Virtual Education and Research Training (VERT) Program
Program Overview
The Virtual Education and Research Training (VERT) program, originally sponsored by the YES2SUCCESS partnership, is a 12-week virtual internship designed to teach students laboratory techniques and provide insight into cancer research. Our goal is to offer a unique experience that mirrors what it's like to work in a laboratory while highlighting potential future careers in science.
Students will attend two 1-hour classes per week, focusing on:
- Research Techniques & Discussion
- Professional Development
Research Techniques & Discussion
Students will complete assignments, including virtual simulations from Labster and LabXchange, to mimic real lab experiences. Topics center around cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. STEP team facilitators will be available via email to support students throughout the course.
Professional Development
Concurrent sessions cover topics such as Individual Development Plans (IDPs), resume building, and crafting an elevator pitch. These sessions help students plan next steps for research careers. Skills gained in VERT can be applied to future laboratory experiences.
Capstone Celebration
Students who completed all program components in 2024 were invited to a VERT Capstone Celebration at City of Hope’s Duarte campus. During the event, students participated in a hands-on activity, met with a researcher, and celebrated their completion of the program.
Student Criteria
- 16 years of age or older (before the program start date)
- Currently enrolled in high school
- Must have an underrepresented minority (URM) background
- URM includes: Black, African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, American Indian, or Native Alaskan
- Able to dedicate 12 weeks to our program (2 hrs./week for online classes)
- Hardworking, responsible, and dependable
Program Status
As of 2026, the VERT program is paused, and we do not have an anticipated restart date at this time. Please check back later or join our mailing list to receive updates as they become available.
For any additional questions, email us at [email protected].
Explore STEP
We have hope that by bringing together students and community members, we can spark a long-lasting love for science and encourage more people to pursue STEM education and careers.
STEP is excited to offer a variety of summer and academic year programs for high school students, such as our VERT program and the Science and Nutrition Summer Research Program.
We run several different programs for local middle school students, including class visits, field trips, Saturday Science Days, and our Junior Medical Investigators summer camp.