Summer Undergraduate Program in Kidney Science (SUPerKS)
Summer Internship Program
Program Overview
Kidney disease represents a significant growing threat to public health. Unfortunately, efforts to find effective prevention strategies and innovative new treatments have been hampered by a paucity of kidney disease researchers. Traditional workforce recruitment methods are drying up, and low awareness of kidney disease has made it difficult to attract talented scientists outside of nephrology and medicine from other spheres of science, despite major technological and conceptual advances in the kidney science field. We present a program to address this need, focusing nationally on talented undergraduate students broadly interested in biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering.
This program, Johns Hopkins Summer Undergraduate Program in Kidney Science (SUPerKS), leverages the unique resources of a preeminent university to provide trainees with innovative research opportunities, mentoring by leaders and rising stars in the field, exciting didactic and problem-based training experiences, clinical immersion, intellectual enrichment activities, team-building and social events over the summer. SUPerKS operates within the Kidney Physiology and Precision Medicine Center, which brings together a highly dynamic group of investigators from clinical and basic science departments within the JHU Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Engineering to work on kidney science challenges. Other innovations include a kidney-focused curriculum, mentorship training, and an institutionally funded administrative office that is devoted to supporting summer internship programs. At the end of the training cycle, the trainees and their projects are celebrated in a summer programs event at Johns Hopkins. Students also travel to present their work and meet participants in the other programs funded by this mechanism. SUPerKS trainees exit the program with an appreciation for the value of research, improved interpersonal-communication skills, and a more sophisticated understanding and appreciation of the kidney. After 5 years of operation, the SUPerKS program should train 40 talented students advancing toward careers in the biomedical sciences, especially in the kidney science fields.
2026 SUPerKS SIP program will take place from Sunday, May 24, 2026, through Saturday, August 1, 2026.
SUPerKS Eligibility Criteria:
- At least 18 years old
- US Citizen or Permanent Resident (Note: NIH funds our program, and we are obligated to accept only US Citizens or Permanent Residents)
- College graduates are not eligible (Our program is open to current undergraduate students only)
- Current CV or Resume
- At least one year of college
- At least one semester of general chemistry and biology (or AP equivalent)
- Official college transcripts for each undergraduate institution attended, with a GPA greater than 3.0
- Two letters of recommendation (faculty and/or research mentors preferred)
- Two personal statements:
- One describing yourself and a formative experience that may have motivated your interest in science and medicine, AND
- One describing your career goals, past research experience, and research areas of interest OR a specific research interest in Kidney science and SUPerKS, and the reasons why you are applying for this program.
If you have not yet had direct research experience, explain how your academic background, extracurricular activities, or personal projects have prepared you for participating in research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
All eligible students interested in careers in public health, science, and medicine are encouraged to apply. In accordance with applicable law, race, ethnicity, and other legally protected characteristics will not be considered in the selection process.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Application Instructions
SUPerKS APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST
IMPORTANT: The SUPerKS program dates are Sunday, May 24, 2026, through Saturday, August 1, 2026.
- Participation is mandatory for the full duration.
- You must be available to begin on Sunday, May 24 (move-in day).
- We are unable to adjust these dates to accommodate semester overlaps.
- SIP Applications must be submitted online only through the JHU School of Medicine Summer Internship Program: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/pathway/summer-internship-program
- SIP Application link:
- For questions or assistance with the online application, contact: [email protected]