The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship
Giving rural high school students the opportunity to take part in the accelerating and exhilarating pace of science!
The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship is a hands-on and mentored laboratory experience for high school students interested in a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Participants reside for eight weeks on the campus of Vanderbilt University and conduct research activities either at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN or Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Maine. In the summer of 2010, students were involved in research ranging from understanding diabetic kidney disease and breast cancer to designing microfluidic devices with engineers here at Vanderbilt!
Intensive "Science Bootcamp" Students work side by side and meet with nationally and internationally known scientists. They are involved with a variety of different types of research such as breast cancer research, designing new engineering devices, understanding diabetes, or kidney function. The Aspirnaut program tailors the research project to the student's interests if at all possible. By the end of the program, students are able to make scientific poster and presentations in front of their peers and mentors. |
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Students are given the opportunity to learn about life on a college campus
Participants live on campus in dorms and get a taste of college life before leaving high school. Students are supervised at all times, provided room and board, and allowed to interact with University faculty and administrators. In addition, students are paid a stipend for the time they work in the lab. |
Download the application form to find out more or see our frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.
FACTOID | Did you know?
Science is about generating and interpreting data, communicating facts and ideas, and crafting questions for exploration. Argument and debate are common in the practice of science, and a large body of research emphasizes the value of argumentation for learning science; yet argument and debate are virtually absent in 3-12 science education. Opportunities such as the Aspirnaut Summer Research Program allow students to engage in collaborative discourse and argumentation offering a means of enhancing a student's skills and capabilities with scientific reasoning.
Summer students at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
For more information, please contact:
Sara Carter
Program Coordinator
Vanderbilt University
(615) 936-5275
contact@aspirnaut.org
CCC3322 MCN
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2103