The Summer Scholars Program is a competitive summer research internship working with a faculty member of Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) or Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU on one of their current projects.
Participation in the Summer Scholar Research Program can greatly benefit those considering a career in health-related research or clinical medicine.
Students chosen for the program will conduct a pre-selected, mentored research project and present their project outcomes to the scientific community. This summer experience includes didactic research training and personalized application in research design, implementation and presentation. The Summer Scholars Abstract Booklet linked below provides insight on the experience.
Summer Scholars runs from Monday, June 1, 2026 through Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Students
The application form and all supporting documentation for students must be submitted by Jan. 30, 2026. All requirements and supporting documents are detailed on the application. You will be able to upload all attachments through the application. Please do not email or mail any documents.
Program Description
Students eligible for this program:
- Undergraduates: Students entering their senior undergraduate year for the Fall 2026 term, or students graduating before June 1, 2026.
- Graduate or Medical Students: Students entering their first or second year of graduate or medical school for the Fall 2026 term.
- Students who have completed their senior undergraduate year (or post-baccalaureate courses) and are preparing to apply to graduate or medical school in the near future. Former Summer Scholars are welcome to apply but will not be given priority acceptance.
Students are expected to be available full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) for the duration of the program. While there are typically no program commitments during weekends or EVMS holidays, we understand that personal matters may arise. If a student anticipates needing more than two (2) consecutive days off during the Summer Scholars Program, we kindly ask that they discuss and submit a written request (via email) to their mentor prior to accepting the program offer. This request should outline what days will be missed and how any missed responsibilities will be made up during the program period.
Once an agreement is reached, we ask that a copy be sent to the Summer Scholars team at vhssummerscholars@odu.edu.
Students are responsible for their own housing in the Norfolk area. Summer Scholars will provide rental leads from students who are willing to lease or share their apartments. Most of these rentals are within walking distance of our campus.
Students receive a $3,000 stipend.
In addition to a research project, students will be required to:
- Participate in a lecture series on various aspects of conducting and presenting research
- Give an oral research presentation under the mentor's guidance
- Write a scientific abstract describing their research
- Present a poster of project outcomes at the closing reception
Students eligible for this program:
- Undergraduates: Students entering their senior undergraduate year for the Fall 2026 term, or students graduating before June 1, 2026.
- Graduate or Medical Students: Students entering their first or second year of graduate or medical school for the Fall 2026 term.
- Students who have completed their senior undergraduate year (or post-baccalaureate courses) and are preparing to apply to graduate or medical school in the near future. Former Summer Scholars are welcome to apply but will not be given priority acceptance.
Students are expected to be available full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) for the duration of the program. While there are typically no program commitments during weekends or EVMS holidays, we understand that personal matters may arise. If a student anticipates needing more than two (2) consecutive days off during the Summer Scholars Program, we kindly ask that they discuss and submit a written request (via email) to their mentor prior to accepting the program offer. This request should outline what days will be missed and how any missed responsibilities will be made up during the program period.
Once an agreement is reached, we ask that a copy be sent to the Summer Scholars team at vhssummerscholars@odu.edu.
Students are responsible for their own housing in the Norfolk area. Summer Scholars will provide rental leads from students who are willing to lease or share their apartments. Most of these rentals are within walking distance of our campus.
Students receive a $3,000 stipend.
In addition to a research project, students will be required to:
- Participate in a lecture series on various aspects of conducting and presenting research
- Give an oral research presentation under the mentor's guidance
- Write a scientific abstract describing their research
- Present a poster of project outcomes at the closing reception
Mentors
Review the information below and fill out the Summer Scholars Mentor Application form by Jan. 23, 2026.
Mentor Information
- The Summer Scholars Mentor Application must be submitted by Jan. 23, 2026.
- The Summer Scholars Program Committee will review the student application materials and preferences for projects in categories (laboratory, clinical medicine, health behavior/psychology, public/community/global health, and educational research).
- The Program will make a preliminary match of top applicants with projects based on mentor requirements and applicant qualifications.
- In March - April, each Mentor and Scholar will be notified of their preliminary match via email. The Mentor and Scholar may either accept the match without interview or arrange to discuss the match. Mentors and Scholars must respond to the match email within one week of notification if they accept the match. If both parties agree with the preliminary match, then Summer Scholars will finalize that placement. If the Mentor and/or Scholar feels that the match is inappropriate, then the Mentor will be matched to an alternate Scholar.
- IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC protocols must be 'submitted' or 'approved' in order to be matched with a Scholar. If your protocol is in the 'planning' stage, submit your protocol as soon as possible. Forward approval letter(s) via email to vhssummerscholars@evms.edu.
- Communicate with your Scholar(s) by late April to discuss training requirements, reading materials, access to medical records, and any other resources needed to complete the project.
- Provide all project-specific training required to complete their project. The Summer Scholar Program will arrange CITI IRB/Human Subjects Research Training, Blood Borne Pathogens, and Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Training.
- Provide desk space and a computer (if needed) for on-campus projects. Most Scholars bring their own laptops. Mentors should provide any specialized software required to complete the project.
- Provide basic mentoring as related to individual research projects and presentations. If a co-investigator is appointed to advise the Scholar in the Mentor's absence, then the Mentor must provide the co-investigator's name and contact information via email to vhssummerscholars@odu.edu.
- Meet at least weekly with your Scholar(s). Scholars require mentoring and regular supervision in order to successfully complete their project.
- Allow your Scholar(s) to participate in the weekly lecture series.
- Pediatrics faculty may request statistical support from the Biostatistician for the Dept. of Pediatrics.
- Review and approve the final version of the Aims & Goals Presentation, Abstract and Poster by Program deadlines.
- The Summer Scholars Mentor Application must be submitted by Jan. 23, 2026.
- The Summer Scholars Program Committee will review the student application materials and preferences for projects in categories (laboratory, clinical medicine, health behavior/psychology, public/community/global health, and educational research).
- The Program will make a preliminary match of top applicants with projects based on mentor requirements and applicant qualifications.
- In March - April, each Mentor and Scholar will be notified of their preliminary match via email. The Mentor and Scholar may either accept the match without interview or arrange to discuss the match. Mentors and Scholars must respond to the match email within one week of notification if they accept the match. If both parties agree with the preliminary match, then Summer Scholars will finalize that placement. If the Mentor and/or Scholar feels that the match is inappropriate, then the Mentor will be matched to an alternate Scholar.
- IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC protocols must be 'submitted' or 'approved' in order to be matched with a Scholar. If your protocol is in the 'planning' stage, submit your protocol as soon as possible. Forward approval letter(s) via email to vhssummerscholars@evms.edu.
- Communicate with your Scholar(s) by late April to discuss training requirements, reading materials, access to medical records, and any other resources needed to complete the project.
- Provide all project-specific training required to complete their project. The Summer Scholar Program will arrange CITI IRB/Human Subjects Research Training, Blood Borne Pathogens, and Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Training.
- Provide desk space and a computer (if needed) for on-campus projects. Most Scholars bring their own laptops. Mentors should provide any specialized software required to complete the project.
- Provide basic mentoring as related to individual research projects and presentations. If a co-investigator is appointed to advise the Scholar in the Mentor's absence, then the Mentor must provide the co-investigator's name and contact information via email to vhssummerscholars@odu.edu.
- Meet at least weekly with your Scholar(s). Scholars require mentoring and regular supervision in order to successfully complete their project.
- Allow your Scholar(s) to participate in the weekly lecture series.
- Pediatrics faculty may request statistical support from the Biostatistician for the Dept. of Pediatrics.
- Review and approve the final version of the Aims & Goals Presentation, Abstract and Poster by Program deadlines.
