Stanford's STaRS Internship Program - Is It Right For You?
If you’re a high school student interested in pursuing a career in biomedical research or healthcare, you should consider an internship in the field!
In this blog, we will review Stanford's STaRS (Science Technology and Reconstructive Surgery) Internship Program in detail. This internship offers an opportunity to work with experienced clinician/scientist mentors who will guide you as you prepare for college and your future career. It will also give you hands-on experience in lab work, help you explore potential career paths in your chosen field, build your skills, and contribute to real-world research projects. Participating in the STaRS Internship Program will demonstrate your dedication to academic and practical learning, making your experience stand out on college applications.
An internship offered by a prestigious university like Stanford can also help get you strong letters of recommendation from experts and faculty that will help with your future endeavors.
What is the STaRS Internship Program?
Stanford’s Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery hosts the 7-week STaRS Internship for high school and community college students considering careers in biomedical and biological sciences or healthcare. The goal of this program is to help exceptional students find the challenges, excitement, and immense rewards that a career in medicine and biomedical research can provide.
Every year, a group of talented young individuals interested in healthcare and research are selected to participate in this program. Interns get to work alongside experienced clinician/scientist mentors and peers who will challenge, inspire, and guide them. Apart from gaining experience in lab work, interns will also get an opportunity to contribute to real projects and to present their work to experts in the field.
You can read about the former interns’ experiences here.
Research Areas & Faculty
The STaRS Internship aims to provide a top-notch experience that encourages the next generation of biomedical innovators who will discover new treatments and procedures in the fields of plastic surgery and regenerative medicine. This program focuses on teaching, mentoring, and encouraging young students at the earliest stages of their careers.
The subjects or research areas offered under the STaRS Internship program include Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedical Research (in the fields of regenerative medicine and plastic surgery), Cellular Biology, Chemistry, Computational Sciences, Materials Science & Engineering, Medical Sciences, and Molecular Biology.
The mentors include Stanford faculty and postgraduate students, who will also assist interns with complex processes in the lab, teach them about academic presentation, and offer them career guidance. You can take a look at the detailed list of mentors for the STaRS Internship Program here.
How is the program structured?
In 2024, the program is scheduled to start on June 17 and end on August 2. As an intern, you will spend 7-weeks mastering basic lab techniques, and participating in research projects, and you will present your work under the mentorship of experienced researchers.
A typical week will consist of 4 days in the lab with 1-day non-lab-based activities which include touring the Anatomy Lab, a Plastic Surgery lecture, a scavenger hunt, and team-building activities. You’ll start at 9 AM and work until 4 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Wednesdays are reserved for out-of-lab learning experiences, and these generally run from 10 AM until 3 PM.
Working in a laboratory requires training and the consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE). As an intern, you will undergo this training to understand the risks and the safety measures that must be employed while working in a laboratory setting. All personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided by the program.
This is an in-person internship program that will be held at Stanford University, Stanford, Santa Clara County, CA.
Cohort size: Each year, the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery hosts 15-30 talented high school and undergraduate students in our research laboratories. The number varies from year to year, but approximately 20 people will be invited to join the program each summer.
Who is eligible for STaRS?
In order to be eligible to apply:
Students must be aged 16 or older at the time of the program.
Students under the age of 18 will require signed parental consent forms to work in the laboratory.
You will be expected to commit to the entire 7-week internship. If your summer plans do not allow for a continuous 7-week commitment, you should apply during the summer when you can meet that requirement. No exceptions will be allowed.
Prior lab experience is not a prerequisite because some students don’t have the same opportunities as others to explore hands-on science. Individuals with no previous research or laboratory experience are encouraged to apply for this internship.
The program is open to applicants of all backgrounds. Applications from students who come from low-income, underresourced environments, who are first-generation, or who are from underrepresented minority groups are encouraged.
Individuals with specific allergies or drug sensitivities should consult with their physician to determine if the internship poses any unacceptable health risks.
How does the application process work?
Applications for the STaRS 2024 Program are now closed. Applications will re-open for STaRS 2025 in September 2024.
The application must be completed in its entirety, including the letter of recommendation, to be considered.
After the submission of your written application, you will be notified of whether or not you will be moving on to the interview phase.
Once accepted into the program, you will be required to submit parental consent and complete several online training modules and forms.
If you have additional questions, you can contact the STaRS Internship Program at starsprogram@stanford.edu.
Applications typically open in September and close in November.
Cost & Stipend
The STaRS program does not charge any participation fee.
Note: They currently do not provide funds to support travel, housing, or meals. If attendance in the program requires you to seek travel or housing, the costs associated with these will have to be covered by the individual.
You must be prepared to either bring your lunch or purchase your food from nearby cafeterias. There is access to microwaves and hot water dispensers in a small kitchen next to the laboratory.
The STaRS program does not provide any stipend to the interns. This is an unpaid internship. In some extenuating cases, they do cover daily rail/bus services; if you believe you need this assistance, you must let them know along with your application.
Pros & Cons of applying to the STaRS program:
Pros:
Stanford’s STaRS is a prestigious program as it is extremely selective in accepting applicants and the selection is entirely merit-based. Last year only about 20 students were accepted from hundreds of applicants.
You will have unlimited access to resources and guidance. Whether it is theoretical learning, mentorship, or real contribution to a research project — this internship will offer you all of it, at the appropriate times and with appropriate guidance.
STaRS is an in-person internship program that will help you gain hands-on lab experience, contribute to research projects, and present your findings to experts. This will also work toward boosting your college applications.
You will have a productive networking opportunity with Stanford faculty, mentors, seniors, and peers. You will get to connect with experts and like-minded individuals at all levels.
There is no cost to participate in the STaRS program making it accessible to gain experience in hands-on research and helping you to improve your skills.
Cons:
The program is highly selective so the competitive nature of the program can make it challenging for some students, who may not want to spend too much time and effort on an application with such a low acceptance rate.
This internship requires complete commitment to the program. The internship program for Summer 2024 will be 7 weeks long. You’ll be expected to attend the entire duration of the internship and to work 30-40 hours a week.
This is an unpaid internship where the research demands can be quite intense and require a full-time commitment, which may limit availability for other activities and seem like a financial burden for some students.
Our Review - Should You Apply?
The interactive nature of the STaRS program will make it easy for you to pick up scientific knowledge/theory, critical lab, and communication skills. Throughout the internship, you’ll get the opportunity to connect with peers and mentors and develop the spirit of exploration, resilience, and teamwork. You’ll also get to understand how a lab works and contribute to real research projects. Although this is an unpaid internship, it will give you a chance to improve your academic presentations and explore potential career paths in your chosen field.
The mentors will not only assist you with complex processes in the lab but also provide you with career guidance and professional development. The Stanford undergraduates who are part of the Helms Lab will provide a peer network that will help you navigate this internship with ease. Stanford’s STaRS Internship is a solid program that can broaden your understanding of regenerative medicine and plastic surgery and boost your profile for future pursuits in the field.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.