High School and Undergraduate Programs
CRTEC offers a variety of programs geared towards high school and undergraduate students during the summer as well as the academic year,
Summer Programs
YES in THE HEIGHTS (formerly CURE)
The YES in THE HEIGHTS program, formerly known as the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience (CURE), is a summer internship for high school and undergraduate students that aims to increase the pool of youth entering STEM fields.
Scientific Enrichment Month (SEM)
The Scientific Enrichment Month (SEM) program, brought to you by YES in THE HEIGHTS, is a free virtual program for high school students held in the summer (undergraduates and middle schoolers welcome if interested). This month-long program takes place in July and focuses on cancer education, scientific enrichment, and professional development.
Columbia University Pathways Programs
Columbia is home to many programs that serve as a bridge to recruit candidates, who have faced barriers in their academic journey, to advance from high school to undergraduate studies, undergraduate to graduate studies, graduate studies to faculty positions, and junior faculty positions to research independence.
As part of the Inclusive Faculty Pathways initiative, the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement has convened an administrative group called Columbia University Pathways Programs (CUPP) that connects the staff and faculty who coordinate these programs and organizes joint summer programming to create a climate of inclusion and belonging for participants.
Academic Year Programs
Scientific Enrichment Day Talk
Scientific Enrichment Day (SED) Talk is a free virtual series for high school students (with middle school and undergraduates also welcome) who are interested in cancer research, public health, and STEM careers. Building on the success of Scientific Enrichment Month (SEM), SED Talk takes a different approach by featuring peer and near-peer speakers from Columbia University—including high school and undergraduate interns, medical and graduate students, and predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers—who share their work and experiences in accessible ways.
Sessions are organized into three themes across the academic year:
- Cancer Research & Discovery (Fall: September–November)
- Professional & Academic Development (Winter: December–February)
- Cancer Prevention, Public Health & Equity (Spring: March–May)
By hearing directly from Columbia trainees and young professionals, students gain exposure to cancer science, explore career pathways, and build practical skills for their academic journey.
Join our Scientific Enrichment Digest Newsletter to receive details and register for upcoming sessions.
Other Undergraduate Research Opportunities
This web portal is a place where Columbia undergraduates can find research opportunities and mentors from across the entire university and Columbia faculty can post projects seeking undergraduate researchers.