Due to the cancellation of last year’s program, we are currently prioritizing previously completed applications from winter 2025. We regret we will not be accepting new submissions for the upcoming summer. We appreciate your interest and hope you consider applying in future cycles.
The Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program provides a six- to eight-week paid research experience for rising high school seniors and undergraduate students with an interest in the biological sciences. Participants gain hands-on research training while advancing their academic and professional development. The training is coupled with activities that prepare interns for school applications, future success in college or graduate school and careers in science and medicine.
We welcome applications from students all over the country. However, please note that interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation to/from the Northwestern campus in downtown Chicago. For this reason, many of our interns live or stay with family in the Chicago area.
The philosophy of our program is that every person involved in the program possesses teachable knowledge that is passed back and forth between interns and mentors. Our interns bring renewed energy and joy to in-person learning. Equally important, the learning culture that is created and fostered by the Northwestern mentors persists after the program ends.”
— Karen M. Ridge, PhD, Executive Director
Our program aims to be a fun experience that fosters a love for science. Not only do the interns gain experience at the bench, but they also have the opportunity to read and discuss the latest research articles, attend workshops that promote career development, learn about different career paths, shadow a clinician, and have data discussions with their peers.”
— Colleen Reczek, PhD, Program Director
The following are required to apply:
*We do not accept recommendation letters or transcripts from students. Your referees and transcript providers will be emailed automatically with instructions when you submit your application.
It is recommended that you submit your application early to give your schools and teachers additional time to submit their materials.
There is no cost to apply.
“The [Kimberly Querrey] Summer Research Program gave me valuable exposure to biomedical research, giving me an edge among my peers. It was a privilege to work in a collaborative lab environment alongside successful researchers. I also had amazing mentors who guided me through my research every step of the way. Participating in the program made me realize how much of a passion I had for biological experimentation and provided me with the skills to be successful in pursuing a career in science.”
— Olufemi O.
“I met compassionate and personable mentors who inspired my passion for science. They taught me skills such as data analysis, scientific presentation, wet bench techniques, and much more. However, the best part of the program were the connections I made... I became closer with the people in the lab I worked in and the labs around me. Through the friends, skills, and experiences I gained, this research program has made itself one of my fondest memories as I continue my journey through academia.”
— Sahil S.
“Despite not having previous experience that reflected my passion for medicine, I was confidently enriched and provided with skills, mentorship, and autonomy that allowed me to grow in and out of the lab. The Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program prioritized easing me into research while showing me the multifaceted pathways in medicine. I am thankful to the program for connecting me with mentors who are genuinely passionate about fueling the ambitions of future scientists.”
— Samely V.
“I absolutely loved my time at KQSRP! It gave me a window into the life of a scientist, teaching me about the process of scientific inquiry and how to do biological research. This program is one of the primary reasons I’ve continued doing research as an undergrad!”
— Ritvik V.
Hosted by the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care since 1999, the summer research program was established by Jacob I. Sznajder, MD to provide hands-on research opportunities for high school and undergraduate students.
In 2018, the Pulmonary and Critical Care Summer Research Program was endowed by Northwestern University trustees Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey. In 2019, interns were welcomed to the new, state-of-the-art laboratories in the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, and in 2022, the program was officially named the Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program in grateful recognition of Querrey for her years of generous support.
For questions about the program, please contact PULMSRP@northwestern.edu
Karen Ridge, PhD
KQSRP Executive Director
Professor of Medicine
Colleen Reczek, PhD
KQSRP Program Director
Research Assistant Professor of Medicine
Sean Campbell
KQSRP Program Administrative Director
Associate Research Administrator
Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
303 E Superior Street
Simpson Querrey 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
312-503-0418
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