Before starting your application, read the following instructions carefully.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the PUMAS internship, you must:

• Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
• Be currently enrolled as a community college student who is planning to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Have successfully completed at least two semesters of college-level science courses with a lab component (chemistry and molecular biology preferred, but not required), before the start of the PUMAS internship.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50.

In-state candidates are preferred and prior PUMAS interns are encouraged to apply.

Application Process

The PUMAS online application form includes questions about:

• Personal contact information
• Educational history (high school, college(s) attended and cumulative GPA, start and end dates of upcoming semester, etc.)
• Career objectives (anticipated transfer school, major, etc.); interest in STEM
• Prior commitments that overlap with the PUMAS internship program dates (June 8 to August 7, 2026) or limit your participation in a 20-25–hour work week over the summer

You will also need to upload:

• An official or unofficial copy of your college transcript(s). If you have attended more than one college, be sure to include a transcript from each college. You must also upload an unofficial record of the courses you are currently enrolled in this semester.
• Your résumé (no longer than two pages). It should focus on your college activities (rather than high school), and include: name and contact information; college and anticipated year of graduation; any awards and honors received; any volunteer or work experience (e.g., church activities, community service, clubs, etc.); any leadership roles; relevant skills and strengths.

Letter of Recommendation

You will need to provide one or two letters of recommendation at the time you submit your application. Your letter(s) of recommendation must come from a scientific mentor and/or educator, such as a college science professor from whom you’ve taken a science course. Your recommender may also email their letters to academicaffairs@gladstone.ucsf.edu before the application deadline of March 9, 2026. If they’ll be emailing us directly, be sure to include their names and emails in your application package.

Letter of Recommendation Guide

Your letter(s) of recommendation must come on official letterhead and signed by your mentor. While not required, we have developed a guide for your mentor to utilize in writing their letter of recommendation. View the letter of recommendation guide.

Essay Questions

As part of your application, you will need to provide your answers to essay questions. Each question should be answered in full sentences, not bulleted lists.

Essay Questions: New or Returning Applicants
Answer the following essay questions using a maximum of two pages for all three answers.

1. Why are you interested in studying biological/biomedical science?
2. What are your career goals? And how would participating in the PUMAS program enhance your goals of becoming a scientist?
3. The success of the PUMAS program depends on the active cooperation of all participants. What strengths and skills do you bring to the program that you can share with other students?

Special Essay Questions: Returning PUMAS Interns
If you have previously participated in the PUMAS internship program and wish to return, answer the two following questions, instead of the three questions listed above.
Maximum: one (1) page for both questions.

1. Why do you want to continue working at Gladstone?
2. What can you get out of this summer experience that you didn’t get out of your first PUMAS internship experience?

Ready to Submit? Here’s a Final Checklist.

Ensure your single PDF file document includes the following items in this order:

1. Digital copy of your college transcript(s)
2. Your résumé
3. Answers to the essay questions
4. One to two letters of recommendation from a scientific mentor, or the names and emails of your recommenders if they are emailing their recommendation letter.

When you’re ready, submit your PUMAS application online.