CREATE Undergraduate Scholars

CREATE Scholars offers a paid research internship to SDSU, SDSU-IV, and UCSD undergraduate students to work on cancer-related research projects via a full-time summer research experience, followed by a part-time academic year research experience at the sister location followed by a part-time academic year research experience. For example, SDSU students will have the opportunity to work with UCSD faculty and vice versa.

• Receive a $4,000 stipend to work on a cancer research project during the summer experience.
• Receive funding to present your research at a national or regional conference.
• ​​Contingent on funding,​ receive support for graduate program application development, MCAT/GRE prep, and graduate application fees.

CREATE Scholars will also have the option (pending funding) to continue working on a cancer research project with SDSU or UCSD faculty during the academic year and will receive a $2,000 stipend per semester (about $1333.33 per quarter).

Cancer research areas include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Bench research: biochemistry, bioengineering, cancer genomics, microbiology, molecular biology, medical pharmacology, organic chemistry, immunology, structural biology
• Statistics and computer science: Bioinformatics, biostatistics, computational biology modeling, computer science
• Public health, population, and socio-behavioral science: community health science, psychology, sociology, epidemiology, geography, social work, health communication, health policy and management, health promotion and education, nutrition and cancer​, cancer survivorship​

CREATE Scholars must commit to participating in the full length of the program:

• A Full-Time (40 hrs./wk.) Summer Research Experience at UC San Diego from June 22 – August 14, 2026.

CREATE Scholars will have the option to continue into our academic year research experience

• A part-time (10-15 hrs./wk.) research experience (Fall 2026 – Spring 2027), working on a cancer research project with SDSU, SDSU-IV, or UCSD faculty.

CREATE Scholars from SDSU must also complete required coursework and professional development opportunities each semester as assigned.

• PSY 492: Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research – 1-unit CR/NCR course in the Fall 2026 Semester
• PH 499: Cancer Health Disparities Journal Club - 1-unit CR/NCR course in the Spring 2027 Semester

CREATE Scholars from UCSD and SDSU-IV must also complete the required in-person Responsible Conduct of Research training for the academic year internship via the UCSD and SDSU-IV campus.

Applications for the CREATE Scholars 2026-27 cohort will be accepted until Friday, January 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST. Community college students transferring to SDSU, SDSU-IV, or UCSD in Winter 2026 quarter or Spring 2026 semester are welcome to apply!

Begin the CREATE Scholars Application process

For questions regarding the CREATE Scholars Program, its application, and/or student eligibility, please do the following:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• E-mail the Program Coordinator
• Connect on Instagram

CREATE Scholars, from the San Diego State University/ UC San Diego Cancer Research and Education to Advance HealTh Excellence (CREATE) Partnership is sponsored and supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers U54CA285117 (SDSU) & U54CA285115 (UC San Diego).