Updated October 2026
TL;DR
The Dr. Charis Eng Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP) is a paid, full-time summer research apprenticeship at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. It is open to high school and undergraduate students from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ. The 2026 program ran from June 15 to July 31, and applications for summer 2027 open in October 2026. About 10% or fewer applicants are accepted. This guide covers how MSAP works, who can apply, and eight tips to strengthen your application. If you want a research option you can join from anywhere, you can apply to the Horizon Academic Research Program.
If you live in the Philadelphia area and want to see what working in a science lab is like, the Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP) is one of the few programs that pays you to do it. You spend the summer working with a Monell scientist on research about taste, smell, and nutrition, then present your findings to scientists, family, and friends. Because the program is small and competitive, a clear, specific application makes a difference. This guide explains how the program works and how to prepare. If you want to compare MSAP with other local options, see our list of research programs for high school students in Philadelphia.
What is the Monell Science Apprenticeship Program?
MSAP is a summer research apprenticeship run by the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a nonprofit research institute in Philadelphia that studies taste, smell, and related senses. The program has run for more than 40 years. In the most recent cohort, it was renamed the Dr. Charis Eng Monell Science Apprenticeship Program in honor of the physician-scientist Dr. Charis Eng.
Its mission is to encourage interest in biomedical science and medicine careers, particularly among groups underrepresented in science. As an apprentice, you work full-time with a Monell scientist, attend lectures and workshops, and learn about research ethics and science careers. The summer ends with a Capstone Symposium where you present your research.
| Detail | What you need to know |
| Location | Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA (in person) |
| Dates | TBA (Last cohort: June 15 to July 31, 2026) |
| Applications | Open October 2026 for the summer 2027 program |
| Deadline | TBA |
| Hours | 35 hours per week |
| Cost and pay | No tuition. Apprentices earn an hourly wage; the rate is not published. |
| Eligibility | High school and undergraduate students from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, who can work in the U.S. |
| Selectivity | About 200 applicants; 18 to 24 students typically enrolled |
Who is eligible for MSAP?
According to Monell’s program requirements, you must:
- Have a strong interest in science and research.
- Be currently enrolled in high school or an undergraduate program.
- Prove that you are eligible to work in the United States.
- Be from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ.
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, but you must have legal working status that allows you to be paid an hourly wage. Students of any background can apply. The admissions committee gives strong preference to students from groups underrepresented in science, including women, ethnic and racial minorities, and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
If you are under 18 and accepted, you will need working papers from the School District of Philadelphia, even if you live outside Pennsylvania. You do not need them to apply. Details are on the MSAP FAQ page.
How much does MSAP pay, and what does it cost?
MSAP charges no tuition. Apprentices are paid an hourly wage for up to 35 hours of work per week, though Monell does not publish the hourly rate.
You are responsible for your own housing, meals, and commute. Monell does not offer housing or a meal plan. If you cannot commute each day, Monell suggests staying with a relative or family friend, and accepted students must submit a letter from their host confirming they have a safe place to stay.
How competitive is MSAP?
MSAP is selective. According to Monell, the program receives about 200 applications each year and enrolls 18 to 24 students, so about 10% or fewer applicants are accepted. MSAP is listed among the 25 Best Pre-College Summer Science Programs for High School Students by Best College Reviews.
What do MSAP apprentices work on?
Projects connect to Monell’s research on the chemical senses. The most recent MSAP Impact Report shows what a recent summer looked like. That cohort included nine apprentices, six in high school and three in college, and ran from June 23 to August 15, 2025. Apprentices completed independent projects and contributed to ongoing research.
Projects from that summer included testing a rapid smell test for detecting loss of smell, searching for odor matches using computational methods, studying how nerve cells sense a full stomach, and exploring how sweet taste preferences relate to sugar intake. Apprentices also rotated through neuroscience, nutrition, psychophysics, and molecular biology. They attended workshops on topics such as the scientific method, coding, and science communication.
One alum, Osama Ahmed, shares on the program page that he developed his interest in the genetic and neural basis of social behavior as an MSAP student. He went on to finish a PhD in neuroscience at the University of California, San Francisco.
Tips to get into the Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
1. Apply as soon as applications open
Applications for summer 2027 open in October 2026, and the 2027 deadline has not been announced. In past years, deadlines have fallen between mid-December and late January. Check the MSAP applications page and sign up for Monell’s newsletter so you hear when the form goes live. Starting early gives you time to draft, get feedback, and revise.
2. Confirm that you can commit to all seven weeks
All accepted students must attend the full program. Monell does not allow vacations, and absences longer than two days need approval or a medical note. Before you apply, check your family’s summer plans and work out how you will commute or where you will stay. Showing that you have planned for this tells the committee you are ready for a full-time role.
3. Show interest in what Monell studies
Monell’s research focuses on taste, smell, and nutrition, and how they connect to health. Read a few pages on the Monell website and pick one or two questions that interest you, such as how the brain processes smells or how taste affects what people eat. Mentioning a specific question shows you understand what the work at Monell involves.
4. Explain why you want research experience
You do not need a career plan, but you should be able to say why you want to spend a summer in a lab. Write about a class, book, or question that made you curious. Then explain what you hope to learn from working with a scientist. Specific reasons are easier for the committee to remember.
5. Describe what you did in past science projects
Use examples from school labs, science fairs, independent projects, or STEM clubs. Focus on your actions: the data you collected, the procedure you followed, or the results you presented. A sentence such as “I measured how temperature changed yeast activity over three trials” says more than “I did a science fair project.”
6. Share your background and context
MSAP aims to bring more students from underrepresented groups into science. If your background or circumstances have shaped your path, you can share that in your own words. Be honest and specific. You do not need to fit a target group to apply.
7. Write clearly and use your own words
Research involves explaining your work to others, so clear writing matters. Keep your answers organized and use scientific terms only when you understand them. Short, direct sentences make your answers easier to follow.
8. Get feedback and proofread
Ask a teacher, counselor, or another trusted adult to read your answers and point out anything unclear. Then check that you answered every question, fix spelling and grammar, and confirm your contact details. Make sure the final version still sounds like you.
Your MSAP application timeline
| When | What to do |
| September to October | Read the MSAP program page and FAQ, confirm you are eligible, and sign up for the newsletter. |
| October to November | Check that applications are open, then draft your answers and list your science experience. |
| November to December | Ask a teacher for feedback and revise your application. |
| Before the deadline | Proofread and submit. The upcoming cohort’s deadline has not been announced, so check the applications page often. |
| After acceptance | Get working papers from the School District of Philadelphia if you are under 18, and submit your host letter if you are not commuting from home. |
Where else can you find research opportunities?
If MSAP’s location or dates don’t work for you, there are other ways to get research experience.
You can browse these summer programs for high school students in Philadelphia, look at paid biology research opportunities in other cities, or compare high school research programs across subjects.
If you want to write your own research paper, the Horizon Academic Research Program is a great choice. You work with a professor or PhD mentor to write a college-level, 20-page research paper. You can choose year-round one-on-one PhD Labs or small-group Professor Seminars in the summer. For advice on applying, read these tips from the Horizon admissions committee.
What students often ask about this science apprenticeship
No. The listed requirements ask for a strong interest in science and research, not prior lab work. Experience from school labs or science fairs can still help you show how you approach scientific questions.
Both. In the most recent cohort, apprentices completed independent projects while contributing to ongoing research in their mentors’ labs. They also rotated through areas like neuroscience, nutrition, psychophysics, and molecular biology.
Yes. About 20 to 30% of accepted students each year are returning apprentices. A second summer can let you go deeper into a project or build on what you learned the first time.
This apprenticeship is limited to students from the greater Philadelphia region, so you would need to look at research options elsewhere or online. If you want a remote option, the Horizon Academic Research Program offers a selective, trimester-long one-on-one mentorship that ends in a 20-page research paper.
Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program