Program Overview
MSU St. Andrews partners with American Chemical Society to offer a premier summer research experience for high school students in applied chemistry and materials science. Youth are mentored by active researchers and trained on the research process as they complete real-world projects with immediate industry application. Learning to use complex equipment and instruments to identify and characterize chemical compounds, fabricate and conduct physical testing of 3D printed materials, and working in research teams gives students an advantage in undergraduate STEM programs, as their experiences can help place them into university research labs during their college experience.
The summer research program culminates with a poster presentation event and students are encouraged to participate in local, regional and state-wide science fairs.
Students who have participated in the program have gone on to college programs and careers in chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, teaching, technical management, and coding.
Details
All activities take place at the MSU St. Andrews research facility in Midland, Michigan. Program sessions will not be held in the evenings, on weekends, or holidays. Selected students must be available to participate in person for the program’s entirety and commit to the Summer Research Experience schedule. Please note that transportation and housing are not provided.
Please read our parent and participant handbook for youth programs for information on policies and procedures, as well as during and after hours contact information.
For questions regarding the application process and the summer research program please call 989-374-9900.
Summer Research Student Feedback
Just another one of the benefits of this summer was I found a couple scholarships that go out to students with research internship experience…“I still can’t believe how helpful one summer could be, but good things keep happening left and right thanks to that experience!Summer 2022 Student
It had never really occurred to me how much a chemistry degree could get you. I never really considered the innovation or “research and development” side of things.Summer 2020 Student
“Dr. Zhang, I can’t thank you enough for that letter of recommendation. Cornell is my dream school. But seriously. This wouldn’t have happened if not for the summer research. I sincerely thank you for everything so far and everything yet to come.Summer 2020 Student
The MSU St. Andrews facility complements and extends Michigan State University campus research. The activities conducted at the facility, support Michigan State University’s general mission of research, teaching, and service outreach, and specifically advance MSU’s efforts to promote the economic development of Michigan and the nation.
The preservation of the historic St. Andrews facility and the support of our ongoing STEAM outreach programming is made possible through the support of several local organizations: the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and the Dow Chemical Company Foundation.
Program History
Each summer since 2016, Great Lakes Bay area high school juniors and seniors have had the opportunity to participate with MSU researchers on novel projects in labs with sophisticated equipment. The projects allow students to explore new areas of science and investigate possible careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, while improving their research skills and building their resume.
- The MSU St. Andrews Summer Research Program began in 2016 hosting students in STEM research topics.
- In 2018, a new creative writing initiative was added officially putting the “A” in STEAM education at MSU St. Andrews. The writing program was facilitated by Creative 360.
- For summer 2019, accepted students represented 17 different high schools.
- In 2020, amidst the pandemic and the devastation resulting from a regional flood, the research program transitioned to a six-week, fully online research fellowship hosting over 100 students who represented 21 area high schools.
- For Summer 2021, the program was paused due to the continuation of COVID-19 restriction.
- The 2022 program hosted 24 research students at St. Andrews who participated in ten project areas in chemistry, environmental science and materials science.
- In 2023, 10 students from the greater Midland area joined the summer research program.
- MSU St. Andrews hosted 14 high school students in 2024, who participated in research experiences in chemistry and materials science.
The application process opens in March of each year and the research fellowships run from late June through mid-August. Please join our mailing list to receive notices about the summer program and other events at MSU St. Andrews.