Salk Edge Summer Program

Salk Edge Summer Program Salk Edge is a two-week, technique-intensive summer initiative designed to equip PhD students with advanced research skills and professional development tools for successful careers in science. This program focuses on training students in cutting-edge laboratory techniques while also offering soft skills workshops on topics like grant writing, networking, and scientific communication. Participants engage directly with Salk faculty and labs, helping build valuable future postdoctoral connections.

In addition to providing roundtrip travel and lodging accommodations, the students will be awarded a $1,500 pilot grant to help implement these new technologies at their home institution's PhD lab.

To have a strong application, students should have identified a thesis advisor and thesis project.

Primary program goals:

1. Provide participants with high-quality instruction and innovative research techniques.
2. Help to enhance soft skills needed to succeed in postdoctoral positions in top-tier labs.
3. Gain access to cutting-edge scientific equipment needed to carry out scientific research.
4. Provide participants with networking opportunities with Salk faculty.

Program Dates: August 17, 2026, to August 28, 2026

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values all members of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk's pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym "I CARE" provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

The Salk Edge program offers three tracks. Each one will focus on track-specific curriculum in the morning and then all the trainees will come together for broader trainings in the afternoon. Please rank which program track(s) would best support your current thesis project in your application.

1. Genome Editing in Cancer: In the last decade genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technologies has become a powerful perturbation technique that is used across nearly all fields of biology. During this two-week, hands-on session at The Salk Institute, students will learn how to use different CRSIPR/Cas9 techniques to create genome edited cell lines in culture. They will perform hands on wet lab experimentation in cancer cells, while also being exposed to several other biological systems where genome editing is heavily used outside of cancer. The goal of this program is to train students to create their own knock out cell lines applicable to their thesis project when they return to their home labs (with the help of a $1,500 pilot grant from The Salk).
2. Computational Neuroscience: The technology we use to study the brain has rapidly evolved in the past years, now producing a deluge of neural and behavioral data over the course of a typical experiment. This consequently creates a need for new computational methods to analyze large-scale and high-dimensional data. During this two-week, hands-on session at The Salk Institute, students will learn how to use cutting-edge computer vision and deep learning tools commonly used in neuroscience. They will learn how to use these tools to analyze simultaneously recorded neural and behavioral data, while also being exposed to several other biological systems where computational biology is heavily used outside of neuroscience. The goal of this program is to train students in basic Python programming for scientific data analysis and how to use AI-based methods applicable to their thesis project when they return to their home labs (with the help of a $1,500 pilot grant from The Salk).
3. Bioinformatics of Immune Cells: RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics have revealed immense changes in expression across biological systems. During this two-week, hands-on session at The Salk Institute, students will learn how to analyze transcriptional expression data from RNA-seq analysis of different immune cell populations using bioinformatics. They will perform flow-cytometry based sorting of immune cells, RNA-sequencing library preparation, and bioinformatic analyses while also being exposed to several other biological systems where bioinformatics is heavily used outside of immunology. The goal of this program is to train students to run bulk RNA-sequencing sample preparation and analyses on samples applicable to their thesis project when they return to their home labs (with the help of a $1,500 pilot grant from The Salk).

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants must:

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  • Be a current PhD student who has chosen a lab for their thesis work.
  • Be able to commit to the full program dates in person.
  • Be travelling from within the United States.
  
  
  
  

To have a strong application, students should have identified a thesis advisor and thesis project. Interested candidates must complete an online application and complete the information below:

• Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
• Project Abstract
• Broader Impacts Statement
• Application of Pilot Funding. Salk Edge Summer Research Programs Terms & Conditions
• Letter of Support written by primary thesis advisor (1-2 pages). The Letter of Support should include the following elements (please upload the letter of support written by your primary thesis advisor to your Salk presence account.):

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    • Written on institutional letterhead signed by the primary thesis advisor
    • Describes the relationship to the candidate and the length of relationship
    • Explains why the thesis advisor would recommend the candidate for the program
    • Shares how likely this student is to pursue a postdoctoral position in biomedical research
    • Demonstrates support for the candidate's full participation in the program
    • Includes a statement agreeing to the pilot funds terms & conditions
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Please review the links below before starting the application questions.

• Edge Rubric Score
• Salk Edge Summer Research Programs Terms & Conditions

Deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 8:00 am PST.