Applications for 2022 are now closed. Please stay tuned for information on the 2023 Program in the spring.

Engineering the Cell is a summer program in the Peyton lab, exclusively for high school women. If accepted into the program, you will spend five weeks in the lab, learning about how engineers can make a difference in cancer research, working directly with Dr. Peyton and graduate students, and learning how to do cutting edge science. You will also receive a small stipend for your participation in the program. There is no cost to you to participate in the program! We hope the small stipend ($2500 per student) will make it possible for you to join us for five weeks. Lunch is provided every day of the program as well at no cost, above the stipend you receive.

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PLEASE NOTE: there are NO GPA requirements for this program, and there is NO COST to the student. Students will provided a small stipend to participate, and we provide lunch at the Number 1 Rated UMass Campus Dining. We only ask that participants provide their own transportation to and from UMass. Please contact Prof. Peyton with any further questions, and we look forward to seeing your application!

This program is generously sponsored by a grant awarded to the Peyton lab from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Funding for Engineering the Cell comes from a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to Dr. Peyton. Through this funding, combined with internship spots from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, we can typically host 1-4 students each year. If you would like to send a donation to fund a student to participate in this program, please click the Sponsor button below!  

• $2,500 will fund a student's stipend while in the program.  

• $312.50 will fund a student's meals while in the program. 

• Donations of any size will go toward these costs and are helpful in funding the lab materials and supplies they will use while working in the lab.

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When you click on the link, in the Fund Designation section, select Other and add ChemE/Peyton Lab/Engineering the Cell to make sure that this gift goes toward these students.

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Please note that under UMass policy, gifts are subject to a 3% gift enhancement fee, so 97% of your gift will go toward the students. Donations are tax deductible.

Quotes from previous participants:

"I had a lot of fun and I loved it."

"I absolutley loved this program! This has been by far the most educational summer I have ever had."

"Scientists really love their jobs. They have a lot of fun while still being professional and doing super cool research."

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Program Alumni:

2013: Valerie Gonzalez, Katherine Mora

2014: Maia Haiman, Christina Manson

2015: Kassie Frazier, Alexandria Triozzi

2016: Natalia Lopez, Mary-Catherine Whalen

2017: Jacqueline Seddon, Amayia Lanuesse

2018: Amanda Dee, Danielle Beason

2019: Catherine Paredes-Amaya, Kamilla Jules, Elizabeth Jimenez Bueno, Ezeobodo Ononibaku

2020 did not hold a program due to COVID-19

2021: Fatma Abdel-Maksoud, Nandi Chivende, Sianah Anderson-Haley, Zenani Himlin-Mayekiso

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List of high schools that our ETC students have participated from (we want to grow this list!):

Agawam High School

Amherst Regional High School

Hatfield Public School

Holyoke High School

Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School

Southwick Regional School