IDS Summer Internship

Infectious Disease Sciences Summer Scholars Internship Program

The Infectious Disease Sciences (IDS) Summer Scholars Internship Program on Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host is an integral part of our program’s training mission. We are excited to continue the program this year. Please find additional information and how to apply below. 

If you have a school sponsored internship award, or any specific questions about any individual PI’s or lab’s work, please email IDAdmin@fredhutch.org. 

Karsten Eichholz (Corey Group) and 2024 summer scholar intern Kira Hoffman
Josh Schiffer and 2025 summer scholar intern Felix Yuan outside
Dr. Steve Pergam and 2024 summer scholar intern Ria Mohan outside
Catherine Liu and 2025 summer scholar intern Shandra Truong, outside
Dr. Denise McCulloch and 2024 summer scholar intern Aditi Iyer
Karsten Eichholz (Corey Group) and 2024 summer scholar intern Kira Hoffman
Josh Schiffer and 2025 summer scholar intern Felix Yuan outside
Dr. Steve Pergam and 2024 summer scholar intern Ria Mohan outside
Catherine Liu and 2025 summer scholar intern Shandra Truong, outside
Dr. Denise McCulloch and 2024 summer scholar intern Aditi Iyer

Program Experiences

Internship Activities

  • Conducting a hands-on research project with faculty mentors
  • Opportunity for clinical shadowing at UW Medical Center and Fred Hutch
  • Laboratory observation and practical experience
  • Presenting your project to faculty and fellow trainees, at the program’s conclusion
  • Accessing a wide variety of relevant research conferences, meetings, presentations and/or symposia, including:
    • Affinity Groups on Mathematical Modeling and Infectious Diseases in Immunocompromised Hosts
    • Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention committees
    • Lab/group meetings, journal clubs

Research Areas

  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Herpesvirus and hepatitis B Infections
  • Human Microbiota
  • Immunotherapy
  • Infection Prevention
  • Math Modeling (coding experience required)
  • Respiratory Infections
  • Viral Infections

Types of Projects

Prior Summer Scholars Projects & Mentors

  • "Describing the incidence of breakthrough HSV in HCT recipients"  Mentor -  Steve Pergam
  • "Investigating factors associated with Aspergillus galactomannan fasle-positive results bloody bronchoalveolar lavage fluid" Mentor - Denise McCulloch
  • "Diagnostic Stewardship Opportunities in Enteric Pathogen Testing" Mentor - Catherine Liu
  • "Computational Modeling of HSV-2 mAbs with Viral Surface Glycoproteins" Mentor - Larry Corey
  • "Mathematical Modeling of Variable Dengue Infection Severity" Mentor - Josh Schiffer
 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Current university transcript (unofficial transcript is acceptable at the time of application)
  2. Curriculum vitae and/or resume. Please include any relevant research experience, presentations, publications, etc. 
  3. Letter of recommendation from a research/clinical mentor or university professor 
  4. Two essay responses
  5. Completed online application

 

  • Applicants must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student or first year medical or pharmacy student (MD, PharmD). 
  • We are unable to accept international students.

Example Application 2026

  • The 8-week program will run June 22 - August 14, 2026.
  • Applicants must be able to attend the full eight weeks. 
  • Each essay should be 200-250 words. 
  • Essay Prompt 1 - Resilience and Growth

Describe a significant challenge, obstacle, or unfamiliar situation you have encountered in your life or academic journey. Discuss how this experience influenced your personal and intellectual growth or perspective and shaped your aspirations in the field of infectious disease research. 

  • Essay Prompt 2 - Collaborative Success

Reflect on an experience in which you collaborated with a multidisciplinary or unique team to achieve a common goal. Describe the diversity of backgrounds, skills, viewpoints within the team and discuss how this diversity contributed to your collective success and the innovation/impact of your project.

  • The Infectious Disease Sciences Program does a broad range of research from laboratory (bench-based science) to clinical studies. Most work focuses on infections on immunosuppressed populations (those with weakened immune systems) such as cancer and transplant patients. Go to the IDS website and review the research focus of our different investigators to learn more about what might be available. Please note, we do our best to link students to mentors, but not all faculty will be able to work with students each summer.
  • Internships are completed on the Fred Hutch Cancer Center campus in Seattle, Washington.
  • Paid stipend for interns. 
  • Professional development workshops. 
  • Program sponsored activities. 

Contact Us

Please contact us by email with any questions about the Infectious Disease Sciences Summer Scholars Internship Program.