FAQ
I am graduating this year. Am I still eligible?
You must be a current student who will also be enrolled in school during the next academic year. For example, a student graduating in Spring 2025 who will enroll in college or graduate school in Fall 2025 is eligible. A student graduating this semester and not enrolling in additional classes or graduate school is not eligible.
I have a trip planned during the internship. Am I still eligible?
Scheduling is usually flexible. Each student must negotiate their schedule with their mentor; however, missing more than one week of the program is not advisable. Symposium attendance is mandatory.
If I have been a Helios Scholar before, may I apply again?
Yes, but no student may participate in the program for over two summers. No more than 25 percent of each summer class may be program alumni. Alumni applicants must answer an additional application question and acquire an extra letter of recommendation from their previous TGen mentor to be considered.
How do I submit my application?
The application is electronic. Mailed or e-mailed copies of any part of the application will not be accepted. Please do not have your transcripts or resume mailed to TGen.
For information on recommendation letter submission, please refer to the Tips for Applicants and Tips for References pages.
Are the letters of recommendation also due by the application deadline?
No! Recommendation letters must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025. This is two days after the application closes. It is up to the applicant to ensure references submit letters before the deadline. Mailed copies or e-mail attachments will not be accepted in lieu of the electronic submission process outlined in the application instructions. The 2025 deadline for recommendations is 5:00 p.m. Arizona time on February 7, 2025.
How will I be notified of the decision on my application?
All applicants will receive final notification by email. Notifications are emailed throughout the spring as the candidate pool proceeds through the selection process. You may receive a notification as late as early May. Should a potential mentor-scientist want to interview you, you will be contacted by e-mail or phone. Interviews run from March 3 to March 26 for the 2024 summer. Education and Outreach staff do not track mentors' attempts at interview scheduling.
What should I write about in my personal statement?
Please refer to the Tips for Applicants page for detailed suggestions.
What tips and suggestions do you have for references and letters of recommendation?
One recommendation letter must come from a teacher or professor (any subject). The second letter can come from a teacher/professor, coach, counselor, religious leader, employer, or supervisor from an extracurricular activity, etc. Letters should not come from friends, parents, peers, relatives or TGen employees. For tips on choosing references, please refer to the Tips for Applicants page.
How does the selection process work?
Please refer to the Selection Process page.
Will all candidates be interviewed?
No. The selection committee does not conduct interviews. Candidates who are successful in the selection committee phase are called Finalists. Finalists' applications are opened to TGen scientist-mentors for review. During this phase, a Finalist may be called or emailed by a potential mentor to arrange a phone or in-person interview. Finalists may be contacted for interviews once, more than once, or not at all at any time during the interview phase (March 3 - March 26 for the 2025 summer). During this time, check your voicemail regularly and check your spam/junk e-mail folders for misdirected e-mail so you do not miss a potential interview. Education and Outreach staff do not track interviews.
Can you tell me if someone has tried to contact me for an interview?
No. Education and Outreach staff do not track potential mentors' attempts at contacting students for interviews, nor do they coordinate interview schedules between potential interns and mentors.
Will I get to intern in the specific research areas I am interested in?
Every effort will be made to match you to your preference, but it is not guaranteed.
I would like feedback on my application to make myself more competitive for next year. Who can I talk to about this?
We are not able to provide application feedback. All materials submitted by the applicant and their references and all materials generated during the review process (i.e. committee and reviewer notes, etc.) become the confidential property of TGen.
What does a typical intern schedule look like?
Working hours are somewhat flexible but a full-time commitment is expected. You should plan on working a minimum of 32 hours per week to complete the program. Most students work 40 hours per week (Monday-Friday). Interns do not have weekend or evening building access.
How much does the internship pay?
You will be paid hourly wages according to the highest educational level you have completed or formally started. For example, a high school student graduating Spring 2025 and entering college in Fall 2025 will be paid at the high school rate in the 2025 summer even if they have taken college-level courses during their high school years.
The pay scale is:
- $14.70 per hour for high school students;
- $15.40 per hour for undergraduate students; and
- $17.75 per hour for graduate and medical school students.
No intern may work more than 40 hours in a week or more than 320 hours in total. All pay is subject to state and federal taxes.
Will I receive benefits like health insurance or vacation days?
No. This internship is a temporary position and is not eligible for benefits. All interns are covered under TGen's accident insurance policy.
What types of internships are available in the program?
Internship opportunities include all areas of the translational research pipeline: laboratory research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration.
If you have a unique area of interest and want to know if a relevant internship is possible, please contact Kristen Kaus at [email protected].
Where does the program take place?
Most Scholars work in downtown Phoenix at TGen headquarters, but some students intern in the Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff.
I am interested in pathogens, infectious diseases, or public health, but I do not live in Flagstaff. What should I do?
The pathogen genomics and infectious disease division is located at TGen North in Flagstaff. Students interested in earning internships with this team must have living arrangements in Flagstaff. TGen's infectious disease research is not performed in Phoenix.
Does TGen provide housing or housing assistance to interns?
No. Neither housing nor housing assistance is provided. All interns must secure their own housing.
Who are the mentors?
Mentors are active TGen scientists and professionals committed to hosting a student intern. Most TGen research faculty and staff are open to mentorship.
All other questions may be directed to Kristen Kaus at [email protected].
