osu research opportunities for high school students

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Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program

2025 explorations in neuroscience internship.

June 23 – August 8, 2025 

Application Deadline:  TBD

Program Overview

It is expected that this program will encourage participants to explore undergraduate degrees in neuroscience, excel in high quality neuroscience research experiences, and promote the development of a strong cohort of diverse young investigators dedicated to neurological disease research. Not only will high school students work directly with a trained mentor, but they will also learn from graduate students and technicians working within the lab.

The mission for the Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program is to provide substantial experiences and professional development activities to support future participation of high school students, including those typically underrepresented in Neuroscience, in undergraduate Neurological Disease Research, Neuroscience Majors, and careers in Neuroscience Research.  This program is designed to provide a strong foundation for early neuroscientists to excel in competitive research programs.

Apply now to the Explorations in Neuroscience Internship

Why choose the Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program?

• An intensive research experience in an active and dynamic laboratory
• Research mentoring by renowned leaders in their chosen field
• Access to state of the art facilities and the ability to perform research in a collaborative and open environment
• Practical exposure to active laboratories in the OSU Department of Neuroscience
• Access to mentors that can provide first hand advice on what it takes to succeed in the field of Neuroscience today
• Participation in the Explorations in Neuroscience journal club and formal training in reading and presenting primary literature
• Ample networking opportunities including lab meetings, group journal clubs, etc. 
• Guidance and training for the experience to present research findings at the end of the 7-week program

For additional information or questions, please email us at [email protected] .

Helpful Links

• Neuroscience Research Institute
• Ways to Give
• Contact the Department of Neuroscience Department of Neuroscience 460 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210 Melissa Stenger Administrator 614-688-5501 [email protected]

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Who: Graduating high school seniors and current underclassmen in college over the age of 18 by May 1, 2025

What: The 2025 OSU Research Internship Program on the CFAES Wooster Campus (ORIP)

Where: CFAES Wooster Campus; 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691

When: May 12 - July 18, 2025

How:  Apply via the link below by February 28, 2025

ORIP applications have closed for summer 2024. Please check back in the winter for details on ORIP 2025.

The CFAES Wooster Campus provides an annual summer research internship opportunity for motivated graduating high school seniors and current underclassmen in college over the age of 18. Note that students are not required to attend OSU or have future intentions of attending OSU to participate in the program. The OSU Research Internship Program on the CFAES Wooster Campus (ORIP) is tailored specifically to enhance student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Past ORIP participants have been involved in research ranging from bee abundance, to grapevine health and soil quality, to cross-reactivity of human coronavirus-specific antibodies. 

View 2024 ORIP Projects

Through laboratory and field research, interns receive hands-on experience in data collection and analysis, project design, and scientific communication of results. College students may be able to use this research internship to meet an internship requirement at their school. They should confirm this with their academic advisors if they are interested.   

Requirements and Benefits

Throughout the duration of the 10-week program, interns will work with their mentors and the faculty advisor to write a report detailing their research topic, methods, and findings which will be due at the end of the program. Students will also be required to participate in a final symposium where they will give a 10-minute presentation on their summer research. Students who are selected to participate in this program m ust be available for the full 10 weeks.

A core aspect of ORIP is networking, not only with faculty and professional students in your lab, but with the other participants of the program. To inspire this connectivity between interns during the program, every Friday is reserved for ORIP participants to gather for a Lunch and Learn session. Attendance at each Lunch and Learn session is required unless otherwise approved by the faculty advisor. Lunch and Learn sessions allow time for interns to come together and share their experiences over the past week with one another over a meal, followed by a brief overview of an area of CFAES research or opportunities within our college presented by CFAES Faculty members, Postdoctoral Scholars, or Graduate Students. 

Participation in ORIP can increase student competitiveness for scholarships and admission to college and graduate or professional schools. Students are encouraged to explore the websites of the departments and faculty labs on the CFAES Wooster Campus that are doing research in their areas of interest and contact the lab directly before applying to the program.  Please note that only CFAES Wooster-based faculty members are eligible to be faculty mentors, so double check that the researcher is located in Wooster before reaching out.  On the application there will be an opportunity to indicate whether you have already communicated with a faculty member about ORIP, though this is not a requirement to apply for the program. If a student is chosen for ORIP and they have not connected with a potential faculty mentor, they will be matched with an available faculty mentor based on the student’s experience and interests.

CFAES Wooster Departments

Student interns will be selected on a competitive basis by the ORIP selection committee. Interns will be required to work a minimum of 30 hours per week for the duration of the 10-week program (300 total hours). Daily hours and schedules will be determined by the research that is being conducted and will be settled between the student and the ORIP mentor.

ORIP will pay up to 150 hours of the 300-hour program requirement to the most competitive applicants. Faculty mentors will be responsible for the remainder of the student's salary and benefits (150 hours). Students may also make separate arrangements with their faculty mentors for additional employment, so long as they do not exceed 38 hours/week. This additional time will be 100% funded by the faculty mentor.

This program is targeted for local students who have their own transportation, though students located outside of our area may also apply. The cost of housing is the sole responsibility of the intern. More information regarding rates and availabiltiy for housing on the CFAES Wooster Campus will be available at a future date. 

The Application 

The ORIP application is due on February 28, 2025 and can be completed via an online Qualtrics survey. Alongside information about yourself like your current school and age, applications will also require you to attach a copy of your transcripts as a PDF and include an optional space for you to upload your resume, also as a PDF.  Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered, so ensure that you have provided all the necessary information before submitting.  

A complete application should include

• Name, Current Position, Current Contact Information
• Job Experience
• Honors and Awards
• Extracurricular Activities 
• Volunteer Experience
• A brief statement of short-term and long-term career goals (half-page)
• A brief personal statement as to why you should be chosen for this program (half-page)
• A detailed statement about any prior research experience or experiences you think have prepared you for this position (half page)
• A copy of your transcripts

Program Contact

Alexis Didinger | ORIP Coordinator 208 Research Services, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691 Phone: (330) 462-6157 Email: [email protected]

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High School students can be Buckeyes this summer

Application open for ohio state’s new on-campus buckeye precollege.

Applications are open for The Ohio State University’s new Buckeye Precollege Summer Institutes . Open to current 9th, 10th and 11th graders who will be at least 15 by the start of the program , Buckeye Precollege offers students the opportunity to participate in an academic program designed to give them a taste of college life and prepare them for the road ahead.

Applicants selected to participate in Buckeye Precollege enroll in a single, intensive course during their two-week stay on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. The institutes’ deep-dive courses are custom designed and taught by Ohio State’s faculty and staff.

Participants will investigate solving real-world challenges through hands-on, project-based learning while experiencing college-level coursework firsthand and gaining the academic skills needed to become successful, independent learners. Institute offerings are rigorous not-for-credit courses, allowing participants the freedom to explore new topics and challenge themselves academically without worrying about grades. Participants will also attend daily workshops offering inside advice on the college admissions process, college-level study skills, career planning and more.

“The Buckeye Precollege Summer Institutes will enable high school students to learn more about Ohio State, benefit from our outstanding faculty and instructors, and consider Ohio State as a destination for college,” said Ohio State Executive Vice President and Provost Melissa Gilliam. “Through these programs, participants will discover potential career paths, gain college-level academic skills and engage with thought-provoking, real-world challenges and ideas that can impact our world.”

Buckeye Precollege Summer Institutes will offer two sessions, each lasting two weeks: June 5-16 and June 19-30. The summer 2023 course offerings cover a range of topics, from philosophy to quantum mechanics, creative nonfiction writing to bioscience, and more. Participants will be selected through a competitive application process and placed in a course that best fits their interests and academic readiness.

High school students in grades 9, 10 and 11 at the time of application (spring 2023) and homeschooled students are eligible to apply.

All participants will experience an authentic taste of college life by living in an Ohio State residence hall and interacting with peers from across the United States. Participants enrolled in the same or similar courses will room nearby, creating a residential learning community and strengthening social connections.

Ohio State undergraduate and graduate students will serve dual roles as residential assistants and academic tutors. Organized social and recreational activities in the residence hall, on the Ohio State campus and around central Ohio will be offered on evenings and weekends.

Parents and students are invited to learn more about the Buckeye Precollege Summer Institutes by attending an informational webinar on Jan. 9 or Jan. 18 . All webinars are 60 minutes long and will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Application deadlines                                                                       

• Early Application Deadline: Feb. 1, 2023
• Application Deadline: March 1, 2023

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available, and applicants seeking need-based scholarships are encouraged to apply early, as funds will be awarded on a rolling basis.

Visit the Buckeye Precollege website to learn more, view a complete list of courses and apply online .

Contact the Buckeye Precollege team at [email protected] .

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