UC summer program gives high school students hands-on research experience
Medical Sciences Summer Institute adds introductory informatics track
The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine is expanding its Medical Sciences Summer Institute (MSSI) this year with a new medical informatics track that introduces high school students to artificial intelligence, data science and health care analytics.
The weeklong workshops allow rising high school juniors and seniors who are curious about medicine and other health care careers to gain hands-on biomedical research experience while exploring cellular or molecular biology or data science.
“The University of Cincinnati is renowned for having experiential learning as a core part of its DNA. It’s something we’ve done for more than a century.”
Kevin Haworth, PhD Associate dean for undergraduate education
Like-minded students from different high schools will have the opportunity to network with peers and professionals while experiencing what it’s like to work in an advanced lab setting.
“The University of Cincinnati is renowned for having experiential learning as a core part of its DNA,” said Kevin Haworth, PhD, associate dean for undergraduate education. “It’s something we’ve done for more than a century.”
Previous Medical Sciences Summer Institute participants gather around an instructor in a lab. Photo/Provided.
“We want to share the outstanding educational resources we have at the College of Medicine with talented high school students in the wider community."
The workshops are led by expert faculty who also teach within the College of Medicine’s medical sciences major, a premier program with a reputation for excellence in preparing students for medical school and other health care careers and graduate study in the biomedical sciences.
“Some students who have taken part in MSSI went on to apply and were accepted into the medical sciences major,” said Haworth.
One of those students is Marisa Poff, now a first‑year medical sciences student and MSSI 2023 participant.
“MSSI helped me understand what the medical sciences program offers, which is a big part of why I’m now majoring in it at UC,” said Poff.
Session options
This year’s program includes three tracks: cellular biology, molecular biology and the new medical informatics track.
“The medical informatics track will teach cross-disciplinary skills at the intersection of medicine and data science,” said Scott Vennemeyer, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Education and an MSSI faculty member.
Students in the medical informatics track will learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, data management, data visualization and machine learning using health care datasets. They will also explore data wrangling and cleaning techniques and create their own predictive models.
“We want to help students solve real-world health care problems using data analysis tools,” said Vennemeyer.
Session options
Session 1: June 1-5, 2026 Cellular
Session 2: June 8-12, 2026 Cellular
Session 3: June 8-12, 2026 Medical Informatics
Session 4: June 15-19, 2026 Molecular
Session 5: June 22-26, 2026 Molecular
All sessions run 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.
The cellular and molecular biology track workshops are both taught by Aristotelis Astreinidis, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Education, and held in the same state-of-the-art research labs that undergraduate students use. Participants will learn basic lab techniques and instrumentation, including the use of micropipettes, and tour advanced research core facilities within the College of Medicine.
“Participating in the Medical Sciences Summer Institute was the first time I ever worked in a real lab setting. It truly prepared me for college-level labs,” said Poff. “Because of the skills I gained through MSSI, I was able to join a research lab early in my college career.”
Students in the cellular workshops will learn topics such as gene expression, aseptic technique, transfection, fluorescence microscopy and cell passaging and counting, as well as cell-based assays used in drug screening, wound healing and oxidative stress research.
Previous Medical Sciences Summer Institute participants present to the larger group. Photo/Provided.
The molecular workshops introduce students to protein biochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, plasmid DNA isolation, recombinant DNA and bacterial transformation.
All three tracks will include an ethics component and end the week with a mini symposium and graduation ceremony.
“I highly recommend MSSI to anyone considering a future in health care,” said Poff. “It gives you confidence, clarity and experience you can’t get anywhere else.”
How to apply
Previous Medical Sciences Summer Institute participants present to the larger group. Photo/Provided.
Space is limited to 100 participants. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by Aug. 1, 2026, and must apply online, including a one-page summary of their academic history, extracurricular involvement and leadership positions, similar to a resume. They also need to include a one-page personal statement addressing why the program would be beneficial and describing any prior experience that would make the applicant a good fit.
“However, previous research or coding experience is not a requirement,” said Michele Glassmeyer, experiential learning program manager for the medical sciences program.
The cost of one session is $1,100. Limited financial assistance is available, and applying for it is embedded in the application.
The program offers three partial scholarships and two full scholarships: one for a student residing in Adams County and one for a student residing in Brown County.
The application deadline is Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can expect to hear back within about two weeks.
Attend the Medical Sciences Summer Institute
For those interested in attending, please visit the Medical Sciences Summer Institute website.
Featured image at top: Previous participants in the Medical Sciences Summer Institute (MSSI). Photo/Provided.
Tags
- College bound
- Experience-based Learning
- College of Medicine
- Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
- Student Experience
- Academic Health Center
- Biomedical Informatics
- Office of Research
- Health
- Research
- Artificial Intelligence
- Faculty Staff
- Ohio Impact
- Admissions
- Medical Education
- Science & Tech
- City of Cincinnati
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