Check the hard gates before writing the application
St. Jude requires full-time student status at a U.S. school when you apply, and the published citizenship categories are U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident. A student visa by itself does not satisfy that rule.
| Gate | Current published requirement |
|---|---|
| Student status | Full-time student attending a U.S. school when applying |
| Citizenship/status | U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident |
| Academic record | At least 3.4 overall and 3.4 in science/math undergraduate coursework |
| Experience and age | Relevant research outside class; at least 18 and sophomore year completed by the start |
| Application window | November 1, 2026–February 1, 2027, including credentials |
| Allowed 2027 starts | May 10, May 17, May 24 or June 1 |
| Support | Equivalent to $600 per week before deductions; eligible nonlocal group housing; travel is the participant’s responsibility |
Undergraduates must have completed sophomore year by the program start, be at least 18 and have relevant research experience outside classroom courses. Both academic thresholds apply: at least a 3.4 overall GPA and 3.4 in science and math undergraduate coursework.
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The prior-research requirement is real
Separate taught laboratory exercises, independent or supervised research responsibilities, and patient-facing or volunteer activity in your notes. They can all matter, but they are not interchangeable. Describe the research question, your actual contribution and the supervisor who could verify it.
If your only experience is a required class lab, do not inflate it to meet the published outside-class requirement. Build the missing experience or choose a program that explicitly accepts beginners. Keep confidential or patient-identifying information out of application examples.
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Work backward from one of four allowed starts
The 2027 application window runs November 1, 2026 through February 1, 2027, including required credentials. POE says accepted students must start May 10, May 17, May 24 or June 1.
Put finals, required campus obligations and travel beside those dates before applying. A later personal start date does not become eligible because you can work extra hours afterward.
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Housing support does not include your travel
St. Jude publishes support equivalent to $600 per week before deductions. Eligible nonlocal participants can use group housing without charge, while travel to and from Memphis is the participant’s responsibility.
Compare the full package rather than treating housing as cash compensation. If you do not yet meet POE’s prior-research requirement, compare beginner-accessible research programs instead of relabeling classroom work.
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