STARS Summer Research Program for Students
UT Southwestern Medical Center
An eight-week paid, non-residential program where North Texas high school juniors work side by side with a faculty host in a biomedical research lab and present their results at the end of the summer.
Who should apply
North Texas juniors with strong grades and real curiosity about science who have never set foot in a research lab. If you already did a research program, apply elsewhere; prior experience disqualifies you here.
Eligibility
- At least 16 years old by June 1 of the program year
- Currently classified as a junior and enrolled in high school
- US citizen, national, or otherwise eligible to work in the United States
- No prior research experience
- The student program is aimed at students in North Texas
What you get
- Eight weeks in a UT Southwestern biomedical research laboratory
- A faculty host who works alongside you
- A paid stipend
- Experience presenting your research results at the end of the summer
What the application involves
- Online application submitted through the STARS program site during the November to January window
- Evidence of strong academic achievement and a clear interest in science or medicine
- Contact starsmail@utsouthwestern.edu for the current materials checklist before the window opens
Application tips
- Mark your calendar for late November. The window is only about two months and it does not reopen.
- Be direct that this would be your first research experience. That is a requirement, not something to apologize for.
- Placements are in biomedical labs only. Do not write about wanting to shadow doctors or see patients; that is not what this is.
- Plan transportation now. The program is non-residential, so you need a reliable way to get to the Dallas campus five days a week for eight weeks.
- Call the STARS office at 214-648-9505 if anything about eligibility is unclear. They answer student questions directly.
Good to know
Dates are subject to change each year. The program office is at 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9137, phone 214-648-9505, email starsmail@utsouthwestern.edu.
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.
Due December 1 · ~4 months
Research
Nemours Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Nemours Children's Health
A 10-week full-time paid summer research program for undergraduates at four Nemours pediatric sites in Delaware and Florida. Students work on clinical, laboratory, or translational research projects.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grade 12
Due in February · ~7 months
Research
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
A biomedical research internship inspiring underrepresented students toward careers in neurological and behavioral sciences, with an in-person Baltimore track and a national virtual track.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grades 11–12
Due in February · ~7 months
Research
Simons Summer Research Program
Stony Brook University
A summer program where academically talented high school students join active science, math, or engineering research teams under faculty mentors and present at a closing poster symposium, receiving a stipend award.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grade 11