CVI Summer Research Program

Eligibility for Undergraduate Students: 

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, or foreign nationals holding a student, exchange, or permanent resident visa, including an F-1, H1, H1B, J1, PR, TC, or TN visa are eligible for our program. Students who are foreign nationals or DACA recipients are only eligible if they are entering at least their third year of undergraduate study following the program end. Individuals graduating from an undergraduate degree program in Spring/Summer prior to the program start (within six months) are also eligible.

Eligibility for Medical Students: 

U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for our program. To qualify for the program as a medical student, you must be enrolled in medical school at a US institution.

The application includes: 

• Completed Application Prompt Document (Word or PDF)
• CV (or Resume)
• Transcript (Unofficial Transcript is acceptable)
• 1-3 Letters of Reference

Review Criteria:

• Potential: Has a high likelihood of a research experience providing a strong impact on their career. For example, a student who is plateauing will not gain much from a new research experience at Stanford. A late-bloomer, or a student with limited access to research resources, may find a summer research experience at Stanford much more impactful.
• Self-awareness: Has a well-calibrated self-assessment. Self-awareness of failures and mistakes helps individuals identify and overcome weaknesses. This is a quality that tracks well with students benefiting from short-term research experiences.
• Competence: Has demonstrated strong skills in the work they've done. Not necessarily grade-based, but also practical experience working in teams or pursuing research.
• Commitment: Has a clear motivation or passion that propelled them into applying for this program.
• Creativity: Has novel ideas and approaches for tackling challenges

Below is a list of mentors who have participated in the past. Please indicate in your application if there are particular PIs that you are interested in working with. Note that each student will be matched with a mentor once we have made an offer and received a signed letter of acceptance from the student. We will do our best to match you with one of your listed mentors but cannot guarantee your choice. Please note that any PI at Stanford is eligible to be a faculty mentor.

Please refer to this link to learn more about the CVI Summer Research Program mentors!

On campus housing is a requirement of the CVI Summer Research program unless alternative housing arrangements outside the program have been verified. Students are offered three options to devote their stipend to either six, eight weeks or ten weeks of on-campus housing and board. Option one is six weeks of on-campus housing and board with ~$2,800 of stipend, option two is eight weeks of on-campus housing and board with ~$1,900 of stipend, and option three is ten weeks of on-campus housing and board with ~$500.

What dates do the summer research commitments start and finish?

The CVI Summer Research Program will begin in the middle of June and end sometime in the middle of August. Although 8 weeks of research in person are required, some cases may be granted if and when that 8 week of research is completed. Additionally, up to two weeks of research may be conducted virtually, if PI mentor approval is granted

What year do I have to be to apply as an international student?

International students must be at least in their second year of their undergraduate degree to be eligible for our program.

Do international students need visas in order to apply?

We recommend international students (students who are not US citizens or permanent residents) have a visa in-hand before applying to our program, because of the length of time it takes to secure a visa. Stanford's CVI cannot help in obtaining a visa for the program's participants due to the short time period between acceptance into the program and the program start date.

Am I eligible to apply if I graduate right before the program begins?

You are eligible to apply for the program if your graduation date falls within 6 months of the start of the program.

Do I upload all transcripts if I have been to multiple institutions?

We recommend uploading all available transcripts.

What if my transcript is not available in time for the application due date?

A letter of good standing is sufficient if a transcript is unavailable.

Is there a word count for the writing statements?

Each writing statement must be half a page of text, or approximately 250 words.

What do I write about in the Statement of Research/Professional Experience if I don’t have any research experience?

We recommend writing about professional or academic experiences that have shaped your interest in participating in our summer research program.

Do I provide all GPA’s if I went to multiple institutions?

Please provide the GPA of your current institution.

Is there a GPA cutoff?

We do not have a GPA cutoff.

Will I have access to Stanford health facilities such as the gym?

Gym access may be available to those who request it, but is not guaranteed.

What do I do if I accidentally submitted my application before it was complete? 

We will always use the latest submission from you, but you are welcome to alert CVI staff and we will delete the incomplete application from the database.

Is this program specifically designed for medical students between their M1 and M2 year? 

Medical students in any year of their training may participate in our program as long as they are able to secure the necessary 10-weeks of time for research.

Is it possible to participate in the program completely virtually? 

We do not offer completely virtual research experiences; however, some labs may be able to accommodate a virtual research project. If you are accepted into our program please notify program administration about your need to participate in the program virtually and we will attempt to match you with a lab offering virtual research projects. Note that these opportunities are extremely unlikely to exist and if we cannot match you with such a lab you would need to participate in the program in-person or decline our offer. Please also note that participation in a fully virtual research project would reduce the stipend to $5000 due to removal of cost-of-living support.

Do students receive a stipend for participation?

Students receive a minimum stipend of  $7000. Students may receive approximately $1000 additional support for travel and accommodation, but these funds are not guaranteed. The program is unfortunately unable to provide on-site housing for students at this time. By law, payments to non-residents of the U.S. are subject to 14% Federal tax withholding and are reported on Tax Form 1042-S.

What are the demographics of applicants to the CVI Summer Program?

Information on our recruitment criteria and previous years' applicant demographics are available here.

Are any events open to the public?

Yes, individuals interested in attending public-access events should contact cvi_outreach@stanford.edu.