Belonging Salk summer programs bring equity and opportunity to the STEM career pipeline

These programs support current and future scientists from underrepresented populations at all stages of the research trajectory through hands-on research experiences, soft skills workshops, mentoring, networking, and more.

“These advocacy-centered efforts are a part of the Salk Institute’s commitment to ‘being good ancestors,’” says Jálin B. Johnson, head of Salk’s Office of Equity & Inclusion. “As we do our part to carry on Dr. Salk’s legacy, we are bringing together current and future innovators in science. This is done, in part, by championing diversity of thought, encouraging the amalgamation of scientific discipline and lived experiences, alongside curating supportive spaces for learning, research, training, and development. Each of these programs strives to create opportunities for members of the community to be a part of this legacy.”

Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars

Founded more than 30 years ago and led by Salk’s Education Outreach team, the eight-week Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars program provides paid opportunities for local high school students to explore how a scientific powerhouse like Salk is run. This year’s cohort included 11 students who worked in various roles across the campus—from learning research techniques in the labs and core facilities to writing about scientific discoveries with the Institute’s Communications team, or supporting their translation into commercial products with the Office of Technology Development (OTD). 

“The Heithoff-Brody Summer Scholars program empowered me as a student, a leader, a rising professional, and an individual,” says Danielle Dee, who interned with the OTD team. “Experiences such as company tours, career panels, presentation workshops, and professional branding seminars profoundly broadened my career perspectives and abilities, equipping me with essential skills such as organization, communication, time management, networking, and public speaking. The support of the Education Outreach team and my mentor, Ha Nguyen, gave me the skills and confidence to step out of my comfort zone. This experience has been a pivotal moment in my journey and ignited my ambition to pursue a career in technology transfer, where I can help bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and commercialization.”

Elevating Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE)

Spearheaded by Assistant Professor Christina Towers, Salk EDGE is a two-week summer program that equips graduate students from across the nation for competitive careers in academic science. Students are trained on cutting-edge techniques and provided with pilot grants to support the use of these new techniques in their home labs. EDGE is a fully funded competitive program that helps prepare students for postdoctoral training positions in top-tier labs. This year’s cohort included eight graduate students.

“During this program, I had the privilege of meeting esteemed Salk faculty and working alongside brilliant minds. This experience has deepened my understanding of cutting-edge biomedical research techniques and allowed me to present recent findings in my doctoral research to the Salk community. I am truly humbled and honored to be a part of the inaugural Salk EDGE cohort, which encompassed a broad range of expertise. Thank you to the Salk Institute for this incredible opportunity and for fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration.”

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Led by the Institute’s Office of Equity & Inclusion, Salk SURF is a 10-week, paid, mentored research program that aims to broaden access to summer research experiences for undergraduate students who have little or no prior research experience. This year, Salk hosted 10 SURF students.

“My time here was rewarding,” says Mhyraquel Quinto, a Nevada State University student who spent the summer in Salk Professor Joseph Ecker’s lab. “This internship not only opened my eyes to pioneering methods and technology but has also taught me a lot about myself. To say the least, my journey in life and in science is as expansive as I want it to be. I just have to search for opportunities. I loved every second of learning the twists and turns of adaptable science.”