Mile High Phages Summer Internship Program

Our program: In this course, students participate in a real-time worldwide experiment – the discovery of previously undiscovered bacteriophages. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect bacteria. Phage are the most abundant lifeform on earth – for instance, there are approximately 10 million phage in each drop of seawater. By studying them, we not only learn about fundamental principles of molecular biology, but also about how bacterial infections can be combatted. Our instructors are faculty and trainees from different laboratories on campus, trained by The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), who developed this course, to guide students through this exciting experiment. In previous years, a phage discovered by this HHMI course has been used to treat an antibiotic-resistant infection in the UK!   Students work in small groups for 4 hours a day over 8 weeks. The phages they identify are named by the students and added to the international phage database, where the students are cited. This internship increases students’ feeling of science efficacy and project ownership much more than traditional science courses. No prior experience is required.

Applications for the 2026 Mile High Phages Program are now open! Apply here.

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Mile High Phages Meet Us button: Our program has been running for the last four years; meet the previous editions!

Hear from previous students on their experiences in the Mile High Phages Program

Mile High Phages Support Us: If you want contribute to the program, contact Julia.p.cooper@cuanschutz.edu

Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

CU Anschutz

Research I South

12801 East 17th Avenue

Mail Stop 8101

Aurora, CO 80045

303-724-3201

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