About Community High School Engagement and Learning Program
The Community High School Engagement & Learning (CHiSEL) Program provides experiential learning opportunities for high school students interested in cancer research. Students will be paired with a Massey investigator at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for five weeks. The program will take place on site at the VCU Medical Center campus in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Through this program, students will be able to:
- Develop working relationships with cancer researchers
- Gain laboratory skills that can be applicable for further higher education goals
- Learn about the cancer burden in Virginia and the importance of community engagement in research
- Participate in cancer research seminars and network with current Massey trainees
CHiSEL program details
About the program
- Five-week mentored research experience (June 22-July 24, 2026)
- Final poster presentation of work at Massey’s Summer Research Symposium
- Minimum commitment of 25 hours/week (125 hours of laboratory experience)
Eligibility and application requirements
- Eligible applicants must be rising high school juniors or seniors
- Must be able to attend the program in its entirety (i.e., be able to get to/from campus and be present during work hours)
- Note: Students must not have any external commitments that conflict with the program's scheduled hours (i.e., vacation, work, class, etc)
- A letter of recommendation is required from a teacher, supervisor, coach, mentor, or other individual who can attest to the student’s academic interests and abilities
- Copy of updated resume
Download letter of recommendation guidelines (PDF)
CHiSEL applications open on November 15, 2025. For more information, contact us at MCCCRTEC@vcu.edu.
