NIH-Funded Summer ASSURE Program Welcomes Trainees
On June 1, the Departments of Radiation Medicine (DRM) and Medical Physics welcomed a new group of undergraduate trainees to campus, marking the official launch of the NIH-funded Academic Summer Student Undergraduate Research Experience (ASSURE) program’s first full year. Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Carri Glide-Hurst, with co-Principal Investigator Dr. Ivan Rosado-Mendez in the Department of Medical Physics, the program brings together students from across the country for an intensive, 11-week summer experience designed to inspire the next generation of leaders in medical physics and the radiological sciences.
This year’s cohort of 17 students—most of them rising seniors—arrives from universities nationwide, reflecting the program’s recent expansion from a smaller, locally based effort into a nationally recruited initiative. Over the course of the summer, trainees will be immersed in hands-on research, working closely with faculty mentors across DRM, Medical Physics, and Radiology.
The program begins with onboarding and community-building activities, quickly transitioning into a rigorous blend of laboratory research, educational sessions, and professional development. Students will explore topics ranging from scientific communication to clinical trials and research ethics, while also gaining exposure to real-world clinical environments through tours and shadowing opportunities. Local industry partners and entrepreneurs will participate by giving them tours and teaching them about industry scientist careers. Their work will culminate in a public poster session later this summer highlighting the research they’ve worked on during the program.
Throughout the program, DRM faculty and staff will be providing mentorship, clinical insight, and access to advanced treatment technologies. Participants will tour the Proton and clinical areas to learn about linear accelerators and imaging devices. The department’s involvement reflects a broader commitment to collaboration within the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health, bringing together expertise across disciplines to create a dynamic training environment.
Dr. Zachary Morris, Chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine, is excited to offer trainees the opportunity to learn on campus this summer. “The University of Wisconsin provides an exemplary training environment for radiation medicine, radiology, and medical physics and we look forward to providing a seminal undergraduate research experience that will be formative to the career development of these talented students.”
As Dr. Glide-Hurst noted, “ASSURE reflects a powerful collaboration between DRM and Medical Physics—bringing together complementary expertise to reimagine how we train and support the next generation of academic medical physics leaders.” By combining research, clinical exposure, and structured mentorship, ASSURE aims to spark curiosity, expand opportunity, and prepare students for careers that will shape the future of cancer care.