The application for Summer 2026 is now open! Application deadline extended to March 27th. Recommendation letters (at least one, two recommended) are due by March 27th. See the application for additional details about references. Send any questions to ceba@duke.edu.
Application link: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exHTOVinpzc145U
Recommendation letter submission link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAq79kQrSgs0uoxIxwQes1sz3CYCyA64QKvGANlC4RPHugRw/viewform
"CeBA was highlighted by Duke's Center for Pathway Programs!"
Mission
CeBA seeks to introduce high school students to laboratory research in Cell Biology. Participation in this program will help students develop several scientific skills including hypothesis formulation, practical bench skills, data analysis, and dissemination of results. Participants will be mentored by a current researcher in the Duke Cell Biology Department and participate in several activities outside of laboratory research such as career seminars and scientific journal clubs.
Program Description
Duke University's Department of Cell Biology is offering a paid summer research opportunity to Research Triangle-area high schoolers. Participants will complete an independent research project under the guidance of a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar. They will get to see what it is like to be a cell biologist working in a research laboratory. Our goal is to encourage the next generation of young scientists by giving them the confidence and experience to launch their careers!
CeBA 2026 will run for 6 weeks from June 22 to July 31. Students will be awarded $2,400 upon completion of the program. See our FAQ for answers to questions about CeBA.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior during the 2025-2026 academic year, and at least fifteen years old by June 22, 2026.
- Applicants should have a strong interest in studying biology in college or exploring a biological career.
- Students are expected to be on-site for the duration of a normal work day (approximately 9 AM - 5 PM).
- Students must have transportation to and from the Duke University campus. CeBA does not provide transportation or lodging.
- Students should be from the Research Triangle area.
Important Dates
- Summer 2026 applications are now open.
- Applications are due March 27th
- Recommendation letters are due March 27th
- CeBA 2026 will run from June 22 to July 31
- Admitted students and parents/guardians will be invited to a virtual orientation prior to the program start date.
Mentors
If you are interested in serving as a CeBA mentor, please fill out an interest form here or email us at ceba@duke.edu. Duke graduate students, postdocs, and staff scientists are welcome, as are mentor pairs.
Spread the Word
Educators and community members, we’d love your help sharing CeBA with high schoolers in your life. Our flyer is linked below. Please share widely!
Contact Us
Please reach out to us with any questions! Our email is ceba@duke.edu.
CeBA Applicant FAQ
Application
● When will the application portal open?
● When are applications due?
● When will I find out whether or not I was accepted?
Eligibility
● Are rising Freshmen/Sophomores/Juniors eligible to participate?
● Can visa-holders (non-permanent residents or citizens) participate? What
about if they forgo the stipend?
● I live outside the Triangle. Am I eligible to participate?
● What if I am able to provide my own housing and/or transportation?
About the internship
● What hours/days of the week are students expected to participate? Do
students need to work on weekends?
● How much are interns paid? When are they paid?
——--------—---------------------- Application —----------------------------------
The application for summer 2026 is now open and can be found here.
Applications are due March 27 at 5 pm EST and reference letters are due to
ceba@duke.edu by March 27 at 5 pm EST.
Applicants will hear back in mid-April about whether they are accepted to the
program.
——--------—---------------------- Eligibility —-----------------------------------
Most of our previous participants have been rising juniors or seniors but that is
not a requirement. If you’re interested in the program and are a current
sophomore, junior, or senior, we encourage you to apply.
Any student with a SSN or ITIN (for tax purposes) is eligible to receive the CeBA
stipend and participate in CeBA, and we encourage you to apply! In order to
ensure all students are treated equally and fairly, we cannot offer admission to
students that offer to waive the stipend. We encourage you to seek out other
research opportunities if you are not eligible for CeBA.
Thank you for your interest in CeBA. Unfortunately, due to our small budget, we
cannot provide assistance with transportation or lodging for the program, which is
why we can only consider local applicants. I encourage you to consider the
following opportunities that may be more relevant to you in NC, and there are
others not specific to NC that may provide lodging and tuition [NIH SIP and
Simons at Stony Brook are two such programs, included below].
1. ISHTaR at UNC-Chapel Hill [hybrid in-person, virtual paid internship with
medicine and public health research]
UNC ISHTaR
2. WinSPIRE at UNC-Chapel Hill [paid in-person research in sciences at UNC,
they may consider students further from UNC-you'll need to check with the
organizers] WinSPIRE at UNC-Chapel Hill
3. Summer Immersion Experience in Biotech at NCCU [paid 2-week research
experience funded by GlaxoSmithKline, applications probably open in
March] Summer Immersion Experience in Biotech at NCCU
4. RAP at NCA&T [paid research opportunity with lodging provided]
RAP at NCA&T
5. High School Research Program at NCSU [paid field research opportunity in
forestry and natural resources]
NCSU High School Research Program
6. Other programs at Duke, including some online learning opportunities:
Duke Programs
7. NC Biotech Center has a list of opportunities (unsure how updated it is but you
can reach out to them for clarification):
NC Biotech Center
8. NC Governor's school has scholarships, if you want to consider this summer
opportunity as well. Some high schools can support students, too.
NC Governor's School
9. NIH SIP [paid internship at the NIH in MD, I believe with lodging]
NIH SIP
10. Simons Research Program at Stony Brook University in NY [paid research
with lodging and refund for transportation to program-must be rising
senior] Simons Research Program
Our funding sources intend to support local students, which is why we will only
consider high school applicants currently located in the research triangle area.
We encourage you to check out other research opportunities, such as those
listed above.
—----------------------------- About the internship —---—-----------------------
Students are not expected to work on weekends. A typical schedule is
Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, although students and their mentors might decide
together to shift that around slightly depending on their experiments and other
commitments. If you’ve got a specific concern about whether another activity or
transport constraint will conflict with participation we’d be happy to talk that
through with you.
Students will be awarded $2400 for participating in CeBA. Please note that this
money is not paid until after the end of the program.