APPLICATION PORTAL WILL BE OPEN FEB 1 2026
The Young Researchers Program is a six-week summer program where motivated rising high school seniors, from underrepresented backgrounds and underresourced areas conduct scientific research at the University of Southern California. Students experience hands-on university-level research projects while attending weekly workshops that provide fundamental knowledge about college applications and pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Our Mission
The Young Researchers Program is dedicated to serving the local USC neighborhood by providing rising high school seniors a unique summer research opportunity. Through mentored research experiences, YRP aims to increase interest in STEM fields among students traditionally underrepresented in STEM, as well as encourage our students to attend college and pursue careers in the sciences. By doing so, we hope to create a network for previous participants to support each other as they pursue their future careers.
Mentored Research Experience
Each student is paired with their own graduate mentor for the summer to complete a research project in the mentor’s specialty. At the end of the summer, students present their project results as a poster in a public symposium (open to friends and family!).
Weekly Lunch Seminars
Every week, students attend a seminar on different topics designed to help them apply to college, find scholarships, become a successful college student, and identify career options in STEM fields. (Lunch is provided.)
Field Trips
In previous years, our field trips have included a day at Catalina Island learning about Earth and environmental science, hiking, and snorkeling (no swimming experience was required), as well as a tour of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
2026 Program Details
Application Open: 2/01/26
Application Deadline: April 5, 2026 at 11:59pm PST
Acceptances notified by May 1st 2026 (We do not email rejections, so if you are not notified by this date, you were not accepted. We receive many great applications but have limited slots available.)
Student Orientation: June 12, 2026
Program Dates: June 15 – July 24, 2026
Poster Symposium: July 24, 2026
Our Team
We are a group of USC PhD students who work together to coordinate the Young Researchers Program.
Isabelle Young
Co-Director
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Alisha Cayce
Co-Director
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Nushka Remec
Vice Director
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Gaon Kim
Co-Seminar and Co-Finances Coordinator
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Karel Aceituno
Co-Seminar Coordinator
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Fabiola Amaya Reyes
High School Recruitment and Media Coordinator
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Matt Quinan
Mentor Recruitment
PhD Student in Earth Sciences
Emma Carpenter
Co-Field Trip Coordinator
PhD Student in Neuroscience
Oluchi Ofoegbu
Co-Field Trip Coordinator
PhD Student in Development, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Medicine
Kary Fang
Treasurer
PhD Candidate in Neuroscience