About

Research Experience for High School Students (REHSS) at Vanderbilt University is a six-week immersive scientific research internship conducted on the campuses of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Overseen by Vanderbilt’s Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (CSEO), the program places students in active research laboratories where they work 40 hours per week on independent STEM investigations under direct faculty mentorship.

The 2026 program runs from May 26 to July 2. Participants are integrated into research teams and spend their time conducting experiments and data analysis. In addition to laboratory work, students attend weekly professional-skills workshops and culminate their experience by presenting findings at a community-wide research symposium.

REHSS is highly selective and exclusively open to rising high school seniors who attend Stratford STEM, John Overton, or Hillsboro High School and are active in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) program. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program. Selection is based on academic performance in math and science, maturity, and a demonstrated commitment to a STEM career.

Participation does not include a stipend, housing, or meals, and students are responsible for their own transportation to the Nashville campus. The application process begins in December of the student’s junior year and is coordinated through the ISR scientist at their respective high school. REHSS provides a genuine apprenticeship in a premier research environment, offering local students authentic experience in scientific inquiry.