The main research options for Connecticut high school students are Yale's Discovery to Cure High School Internship, the Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA), UConn Health's High School Student Research Apprentice Program, the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF), Connecticut JSHS at UConn Health, and online one-on-one mentorship that ends in a published paper. The university programs are excellent but very small, and most are limited to juniors, school nominees or specific student groups, so many Connecticut students who want a first-author paper need a route that works from any school in the state.
This guide covers each option fairly, with official sources, and explains what each one adds to a college application.
The routes at a glance
| Program | Who it is for | Format | What you leave with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Discovery to Cure | Juniors 16+, nominated by their school | 6.5 weeks in Yale research labs | Lab research with Yale faculty mentorship |
| Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics | 32 rising seniors | 2 weeks online, 4 weeks at Yale | A scientific paper and a conference talk |
| UConn Health Research Apprentice | Connecticut juniors who are first-generation, low-income and educationally under-resourced | 5 weeks, with an earned stipend | Basic science or clinical lab experience |
| Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair | Grades 7 to 12 in Connecticut schools | Virtual preliminary round, in-person finals | Awards, and for seven projects a trip to ISEF |
| Connecticut JSHS | Grades 9 to 12 | Research paper and presentation competition | Awards, and a path to national JSHS |
| Online one-on-one mentorship | Any student, anywhere in Connecticut | 10 weeks online with a PhD mentor | A first-author paper submitted to a peer-reviewed venue |
Yale programs
Yale School of Medicine: Discovery to Cure High School Internship
The Schwartz Discovery to Cure High School Internship places high school students directly in Yale research labs, with practical training and mentorship from Yale faculty. It is a six-and-a-half-week program from June through August, and no more than 20 students are accepted each year.
Applicants must be high school juniors who will enter senior year in the fall after the program, and at least 16 years old. Students cannot apply on their own: a school representative requests the application from the program, each school may nominate only two students, and students may not nominate themselves. Applications for the 2026 program were due February 13, 2026, so expect a similar winter deadline for 2027.
Best for: Juniors interested in medicine or biomedical science whose school will nominate them.
Keep in mind: Ask your counselor or science department in the fall, since the nomination comes from the school.
Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA)
YSPA accepts 32 rising high school seniors, meaning students currently in 11th grade, who show strong ability in science and math and a keen interest in astrophysics. The program has two parts: a two-week online, self-directed study program, then a four-week residential program on Yale's campus. Students write a scientific paper and present their findings at the YSPA mini-conference. The application period for YSPA 2027 opens January 4, 2027.
Best for: Juniors with strong math and physics who want a research paper in astronomy.
Keep in mind: With 32 seats, it is very selective. Check the YSPA fees and financial aid page before applying.
UConn programs
UConn Health: High School Student Research Apprentice Program
UConn Health's program places 11th grade students interested in medicine, dental medicine or biomedical research in a basic science or clinical laboratory. The 2027 program runs five weeks, Monday through Friday, June 21 to July 23, 2027, and students receive an earned stipend.
Eligibility is specific. Applicants must have completed junior year with a B average or better, be 16 by the start of the program, and be first-generation college, low-income and educationally under-resourced. They must be Connecticut residents attending a Connecticut high school, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and able to commute daily to UConn Health or Central Connecticut State University. The application needs a transcript, two teacher letters (at least one from a science teacher) and a copy of the family's federal tax return. The deadline is April 1, 2027.
Best for: Eligible juniors in the Hartford area interested in health careers.
A note on the Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory runs its Summer Student Program in Bar Harbor, Maine and at its Farmington, Connecticut campus, and many older guides list it as a high school option. JAX now says it is no longer accepting high school seniors into the program, so treat it as a college-years option.
Research with a university professor
Faculty at Yale, UConn, Wesleyan, Trinity, Quinnipiac and other Connecticut universities sometimes take on motivated high school students, almost always through a direct request. Pick one recent paper, say exactly what interests you, and ask for a defined project. Our guide on how to email a professor about research has templates.
Outcomes vary. Some students co-author a paper. Others spend the summer on routine tasks. Agree on the project and deliverable in the first meeting.
Connecticut's science competition pathway
Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF)
CSEF is open to all 7th through 12th grade students who live in Connecticut or attend a Connecticut school, plus Fishers Island. Seven top-placing high school projects go on to compete at Regeneron ISEF, and the fair and its sponsors present more than 400 awards worth over $500,000. High school finalists can also earn spots at the GENIUS Olympiad.
The 2027 fair runs from February 26 to March 20, 2027. Preliminary judging is virtual, finalist judging is in person on March 17, and the awards ceremony is March 20 at Quinnipiac University. Key registration dates:
- November 15, 2026: registration due for independent student projects.
- December 1, 2026: high school project registrations close at 11:59 p.m.
- February 15, 2027: high school projects selected by school fairs are due.
- February 26 to March 1, 2027: project upload window, with an abstract required.
Regeneron ISEF 2027 is May 8 to 14 in Los Angeles.
What helps at CSEF:
- Original research, not a demonstration. Judges want a question, a method, data and honest analysis.
- Approvals before research. Projects with human participants, animals or biological materials need sign-off first. Our ISEF guide covers the forms.
- A strong interview. Judges test whether you understand your own work. See how to win science fairs.
Connecticut Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Connecticut JSHS is hosted by UConn Health and is open to students in grades 9 to 12 with original research investigations in STEM. The 2027 symposium is February 27, 2027, and applications are due December 14, 2026. Regional registration is free. Top students can advance to the National JSHS, April 20 to 25, 2027, in Chantilly, Virginia.
JSHS is judged on a written research paper and a presentation, which makes it a natural fit for a student who has done mentored research. Read how to win JSHS.
Online one-on-one mentorship with publication
For students in Fairfield County, the Naugatuck Valley, Eastern Connecticut or the northwest corner, and for any student who does not get a school nomination or one of a few dozen Yale seats, online mentorship is the route that does not depend on geography, nominations or eligibility rules.
The YRI Fellowship is fully online and open to students in 50+ countries. Each student works one-on-one with a PhD mentor for 10 weeks, 5 to 8 hours a week, in any field.
What is included:
- A 1:1 PhD mentor matched to the student's field, from 1,000+ PhD mentors.
- An editing team on every draft and a publishing team that takes the paper to IEEE, Springer or Elsevier journals and conferences.
- Free help until the paper is published.
- ISEF and JSHS preparation, which carries straight into CSEF and Connecticut JSHS, and a mentor letter of recommendation.
87% of Fellows publish and 73% place at science competitions. No research experience is needed, and decisions come within 48 hours. See published work for papers Fellows have completed.
Comparing Connecticut options
| Program | Cost | Location | Who can apply | Publication focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Discovery to Cure | See program | New Haven | Nominated juniors, 16+ | Lab experience |
| YSPA | See program | Online, then New Haven | Rising seniors | Scientific paper |
| UConn Health Research Apprentice | Earned stipend | Farmington or New Britain | Eligible Connecticut juniors | Lab experience |
| YRI Fellowship | $2,997 | Online, anywhere | Any student | 87% publish |
What colleges look for
Admissions readers at Yale, UConn and out-of-state universities value original research, publications, science fair and JSHS results, and depth in one area. A published paper is verifiable evidence of ability that stands out against a strong GPA alone. YRI Fellows have been admitted to Brown, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Caltech and Harvard. Research for college applications explains how readers use it, and our guide to research for Yale admissions goes deeper on Connecticut's best-known university.
A timeline for Connecticut students
- Freshman and sophomore year: Register for CSEF through your school. Start a mentored project and finish a first paper.
- Fall of junior year: Register for CSEF by December 1 and apply to Connecticut JSHS by mid-December. Ask your school about a Discovery to Cure nomination.
- Winter of junior year: Apply to YSPA when it opens in January and to UConn Health by April 1 if you are eligible.
- Senior year: Present, publish and list every result on your applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best research programs for high school students in Connecticut? Yale's Discovery to Cure internship, YSPA and UConn Health's Research Apprentice Program are the main university routes. For any student in the state, online mentorship such as the YRI Fellowship leads to a first-author paper.
Can I apply to Yale's Discovery to Cure internship on my own? No. A school representative must request the application, each school may nominate two students, and students cannot nominate themselves.
When is the 2027 Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair? The fair runs February 26 to March 20, 2027, with finalist judging and the awards ceremony at Quinnipiac University. High school project registrations close December 1, 2026.
When is Connecticut JSHS 2027? February 27, 2027, hosted by UConn Health, with applications due December 14, 2026.
Can a Connecticut high school student publish a research paper? Yes, with a mentor and a focused question. See student stories for examples.
How the YRI Fellowship helps Connecticut students
If the goal is a first-author paper, a stronger CSEF or JSHS project and a standout college application, the YRI Fellowship is built for exactly that. One-on-one PhD mentorship for 10 weeks, an editing team on every draft, a publishing team for IEEE, Springer and Elsevier venues, ISEF and JSHS preparation and free help until the paper is published.
Tuition is $2,997, or 3 payments of $999, with scholarships considered case by case. See pricing and apply to the YRI Fellowship.
Sources
- Yale School of Medicine: Discovery to Cure internships (eligibility, nomination, length, 2026 deadline)
- Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics: program overview (eligibility, format, paper)
- Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics: home (2027 application opening)
- UConn Health: High School Student Research Apprentice Program (eligibility, 2027 dates and deadline)
- The Jackson Laboratory: Summer Student Program admission
- Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair: eligibility
- Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair: important dates (2027)
- Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair: fair week (ISEF slots, awards)
- Fairfax County Public Schools: science fair page (Regeneron ISEF 2027 dates)
- JSHS: Connecticut Regional (UConn Health, 2027 date and deadline)
- UGA Georgia Center: Georgia JSHS page (2027 National JSHS dates and location)
- YRI Fellowship: program details
- YRI Fellowship: pricing
