The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program

The Summer Student Program is designed for students who want to immerse themselves in genetics and genomics research. It emphasizes laboratory discovery, communication of knowledge, and professional growth.

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Research that YOU can do

Students participate in an ongoing research program with the support of an experienced scientific mentor. They develop an independent project, implement their plan, analyze the data, and report the results. At the end of the summer, they present their findings to researchers, other students, and parents.

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Diversity in Science

Every year, a diverse group of approximately 40 undergraduate and high school students is chosen from all over the United States. They are able to meet and connect with research-focused students from different backgrounds who quickly form a community of motivated science scholars.

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One Program, Two Campuses

The Summer Student Program is available at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut. Outside the laboratory, there is much to explore. Depending on the location, students can visit the sights of Boston, New York, or the trails and vistas of Acadia National Park.

• At the time of participation in the 2025 program, a high school student (Bar Harbor) must:
  • have completed Grade 12
  • be at least 18 years old
  • be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
• At the time of participation in the 2025 program, a college student (Bar Harbor and Farmington) must:
  • be at least 18 years old
  • be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student
  • have at least one semester of undergraduate study remaining before graduation
  • be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

• January 27th, 2025

• A completed online application
• Two letters of recommendation 
• An unofficial transcript
• A resume
• A list of the science, technology, engineering, and computer science courses you have taken within the past three years, noting which had laboratory components
• A ranked list of your top three research interests, or labs, after reviewing our faculty research summaries
• A written description of your research interests and rankings of your research area choices
• Four short answer responses (each one in 3,000 characters or less, including spaces) to the following questions:
  • What questions in the fields of genetics and genomics are you curious about?
  • Describe your role in a recent research project you have done as part of your coursework, as part of the science fair, or in a research position. What was the project, how long did you work on it, did you have collaborators (if so, who were they), what did you actually do to work toward the project’s current status?
  • Discuss the personal qualities you bring to a team or project environment. Provide a specific example of a contribution you made to a collaborative project. If applicable, please describe a collaboration with someone whose customs, habits, and/or traditions are different from your own.
  • Please tell us more about yourself by giving us information about what you do when you are not in classes or studying? Are you a reader, a baker, a dancer a musician or something else? Do you play a sport? Do you have a job? Describe what you enjoy about this activity and what glimpse into who you are this activity shows.