About

The JAX Summer Student Program (SSP) is a competitive, mentored research fellowship designed to immerse graduating high school seniors and undergraduates in hands-on genetics and genomics research at The Jackson Laboratory. Spanning approximately ten weeks during the summer, SSP places participants within active research groups where they contribute to ongoing scientific investigations under the supervision of laboratory mentors. The program integrates laboratory work with professional development activities, including scientific communication training and weekly journal club sessions. By the end of the session, students present their research outcomes to peers, faculty, and members of the JAX community.

Admission to SSP is competitive and open to academically strong graduating high school seniors (only on the Bar Harbor campus, with a cohort of 24-28, not Farmington). Unfortunately, this notable age limitation means that most high-schoolers are ineligible (and parents will surely notice that attending the program will therefore have no impact on college admissions). The selection process evaluates applicants based on academic achievement, research potential, intellectual curiosity, and fit with the program’s goals. Accepted students commit to a full-time, 40-hour per week schedule that includes mentored research, professional development, group seminars, and community activities. Housing and meals are included in the residential experience.

Participants in SSP gain foundational laboratory techniques and insights into experimental design, data analysis, and scientific reasoning through direct engagement with current research projects in genetics and genomics. Beyond technical skills, the program fosters scientific communication competencies, critical thinking, and collaboration through structured activities such as journal clubs, professional development sessions, and final research presentations. The residential environment supports personal growth, peer learning, and exposure to diverse scientific careers.

Although not nearly as well-known as comparable programs that admit high school upperclassmen, JAX SSP is a competitive, research-intensive summer fellowship that blends laboratory genetics and genomics research with professional development.