UP on EHS is an environmental health research training program for undergraduate students interested in careers in the environmental health sciences (EHS). For two consecutive summers, trainees work full time in the laboratories of established EHS researchers, including Chicago Center for Health and the Environment (CACHET) members, at the University of Chicago or the University of Illinois at Chicago. Rigorous research training is complemented with an EHS-based summer lecture series, year-round career development and skill-building workshops, CACHET seminars and workshops, and a network of faculty mentors dedicated to trainees’ success.
The program culminates in a research symposium to showcase trainees’ work across air, soil, and water pollution, climate change, biomarkers of exposure, molecular processes of toxicity, environmental justice, community environmental health, community engagement, and other human health aspects of environmental exposure.
UChicago UP on EHS is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Dates
UP on EHS is a two-year program consisting of two eight-week summer research experiences plus monthly academic year activities. The summer research experiences generally run from the third week of June through the first full week of August. Specific dates are announced with the release of application materials. Please note that accommodations will be made for students whose last days of school overlap with the first days of the UP on EHS lab immersion.
Benefits
- Hands-on experience in an environmental health sciences laboratory or research group
- Year-round career development and skill-building workshop
- Ongoing mentorship from a network of university faculty, research professionals, program personnel, and peers
- A taxable stipend of $3,500 per year ($1,000 during the school year and $2,500 during summer)
Eligibility criteria
Competitive applicants must:
- Be a college student beginning their junior year during the Fall 2025 semester/quarter (rising seniors will be considered)
- Be a United States citizen or permanent resident
- Have a strong interest in a career in the environmental sciences, environmental health, or population health research
- Have a strong academic record, particularly in math and science
- Be able to commit to the full two-year program, including 8-week research experiences (40 hours/week) for two consecutive summers and monthly enrichment activities (at least 2 hours per week) during the academic year.
Please note that students are responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from the University of Chicago/UIC during their summer research experiences.
Admission to UP on EHS is highly competitive, and limited number of students are selected each year.
How to apply:
- Review the application questions (available here) and program overview (available here).
- Submit the online application form for students – available here.
- Arrange for up to two recommenders (at least one teacher/professor) to complete the online applicant recommendation form here.
- Applicants who advance to the second round of application review will complete a virtual interview with the program leadership team
Applications are currently closed – check back in November 2025 for details on how to apply to the 2026 cohort
Conflict of Interest Policy: Applicant selection is managed by the program leadership team. Immediate family members of the leadership team, CACHET faculty member, or the UP on EHS Advisory Committee are ineligible for the program. All applications will be subject to the Conflict of Interest Policy.
Do I have to be a University of Chicago Student to apply?
UP on EHS is open to students from any undergraduate institution, and you do not have to be a student at UChicago in order to participate. However, participants must be in Chicago to take part in the summer research immersion (at UChicago or UIC).
We prioritize applicants with a strong academic record (particularly in math and science) and the interpersonal skills necessary to thrive in a professional work environment. Students selected for the program will demonstrate a passion for science and careful consideration of how the program will help them achieve their education and career goals.
I’m an out-of-state student and won’t be in Chicago during the academic year. Will I still be able to participate in the required academic year activities for the Up on EHS program?
Yes. All academic year activities can be modified for out-of-state students.
What qualities do you look for in an applicant?
We prioritize applicants with a strong academic record (particularly in math and science) and the interpersonal skills required for a professional work environment. Those admitted to the program demonstrate a passion for science and careful consideration of how the program will help them achieve their education and career goals.
Tip for all applicants: Spend time on your application essays. We weigh them heavily.
Who should I choose as recommenders?
Consider individuals who can speak compellingly about your academic performance, personal qualities, and interest in the environmental health sciences. At least one recommender MUST be a teacher/professor. Other possibilities include a school counselor, coach, employer, or community leader. Please do NOT ask a close relative (e.g., parent, sibling, aunt)
Leadership
- Brisa Aschebrook-Kilfoy, Ph.D., MPH, MPhil – Program Co-Director and Environmental Epidemiologist
- Habib Ahsan, MD, MMedSc – Program Co-Director, CACHET Director, and Environmental Epidemiologist
- Andy Craver, MS, MPH – Research Specialist
- Kayla T. Moore, MPH – Outreach Manager
Faculty mentors
UP on EHS would not be possible without our faculty mentors and their research teams who dedicate precious time, wisdom, and study resources to participants of the program. Our mentors are leaders across all areas of environmental health research including epidemiology, toxicology, exposure assessment, biostatistics, engineering, genomics, and translational, clinical, and population-based health. They are also skilled educators and committed role models. Many are active members/leadership of the Chicago Center for Health and the Environment.
Institute for Population and Precision Health
Andy Craver, IPPH Research Specialist