STEM Pipeline Blog / March 8, 2023

Summer Program Provides Hands-On Research Experience for Local High School Students

Last summer, 24 area high school students worked alongside preceptors in hands-on research across nine topic areas in organic chemistry, environmental science, and materials science. New in 2022 was the addition of two research opportunities in Radio frequency identification (RFID) for Food Packaging Applications through MSU’s Axia Institute, now located at the St. Andrews research facility.

Participating students represented six high schools from Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola Counties. Two students participated through the ACS Project SEED program, which is coordinated through the local Midland Section of the American Chemical Society, which St. Andrews has partnered with since 2016.

The eight-week program culminated with an open house at St. Andrews, which included student research poster presentations and a facility tour. The event was open to the public and more than 100 family, friends, teachers and community members attended the event.

This summer’s application is open now through April 7. The program will run seven weeks, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, from June 19 through August 4. Rising high school seniors and 2023 graduates from the Great Lakes Bay Region who are at least 16 years of age are invited to apply for the opportunity to participate in a unique summer learning experience performing hands-on research alongside St. Andrews’ faculty. Students will investigate novel problems related to chemistry, environmental science, materials science, 3D printing, and engineering.

Over the seven weeks, students will engage in daily research that will culminate with a poster presentation scheduled during the last week of the program. All activities will occur at the MSU St. Andrews research facility in Midland, Michigan, Monday through Thursday, six hours per day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a one-hour lunch. Program sessions will not be held in the evenings or on weekends. Students will not participate on Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4. Selected students should be available to participate in person for the program’s entirety and commit to the above schedule. Please note that transportation and housing are not provided.

Benefits of Summer Research

  • Gain hands-on research experience in a lab.
  • Excellent addition to your resume or college application.
  • Helps to determine a career path.

Summer research student feedback:

“Just another one of the benefits of this summer was I found a couple scholarships that go out to students with research internship experience…“I still can’t believe how helpful one summer could be, but good things keep happening left and right thanks to that experience!”
– Summer 2022 Student

“It had never really occurred to me how much a chemistry degree could get you. I never really considered the innovation or “research and development” side of things”
– Summer 2020 Student

“Dr. Zhang, I can’t thank you enough for that letter of recommendation. Cornell is my dream school. But seriously. This wouldn’t have happened if not for the summer research. I sincerely thank you for everything so far and everything yet to come.”
– Summer 2020 Student

For complete program details and 2023 application, visit MSU St. Andrews Summer Research.

The MSU St. Andrews facility complements and extends Michigan State University campus research. The activities conducted at the facility, support Michigan State University’s general mission of research, teaching, and service outreach, and specifically advance MSU’s efforts to promote the economic development of Michigan and the nation.

The preservation of the historic St. Andrews facility and the support of our ongoing STEAM outreach programming is made possible through the support of several local organizations: the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and the Dow Chemical Company Foundation.

 

**The MSU St. Andrews is a participant in the STEM Passport.  Learn more about the organization and other upcoming events by visiting  https://bit.ly/STEMpassport2022


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