Young Scientist Program (YSP) Summer Focus

The Young Scientist Program (YSP) Summer Focus is a paid summer research internship at Washington University in St. Louis for high school juniors who live in the Greater St. Louis area. The program has run since 1991. Each Scholar works in a university lab on a biomedical research project and is paired with two scientists: a Mentor who guides the lab work one-on-one and a Tutor who meets weekly to review the science behind the project. Past projects have covered genetics, neuroscience, cancer biology, microbiology, ecology, chemistry and biomedical engineering. Scholars also take a science writing course and a college preparation course. The program accepts 15 to 18 students each year. It is full time and in person, about 40 hours a week for eight weeks. The 2026 program ran June 1 to July 24, after a three-day orientation in late May. Scholars received a $4,800 pre-tax stipend in 2026, plus free St. Louis transit passes.

Open to students in 11th grade (juniors) who are permanent residents of the Greater St. Louis metro area in Missouri or Illinois. No prior research experience is required. Applicants submit an online application with personal information, educational history, work experience, an academic transcript, five short answer questions, two short essays, and two letters of recommendation (one from a math or science teacher; none from family or peers). Selected applicants are interviewed. Scholars must work in person full time and miss no more than three days.