Get Paid to Study Infectious Diseases at Fred Hutch: A Complete Guide to the 2026 IDS Summer Scholars Internship (Deadline January 30, 2026)

Some summer programs are basically glorified job-shadowing: you trail behind a busy professional, nod thoughtfully, and collect a few anecdotes for your next personal statement. This is not that.

The Fred Hutch Cancer Center Infectious Disease Sciences (IDS) Summer Scholars Internship Program 2026 is built for students who want to do the real thing: ask a research question, get into the day-to-day rhythm of a serious scientific environment, and come out the other side with a project you can explain confidently to people who actually know what they’re talking about.

And the theme—infectious diseases in the immunocompromised host—isn’t just academically interesting. It’s urgent. When someone’s immune system is weakened (think cancer treatment, transplant patients, certain chronic conditions), infections don’t behave “normally.” Diagnoses get tricky. Treatments get complicated. Outcomes can change fast. Working in this space is a bit like trying to repair a plane while it’s flying—high stakes, lots of moving parts, and no patience for hand-waving.

If you’re an undergraduate (or a first-year MD/PharmD student) looking for a summer that will actually move your career forward, this internship is the kind of opportunity that can change your trajectory. It’s competitive, yes. But it’s also very worth the effort.

At a Glance: Fred Hutch IDS Summer Scholars Internship 2026

What This Internship Actually Gives You (Beyond a Line on Your Resume)

A lot of students say they want “research experience,” but what they often mean is “I want to be near a lab and hopefully not break anything.” The IDS Summer Scholars Internship is structured more like an early-career on-ramp: you’re not just watching science happen—you’re participating.

First, there’s the centerpiece: a hands-on research project with faculty mentors. That phrase matters. “Hands-on” usually translates to doing work that produces something tangible—data, analysis, a workflow, a method, a result you can defend. Mentorship matters just as much. Having a faculty mentor isn’t about bragging rights; it means someone experienced is helping you shape a question that’s doable in a summer and guiding you through the choices that separate a clean project from a messy one.

Second, you get laboratory observation and practical experience, which is a polite way of saying you’ll learn how professional research environments really function. That includes the basics (documentation, lab culture, meetings) and the more valuable stuff students don’t always realize they’re missing (how decisions get made, how setbacks are handled, how rigor is enforced).

Third, you’ll have opportunities for clinical shadowing at UW Medical Center and Fred Hutch. This is huge if you’re pre-med, pre-pharm, or even just trying to understand how research connects to patient care. Shadowing in infectious diseases—especially in immunocompromised populations—teaches you what textbooks can’t: how uncertainty shows up in real cases, how teams weigh risks, and how treatment decisions live in the gray zone.

Finally, the program expects you to present your project at the conclusion. This is not busywork. Presenting forces clarity. If you can explain your question, methods, and results to faculty and peers, you’re not just “interested in research.” You’re functioning like a young scientist.

Add in access to research conferences, meetings, symposia, journal clubs, lab/group meetings, plus specialized groups like mathematical modeling and committees related to antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention—and you’re in an environment where learning is everywhere. It’s like stepping into a bustling kitchen: you’ll pick up techniques just by being close to people who cook at a high level every day.

Who Should Apply (And Who Will Thrive Here)

This program is aimed at students who are early in training but serious about growth: currently enrolled undergraduates and first-year medical or pharmacy students (MD, PharmD). If you’re in that sweet spot—enough foundational knowledge to be useful, enough curiosity to be teachable—you’re the intended audience.

You’ll likely thrive if you’re drawn to questions like:

• Why do certain infections hit harder in patients receiving chemotherapy?
• How do hospitals prevent outbreaks in high-risk units?
• How do clinicians choose antimicrobials without fueling resistance?
• How do models predict infection trends or optimize interventions?

You don’t have to arrive as an infectious disease expert. In fact, most strong applicants won’t be. What matters more is whether you can show that you understand the why behind your interest. “I like microbiology” is nice. “I’m interested in how infection prevention strategies protect transplant patients, and I want to learn how research informs hospital protocols” is stronger and more believable.

This is also a great fit for students who are trying to connect dots between disciplines. Infectious diseases in immunocompromised hosts isn’t just biology—it’s oncology, immunology, pharmacology, epidemiology, biostatistics, health systems, even human behavior. If you’ve ever felt like your interests don’t fit neatly into one department, you’re in good company here.

One important reality check: the program cannot accept international students. If that’s you, don’t waste your time trying to shoehorn eligibility—focus instead on programs explicitly open to international applicants.

Why This Topic Matters: The Immunocompromised Host Problem

Let’s translate the program’s focus into plain English.

In “standard” infectious disease contexts, the immune system is a major player. It helps control infections, influences symptoms, shapes lab results, and affects which treatments work. In immunocompromised patients, that whole script changes. Infections can be stealthier, faster, more severe, or caused by organisms that rarely bother healthy people.

That’s why research in this area is both challenging and meaningful. It’s also why programs like this exist: the field needs well-trained people who can handle complex data, nuanced clinical realities, and careful decision-making. If you’re hoping to make yourself useful in medicine, public health, pharmacy, or biomedical research, experience in this niche carries real weight.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (The Stuff Applicants Often Miss)

The posting tells you what to submit. It doesn’t tell you how to make those materials sing. Here’s how to approach this application like someone who actually wants to get in.

1) Write essays that prove fit, not admiration

Lots of applicants write, “Fred Hutch is amazing and I want to learn.” True, but also… so does everyone else.

Your essays should do two things: show why this program and show why you. A strong approach is a simple narrative arc: what you’ve done so far, what question or experience sparked your interest, and what skills you want to build this summer. Make it specific. Mention infectious diseases in immunocompromised populations directly—and explain why that angle grabs you.

2) Treat your CV like a trailer, not the full movie

Your resume shouldn’t be a junk drawer of everything you’ve ever done. It should spotlight experiences that hint you’ll handle a mentored research setting well.

If you have research experience, include what you actually did (assays, data cleaning, literature reviews, recruitment, analysis). If you don’t, highlight adjacent proof of readiness: coursework with projects, tutoring, leadership in a science org, volunteering in a hospital, any experience requiring careful documentation and follow-through.

3) Choose a recommender who can describe your habits, not just your personality

The letter of recommendation is often where applications either quietly strengthen—or quietly collapse.

Pick someone who can speak to your reliability, curiosity, communication, and ability to learn. A research mentor is ideal, but a professor who saw you problem-solve in a rigorous course can also work. The key is specificity. Give your recommender a short “brag sheet” with 3–5 bullet points: a project you did, a challenge you overcame, what you’re aiming for, and why this internship matters.

4) Make your transcript tell a story (even if it’s not perfect)

You’re allowed to submit an unofficial transcript at the time of application, which removes a common barrier—great.

If your grades are strong, don’t be shy about it. If you have a rough semester, don’t panic. In your essays, you can briefly explain context only if necessary, then pivot to what changed. Reviewers are often more impressed by upward trajectory and maturity than by perfection.

5) Demonstrate that you understand what a summer project can accomplish

One subtle sign of maturity: proposing learning goals that fit the timeline.

Instead of vague ambitions (“I want to cure infections”), talk about realistic summer outcomes: learning lab techniques, conducting a focused analysis, mastering a modeling approach, presenting findings, and understanding how clinical decisions connect to data.

6) Signal that you can operate in a team

This internship includes meetings, committees, journal clubs, and presentations. Translation: communication matters.

Use your application to show you can receive feedback without melting down, ask good questions, and follow through. Programs like this don’t just select for brilliance; they select for people others can work with for 8–10 weeks without needing a recovery period.

7) Apply early enough to think clearly

January 30 comes fast. Rushed applications sound rushed. Give yourself time to write essays that feel like a person—not a panic response.

Application Timeline: A Realistic Plan Backward From January 30, 2026

If you want to submit something you’re proud of (and not something you avoid rereading forever), use a backward plan.

6–8 weeks before the deadline (early December): Read the program page carefully, start brainstorming essay themes, and identify your recommender. This is also the moment to request your transcript and update your CV.

4–6 weeks before (mid–late December): Draft your essays. Don’t polish yet—just get words down. Then show them to one person who will be honest with you (not just supportive). If you can, choose someone who has written or reviewed applications before.

3–4 weeks before (early January): Request your letter formally and provide materials (program link, your CV, transcript, essay draft, and your bullet-point “brag sheet”). Give your recommender a clear due date at least a week before the deadline.

2 weeks before: Revise essays for clarity and specificity. Double-check that your CV highlights research-relevant skills. Make sure your transcript is readable and current.

Final week: Complete the online application, upload documents, verify everything twice, and submit with at least 48 hours to spare. Online forms have a special talent for breaking at the worst possible moment.

Required Materials (And How to Prepare Each One Without Losing Your Mind)

The application asks for a set of classic components. The trick is doing them thoughtfully.

• Current university transcript (unofficial is acceptable at application time). Save as a clean PDF with your name in the file title. Check that it includes the current term and your institution name.
• CV and/or resume. Keep formatting crisp and readable. Put research, lab, clinical, analytics, and writing-heavy experiences front and center.
• Letter of recommendation from a research/clinical mentor or university professor. Ask early, provide context, and make it easy for them to write a detailed letter.
• Two essay responses. Expect these to carry major weight. They’re where reviewers learn who you are, how you think, and whether you’ll make the most of the environment.
• Completed online application. Don’t treat the form fields as an afterthought—short answers should match the tone and content of your essays.

What Makes an Application Stand Out (How Reviewers Tend to Think)

Even without a published scoring rubric, programs like this usually evaluate applications along a few predictable dimensions.

Clarity of motivation: They want to see a genuine interest in infectious diseases—especially in immunocompromised populations—and a believable reason you’re choosing this niche now.

Readiness for mentored research: You don’t need to know everything. You do need to show you can learn quickly, follow protocols, keep good notes, and handle feedback like an adult.

Communication skills: You will present at the end. Strong applicants can explain complex ideas simply, without hiding behind jargon.

Professional maturity: Showing up on time, meeting deadlines, being respectful in clinical environments, and keeping patient privacy sacred—these things matter. Your materials should signal you understand that.

Trajectory: Programs love applicants who are going somewhere. Not necessarily a perfectly mapped-out destination, but a clear direction: med school, pharmacy, public health, PhD research, computational biology, infection prevention, clinical microbiology, etc.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (So You Do Not Accidentally Torpedo Your Chances)

Writing essays that could be submitted anywhere. If your essays sound like they were written for “a summer research program,” they’ll blend into the pile. Name the focus area and explain why it matters to you.

Choosing the wrong recommender. A famous name who barely knows you is less helpful than a professor who can describe how you think and work. Detail beats prestige.

Overclaiming expertise. You don’t need to pretend you’re already a seasoned researcher. Confidence is good; pretending is obvious. Frame your experience honestly and emphasize learning goals.

Ignoring the clinical professionalism angle. If you mention shadowing interests, show you understand basics like confidentiality and respectful conduct. You don’t need to sound like a compliance manual—just demonstrate awareness.

Submitting sloppy documents. Typos, inconsistent formatting, missing headers, unclear filenames—these are unforced errors. In science and medicine, small mistakes raise big doubts.

Waiting until the last day. Online submissions have glitches. Recommenders miss emails. PDFs corrupt. Give yourself buffer time like a person who enjoys sleeping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this internship paid?

Yes. The program lists a paid stipend for interns, though the exact amount isn’t included in the provided posting. Check the official application page or reach out through the program contact info if you need the number for budgeting.

Can undergraduates apply?

Yes. Currently enrolled undergraduate students are eligible, and they’re a core target group for the program.

Can first-year medical or pharmacy students apply?

Yes. The eligibility includes first-year MD or PharmD students.

Are international students eligible?

No. The program states they’re unable to accept international students. If you’re studying in the U.S. on an international status, confirm eligibility directly with the program before applying—but assume ineligible unless the program explicitly says otherwise.

Do I need prior research experience?

The posting doesn’t require it. In practice, it helps—but it’s not the only path in. Strong coursework projects, lab classes, data work, clinical exposure, or evidence of persistence and curiosity can also make you competitive.

What will I do during the program?

Expect a blend: a mentored research project, lab exposure, the chance to shadow clinically (at UW Medical Center and Fred Hutch), participation in meetings/journal clubs/committees, and a final presentation.

What if my transcript is not perfect?

Plenty of excellent candidates have a messy semester. What matters is whether your overall record and essays show readiness, growth, and seriousness. Use your essays to demonstrate how you think, not to apologize excessively.

When is the deadline again?

January 30, 2026. Put it on your calendar and set reminders for your recommender, too.

How to Apply (And What to Do This Week)

If you’re even mildly interested, don’t wait for the “perfect time.” The best applications are built in calm weather, not in a last-minute storm.

Start by opening the official application link and scanning the form so you understand what the essays ask for. Then update your CV, request your transcript, and email your recommender with a clear request and deadline. Once those pieces are in motion, draft your essays with one goal: make it obvious that you understand the program’s focus and that you’ll show up ready to work.

Apply Now

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page and application form here: https://form.jotform.com/fredhutch/IDS

If you want to maximize your odds, aim to submit at least a few days before January 30, 2026. Your future self will thank you.