About

Stanford Young Investigators at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability is an eight-week, faculty-mentored summer research internship. Formerly known as the Young Early Investigators program, it was redesigned and renamed following the 2022 establishment of the Doerr School to provide local high school students with direct exposure to Earth and environmental science research.

The 2026 session runs from June 16 to August 6. Participants join research groups on the Stanford campus or at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Education Farm, committing to 20 hours per week. Projects span disciplines such as ocean chemistry, energy science, and paleobiology. Interns attend "working group lunches" on Tuesdays and Thursdays for lab tours and seminars, culminating in a Final Presentation of their findings during the program’s last week.

Eligibility is strictly limited to students who live and attend school within 25 driving miles of the Stanford campus; commuters from outside this radius are not accepted. Applicants must have completed at least one year of high school (rising sophomores through seniors). For the 2026 cycle, applications are open from February 1 to March 15. While the program is free, stipends (honoraria) are reserved for eligible students from low-income or first-generation college backgrounds. Stanford Young Investigators receives between 175 and 300+ applications every year. They accept between 6 and 30 scholars every year, depending on what positions are available.

Stanford Young Investigators offers an authentic apprenticeship in sustainability research. By working alongside faculty and graduate scholars, students gain the technical skills and professional maturity necessary for advanced study in the Earth and environmental sciences. For students who hope to learn about or pursue earth and environmental science, this program is one of the absolute best options.