High school students from the Syracuse City School District gathered in August and presented research projects demonstrating what they had learned during six weeks of hands-on laboratory work with College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) faculty. Just months earlier, the program's future had been in doubt after federal funding was pulled back.

Syracuse University’s Office of Research and the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) responded to the financial uncertainty by teaming up to support the program for another year. Thanks to these one-time funds, the fourth annual Syracuse University Summer High School Internship Program (SU-SHIP) concluded with 24 students presenting posters on their summer research.

The program began as Syracuse University Research in Physics (SURPh) in 2022 (and later was known as SUPER-Tech SHIP) as a physics-only initiative. In the years since, it has grown into a cross-departmental effort, with 68 volunteers—including postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students—working alongside the high schoolers this summer. The expansion brought faculty from chemistry and Earth and environmental sciences into the mix for the first time, joining nine physics professors who have made the program a cornerstone of the department's community engagement. Together, they supervised students exploring computational astrophysics, biophysics, soft matter physics, particle physics, chemistry and Earth sciences.

Eight former SU-SHIP participants returned as peer mentors, creating a pathway that demonstrates the program's lasting impact on STEM students. Six of those mentors now attend Syracuse University as undergraduates, while another studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. With STEM occupations projected to grow by more than 10% by 2031, today’s high school students require a solid foundation in math, science and engineering. Nowhere is this more true than in the Syracuse area, where the arrival of Micron’s chip manufacturing facility is expected to bring thousands of high-paying positions. Offering paid internships that also include meals and transportation is a crucial element that makes the program accessible to all students in the area—helping break down the financial barriers that the SCSD students often face.

"I learned so much that first year—science skills, poster presentations, networking," says Emma Kaputa, an inaugural participant who has returned as a mentor. "I'm really glad to have had that door opened for me. This being a paid position is a reason why someone might be able to do summer research. In some families, high schoolers are responsible for providing income, so they need to work over the summer. An unpaid role could be a huge barrier. Adding the paid internship element makes this a lot more accessible."

The program's impact extends beyond individual students. Evaluation data collected in 2024 by Michiko Ueda-Ballmer, associate professor in the Maxwell School's Department of Public Administration and International Affairs, showed 70% of participants planned to pursue post-undergraduate degrees—up from 54% before the program.

"This program allows us to increase our impact on both the local community of high school students interested in future STEM careers, and also on our Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate students who work alongside them and use the experience to develop as mentors, teachers and scientists," says Mitchell Soderberg, professor and chair of physics.

“This program is crucially important for the excellent students of the Syracuse City high schools who often need funds to support their families in the summer. The loss of funding in 2025 and subsequent resuscitation had huge impacts on the students and their families this past summer. Yet the program’s future is still unclear,” says Jennifer Ross, founding director of the program, former physics department chair and newly named interim dean for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The program's founders—Melanie Pelcher G'11, Ruell Branch '24 and Ross, the former A&S associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research as well as a professor of physics, envisioned exactly this kind of multiplier effect when they launched SU-SHIP in 2022. Branch, a graduate of Syracuse City School District himself, wanted to show local students what it's like to work as paid scientists.

Thanks to support from the University and the Syracuse City School District, the program continues to benefit students and even expand in the face of financial constraints. Those interested in supporting it can call 315.443.2464 or email asgiving@syr.edu.