Helios Scholars at TGen - Is it Worth Applying to this Internship as a High Schooler?
If you’re interested in biomedical research and want to gain practical experience working as a scientist, then Helios Scholars at TGen could be a sound program for you! At TGen, you get to work with a scientist and participate in cutting-edge research that can save lives.
Moreover, participating in summer programs is a great way to build professional skills, network, and link theory to practice. College admissions offices also give summer programs special consideration when evaluating a student’s profile, since they prove demonstrable interest in a subject.
In this blog, we will deep dive into Helios Scholars at TGen and review what it's about, the important dates, application tips, and the pros and cons of applying to the program.
What is Helios Scholars at TGen all about?
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment institution, offers the Helios Scholars program to graduating high school seniors, undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students interested in conducting biomedical lab research, and who study in an Arizona high school or university.
TGen’s research focuses on the genetic components of diseases that include cancer, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and childhood disorders. Interns part of the Helios Scholars program spend the summer researching public diseases and pathogens under the guidance of a TGen researcher. Interns can choose to intern in laboratory research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration, all components of translational research.
If selected, you will work 40 hours a week for eight weeks. The internship is paid, with the stipend determined by your level of education. Apart from lab research, the program includes attending seminars, practicing scientific writing, attending networking events, and participating in a poster symposium at the end of the internship.
Who is eligible to participate in the program?
Helios Scholars is open to all graduating high school seniors, undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students who meet the following criteria:
Attend an Arizona high school or university
Be at least 16 years of age
Have the right to work in the U.S.
If you’re a high school freshman, junior, or sophomore interested in interning at TGen, we recommend you check out their Bioscience Leadership Academy.
What are the important dates?
The program runs for eight weeks in the summer, from June 10, 2024 to August 2. The program will follow a similar timeline for 2025, beginning in early June and ending by late July/ early August.
Applications open in December and will close sometime in February. Final decisions will be made and selected students notified by the first week of April.
Is the program paid?
Yes! TGen pays its interns based on their education level. Interns receive an hourly stipend that adheres to the following pay scale (as of 2024):
$14.35 per hour for high school students;
$15.05 per hour for undergraduate students; and
$17.40 per hour for graduate and medical school students.
Is Helios Scholars prestigious?
We consider Helios Scholars a prestigious and selective program because it allows you to work alongside leading scientists conducting lifesaving research into pathogens and public diseases. Not to mention, the program is paid, which makes it more selective.
How do I get selected for the program?
To apply, you must send in a completed application form, including the contact information for two referees. Your application will include a personal statement of no more than 600 words, which should address some, if not all of the following questions: Why do I want to participate in the program? Why might I be a stronger candidate than other applicants? What is unique and distinctive about me? What are my career goals? How would TGen benefit by selecting me?
The selection process involves two rounds. In the first round, TGen faculty and staff evaluate your profile based on your academic ability, initiative, achievements, professionalism, and other characteristics. If you pass this round, you become a “finalist” and may be called for an interview. Since TGen scientists choose applicants they would potentially like to work with in this round, not all finalists may be interviewed.
What does TGen expect from me?
If selected as a Helios Scholar, TGen expects you to fulfill the following criteria:
Work 40 hours a week under the guidance of your mentor
Complete the biosafety and human subjects training
Attend and participate in various workshops and seminars
Create and present a scientific poster of the work you completed at an end-of-program symposium
Present the work you completed during the internship to your research team
What are the Pros and Cons of Attending Helios Scholars at TGen?
Pros:
1. You get to research public diseases
TGen scholars conduct research in public diseases and pathogens, with focus areas covering laboratory research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration. Many research institutes are now focusing on preventing the next disease outbreak, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. You are mentored by TGen scientists
You spend eight weeks working alongside a TGen scientist on an ongoing project, a rare educational opportunity that will teach you a lot about the workings of a laboratory and a scientist's role in making discoveries. This experience can help determine if a researcher’s career is right for you!
3. You get paid!
Helios Scholars is a paid internship, which is an added incentive to participate. It also makes the program more accessible to economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The stipend depends on your education and ranges between $14.35 to $17.40 per hour. You will work 40 hours per week for eight weeks.
4. You can avail of networking opportunities
TGen organizes several events to connect you with peers, scientists, and other professionals working in biomedical research. You can learn a lot from them and also save their contacts for future use.
Cons:
1. You must study in Arizona to be eligible
The program is only open to students studying in Arizona, which makes many deserving candidates ineligible to apply.
2. TGen does not make housing arrangements
The program takes place at TGen North in Flagstaff. You will have to make your own living arrangements if you are not from the area. This can be stressful and present an additional financial burden.
Our review — what do we think of the program?
Helios Scholars at TGen is a sound program if you are interested in biomedical research and want to work in a laboratory alongside scientists. The program can be competitive, and you will gain exposure to research and network with peers and leading scientists, from whom you can learn a lot. The program is paid, which makes it more accessible. The only drawbacks are that the program is only open to Arizona students, and TGen does not make housing arrangements during the internship.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper in a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far, and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
You can find the application link here
If you’re looking to gain research experience alongside your internship, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs!
This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
You can find the application link here
One Other Option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’d like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Kieran Lobo is a freelance writer from India.
Image Source: Helios Scholars at TGen logo