Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program

The JAX Summer Student Program (SSP) is a 10-week residential research fellowship offered at two campuses: Bar Harbor, Maine, and Farmington, Connecticut. Designed for intellectually curious graduating high school seniors and undergraduates, the program immerses participants in genetics and genomics research. Students join ongoing lab projects under experienced mentors, developing independent research projects, analyzing data, and presenting findings at the end of the summer to researchers, peers, and family. The program emphasizes laboratory discovery, scientific communication, and personal growth within a collaborative team environment.

Participants engage in a 40-hour weekly commitment, including lab work, weekly professional development sessions on topics like genetic testing, data visualization, science communication, and peer review, as well as Journal Club meetings. Informal conversations with JAX scientists and professionals expose students to diverse career paths in science. All students receive a $7,500 stipend, room and board, and round-trip travel support. The program fosters a supportive living-learning community with co-curricular activities, day trips, and shared housing.

Bar Harbor campus runs May 30–August 7, 2026 (10 weeks), while Farmington runs May 30–August 10, 2026 (10.5 weeks), including a short course in Bar Harbor. Housing varies by campus, with access to fitness centers, communal meals, and local excursions like hikes and beach trips.