The Peyton Lab
Soft Materials, Cancer Bioengineering, and More
Engineering the Cell Summer Program
Engineering the Cell is on hiatus for 2024 as the lab moves to Tufts University.
We will restart the ETC program in summer 2025, hosted at Tufts in Medford, MA. Please check back for information in March 2025 on how to apply.
Engineering the Cell is a summer program in the Peyton lab, designed specifically for high school students from groups underrepresented in science and engineering. 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! 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.
For the 2023 program, we are looking for three participants, preferably who will be entering their junior year in the fall of 2023. But, we will accept applications from all who are interested. The program dates are Monday, June 26th to July 28th for 2023, from approximately 9am-4pm M-F. If you have any other questions about the program, contact Prof. Peyton via email.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
The National Science Foundation
Lauren Jansen and Charlie Swofford
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Internship Program
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!
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$2,500 will fund a student's stipend while in the program.
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$312.50 will fund a student's meals while in the program.
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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.
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.
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."
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
2022: Addison Lepak, Genevieve Lagrant, and Reese Haag
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
Longmeadow High School
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
Southwick Regional School
