Start Date: June 15, 2026

End Date: July 24, 2026

Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) is one of the largest institutes in the nation that focuses on reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health. Our High School Summer Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to participate in basic, translational, or clinical scientific research with the goal of stimulating interest in biomedical research as a potential career.

During the 6-week, 240-hour program (holidays included) each student will have the opportunity to work on their own research project under the guidance of an investigator and their staff at MWRI or Magee-Womens Hospital.

In addition, students will attend informal Lunch & Learn sessions, during which investigators will discuss biomedical science as a career from their personal perspectives and journeys in the field.

At the end of the program, students will present their research findings via a PowerPoint presentation to fellow summer interns, MWRI faculty and staff, and other invitees at the annual High School Internship Presentation Day.

The Institute includes basic, translational, and clinical faculty researchers from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, as well as from other departments at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Swanson School of Engineering.

Parking and Housing are not provided.

Students are eligible to receive a stipend of $1,800 for participating in this program if their household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania. The eligibility guidelines are based strictly on household income and can be found at https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/2013. Once selected to participate in the program, students will be asked to declare their eligibility status and to provide proof of eligibility if applicable.

• Application is open to high school students interested in learning about biomedical research who are currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school (ie. no rising sophomores or graduating seniors).
• Students must be over 16 years old by the program start date.
• Place of Residence: All applicants must have permanent/primary residence in the local southwest Pennsylvania region (Counties: Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Cambria).

Applications for the program will open on December 1, 2025 and will be accepted through February 9, 2026. Applications and supporting documents will not be accepted after February 9, 2026.

Application Checklist:

• Demographic Form containing Applicant Information and Demographic Information for NIH Reporting. Click here to fill out the Application/Demographic Form for the 2026 Summer Internship Program
• Two Letters of Recommendation — preferably from science teacher(s) and/or guidance counselor(s) are to be emailed directly by the referees to the MWRI High School Program Coordinator at MWRIHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu. Students are to not see or send recommendation letters
• Application materials must be compiled into a single PDF file, saved as LastName_FirstName, and submitted via email to MWRIHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu. The following materials must be included in the application materials for it to be considered complete:
  • Cover letter including work history (if applicable)
  • A one-page personal statement. We are looking for a compelling personal statement that conveys something distinctive about you or your life story and why you are interested in biomedical research and participation in the research program. Please also indicate if you have a preference for basic science or clinical research, or preference for any particular area(s) of research performed at MWRI.
  • High school transcript
  • Applicant’s and Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature Page. Click here to fill out the form

The internship will begin on June 15, 2026 and end on July 24, 2026. All application materials and letters of recommendation must be submitted by the deadline to be considered.

As in previous years, we anticipate the 2026 program to be highly competitive, and less than 8 percent of the students who apply are chosen. (We typically receive over 130 applications.)

• Family Gene Analysis: Identifying Likely Candidates for Non-Obstructive Azoospermia
• Fertility Preservation: Establishing Ideal Transport Conditions for Sample Viability
• EGFL6 in Ovarian Cancer: Characterization of Tumors in the BPRNE Mouse Model
• The Effect of Med12 Knockout on DNA Methylation
• Menstrual Health in Teenage Girls
• Decreasing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality: Innovative Ways to Support Pregnant Black Women
• Antibacterial Properties of Graphene Coated Polypropylene Meshes
• Optimizing Process Parameters for the Manufacturing of Anti-HSV Films
• Pioneering Protocols for Translational Application in Male Fertility Preservation
• Uric acid in early pregnancy among women with anxiety/ depression: is there a measurable relationship?
• Evaluation of Levonorgestrel Permeability in an Ex Vivo Cervical Tissue Model
• Construction of database to enable the non-invasive detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids
• The Effectiveness of Lifestyle Training to Reduce Blood Pressure After a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy
• A Qualitative Analysis of Varying Methods to Improve Maternal Health in Cases of Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy
• The Pregnancy Experiences of Black Women

• Year the program was established – 1995
• Number of scholars completing the program – 259
• Number of institutions (high schools) scholars have come from – 70
• Number of faculty who have participated as mentors – 60

Ashley Bailey: mottaa@mwri.magee.edu