SEED/STEM Summer Program
Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
An eight-week summer program pairing high school students with research faculty to contribute to biomedical/STEM research and prepare a poster, with need-based stipends to remove financial barriers.
Who should apply
A great fit for Indiana high school sophomores–seniors interested in STEM and research who can commit to a full-time summer research experience on the IU Indianapolis campus.
Eligibility
- Current Indiana high school sophomore, junior, or senior
- Completed at least one high school chemistry course
- Demonstrated interest in science and/or research
- Able to commute to the IU Indianapolis campus
- Able to commit full-time, Monday–Friday, ~8 hours/day
What you get
- Eight-week summer research with faculty mentors (IU School of Medicine, IU Indianapolis, Indiana Bioscience Research Institute)
- Contribution to ongoing research and a research poster
- Need-based stipends up to $4,000 for eligible students
What the application involves
- Student application form
- Parent application form (household/income details)
- Recommendation form from a STEM teacher
Application tips
- Have your STEM teacher recommender lined up early.
- Apply as soon as the application opens, the program runs on a fixed seasonal timeline.
Good to know
Summer 2026: applications open Nov 1, 2025; deadline March 1, 2026; interviews from March 23; decisions in April; program June 8 – July 30, 2026.
Not eligible for this one? These are open anywhere in the U.S.
Being in the wrong state rules out a lot of programs and almost none of the good ones. Here are three you can apply to from anywhere, soonest deadline first.
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