACCESS program strives to be inclusive and identify PhD-bound undergraduate students with a broad range of experiential backgrounds that are essential for advancing scientific discovery. These experiences include those who are first generation in college, those with socioeconomic disadvantage, those with chosen experiences that generate a keen orientation to the needs of marginalized individuals and underserved communities, persons with disabilities, persons from under-resourced educational backgrounds, and those who have overcome significant hardship in pursuit of higher education. All candidates who believe they meet this description are encouraged to apply.   

The program will be 9 weeks during the summer and is scheduled to begin on  June 1st to July 31st, 2026. At the end of the program, a celebratory award ceremony is held in which students give posters and oral presentations on their research. 

Weill Cornell Medicine is located in the heart of New York City, one of the world's foremost capitals of science, campus culture, arts, and business. Situated in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, overlooking the East River, WCGS enjoys one of the loveliest residential neighborhoods in the city. Within walking distance are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, The Museum of Modern Art, The Frick Collection, The Asia Society, The Hispanic Society, and a plethora of art galleries.  

Each student participating in the regularly planned on-campus program receives a generous stipend of $6,000 and up to $500 for travel expenses. On-campus housing is provided free of charge to those who are not from the New York City area. If the program is run virtually, the stipend and duration of the program may be reduced. 

Selected students are placed in laboratories at Weill Cornell Medicine or the Sloan Kettering Institute under the supervision of an experienced faculty member. They will have the choice of performing research in one of these eight disciplines: Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology, Biophysics, & Systems Biology, and Computational Biology and Medicine. 

 Students will learn to analyze and discuss scientific journal articles by participating in weekly journal clubs 

Students attend lectures and discussions aimed at enhancing their understanding of the current status of biomedical research, the pathways available to enter a research career, the range of career opportunities available, and the requirements for admission to graduate school.

Weill Cornell School of Medicine is part of The Leadership Alliance, a consortium of universities from around the U.S. that is invested in fostering the intellectual and professional growth of students at different levels of their career. ACCESS students present their summer research to the Leadership Alliance community at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium which occurs in late July.

Students attend these sessions geared towards applying to a PhD, attending a conference, next steps after graduation, networking tips, stereotype threat, just to name a few. 

The Successful and Productive Academic Research Careers Jr. (SPARC Jr.) program targets undergraduates, and functions as a networking opportunity for students from all summer programs at Weill Cornell. The program provides professional development experiences designed to support aspiring scientists and physicians as they explore future career pathways. SPARC Jr. is an annual conference hosted by the Office of Access, Belonging and Student Success.  

At the end of the program students give an oral presentation during the Leadership Alliance National Symposium and present a poster during our end of summer Closing Ceremony 

ACCESS students have the opportunity to experience New York City by attending different community building activities organized by the program's graduate assistants. 

In this section, please indicate why you would like to participate in this summer research program, discuss your previous research experiences and also indicate your short- and long-term career goals. Please keep your essay to 1000 words. See Summer Research Early Identification Program (SREIP) instructions for detailed information . 

Upload an unofficial transcript(s) to the Leadership Alliance SREIP portal. Transcripts for every college or university you have attended must be submitted. 

Please enter contact information for 2 recommenders to be sent via the SREIP portal. It is recommended, though not required, to have letters of recommendation from:  

1. A research faculty member from a lab you have worked in or who is familiar with your research potential.
2. A letter of recommendation from a science faculty instructor or program director (such as McNair) commenting on your motivation and potential for scientific research 

In this section, please utilize the most up to date version of your resume in this section to highlight your most significant experiences with a few descriptive paragraphs. You will have the opportunity to provide up to 5 research experiences and 5 relevant experiences (work/extracurricular activities).  See SREIP instructions for more details.