STAR 2.0 Program

When and where

The program runs for 6 weeks from June 16 to July 24, 2025. Students meet daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students accepted into the program must commit to full participation during this entire period.

The program is held at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) on the Children’s Mercy campus at 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri. The CMRI fosters an integrated research environment where no boundaries exist between science and medicine, uniting physicians, scientists, academic colleagues and partners in the pursuit of discoveries to improve the health and wellbeing of children everywhere.

Why you should apply

The STAR 2.0 Program gives participants:

• An inside perspective of the world of science and medicine.
• Hands-on experience in research that will improve the care of real patients.
• A better understanding of what it is like to work in medical research.
• Contacts in the local medical research community.
• The opportunity to get their work published in peer-reviewed journals, a critical step that establishes them in the scientific community and allows them to be competitive for other opportunities.
• PLUS, the program provides a stipend ($2,600) to attend, which allows students to participate who were planning to work over summer break.

Vaccination requirements

STAR 2.0 program participants must be up to date on vaccinations. You do not have to download the document, as it is just to make you aware of the requirements. You should be able to retrieve a copy of your vaccination record from your high school to present if selected for program participation.  

Who can apply

We are seeking current freshmen, sophomore and junior high school students who identify from racial and ethnic groups which are currently underrepresented in medicine and science (American Indian/native Alaskan, Black, or African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian/Pacific islander, underrepresented Asian populations (e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian).

No background in scientific research is necessary, but solid academic performance and an interest in medicine and/or science is preferred. We will further consider preference for students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Students must attend public or charter schools to be eligible; in addition, preference will be given to students who attend schools in the urban metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas, school districts.