Program Dates for 2026 Summer Scholars Program: May 27 to July 31, 2026
Online Application Opening for 2026 Program: November 15, 2025
Online Applications Close for 2026 Program: January 15, 2026 at 5 p.m. EST. Late applications and application materials will not be accepted past the deadline.
| The ability to engineer functional tissues and organs in the laboratory, the coordinated expertise of many disciplines of science, engineering, and clinical practice, including cell and molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, and physiology. Through an annual Summer Scholars Research Program, the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) offers undergraduate students' opportunities to experience this exciting, multidisciplinary research firsthand with focus on many of today's most challenging areas of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). |
The ability to engineer functional tissues and organs in the laboratory, scale-up and biomanufacture these technologies and ultimately deliver to patients, requires the coordinated expertise of many disciplines of science, engineering, and clinical practice, including cell and molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, and physiology. Through its annual Summer Scholars Program, the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) offers diverse cohorts of undergraduate students' opportunities to experience this exciting, multidisciplinary research firsthand.
The 2026 program will be held from Wednesday, May 27 to Friday, July 31, 2026. Students accepted to the program will carry out research under the supervision of prominent biomedical scientists, participate in a range of scientific and professional development activities, network with leaders in the field, write a research summary, conduct an oral presentation, and have the opportunity to see their work published. Selected scholars receive a $6,000 stipend for the 10-week period and housing at Wake Forest dorms.
The program includes:
- Individually tailored research with faculty mentor(s)
- Short courses and seminars on alternating topics in regenerative medicine
- Professional development workshops
- Participation in final research symposium and poster session
- Social and networking events
- Graduate and medical school advising
- Opportunities to present your research in oral and poster format at WFIRM and professional meetings
| Online Application Opens | November 15, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | January 15, 2026 |
| Notifications Begin | February 20, 2026 |
| Notifications End | All applicants will be notified by March 15, 2026 or sooner |
| Program Start Date | May 27, 2026 |
| Program End Date | July 31, 2026 |
How should I respond to the essay questions?
Each of the essay questions should be answered separately with each response limited to 650 words in length. Do not exceed the word limit.
Are letters of recommendation or transcripts required?
Yes. We must receive an official transcript of your undergraduate study to date and one letter of recommendation before the application deadline.
Who should write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?
Your letter of recommendation may be written by a professor related to your major, an advisor and/or department chair. We encourage you to find an individual who can best speak to your qualifications, character, interest and commitment to engaging in research, ability to work in a team, interest in advanced education and training in STEM disciplines broadly, as well as and to extent possible, regenerative medicine more specifically.
How should I submit my Letter(s) of Recommendation and Official Transcript?
Letters of recommendation and official transcripts may be emailed to summerscholar@advocatehealth.org.
Email is preferred; however, both may also be postal mailed to:
Attn: Joan F. Schanck, MPA, Director, Summer Scholar Program
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Suite 199
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Will I be penalized if my recommendation letter is sent in late?
Yes. All application materials, including letters of your letter of recommendation and transcripts, must be submitted on or before the application deadline. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted after the due date. Your application will not be reviewed if it is not complete; including the letters of recommendation.
What is the minimum GPA for acceptance?
Cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher (on the 4.0 scale).
Can I mail a hard copy of my application?
No. We cannot accept hard copies of applications. Only online applications will be reviewed; however, official transcripts and one letter of recommendation may be emailed or postal mailed as described above.
Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
In order to be eligible, you must be U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. or be eligible to work in the U.S. at WFIRM for the 10-week summer program. International students who currently have a J-1 or F-1 visa and who are already attending school in the United States are also eligible to apply.
Do you have to be in college to apply?
Yes. You must be currently enrolled at time of application in a degree-granting program at an undergraduate college, community college or university in the U.S., Puerto Rico or other U.S. territory.
Are there any age restrictions?
Yes. Applicants must be 18 years of age on or before the first day of the summer scholars program and meet the following additional criteria: Have completed at least two semesters of undergraduate education by the start of the Summer Scholar Program and a committed/interested in pursuing Postgraduate education.
When will I be notified of acceptance?
Decisions start mid-February and will continue until all scholars have been selected. All applicants will be notified via the email the student provided in their application by March 15, 2026.
What are the program requirements?
- Orientation
- 10 weeks of research
- Professional development seminars/training/workshops and RME course
- Final Research Day Oral Presentation and Poster
What are the program objectives?
- To introduce students to the field of regenerative medicine and broaden their knowledge
- To enhance students’ excitement and sustained interest in research at the intersection of engineering and medicine with focus on the field of regenerative medicine
- To cultivate meaningful relationships between the interns, graduate student and faculty mentors
- To foster skill transference and exposure to modern instrumentation and rigorous analysis methods
- To educate students about the societal impact of their research
- To provide opportunities to enhance communication skills
- To develop interest and excitement for team-based studies and advanced education
Will I do collaborative or individual work?
The regenerative medicine field is highly multidisciplinary and WFIRM engages in a team-research culture. You will be assigned a primary faculty mentor and a graduate or postdoctoral fellow co-mentor. Your experience provides opportunities for both collaborative and individual work.
Do I need prior experience in the project research field?
No prior experience is required.
May I also take summer classes?
We prefer students DO NOT take summer courses so they can concentrate on the internship and participate in all program activities.
If I’ve already participated in the WFIRM Summer Scholars Program, can I apply again?
Yes, if you continue to meet all eligibility requirements, you may apply even if you've previously been through the program.
If I cannot stay for the entire duration of the program, may I still apply?
If selected, you MUST participate in the full length of the program.
Do I need to bring a car?
We recommend bringing a vehicle; however, carpooling with other students is always possible and there is a shuttle service from the dorm and public transportation in the region. Past students have found having a car or carpooling advantageous.
I am bringing a car. Do I need to purchase a parking permit?
No. Parking permits will be provided.
Are there any observed holidays during the summer?
Yes, July 4ᵗʰ is an observed holiday.
What type of housing is available?
Housing is provided through the Wake Forest University Reynolda campus (dormitory style). Information supplied upon selection.
Are travel expenses covered?
No, travel expenses are not paid by the program.
How much will I be paid?
You will be paid a $6,000 stipend.
What should I wear?
As you are working in a lab environment, you can learn more about both lab etiquette and what to wear in the Guidelines for being a good lab citizen at WFIRM document.
How many students typically apply?
Typically, 300-450 students apply to the program each year.
Introducing the 2025 WFIRM Summer Scholars
| Undergraduate Summer Scholars | Primary Faculty Mentor(s) |
| Elene Amonette Biology Belmont University |
Stephanie Walker, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Darcey Britt Engineering Biomedical Concentration Wake Forest University |
Marshall Z. Schwartz, MD Professor, WFIRM |
| Javier Cooper Biology Xavier University of Louisiana |
Stephen Walker, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Crystal Echeverria Materials Science & Engineering Biomedical Engineering Carnegie Mellon University |
Yuanyuan Zhang, MD, PhD Associate Professor, WFIRM |
| Krista Edwards Kinesiology North Carolina A&T University |
Joshua T. Maxwell, PhD Associate Professor, WFIRM |
| Catherine Engel Biomedical Engineering University of Virginia |
Emmanuel C. Opara, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Gabrielle Erwin Biology Winston-Salem State University |
Christopher D. Porada, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Faith Henderson Biochemistry Christopher Newport University |
Victoria Gail Weis, PhD Assistant Professor, WFIRM |
| Seth Kinoshita Biochemistry Georgia Institute of Technology |
Shay Soker, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Sofia Kuklina Biotechnology Florida Southern College |
Anthony Atala, MD Director and Professor, WFIRM |
| Anjali Malali Neuroscience Illinois Wesleyan University |
Graca Almeida-Porada, MD, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Laughton Miller Regenerative Bioscience and Applied Biotechnology University of Georgia |
Hooman Sadri, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, WFIRM |
| Dimitrios Owen Biomedical Engineering Duke University |
Yuanyuan Zhang, MD, PhD Associate Professor, WFIRM |
| Chaeyeon Park Biostatistics/Mathematics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Sean Vincent Murphy, PhD Associate Professor, WFIRM |
| Zephyr Paxton Biomedical Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
Frank C. Marini, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Aditi Rao Biomedical Engineering Arizona State University |
Anthony Atala, MD Director and Professor, WFIRM |
| Tarun Rao Bioengineering University of Illinois Urbana Champaign |
James J. Yoo, MD, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Aastha Shukla Biochemistry Wake Forest University |
Baisong Lu, PhD Associate Professor, WFIRM |
| Angadh Singh Biology and Economics Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Victoria Gail Weis, PhD Assistant Professor, WFIRM |
| Madeline Stevenson Biological Engineering Purdue University |
Xu Han, PhD, Assistant Professor, WFIRM Colin Bishop, PhD, Professor, WFIRM Giuseppe Orlando, MD, PhD, Prof, Surgical Sciences & WFIRM |
| Isabel Voinescu Biochemistry and French Grinnell College |
Joshua T. Maxwell, PhD Assistant Professor, WFIRM |
| Jonah Zaas Classics/Classical Literature Hamilton College |
Baisong Lu, PhD Associate Professor, WFIRM |
| Kaylee Zhang Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Rutgers University New Brunswick |
Colin Edward Bishop, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
| Sophie Zhang Biochemistry Rice University |
Shay Soker, PhD Professor, WFIRM |
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is about a 90-minute drive to WFIRM.
Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) is about a 2-hour drive to WFIRM.
There are shuttles to and from GSO, CLT and RDU to Wake Forest in addition to Ride Share services.