<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA679165c2-c0b0-48ba-f823-6f776cd1f364" href="https://www.hhmi.org/">Howard Hughes Medical
Institute</a></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Summer Undergraduate Research Experience</p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA6e5d36b5-44e1-af13-9f7e-93440f24dfd1" href="https://www.hhmi.org/programs/cech-fellows">Cech
Fellows Program</a></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Explore a future in scientific research alongside some of the nation’s top scientists.</p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders. </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Key program dates</b></p>
<ul class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<li><b>November 17, 2025 </b>Application window opens</li><li><b>December 22, 2025</b> Application window closes</li><li><b>Spring 2026 </b>Applicants notified</li><li><b>June 15-August 14, 2026 </b>Summer Undergraduate Research Experience dates</li></ul>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Background</b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The Cech Fellows Program is named in honor of
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" title="Thomas R. Cech" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAb6c40a26-1077-3c20-b07e-15fce30d0926" href="https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/thomas-r-cech">
Prof. Thomas R. Cech</a>, former President of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a current HHMI Investigator. Prof. Cech’s discovery that RNA can function as a biological catalyst
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA7ad56d42-0f0f-72af-0f08-7944c0488dd8" href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1989/cech/facts/">
earned a Nobel Prize</a> and reshaped the field of molecular biology. During his tenure leading HHMI, he championed Investigator-led research, established the
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA142bb509-3e11-e74c-d355-bb2bf865f420" href="https://www.janelia.org/">
Janelia Research Campus</a>, and developed new educational opportunities for undergraduate students. This program reflects his commitment to cultivating the next generation of scientists.</p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Opportunity</b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The <a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAe4c1d769-6429-aead-63b8-7077433873ef" href="https://www.hhmi.org/programs/cech-fellows">
Summer Undergraduate Research Program (the Cech Fellows Program</a>) gives undergraduate students in the life sciences the opportunity to conduct hands-on research alongside leading scientists at HHMI laboratories across the US, from universities and research
institutions to <a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAb4fa4733-1b5d-f204-2fc3-36381c19efe3" href="https://www.janelia.org/">
HHMI’s research campus</a> outside of Washington, DC. (<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA1691c4de-f80f-d2c5-fb22-ebec9324a4f4" href="https://www.janelia.org/you-janelia/students-and-postdocs/summer-undergraduate-research-at-janelia">Janelia
Research Campus</a>). Students are matched with HHMI scientists conducting fundamental research that advances our understanding of biology and health.</p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">This immersive program gives students the chance to contribute to real scientific discovery, gain professional mentorship, and explore potential careers in biological and biomedical research.</p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Gain Hands-On Experience in Research & Lab Work</b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Through the summer, students will:</p>
<ul class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<li>Work full time conducting research and contributing to ongoing projects in an HHMI laboratory</li><li>Learn and practice new techniques and approaches in disciplines such as cell biology, genetics, neuroscience, and more</li><li>Work closely with and be mentored by exceptional scientists, from lab heads to PhD students</li><li>Build critical thinking and communication skills necessary for future research careers</li></ul>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>What the Program Offers</b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Beyond meaningful lab work, the program provides:</p>
<ul class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<li>A stipend to support summer travel, housing, and living expenses </li><li>An opportunity for participants to present their research and connect with a national cohort of peers at an end-of-summer research symposium at HHMl’s research campus outside of Washington, DC </li><li>An engaging virtual seminar series with HHMI scientists as well as professional development sessions focused on relevant skills building</li></ul>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b> </b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>Who is Eligible</b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The program is open to:</p>
<ul class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<li>Rising juniors and rising seniors enrolled full-time at an accredited US institution at the time of the program’s start date</li><li>US citizens, nationals, permanent residents, visa holders, and others with lawful immigration status and valid work authorization through at least August 14, 2026. HHMI does not sponsor visas for this program</li><li>Those able to travel to the host lab in which they are matched and secure their own housing (the provided stipend may be used for these expenses)</li><li>Those with a strong interest in lab research — although no prior research experience is required</li></ul>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><b>CONTACT</b></p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">For more information, please review the
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAdcadeeba-53a5-5088-5b72-01dd1f214216" href="https://www.hhmi.org/programs/cech-fellows/2026-faq">
2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience FAQ</a>.</p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">For any additional questions, email
<a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA8c3d40f6-27b7-63e8-f9a5-3588a3fefef0" href="mailto:CechFellows@hhmi.org">
CechFellows@hhmi.org</a>. </p>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
</body>
</html>