Shadow Program (for High School students)
Applications for the 2025 IFSS Program are now closed
Please note that due to our rapid admissions turnaround time, we are not able to accept late applications and will not have the capacity to respond to emails requesting exceptions. However, there are also a number of other science opportunities on campus for high school students. Check out the Stanford Education and STEM Outreach page for more information. We wish you an educational summer!
2025 Program Dates: Monday, June 16th - Friday, June 27th, 9 AM-12 PM, M-F
Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS)
Hosted each summer, the focus of the Inspiring Future Scientists Through Shadowing (IFSS) program is to provide rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years of age by the start of the program (no exceptions can be made to the age cut-off) with the opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge chemical research. Throughout the two-week program, participants will observe and converse with a number of different graduate students in the chemistry department. There are many different types of research; therefore, shadowing a couple of different researchers will allow you the chance to learn broadly about a wide array of scientific topics and techniques.
Unlike programs that emphasize individual research projects, IFSS stands out by allowing participants to shadow multiple researchers. This approach enables a broader understanding of the field and fosters a well-rounded scientific perspective.
While conducting your own research project is undoubtedly valuable (and we applaud that enthusiasm!), IFSS focuses on the rich experience of shadowing professionals and gaining exposure to diverse research endeavors. If your goal is to embark on a specific research project, we encourage you to explore other summer programs tailored to that objective.
Join us for two weeks of inspiration, discovery, and interaction with the scientific community. Apply to IFSS to learn more about the world of possibilities in chemical research!
Eligibility
Age requirement: Students must have turned 16 by the first day of the program in order to be eligible. Please note that, unfortunately, no exceptions can be made to this rule. If you turn 16 after the first day of the program, even if this occurs during the course of the program, you are unfortunately not eligible. We encourage you to apply next year!
Geographic requirement: IFSS aims to welcome local high school students to campus and to build relationships with schools in our community. IFSS is a free program, but we cannot provide funding for room, board, and transportation (including on-campus parking fees). You must live AND attend school/home-school locally to Stanford University in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, or San Mateo Counties in order to be eligible to apply. Please note that if you attend school and reside elsewhere during the academic year - even if you have local contacts with whom you could stay during the summer program - we are unfortunately unable to accept your application at this time.
One of the primary goals of the IFSS program is to provide hands-on scientific research experience to students who do not otherwise have access to this opportunity. IFSS aims to provide a new and unique experience to its participants. Applications are open to students of all backgrounds.
COVID-19 Requirements
To comply with Stanford University policy requirements, participants experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to stay home and test negative for COVID-19 before returning to campus. If symptoms appear on-site, rapid COVID-19 tests will be available through the University. Any positive COVID-19 test will require the student to isolate for the remainder of the program.
Application Information
The 2025 IFSS application will be posted in mid-January 2025 and will be due April 1st. Students will be notified of their status by May 1st. The application includes two portions: an application from the student and a teacher recommendation (to be submitted directly by the recommending teacher to chemistry-ifss [at] stanford.edu (chemistry-ifss[at]stanford[dot]edu)). The application includes three questions - each answered with a short paragraph - pertaining to the applicant's interest in science and how IFSS will help the applicant move toward their professional/educational goals.
Contact
chemistry-ifss [at] stanford.edu (chemistry-ifss[at]stanford[dot]edu)