Research Centers and Programs

Research Training Program for High School Students

High school students smiling for a group photo

Applications Open January 6

Applications for the 2025 Research Training Program are open from Monday, January 6, to Sunday, March 9, 2025.

About the Research Training Program

Seattle Children’s Research Institute is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce, and inspiring the next generation of scientists, physicians and healthcare workers. The Science Education Department offers high school students the opportunity to learn more about biology laboratory research.

The Research Training Program (RTP) is an in-person program with a competitive application process and is intended for local students who reside within commuting distance of downtown Seattle.

There is no cost to participate. Stipends are available to offset costs for transportation and meals. The program does not provide or arrange housing for students.

This program is for students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the biomedical and health sciences as defined by the National Institutes of Health. See below for more information.

Program Information

Format

Starting in 2025, the Research Training Program (RTP) is expanding into a two-year, in-person program with scaffolded experiences to introduce high school students in grade 10 to laboratory research.

Summer 2025: During the Research Training, students will:
- Learn how to work in a research laboratory environment at Seattle Children's Research Institute.
- Learn about topics including biochemistry, immunotherapy, gene editing and infectious diseases.
- Participate in workshops on college readiness and career exploration.
- Conduct their own independent project utilizing the skills they have learned.
2025-2026 school year: Students will participate in monthly workshops (in-person and virtual) on topics in Science Communication.
Summer 2026: During the Research Experience, the trained students will return to work directly alongside research mentors in laboratories at Seattle Children's Research Institute.

The program provides students with a solid foundation for a future career in biomedical research. Students who participate must commit to participating in all planned activities of the Research Training Program from July 2025 to August 2026.

Students will receive stipends to offset costs for transportation and meals: $2,000 for summer 2025, $200 during the 2025-2026 school year and $2,500 for summer 2026.

Application timeline

Monday, January 6, 2025: Applications for the 2025 Research Training Program open.
Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time: Applications are due. Students must submit an application form before this due date. Late applications will not be considered.
Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time: Letters of Recommendation are due. Letter writers must submit their letters before this due date. It is highly recommended that students give their letter writers at least three weeks’ notice before this due date.
April: Applications are reviewed.
Late April to Early May: Applicants will be notified of their status: accepted, waitlisted, or not selected no later than early May.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 4–5:30 p.m.: There is a mandatory in-person Orientation Session at Seattle Children’s Research Institute in downtown Seattle. Students will submit required paperwork at this orientation.
Summer 2025: The Research Training will take place over four weeks from Monday, July 14 to Friday, August 8, 2025, from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily.
2025-2026 school year: The Science Communication Curriculum consists of monthly workshops (in-person and virtual) from October 2025 to May 2026, with times and dates to be determined by the group.
Summer 2026: The Research Experience will take place over five weeks from Monday, July 13 to Friday, August 14, 2026, from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily.

Summer 2025 activities

Lectures on biochemistry, immunology, global and public health and infectious diseases
Labs on microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis, immunoassays, isolating white blood cells, polymerase chain reaction, bacterial transformation, gene editing and more.
College and career workshops
Facility tours
Independent research project and final oral presentation

2025-2026 school year activities

Monthly workshops (in-person and virtual) on visual storytelling, written science communication, and public speaking

Summer 2026 activities

Work in laboratories alongside leading researchers at Seattle Children's Research Institute
Responsible Conduct of Research and college prep workshops
Final poster presentation

Eligibility

The Research Training Program is open to current 10th grade (rising junior) high school students.

Students must have a strong interest in one of the following fields: biology, biochemistry, microbiology, public health or a related scientific field. Prior knowledge of these fields is not required.

Students must be able to reside within commuting distance of downtown Seattle for the duration of the program. The program does not provide or arrange housing for students. Prior formal research experience is not required. Program applicants seeking their first research experience will be prioritized over applicants who have completed other research programs and/or internships to optimize the program’s impact.

Students will receive a stipend, which is considered reportable income by the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, students must have an SSN or ITIN to participate in the RTP.

This program is for students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the biomedical and health sciences as defined by the National Institutes of Health. Students from these groups are highly encouraged to apply:

Blacks or African Americans
Hispanics or Latinx
American Indians, Alaska Natives or Indigenous
Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders
Individual with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.
Individuals who meet two or more of the criteria for disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the RTP take place?
- The Research Training Program will take place in the B. Wayne Hughes Building, also known as Building Cure, in downtown Seattle.
- The building is located at 1920 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA 98101.
Can I apply for the Virtual Research Training Program (VRTP)?
- No. We are not offering the online Virtual Research Training Program (VRTP) in 2025.
I belong to a certain racial or ethnic group. Am I eligible to apply for this program?
- The Research Training Program is for students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the biomedical and health sciences as defined by the National Institutes of Health.
- While we prioritize students from these backgrounds, we consider many factors when reviewing applications.
- If you have experienced other factors that are not listed in the eligibility criteria, you can explain in your application essay.
Is this a medical program? Will I get to work with patients and learn about medical school?
- No. The RTP is not a medical program. The RTP is best suited for students interested in biology laboratory research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
- Students will not be working at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and we will not be working with patients. Also, we will not be covering medical school in great detail. If you are interested in volunteer or clinical positions at Seattle Children's Hospital, please visit High School and Youth Service Projects, Summer Nurse Camp or Summer Scrubs & ’Scopes Camp.
I'm currently in 9th, 11th or 12th grade. Can I apply?
- No. We can only accept students currently in 10th grade for summer 2025.
- If you are currently in 9th grade, we strongly encourage you to apply for next year when you are in 10th grade for the 2026-2027 program.
Can I participate in only the Research Experience (2026) and skip the Research Training (2025)?
- No. Only students who complete the Research Training in summer 2025 and Science Communication workshops will be eligible to work in the laboratories during the Research Experience in summer 2026.
What if I can't commit to coming back in 2026?
- The Research Experience in summer 2026 is a unique and transformative opportunity for high school students to work in authentic research laboratories. Such positions are extremely limited and in very high demand.
- We are looking for students who will commit to participating in all planned activities of the Research Training Program from July 2025 to August 2026.
Do I need a Social Security number to participate?
- Yes. Participants of the RTP will receive a stipend, which is considered reportable income by the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, students must have an SSN or ITIN to participate in the RTP.
What is the acceptance rate?
- This is a competitive program, and we receive and carefully review many more applications than we have capacity for.
- For 2025, the lab has a capacity of 16 students.

How to Participate

Step 1. Ask Your Letter Writer

Contact your letter writer as soon as possible to request a letter of recommendation.

Please select someone to write a letter of recommendation for you. This individual should be someone who will speak well of your academic or professional accomplishments, such as a teacher, advisor or employer. We highly recommend that you ask them at least three weeks in advance.

When you submit your application form (see Step 2 below), an email will be sent automatically to your letter writer with instructions on how to submit the letter of recommendation.

Important! It is highly recommended that you inform your letter writer that they will be receiving an automated email from Cognito Forms (notifications@cognitoforms.com).

Step 2. Application Form

Submit an Application

The application form is due on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Please respond to the following essay prompts.

We recommend that you write your essays in a text editor or word processor with spell check and that you verify the character limits. When ready, you can copy and paste your essays into the application form.

Our expectation is that your application materials will be your own original composition.

Tell us about your background. This is your opportunity to elaborate on your selections on the application form. (Maximum of 3,000 characters with spaces or ~500 words)
What are your plans for enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in science? (Maximum of 1,200 characters with spaces or ~200 words)
Why are you interested in this biology laboratory research program? (Maximum of 1,200 characters with spaces or ~200 words)
Describe any previous work or volunteer experience and skills you gained that are applicable to this program. (Note: A lack of research experience will not exclude you from this program.) (Maximum of 1,200 characters with spaces or ~200 words)
What are your college goals, including your intended major or area of study? Explain how participating in this training program that focuses on laboratory research and biomedical science will help you achieve your college goals. (Maximum of 3,000 characters with spaces or ~500 words)

Step 3. Letter of Recommendation

When you submit your application form, an email will be sent automatically to your letter writer with instructions on how to submit the letter of recommendation.