High School Research Immersion Program

The St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program offers a unique opportunity for rising seniors in the Memphis area and the immediate surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas to participate in mentored research projects in St. Jude laboratory, clinical or data science research programs. A primary goal of the program is to provide access and opportunities to participate in a mentored research experience.

Students in the program will work in pairs with a research mentor to conduct a research project. Simultaneously, students in the program will work with a science educator to reflect on the nature of science, whose ideas matter in science, and who gets positioned as a scientist. Students will develop a personal statement for their college application that illustrates how their experience in the program has influenced their perception of themselves as a current or future scientist. At the conclusion of the research experience, students will showcase their research projects in a community exhibition with a scientific poster of their findings.

The High School Research Immersion Program is an 8-week summer program. Daily schedules are restricted to a typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday. Students are expected to attend all 8 weeks of the program. The 2027 program will begin May 31, 2027 and end July 24, 2027. In addition, participants will be expected to attend a community exhibition to present their scientific posters on July 24, 2027.

Eligible high school students must:

• Be a United States citizen, non-citizen national, or possess a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States.
• Be a current junior at a high school in the Memphis-Shelby County area or immediate surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas at the time of application.
• Be 16 years old or older
• Have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0
• Complete the online application
• Provide written permission from a legal guardian if selected
• Submit an official transcript if selected

All students will receive a stipend of $4,800 and are expected to work 40 hours per week.

The 2027 application period will open Monday, September 7, 2026 and will close on Friday, December 4, 2026.

 All application materials, including a completed teacher recommendation, must be received by this date.

Application-related questions can be directed to immersion@stjude.org

Many graduates of HSRI continue to conduct research and serve as the next generation of mentors through the Emerging Leaders in Biomedical Research program. Undergraduates enrolled in Memphis area universities are eligible. 

Building a robust biomedical workforce requires addressing systemic challenges, including fostering interest and providing early opportunities for hands-on experience in scientific research. These efforts are essential to cultivating the next generation of scientists who will drive innovation and advance global health.

To address this challenge, St. Jude launched a unique research immersion program for Memphis area high school students. An initiative outlined in the St. Jude FY22–27 Strategic Plan, the internship program provides structured educational and hands-on experience for students interested in biomedical science. It also helps to expand the scientific workforce by providing opportunities for highly talented students.

Equitable selection process

The program is intentional to incorporate best practices for ensuring an equitable selection process. The selection process involved multiple rounds of blinded and unblinded review from a representative group.

Peer and mentorship relationships 

Positive relationships and a sense of belonging are integral to fostering the development of scientific identity and ensuring retention of future scientists in the biomedical career pathway. In designing the program, the St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program staff carefully considered the programmatic structures put in place and how these structures might work to foster relationships within the program—both peer-peer relationships and mentor-mentee relationships.

To promote strong, positive peer-peer relationships, students enter research spaces in pairs rather than individually, which is often the case in research immersion programs. Having students work in pairs offsets these fears by providing a sense of companionship and reassurance that they aren’t the only novice in the room. To foster strong mentorship relationships, mentors and mentees co-create shared expectations and norms, including feedback preferences, goals, strategies for a healthy relationship, and individual roles. This process helps ensure everyone feels valued, heard, and supported.