What is the Summer Student Research Program?
The Delaware INBRE Summer Student Research Program is an undergraduate summer research program sponsored through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) through funding to the Delaware INBRE program. In a partnership with five state institutions, including Christiana Care, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and the University of Delaware, selected undergraduate students are able to carry out independent research projects while studying full-time under a mentor to gain knowledge of research techniques and making unique scholarly or original impacts to the biomedical sciences.
Regional summer opportunities are available in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire & Rhode Island. Contact the INBRE education office at your school or email inbre-education@udel.edu, before applying to the regional programs.
Students are required to attend all mandatory Delaware INBRE events and also participate in an oral or poster presentation at the Research Symposium at the conclusion of the program. Scholars will be required to sign an agreement adhering to all terms and conditions of the program.
Application Timeline (3 & 4 may vary by research location)
- Summer 2026 Application opens January 15, 2026
- Applications & Recommendations Due March 1, 2026
- Students notified of decisions April 13-17, 2026
- Student acceptance deadline April 30, 2026
Eligibility
All undergraduate students are eligible to apply, provided that they:
- Are enrolled full-time as a rising sophomore or above;
- Delaware resident or attend Delaware college/university; and
- Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Program Opportunities
Digital Badge Program
Students in the DE-INBRE SRP not only have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with mentors in research settings, but they also attend professional development workshops and seminars to develop crucial skills.
By completing these, students have the chance to earn digital badges certifying their work in a particular area. Students can earn the Research Data Management Badge, the Student Research and Professional Development Badge, and the Science Communication Badge.
Science Communication Awards
Students are able to apply for the Science Communication Award. Explaining scientific work to a broad audience is an important part of biomedical research. The goal of this award is to recognize students who are able to effectively communicate their summer scholars project to a broad audience. Students are nominated and then move through multiple judging rounds of written and verbal scientific communication from their summer projects.
Students whose presentations stand out are awarded the Stanhope Science Communication Award, given in honor of previous DE-INBRE PI, Dr. Steven Stanhope. Dr. Stanhope had a passion for mentorship and biomedical research. This award winner embodies the passion Dr. Stanhope had for biomedical research leading to new knowledge that helps bridge gaps in health conditions that impact people each day.
Still have questions about the program?
Please view our Summer Student Research Program FAQ Page for more information
Additionally, if you still have questions, please contact the institutional leads below:
| University of Delaware | Linda Polasko | lpolasko@udel.edu |
| Delaware Technical Community College – Stanton Campus | John McDowell | jmcdowe8@dtcc.edu |
| Delaware State University | Hacene Boukari | hboukari@desu.edu |
| Christiana Care | Claire Rudolph | claire.h.rudolph@christianacare.org |
| Nemours Children’s Hospital | Sonali Barwe | Sonali.Barwe@nemours.org |