BRIGHT-UP

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About the Program

Grades 9-12  

Open to all students, Biomedical Research Internship for the Growth of High-school Trainees from Underrepresented Populations (BRIGHT-UP) is an immersive research experience with the goal of increasing access to research opportunities for educationally and economically under resourced high school students from, serving approximately 20 students for 8 weeks from June to August. 

Open to all students, Biomedical Research Internship for the Growth of High-school Trainees from Underrepresented Populations (BRIGHT-UP) is an 8-week summer internship offered by the UW School of Medicine for educationally and economically under resourced high school students to explore biomedical research as a career path. Started in 2021, the program was created with the goal of increasing representation of educationally and economically under resourced high-school students..  

BRIGHT-UP introduces students to STEM in multiple ways, including Pathways to Science discussion panels with trainees and professionals in the field, and open houses at different labs across disciplines. Students work in a lab throughout the program, learning project-specific laboratory skills.  

Apply Here

Students are recruited through partnerships with local non-profit organizations (Rainier Scholars, Minds Matter and Spin Girls) that offer programs  for economically and educationally under resourced and disadvantaged communities.  

Students applying independently to the program are required to fill out a form to assess eligibility based on the NIH criteria for populations underrepresented in biomedical research and workforce. Participants in the summer program are high school students (9th-12th grade) who fulfill at least one of the following criteria: qualifying for low-income status, or students who will potentially be the first in their family to attend college. 

The program is open to students throughout the state of Washington (rural, urban, suburban, etc), especially those with limited educational and financial resources.