Katen Scholars 2026: Department of Neurological Surgery with Dr. Sean Polster

The Katen Scholars program is an 8-week paid summer research program here at UChicago. The Katen Scholars Program supports first, second, and third year students interested in pursuing careers in health, medicine, and science. Students apply to work on a specific research project under the direct of a UChicago Principal Investigator. 

Katen Scholars Program Requirements:

• Research: Scholars are required to spend at least 30 hours/week on their research projects.
   
• Project Assignments: Scholars will submit an abstract of their research as well as an annotated bibliography in preparation for the symposium.
   
• Mock Presentations: Scholars will present their work in preparation for their poster presentations at the end of the program. The group will offer critiques and constructive criticism. Scholars will also participate in public speaking and presentation technique session by university staff.
   
• Symposium: Scholars will create posters to display the results of their research projects and present their work at a concluding reception and poster presentation. 
   
• Seminars and Experiential Learning Sessions: Scholars are required to attend seminars and experiential learning sessions throughout the 8 weeks. Seminar topics in the past have addressed issues such as Health Care Disparities, Health Literacy, Economics of Health Care, Global Health, and Health Policy. Scholars will be encouraged to engage in additional experiential programing related to healthcare and medicine that may include engaging with community organizations for service, readings and more!
   
• Field Trip: Scholars will participate in a field trip related to health and medicine.

IMPORTANT POLICIES: 

• Vacations: Due to expectations listed above and this being a program of limited duration, this role does not allow for participants to take any vacations during the period in which the internship takes place.
   
• Summer classes: Participants are not permitted to take summer classes at UChicago or other institutions while participating in this internship program. 

Department of Neurological Surgery: Polster lab

The Polster Lab focuses on understanding the physiology of the neurovascular unit (NVU)—the critical interface and transport system between the brain and the body. We study how NVU health influences brain function and disease, with the goal of identifying ways to preserve and restore brain health across a range of neurological conditions. All of the questions that we ask stem from the functional NVU with a terminal disease that can manifest with blood barrier leak or bleeding. We seek to understand these observations and knowledge gaps to invent better treatments and preventive strategies.

• Why do some patients have adverse reaction to brain radiation while other have none?
• Why do some cavernous malformations (CCM) bleed while others remain stable throughout a lifetime?
• Why do some aneurysms or AVMs grow/rupture while others can be stable forever?
• How can cancer grow its own blood supply and repair itself after we treat it?
• Why do some patients have big inflammatory reactions to stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) while other do not?
• Why do some people accumulate toxins in the brain or have neurological degeneration while some people can live to over 100 years?

Funding: $4,000 stipend 

Internship dates: June 8 – July 31, 2026

Benefits: This position is not benefits eligible.

To apply: A complete application consists of a one-page resume and cover letter.

Please write a cover letter including answers to the following questions: 

• What are your academic and career goals? How would this position support those goals?
   
• Why are you interested in working with this lab specifically?