Bridge Undergraduate Science Jr. Program (BUGS Jr.)

An Immersive Summer Research Program for High School Students

We are training the next generation of students to surmount disciplinary boundaries, create professional networks, and engage in world-class research as they work to better understand the human body and human health.

 

The 2025 BUGS Jr Program Application Portal has now CLOSED.

We received more than 350 applications for this summer’s program, and it is going to take us some time to process and evaluate all the information that was submitted. We appreciate your interest in the BUGS Jr program and will endeavor to provide updates as soon as we are able. Please be patient with us this year as we navigate a new intake process. Be aware, all of our correspondence will be sent via email to the student with copies to the parent/guardian as listed in their application.  

Best regards ~BUGS Jr Program, Bridge Institute

FAQ for HS Students
FAQ for Parents/Guardians
FAQ For Faculty/Mentors

Seeking Feedback from our BUGS/Jr Alumni

The information being collected in this survey is: (1) for statistical purposes for planned future funding applications with relevant agencies, (2) for use on our website, social media and other promotional materials – please make sure to indicate at the end of the survey your consent/non-consent for these purposes, and (3) to evaluate impact and allow us to rationally consider changes to improve the program in the future.

Thanks for your participation!

Link to the Survey

HANDS-ON RESEARCH

The BUGS Jr Program runs concurrently each summer with a parallel program for undergraduates, Bridge Undergraduate Science Program, known as BUGS for short. Students in the BUGS Jr Program pair with a USC Faculty Member and the members of their laboratory, often graduate students or postdoctoral fellows, to perform hands-on research in state-of-the-art research labs at USC.

Students also benefit from weekly BUGS Jr Program activities, including campus tours, journal clubs, career symposia, technical panels and Bridge-sponsored peer community-building activities such as research seminars and multi-disciplinary social mixers.

Curious to learn the kind of research our previous BUGS have done? Get to know a few of our alumni in the BUGS Jr Alumni Focus, or peruse our list of alumni to see some of the people who participated before and the projects they worked on.

EXPLORE DISCIPLINES

BUGS Jr is one of a few immersive U.S. programs that allows students to explore across scientific disciplines. A unique highlight of the program is the summer finale symposium (the Saturday in August) where BUGS Jrs  present their work to their scientific mentors, peers and family, as well as the university community in dynamic poster sessions that allow them to showcase their efforts from the summer research program.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

If you are currently a high school student, or will be an incoming freshman during the upcoming school year, you are eligible to participate in the BUGS Jr Program. Students who will graduate from high school in Spring 2025 should apply to this BUGS Jr Program.

[updated 3/24/2025] Only U.S. Citizens, permanent residents and students already in the U.S. on in a valid immigration status are eligible to participate in the BUGS Jr Program. BUGS Jr is not registered or able to sponsor student visas for participation in the summer research program.

There is no GPA requirement to participate in the
BUGS Jr Program.

PROGRAM DATES

2025 BUGS Jr Program application portal is NOW CLOSED

Applications Due: Friday, April 18, 2025

Program begins: Monday, June 16, 2025

Program ends: Finale Symposium — Saturday, August 2, 2025

Meet our BUGS Jr Alumni ➔

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Interested in working together or have an idea to share?

Contact Us  ➔

Bridge Institute

Main Number:

(213) 821-9823

Bridge Undergraduate Science Program

(BUGS and BUGS Jr. programs)

(213) 821-9823