The SeattleStatGROWS program (Statistical Growing Research Opportunities for Undergraduates in Washington State) is a Fred Hutch Cancer Center initiative aimed at educating and mentoring undergraduate students interested in statistics, biostatistics, informatics or data science. Students participate as a cohort and are paired with mentors from Fred Hutch. This allows students to not only build technical skills, but build peer and mentor networks as well as develop the confidence they need to tackle graduate school or other equally challenging pursuits.
Earlier this fall, the program director, Megan Othus, PhD, a Fred Hutch biostatistician, received good news: the National Institutes of Health (NIH) renewed funding for SeattleStatGROWS through two R25 grants totaling $770,000. Awarded through the NIH’s National Library of Medicine and National Cancer Institute, these funds help ensure the program will continue through the summer 2028 session.
The dollars will not only cover the administrative support needed to deliver a high-quality experience, it will provide stipends for 20 participants — a critical factor, Othus explained.
“The stipend makes the position accessible, since taking time away from a paying summer job to participate in an unpaid internship isn’t an option for many,” she said. “This NIH funding ensures the program can recruit and support the most talented and dedicated students.”
Immersing students in the Fred Hutch environment — where they can observe a wide range of roles — is a deliberate choice and a core component of the program.
"They realize that you don't need to be a doctor or a lab scientist to help the world through science. You can do what you’re best at," said Othus.
While many student participants have gone on to find careers directly related to biostatistics and data science, others have discovered entirely different roles that fit them — often, professions that prior to the program, they never knew existed. Some participants have “aha” moments when they realize they want to go in a different direction, such as pursuing a medical degree. One participant’s insights led them to earn a combined JD/PhD degree.
Othus doesn’t just lead the program, she started it in 2023 and she’s passionate about it.
Seeing participants go on to achieve success they may not have believed was possible for themselves prior to the program is the fuel that helps keep her going. So is the post-internship feedback she receives from participants, such as:
“I realized there are an almost unlimited number of possible research options, and so that also makes the people here really cool, because they're experts in very niche parts of biostats or cancer research. I was really inspired ...”
“As someone who doesn't have a lot of people around them that have been in grad school, grad school has always been seen like it's unattainable, scary thing. And so this just shows that it's very accessible and these are the things you need to do in order to be ready for grad school.”
Interested in SeattleStatGrows?
The program is open to undergraduates enrolled in or intending to enroll in a two- or four-year college, who are 18 or older. Students who have an interest in statistics, biostatistics, informatics or data science are encouraged to apply and no prior experience is needed.
The next session is June 24 - August 19, 2026 and students must be able to commit to participating for the full eight weeks. Learn more or apply to the program.
During the eight-week program, students complete statistical analysis and modeling projects and attend professional development workshops led by Fred Hutch leaders, as well as guest leaders from Kaiser Pemanente, the Allen Institute and the Washington State Department of Health. They also receive intensive training in R programming, a computer language widely used in academia and in scientific research.
But beyond building these technical skills, the soft skills and community building that happen as a result of being in the program are just as valuable, said Othus. Much of the power of SeattleStatGROWS lies in its cohort model, she said, and the strategic timing of the program — making a deliberate effort to connect with students early in their academic journey — leads to maximize impact.
"The goal was to capture them before their identity is set in stone," Othus explained. "Many start on a STEM track, but when classes get hard, they drop out or pivot. Being part of the cohort helps them recognize they aren’t alone and helps them keep going."
When students complete the program, they have more than new knowledge, they have what Othus describes as a “scaffolding of people” — fellow students, mentors, program administrators and others at Fred Hutch — who can provide career advice and support. They also leave with a letter of recommendation which is unique, because it speaks to their performance as an employee in a professional workplace, not only a student in a classroom.
“We’re building more than skills; we’re building momentum,” said Othus. “I’m excited for the next cohort to bring their curiosity, their ideas and their energy to the challenges ahead. They always find ways to surprise us — and to push science forward.”
Maren Dale is a health care writer and editor. Her keen interest in, and respect for, the medical community began early in life when her family relocated to Rochester, Minn., and she attended Mayo High School. She has interviewed more than 600 physicians, researchers and health care leaders, and has a sub-specialty writing for professional medical associations. Reach her on LinkedIn or at maren@maren-dale.com.
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