CURE Celebrates 20 Years of Education, Excellence and Workforce Equity
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Research Training Programs
YES for CURE
Three-Year training program for high school and undergraduate students
SPARC
12-week intensive research experience for UMass - Boston and affiliated community college students
CURE-Summer Only
Summer Only 8 - 12 week program for high school and undergraduate students
CURE student Alex Kaminsky, Dr. Antoine Karnoub and Dr Julie Konge
You will work in a cancer research environment, getting hands-on experience you will not find in any classroom. You will spend time alongside scientists and use state-of-the-art technology. You will learn what a research career is really like, develop a wide range of skills, and take part in groundbreaking cancer discoveries that change the world, one experiment at a time.
You will be assigned your own mentor and advisor, who will oversee your research and offer guidance. In addition to working on a research project, you will benefit from program activities such as:
- Attending scientific research and professional development seminars
- Comprehensive orientation
- Journal club that will assist with navigating scientific papers
- Panel discussions and events that feature STEM careers in academia, industry, and government agencies
- Networking and social events
- Preparation of an abstract and final presentation, helping to develop your writing, speaking, and presentation skills
Weaam relaxing between CURE team building sessions at Hale Reservation
"The CURE program greatly enhanced my professional skills as well as the way I now convey my wants and goals. Many of the workshops and speakers helped me identify what I want to do and how I can get there. My speaking skills have improved immensely especially in situations like interviews and panels, because of everything I have been exposed to. Because of this and so much more, I am forever grateful to the CURE program for providing me with this incredible experience."
– Weaam Arman
Judene attending UMass Boston Education Day
"In my second year experience, I learned how to maneuver challenges better. I have grown in terms of my confidence level and presentation skills, and how to get my point across to others and help them to understand it.”
-Judene Thomas
Makena asks a question at UMass Boston Education Day
"This comprehensive and well-developed program cultivates a culture of excellence driven by passion and collaboration. After moving to Boston from Argentina in 2014, discovering a group of students and mentors who are excited to learn, share, and grow has meant finding a second home. I have come out of this experience more determined than ever that studying and contributing to science is the way through which I want to make this world a better place."
– Makena Binker-Cosen
CURE student Kenesha Darlington
"The CURE program has taught me how to think more critically and become more like a scientist. The caliber [sic] of mentorship is parallel to none, and played an integral role in shaping my CURE experience. I was most excited to use the laboratory skills I learned [this] summer for the thesis project when I returned to my college."
–Kenesha Darlington
Ted Hilaire (on left; at right, mentor Dr. Michaela Reagan, Laboratory of Dr. Irene Ghobrial)
“The first day … I had such an eye opener I immediately told my family that this program will change my life. I would love to pursue a MD and become an oncologist.”
– Ted Hilaire
Carleen Njoku (on left; mentor Dr. Meghan Underhill, Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services)
"The research I did at the CURE program was nursing-based research. I love research and CURE has allowed me to continue my research interests as a career. My current educational aspirations are to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree and continue on to receive my PhD in nursing."
– Carleen Njoku
Madino Ali (research environment of Dr. Michele Gadd)
“I worked with Dr. [Michele] Gadd, a breast cancer surgeon at Mass General Hospital. Being able to make connections not just with mentors or speakers but also among peers was great. I had a wonderful time. I know that it will stay with me forever and I feel blessed to have had such opportunity. I feel more inspired and motivated than I have ever been.”
– Madino Ali
CURE Student Christina Marcelus (right; mentor Dr. James DeCaprio)
"I aspire to matriculate into an MD/PhD program. My goal is to practice medicine while incorporating the innovative scientific research to my practice. I thoroughly enjoyed my CURE experience. I learned a lot about the trajectory of scientific research and where I see myself in this picture. The 2-year CURE program is an amazing opportunity to remain immersed in the field of science outside of the classroom. I enjoyed talks that were given from professionals throughout the field of science—from clinics to the bench. These experiences throughout the year have served as motivation through my studies and into my second summer of research."
– Christina Marcelus
Maya presents her poster at the CURE e-Poster session
"About 3-4 weeks into the program when students were immersed in journal and book club (with the theme of breast cancer), it was eye opening to know the logistics and terminology around breast cancer. Having this knowledge under my belt, I felt confident to be able to read my mom’s medical history which involves her treatment for breast cancer. At the time my mother was treated, I was only eight years old and really did not understand what was going on except that mom was really sick. Nine years later, I am able to dissect the language of her medical procedures and also talk to her about what was going on at that time. Turning the pages of the record, tears began to swell in my eyes seeing words I had recognized from journal club... , thanks to the wonderful CURE program, my family has benefited from the experience I was offered. Without this opportunity, I would not have had the competence to know what happened; the "Make important discoveries about yourself” part of the website, was really true."
– Maya Dennis