The Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) at the University of Iowa is a highly selective 5.5-week residential summer research experience for students in grades 10 and 11. Participants conduct original mentored research alongside world-class university faculty in fields spanning STEM, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences, while also attending seminars designed to build scholarly skills. Students conclude the program by presenting their research findings, gaining 3 semester hours of undergraduate credit in the process. With financial aid available to cover up to 95% of the $7,500 program fee, SSTP is one of the most rigorous and rewarding summer research opportunities available to high school students.
Designing studies, testing hypotheses, and drawing evidence-based conclusions.
Gathering and evaluating information systematically to answer a question.
Evaluating information carefully before drawing a conclusion or making a decision.
Breaking down a challenge and working through it methodically to a solution.
Running experiments safely and accurately using real scientific equipment and procedures.
Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.
Students conduct original research under faculty mentorship in anatomy, cell biology, neuroscience, and related biomedical fields.
The program includes biomedical engineering research groups where students design and develop solutions to healthcare problems.
Students work directly with world-class faculty researchers and gain exposure to academic research career paths.
Research opportunities in psychological & brain sciences allow students to explore human behavior and mental health research.
Students can conduct research in chemical & biochemical engineering departments applying chemistry to industrial processes.
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