The Washington University Kidney O’Brien Center for Chronic Kidney Disease Research, established in 2024, is excited to announce applications are open for its third immersive summer research program for undergraduate students interested in pursuing nephrology research.
The Summer Opportunities for Achievement in Research (SOAR) program provides hands-on experience in basic science research under the guidance of a WashU Nephrology mentor. Led by physician-scientist Naoka Murakami, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, the program is designed to inspire the next generation of nephrology researchers, offering a unique opportunity to gain research experience, mentorship, and professional development while advancing kidney disease research.
Two interns will be accepted for the 9.5-week program, from May 27 to July 31, 2026. Housing will be provided on the Danforth Campus. Each intern will receive a $500/week stipend, a $200 Bear Bucks card for essentials in the first week before receiving the 1st paycheck, and a free MetroLink pass.
Interns will be matched with a research mentor and will also have access to WashU seminars, including those offered through the Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience (SURGE) Program. At the conclusion of the program, interns will present their research findings.
If you are interested in becoming a WashU Soar intern, please email Jean Smith (jean_smith@wustl.edu) with “SOAR” in the subject line and include:
- Two letters of recommendation
- Curriculum Vitae (under two pages) detailing your educational background, research experience, etc.
- Personal statement (your interest in nephrology research, career goals, and expectations for the program)
The first two years of the program have been a great success. This past summer, undergraduate student Katie Chen worked in the laboratory of physician scientist Leslie Gewin, MD, Director of the Metabolism Core of the WashU Kidney O’Brien Center, under the bench mentorship of postdoctoral research scholar Kevin Hurtado, PhD. Katie’s research on the role of a peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation protein in chronic kidney disease is featured in the Fall 2025 edition of our WashU Nephrology Update Newsletter.
Experiences and insights from our inaugural cohort of interns from the summer of 2024 are highlighted in a Nephrology News article here.
