About

ACS Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged) is a paid summer research internship program run by the American Chemical Society for high school students from low-income households. Founded in 1968 — born directly out of the ACS Council's response to the civil rights upheaval of that year — Project SEED has placed more than 11,000 students in chemistry and chemistry-adjacent research labs across the country over five decades. Each summer, 350+ students are supported in 8–10 week full-time research positions at universities, government labs, and industry sites nationwide.

The program's structure is deliberately local: students commute daily to a host research lab — typically about 40 hours per week — and work one-on-one with a scientist mentor on a genuine chemistry research project. Fields vary by site and include biochemistry, computational chemistry, environmental chemistry, molecular biophysics, and more. At the end of the summer, students write a research report or prepare a poster, and many go on to present their work at ACS local, regional, and national meetings. The fellowship is paid — first-time participants (Summer I) and returning students (Summer II) both receive $4,000 for the summer. There is no cost to attend.

Eligibility requires that students have completed at least one year of high school chemistry, demonstrate an interest in science, and meet income guidelines — family income must not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on household size. Students apply through the national ACS portal; site coordinators at each host institution then review applications and conduct interviews. Placement depends on available sites in a student's geographic area, and the program operates across 40 U.S. states and territories. A virtual summer camp component is also available for students in areas without an in-person site, focusing on college readiness, professional development, and chemistry career exploration.

For an economically disadvantaged high schooler with genuine chemistry interest, Project SEED is one of the most structurally sound programs available — paid, mentored, real research, and available in communities across the country that most elite programs never reach.