About

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a long-running, six-week research immersion designed for high-school students with a strong interest in the life and environmental sciences. Hosted at UC Davis—one of the world’s premier research universities for agriculture, ecology, veterinary medicine, and the biological sciences—the program embeds each student in a faculty laboratory, where they undertake an independent research project under the close mentorship of professors, graduate students, and research staff. Participants live in UC Davis residence halls, attend structured academic programming, and gain sustained exposure to the interdisciplinary scientific environment that characterizes one of California’s top public research institutions.

Admissions to YSP is highly competitive. Applicants submit transcripts, essays, and a teacher recommendation, and successful candidates typically show strong preparation in biology, chemistry, or environmental science, as well as genuine enthusiasm for scientific inquiry. Although YSP does not publish an official acceptance rate, the small annual cohort of roughly forty students reflects a selective applicant pool. The program fee includes room, board, and academic credit, with need-based financial reductions offered to improve accessibility. Students earn five units of University of California credit upon successful completion of their coursework and final research deliverables.

Throughout the six-week term, each participant conducts an individual research project in a UC Davis laboratory. Although YSP originally focused on biology and life science, the program’s academic offerings have expanded in recent years. Students engage in experimental design, data collection, data analysis, literature review, and formal documentation of their findings. Research topics span molecular biology, plant sciences, environmental chemistry, ecology, wildlife biology, agricultural engineering, and related fields. Daily lab work is complemented by research-methods seminars, specialist-led lectures, group discussions, and workshops that emphasize scientific communication and ethical research practices. Students also prepare a final scientific paper and present their results at a concluding symposium.

The residential format deepens the academic experience: students live and work alongside peers from across the country, forming a close intellectual community grounded in shared scientific interest. The pace is steady and often mirrors undergraduate research expectations, giving participants a realistic introduction to laboratory culture, scientific collaboration, and self-directed investigation.

YSP stands out for its duration, research intensity, and disciplinary scope. Few high-school programs combine multi-week faculty mentorship, individual research projects, and university-level academic credit within a comprehensive residential environment. For students considering careers in the biological, agricultural, or environmental sciences, YSP is one of the most respected summer research opportunities in California.