The Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) invites highly motivated high school students with a strong interest in science to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute. The Broad Institute is a non-profit biomedical research institute in Cambridge, MA that brings together faculty and scientists from Harvard, MIT, and Boston's leading hospitals to tackle ambitious problems related to human disease, such as cancer, psychiatric disease, infectious disease, therapeutics, and more. We match students with Broad scientists to conduct original, cutting-edge research projects in areas such as: cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, infectious disease, and more. In addition to original research, students will get to explore scientific careers; attend interesting scientific talks; present their research to the Broad community in a scientific poster session; attend a college fair; participate in fun social events; and meet other students who share similar interests.
Location(s)
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
Schedule
- June 30th - August 8th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- Be a rising senior in high school (i.e. students can apply their junior year)
- Attend a high school in MA within commuting distance to the Broad Institute
- Have earned a B or better in science and math classes
- Demonstrate excitement for science! No previous research experience is required.
- Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or non-US citizen with employment authorization (i.e. DACA)
- Be available for the entire 6-week duration of the program. Students cannot be enrolled in other courses or programs, or commit to other employment, during program hours.
The Broad Institute especially encourages applications from students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Underrepresented in the sciences—these groups include Native Americans or Alaska Natives, Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinxs, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, as well as individuals with disabilities.
- Underserved, as indicated by qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
- Could be the first person in their family to attend college.
- Demonstrate a commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion through extracurricular and/or community activities that address social, educational, or economic disparities in the United States.
Deadline
- January 22nd, 2025
Application or Entry Requirements
- A completed online application form
- An unofficial high school transcript
- Two letters of recommendation from a research supervisor, science teacher, or math teacher
Notifications of Decisions
- Mid March
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The Broad Institute is a biomedical and genomic research center located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2004 as a collaboration between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the institute's mission is to use genomics to understand the underlying causes of human disease and to develop new therapies. The Broad Institute is home to over 3,000 researchers, staff, and trainees from over 60 countries. The Broad institute has made significant contributions to the Human Genome Project, a global effort to map the entire human genome, releasing the first comprehensive map of genetic variations in the human genome in 2008. The institute is also known for its work in developing new cancer treatments. In 2017, the Broad Institute and its collaborators received FDA approval for a new type of cancer therapy that uses genetically engineered cells to attack cancer cells.
