Research placements

Obtaining student research placements or internships

To obtain a student placement or internship with us, you must confirm the following. 

• The placement component is a mandatory requirement of a unit in your current degree.  
• A placement agreement should be established between the university and Peter Mac before commencement.

If the above criteria are satisfied, you can proceed with the following: 

• Look through the Peter Mac Student Project Book to find potential supervisors in a placement that suits you. 
• Contact the supervisor to see:
  • If they are interested in having you in a lab  
  • If the project is available
• When you are emailing potential supervisors, please attach the following for them to review: 
  • Your resume
  • Your results transcript  
• Any other relevant documents related to your placement - such as your university’s placement agreement
• Once a supervisor agrees to take you on as a placement student, contact the Research Education team to facilitate placement administration 

Summer Scholarship Program 2025 - 2026

We are seeking outstanding undergraduate students to participate in our six-week summer scholarship program. Students are provided a stipend of $400 per week for a period of 6 weeks (full time). Get involved in real-life laboratory-based research and contribute to exciting cancer research. 

To be eligible, you must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate degree, studying full-time at a university in Victoria, and have completed at least one year of discipline-specific study by December 2025. You must also remain enrolled for the duration of your scholarship placement. The placement should take place over 6 weeks during the summer vacation period, between 24 November 2025 and mid-February 2026, excluding the following dates: 25 December 2025 to 1 January 2026, and 26 January 2026.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to contact supervisors directly to enquire about available summer student placements. When reaching out, please include the following in your email:

• A brief explanation of your research interests and relevant skills
• Confirmation that you fulfil eligibility criteria
• Current academic transcript
• Your CV

Supervisors will respond directly to students if a suitable project is available. Please note that supervisors must confirm all summer studentships with us by 15 August.

All placements are coordinated directly by individual laboratories, and availability may vary between labs.

We recommend reviewing the Research Student Project Book on our website. If you find a project of interest, reach out to the listed supervisor to discuss the opportunity and confirm project availability.

Please note: Students must remain enrolled at a university for the entire duration of their scholarship placement. Those in their final semester are not eligible unless they can provide evidence of full-time enrolment in honours in Semester 1, 2026 prior to the placement start date. This is a mandatory requirement to receive the studentship.

Peter Mac requires its staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with three doses of the vaccine. 

Eligibility FAQs – Summer Research Scholarship

1. Am I eligible to apply if I’m not in my final semester by December 2025?
   Yes. If you are not in your final semester by December 2025, you are eligible to apply.
2. I will complete my undergraduate degree by the end of 2025 and am not pursuing further study. Am I eligible?
   No. If you are in your final semester by December 2025 and are not continuing with further studies you are not eligible to apply.
3. I will finish my undergraduate degree by December 2025 and plan to start honours in 2026. Am I eligible?
   Yes, conditionally. You are eligible to apply if you are commencing an honours program in Semester 1, 2026. You will need to provide proof of enrolment in your honours program to receive the studentship
4. Can medical students apply for the Summer Scholarship Program?
   Yes, medical students are eligible to apply as long as they fullfil the eligibility criteria.