The application window for the 2024 STEM Research Experience has closed.

This year commemorates the 10th year of Ƶ Science Discovery's STEM Research Experience!In this 6-week program, Ƶ Boulder and Ƶ Anschutz faculty and graduate students act as mentors to highly motivated high school students interested in gaining real world laboratory experience. Each mentor works with two students based on research interest.

Students are expected to work in their Mentor's lab on assigned research projects approximately 15-20 hours a week(Monday-Friday). Work schedules may vary among different labs. Readings and assignments may be assigned prior to the start of the program.

As part of the STEM Research Experience program, participants will be taking part inaResearch Methods class which will prepare them to be productive members of the research community. This course will focus on research topics such as how to find and read scientific articles, how to determine the validity of data and good writing techniques.

Program participants will learn:

  • What it's like to be a scientific researcher
  • How to become a research scientist
  • The process by which research is conducted
  • How to probe data for answers to important questions

Course details:

  • All applicants must be16 years of age by the start date of the program on June 7, 2024. No exceptions will be made.
  • Dates:
    • June7-July26, 2024 (with optional work the week of July 1-5);Poster Session: July26, 2024
  • Cost:$1,995 and includes the following:
    • Daily parking permit or bus pass (Ƶ Anschutz Medical campus only).Note: Parking permits will not be issued for the Ƶ Boulder campus. Alternative transportation is encouraged.
    • A materials fee to offset all lab materials used by participants
    • The cost of a research quality poster to present at the culminating poster session
    • Research Methods class
    • Note: Thisis acommuter program and does not offer residential accommodations. Program administrators are not permitted to offer recommendations on accommodations.
    • Overseas applicants will be required to show proof of Visa prior to registering for the course. Ƶ does not have a processin place to assiststudents in obtaining a Visa for this non-degree seeking program.
  • Course participants will be grouped by research interest and assigned a mentor that will guide them through the learning experience. Outside of class time, students will meet with mentors in the research lab to discuss research topics, learn techniques and perform research.
  • Between live class time, Mentor + Student group meetings and completing independent research, this course will require approximately 15-20hours each week.
  • The course will conclude with a STEM Research Expo where each student will prepare a poster presentation for family, friends and fellow researchers to enjoy. As an added bonus, participants will be encouraged to publish their work in scientific journals focused on High School researchers.

Examples of pastresearch topics include:

Note: This list is provided to give applicants an idea of what topics have been offered in past years. Each year this program relies on the willingness of graduate students to participate in the program. A such, Science Discoverycannot guarantee that a specific research topic will be offered in any given year. Topics chosen are based upon theresearch fields represented by the mentors who have agreed to participate. High school applicants will be accepted and placedbased on their interests.

  • Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • Bioengineering
  • Biology
  • Biophysics and Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Computational Biology
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Geological Sciences
  • Hydrology
  • Immunology
  • Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Pulmonary Science and Critical Medicine
  • Renal

Application process:

The application window for the 2024 STEM Research Experience has closed. If you are not selected in the first round, you may be placed on a waitlist. Waitlisted students will be informed as soon as possible if a spot becomes available.

Admission to theSTEM Research Experience is through a competitive application process.All admission decisions are made by Ƶ Science Discovery and are considered final. Payment will berequired upon admittance to the program. Once a student has been registered and payment has been accepted, the registrant is committed to taking thespot - as a result, no refund will be issued in the event of a cancellation. Please consider this when determining whether or not to accept a spot.

Important note forparticipants: Participants will not be permitted to select specific research projects, mentors, or topics in advance and should be open to doing a project with any of our mentors. It will be necessary for all applicants to enter this programwith an open mindand a willingness toexplore any number of STEM research fields.Students placed on the Ƶ Anschutz campus will be matched with mentors prior to June 7 and will need to be responsive to emails requesting information.Students on the Ƶ Boulder campus will attend the orientation on June 7and participate in a “science speed dating” activitywhere they will meet all participatingmentors and hear about their projects.

Science Discovery will do its best to match applicants with preferred mentors, but specific projects or mentors cannot be guaranteed.

To reiterate, this is NOT a residential program.

For additionalinformation, contact Kathryn Penzkover via email.