Funder: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Due Dates: November 10, 2026, 9 AM ET (Applications open) | December 17, 2026, before 5 PM ET (Application and recommendation letter)
Funding Amounts: $12,000 plus free housing at Janelia, or $15,000 at other host institutions, for nine weeks
Summary: A paid summer research experience connecting undergraduate students with HHMI laboratories for biomedical research, mentorship, and professional development.
Key Information: Full-time, in-person participation is required; classes, other jobs, conferences, travel, and other programs are not permitted during the fellowship.
Description
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Cech Fellows Program is a nine-week summer research experience for rising undergraduate juniors and seniors. Fellows conduct hands-on, fundamental research advancing understanding of biology and health alongside scientists in HHMI laboratories at universities and research institutions across the United States, including HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus near Washington, DC.
The program combines laboratory research with scientific mentorship, professional development, and connections with peers to help students explore careers in biological and biomedical research. Students with quantitative backgrounds—including computer science, electrical engineering, physics, and mathematics—may apply their skills to biomedical research. Relevant laboratories include those working in biophysics, bioengineering, computational biology, and neuroscience. No prior research experience is required.
