The High School Science Research Internship Program is a partnership between the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sixteen students from MMSD are partnered with research professors at UW-Madison each summer. The goal of the program is to provide an authentic science research experience for the intern. Each intern develops and researches a question of their own, designs protocols for data collection, and collects data over the course of the summer under the guidance of a professor, degree candidate, postdoctoral candidate or research associate. As the summer ends and during the fall semester, interns write a formal research paper and design a scientific poster. The concluding event of the program is a scientific poster session, which 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.

Program Highlights

Interns will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in science research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the summer as a member of a research team
• Design and implement an extensive research project under the supervision of a research scientist
• Earn Credits:
three quarters of one high school science credit awarded by MMSD
one credit from UW-Madison awarded and paid by MMSD
two additional university credits available at student/parent expense

• Learn how to use both high and low tech research tools and technologies
• Meet with other interns and tour their labs during the summer seminars
• Participate in high school research competitions (optional)
• Publish research in a professional journal at the discretion of the professor

• Sophomore or junior status at time of application
• A sincere interest in science and learning science research skills
• Minimum GPA of 3.6
• Availability: a minimum of 25 hours per week for 9 weeks
• Attend an informational meeting with a parent/guardian (April)
• Brown bag seminars on campus (June-August)
• Two evening seminars (September and October)
• Complete a formal research paper (September-October)
• Present scientific research poster (November)

Many people are involved in making the High School Science Research Intern partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Madison Metropolitan School District work effectively and meaningfully for all. Some of the responsibilities of those involved are as follows.

High School Interns

• Work in your lab a minimum of 25 hours per week for a minimum of 9 weeks
• Attend meetings and seminars
• Collect data under the supervision of an assigned mentor
• Periodically meet with the professor/mentor to critique the collected data
• Periodically ask to have the stages of the research paper critiqued
• Complete a formal research paper
• Prepare a scientific poster and present it at the poster session in November
• Stay in contact via email, seminars and phone with the research coordinator

• Recruit and select high school students
• Recruit UW faculty to mentor students during the summer
• Register and grade interns for MMSD
• Facilitate strong MMSD/UW partnership
• Communicate with science teachers, students, UW faculty and parents
• Plan and conduct weekly student seminars
• Teach students concept and design of science posters
• Inform student of science research competition opportunities

• Supervise an intern for a minimum of nine, 25 hour weeks
• Critique the drafts of the research paper for scientific accuracy
• Provide direct instruction or assign instruction in safety protocols of the lab
• Provide direct instruction or assign instruction in data collection techniques
• Provide a place and materials for collecting data
• Attend fall poster session - optional

High School Interns

• Experience the joys and frustrations of authentic scientific research
• Participate in research at a world class research institution
• Work in laboratories related to their scientific interests
• Form beginning networks with professors and graduate students
• Work collaboratively with more experienced researchers
• Tour labs of fellow interns

• Fulfill the requirements of various granting institutions for outreach
• Form an informal partnership with the school district for future interns
• In depth teaching opportunities for degree and post doctoral candidates
• Opportunity to share their discipline with a highly motivated, well prepared high school junior or senior

Rachel Egan
High School Science Research Intern Program Coordinator
(608)772-3253
regan@madison.k12.wi.us