While research is typically reserved for scholars at the collegiate level, the High School Research Internship (HSRI) program opens doors for students even before they turn the tassel and receive their high school diploma. Each year 30 high school juniors spend nine weeks of the summer working in the lab and conducting research alongside a UW–Madison research mentor. By September, the students are ready to present their findings at an event hosted by UW–Madison’s chemistry department.
HSRI is possible thanks to a partnership between the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and UW–Madison, and the program has been running for more than 15 years. The initiative is mission driven with the hope of helping students get an authentic science research experience, gain better insight on what courses interest them and provide opportunities to build their professional networks.
The poster event is a critical part of achieving these goals. Creating the poster of their research allows the interns to communicate their findings to a larger audience and also to celebrate the completion of their internship with associates from the university, teachers, friends and family. As a bonus, completion of this program offers the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits.
And the program works. Insight from alumni of the program, as well as their parents, has revealed that this program is extremely influential in how students go on to select their future college and/or major. In a survey of 75 students from the past three years, 75% of the students chose to attend UW–Madison and 88% went on to do research as part of their undergraduate experience. Some students even continued working in the same lab in which they interned for the program. This ongoing research has led to participation in conferences and being listed as co-authors in scientific publications.
“I’m actually continuing research with the same lab I was in for the program,” says Anik Patel, who attended Madison West High School and is now a freshman at UW–Madison. “I honestly think the program really helped me find my passion for lab research, and I’m so glad I joined last year.”
Parents have also shared how impactful the program can be for their kids.
“She was nervous to go off to college — to leave home and security,” says Gwen Cassis, who is the parent of UW–Madison freshman Hayat Brahmer who participated in the program. “Going to campus for the internship and getting lunch on campus made her realize it wasn’t so scary, that she could do this.”
The HSRI program is currently recruiting mentors and labs to help host students during the summer of 2025. Faculty members who are interested in hosting a student can fill out this short form to get involved.