If you’re passionate about the sciences and are a domestic student currently in your junior year of high school, we invite you to apply for the Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) program. You will spend six weeks at BU conducting university laboratory research with some of the nation’s brightest scientific minds while advancing your STEM knowledge and skills.
Two track choices (Internship or Practicum):
Internship (unpaid): You will tackle research projects under the mentorship of distinguished faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students.
Opt for the Internship track and you will spend 40 hours each week working on research projects designed by your mentor to help you acquire valuable technical and analytical skills while developing insight into the scientific process. You may choose from hands-on research opportunities in areas such as: astronomy, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, medical laboratory research, neuroscience, physics, psychology, and public health. You will present the results of your research at the Poster Symposium that concludes the program.
In addition, one day per week you will join the Practicum students for workshops aimed at building your academic and professional skills.
Practicum: You will conduct group research in a university setting under the guidance of a BU instructor. Ideal for students who prefer a structured research environment, the Practicum track is focused on computational neurobiology.
Opt for the Practicum track and you will begin your days with a two-hour lecture from your instructor before continuing in the afternoon with four hours of group research. The experiments are designed to demonstrate procedures that are representative of university laboratory research in computational neurobiology. Although this course has a set syllabus with clearly outlined protocols, the final outcome of your computational research project cannot be predicted in advance. You will present the results of your research project alongside RISE Internship students at the Poster Symposium that concludes the program.
In addition, one day per week you will join the Internship students for workshops aimed at building your academic and professional skills. You will also attend weekly off-site or on-site interactions with local biotech or pharmaceutical companies.
Location(s)
- Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Schedule
- June 29th - August 8th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- Residential Tuition: $8,940
- Commuter Tuition: $5,820
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident
- High school junior who will be in their senior year in Fall 2025
Deadline
- February 14, 2025
Application or Entry Requirements
- A completed online application
- A high school transcript
- Standardized test scores (optional)
- An essay describing why you chose your subject of interest (300 words)
- An essay outlining your academic achievements (250 words)
- An essay explaining why you want to attend RISE (200 words)
- Two letters of recommendation (one science teacher and one counselor, teacher, or advisor)
- Internship applicants only: List of three faculty members you would like to work with and how their research aligns with your interests
- Non-refundable application fee
- Financial aid documents (if applicable)
Notifications of Decisions
- Practicum applicants: Late March
- Internship applicants: Late April
Financial Aid Details
- There is limited financial aid available. Awards are based on need. View our Tuition, Aid, & Payment page to learn how to apply for financial aid.
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Applications open December 15th, 2025
- Recommendations must be received no later than February 21st, 2025
Have other questions?
Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1839 and is one of the largest universities in the city, with over 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students. BU offers over 300 programs and is home to 12 schools and colleges: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Arvind and Chandan Nandlal Kilachand Honors College, Questrom School of Business, School of Hospitality Administration, and Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. BU is also home to several research centers, including the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), which conducts research on diseases such as Ebola and the Zika virus. The university places a strong emphasis on international education, offering over 90 study abroad programs in 30 countries.
