STaRS 2025 Interns Gain Skills, Community, and Confidence at Stanford

This summer, a cohort of talented high school students participated in the 2025 Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Internship Program, a seven-week immersive experience designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of biomedical research and academic life at Stanford.

Led by co-directors Dr. Fabiana Aellos and Dr. Jill Helms, the program provided a structured path for interns to build confidence in the lab, connect with peers and mentors, and envision future careers in science and medicine.

“As the newly appointed co-director of the STaRS program in Summer 2025, it has been a profound privilege to guide and learn alongside some of the most driven and curious young minds of this generation,” said Dr. Aellos. “This program is more than a summer experience; it’s a launching pad. Over seven incredible weeks, our interns immersed themselves in real biomedical research, formed lasting friendships, and discovered a deep sense of belonging in spaces they may have once thought were out of reach.

The program kicked off with an Express Training Week, offering accelerated exposure to seven core wet lab techniques, including histology, genotyping, microscopy, 3D imaging, quantification and statistics, and immunohistochemistry. Interns then selected two techniques to study in-depth under the mentorship of Stanford research scientists and faculty.

In addition to lab work, interns took part in weekly community-building activities that encouraged teamwork, exploration, and fun. Highlights included a tour of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, a campus-wide scavenger hunt, a Giants baseball game, an anatomy lab visit, a nature hike at Huddart Park, and the STaRS Summer Olympics.

Throughout the summer, the cohort also attended lectures, professional panels, and a final research showcase where they presented their work to the broader Stanford community.

When asked the most valuable skill learned, STaRS 2025 Intern Ezra Graham shared, “It's hard to choose just one thing - this summer went from me nervously poking at lab equipment to actually knowing what I was doing, making friends along the way, and getting priceless guidance from Jill, Bo, Fabi, and all the amazing mentors. I also learned that science lives somewhere between precision and mischief, which explains a lot."

“I applied to STaRS because I’ve always been passionate about STEM but had never experienced what it’s like to do real research. I wanted to spend my summer exploring every part of the research process, so when I found that STaRS interns work on actual projects, not just case studies, I was immediately motivated to apply,” shared Caren Huang. “Additionally, the program’s mentors—which, based on past intern stories on the website, seemed to be extremely valuable in their journeys after the program—was another reason I was eager to apply. As I began the application, I enjoyed how the questions allowed me to share my interests beyond academics, which made me even more excited to join. Ultimately, it was my curiosity about research that inspired me to apply and now after finishing the program, I can confidently say it exceeded all my expectations!”

Now in its 23rd year, the STaRS program continues to cultivate curiosity, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging among students—equipping the next generation of scientists and innovators with tools and inspiration to lead.