About the TRIPxJ&J@FCCC'26 Program
Course Dates
The Teen Research Internship Program Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson (TRIP x J&J) will be held on Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 7:45 PM and Saturdays, 8:30 AM to 12:15 PM from September 8th through November 7th (9 consecutive weeks). Prior to the course, an optional parent/guardian engagement event will be held on Saturday, August 29th. After the in-lab portion of the course concludes, students present their work at a scientific symposium on Saturday, November 21st.
The Teen Research Internship Program Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson (TRIP x J&J) will be held on Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 7:45 PM and Saturdays, 8:30 AM to 12:15 PM from September 8th through November 7th (9 consecutive weeks). Prior to the course, an optional parent/guardian engagement event will be held on Saturday, August 29th. After the in-lab portion of the course concludes, students present their work at a scientific symposium on Saturday, November 21st.
Sessions
Two sessions of the program will be offered where Session A meets from Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 7:45 PM and Saturdays, 8:30 AM to 12:15 PM. Up to 8 students will be enrolled in each session. Both sessions attend the all-day symposium on Saturday, November 21st. All classes will be held at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Two sessions of the program will be offered where Session A meets from Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 7:45 PM and Saturdays, 8:30 AM to 12:15 PM. Up to 8 students will be enrolled in each session. Both sessions attend the all-day symposium on Saturday, November 21st. All classes will be held at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Program Requirements
- High school students who will be at least 16 years of age by September 8th, 2026 and enrolled in the Philadelphia School District or Montgomery County in Fall 2026 are eligible to apply.
- Completion of at least one high school Biology or Chemistry course is preferred, but not required.
- Students must commit to attend ALL days of the program (including the symposium) in either Session A or B. Note that the program may run through SAT and ACT test dates. Parents/Guardians must confirm and agree to the attendance policy.
Application Review Timeline
Applications and letters will be reviewed by a panel of program staff and alumni in June. Following review, top-scoring applicants will interview with program staff in early July. Final decisions will be made by early August. Please note that if accepted, students will need to submit their immunization records and get medical clearance to participate. Please direct all questions to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected]. Please use "TRIPxJ&J@FCCC’26" in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 TRIP sessions.
Applications and letters will be reviewed by a panel of program staff and alumni in June. Following review, top-scoring applicants will interview with program staff in early July. Final decisions will be made by early August. Please note that if accepted, students will need to submit their immunization records and get medical clearance to participate. Please direct all questions to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected]. Please use "TRIPxJ&J@FCCC’26" in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 TRIP sessions.
Application Instructions
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:
The following items are due by 5 PM on Monday, June 8th:
The following items are due by 5 PM on Monday, June 8th:
- Online Application
- School transcript
- One letter of recommendation
Online Application
To apply to the TRIP x J&J, complete the online application here: https://volunteers.fccc.edu/pages/app/tripjnj. We recommend that you download and complete the essay portion of the application in a word processing program and then copy/paste your answers into the online application. The essay questions can be downloaded below.
After submitting your application, you will be prompted to submit your application on the platform.
Requests for letters of recommendation will be sent directly to the recommender using the email you provide.
If you have a question about how to answer a question or have any technical issues with the online application, please email Dr. Theresa Austria ([email protected]). Please use TRIPxJ&J@FCCC’26 in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 program.
To apply to the TRIP x J&J, complete the online application here: https://volunteers.fccc.edu/pages/app/tripjnj. We recommend that you download and complete the essay portion of the application in a word processing program and then copy/paste your answers into the online application. The essay questions can be downloaded below.
After submitting your application, you will be prompted to submit your application on the platform.
Requests for letters of recommendation will be sent directly to the recommender using the email you provide.
If you have a question about how to answer a question or have any technical issues with the online application, please email Dr. Theresa Austria ([email protected]). Please use TRIPxJ&J@FCCC’26 in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 program.
Request a Letter of Recommendation
Please request for a letter of recommendation to be submitted on your behalf. The letter can come from, but is not limited to, the following individuals: High school administrator (Assistant Principal, Principal, etc.), high school teacher (math, science, English, art, etc.), coach, minister or clergyman from your place of worship, or a supervisor from a current/previous job, club or volunteer position. Download the instructions from the top of the page.
The letter should: 1) state the length and capacity that the recommender has known the applicant, and 2) contain an assessment of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses with specific examples that support participation in the TRIP program. If applicable, letters should be written on official school letterhead.
The official letter of recommendation should be submitted by the letter writer through the online portal that was emailed to them or e-mailed directly from the letter writer to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected] with the subject line: “TRIPxJ&J@FCCC’26 Letter of Recommendation - APPLICANT'S NAME”.
**When requesting a letter of recommendation, be sure to give the writer a copy of these instructions AND a minimum of three weeks to complete your letter.**
Please request for a letter of recommendation to be submitted on your behalf. The letter can come from, but is not limited to, the following individuals: High school administrator (Assistant Principal, Principal, etc.), high school teacher (math, science, English, art, etc.), coach, minister or clergyman from your place of worship, or a supervisor from a current/previous job, club or volunteer position. Download the instructions from the top of the page.
The letter should: 1) state the length and capacity that the recommender has known the applicant, and 2) contain an assessment of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses with specific examples that support participation in the TRIP program. If applicable, letters should be written on official school letterhead.
The official letter of recommendation should be submitted by the letter writer through the online portal that was emailed to them or e-mailed directly from the letter writer to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected] with the subject line: “TRIPxJ&J@FCCC’26 Letter of Recommendation - APPLICANT'S NAME”.
**When requesting a letter of recommendation, be sure to give the writer a copy of these instructions AND a minimum of three weeks to complete your letter.**
Suggestions for Completing the Application
We are looking for motivated and curious applicants that can think and express themselves logically. You don't have to have a high GPA, previously lab experience or be a superstar...just be you. Be sure to use your answers to tell us who you are.
Take your time to answer each of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. You will be compared to all other applicants based upon the answers given here; therefore, make sure we learn about who YOU are and what you are interested in. Don't BS your way through the answers or give the answer you think we want to read. Be sure to explain yourself FULLY. Don't make the reviewers guess at what you mean--be clear.
Incomplete sentences, spelling errors, and poorly thought-out responses will NEGATIVELY affect the review of your application. Therefore, to prevent mistakes, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to compose your answers in a word processing program and then paste them into this application. Be sure to have an adult (e.g. your parents, high school counselor, or mentor) read through your application PRIOR to submission.
BE HONEST IN YOUR RESPONSES. APPLICANTS SUSPECTED OF AI GENERATED RESPONSES MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE PROGRAM.
Use the 250-word limit! Don't miss an opportunity to tell us about yourself.
Take your time to answer each of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. You will be compared to all other applicants based upon the answers given here; therefore, make sure we learn about who YOU are and what you are interested in. Don't BS your way through the answers or give the answer you think we want to read. Be sure to explain yourself FULLY. Don't make the reviewers guess at what you mean--be clear.
Incomplete sentences, spelling errors, and poorly thought-out responses will NEGATIVELY affect the review of your application. Therefore, to prevent mistakes, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to compose your answers in a word processing program and then paste them into this application. Be sure to have an adult (e.g. your parents, high school counselor, or mentor) read through your application PRIOR to submission.
BE HONEST IN YOUR RESPONSES. APPLICANTS SUSPECTED OF AI GENERATED RESPONSES MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE PROGRAM.
Use the 250-word limit! Don't miss an opportunity to tell us about yourself.
