The Louisiana Cancer Research Center Summer Undergraduate Cancer Research Experience (SUCRE) is an 8-week immersive summer cancer research opportunity for undergraduates interested in exploring a career in cancer research. Selected students will gain experience by learning how to conduct research and from many additional rewarding, enjoyable opportunities for our students including social and recreational activities, and cultural events, as well as self-help seminars that will prepare you in all aspects of graduate school life and beyond including resume writing, graduate school applications, test taking, grant writing and more.

This 8-week summer cancer research opportunity for undergraduates has faculty mentors from three different institutions in New Orleans, the Louisiana: State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans, Tulane School of Medicine, and Xavier University of Louisiana. As a selected student, you will design and implement a tailor-made research project. Students will then conduct exciting and challenging experiments to test hypotheses under the guidance and mentoring of our expert faculty. As students are being trained in biomedical research, they will have the opportunity to explore cutting edge techniques and gain knowledge of the latest instrumentation by utilizing the equipment in our labs and the core facilities that provide support to our entire LCRC faculty.

We invite applications for our Summer Undergraduate Cancer Research Experience (SUCRE) program for students enrolled at colleges and universities in Louisiana as well as other states, who are motivated to explore exciting opportunities for careers as scientists in biomedical research, while working with our experienced research faculty and alongside their current graduate students and postdoctoral research associates in their laboratory.

Who Should Apply

· Current undergraduate with at least one semester of coursework remaining before obtaining a bachelor’s degree. 

Benefits

· A $6,500 stipend will be provided, which includes an allowance that can be used towards housing, meals, travel, supplies or other student support

Students will also be provided with access to:

· Campus library system and facility

· Wireless internet access

Events

· Department seminars and presentations

· Professional development workshops (e.g., applying to graduate school, taking the GRE)

· Research Symposium

Important Dates and Details

2026 Application season open

2026 Application deadline - January 15th, 11:59 p.m. CST

Program duration   Monday, June 1 — Friday, July 24, 2026

Location    Louisiana Cancer Research Center, New Orleans

For information contact:

‍Charles Wood, PhD  contact@lcrc.info

LCRC Assistant Director Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination Cancer Crusader Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, LSU Health

Upon completion of your award, please submit a final report within 45 days.

Please use this form to submit your progress for your Seed Award. The progress report should be no more than 3 pages.

Use this form to request a second year of funding of up to $50,000. Please submit a progress report, a supplemental research plan, and a budget along with its justification.

Eligible Applicants

• Active Cancer Center Members 
• Must be an LCRC Seed or Strategic Investment Award recipient
• Must be a continuation of the originally funded project and may not be supported by existing extramural funding or internal seed grant, or supplement funding

Budget Information

Direct costs may not exceed $50,000 (indirect costs are not allowed). 

Funds may be used for salaries of research personnel, supplies, and other research-related expenses. Faculty effort/salary support is permitted, up to $10,000, if justified or required by the PI’s institution (academic “buyout”). Tuition reimbursement is not allowable.

Application Instructions

Research Proposal

Supplemental Research Plan (4 pages maximum)

• Updated AIMS
• How will the additional year build on the research conducted during the first phase of the award
• Relevance to our catchment area (Louisiana/Gulf South)
• Description of translational or inter-programmatic component(s)
• Research Strategy
• Brief Description of Future Plans, Including Potential for acquiring Extramural Funding

· Budget (1 page)

· Budget Justification (1 page)