Three local high school students donned lab coats and worked as research scientists this summer as part of a lab internship at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. With sponsorship from the American Chemical Society and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UMSL, the students participated in the ACS Project SEED.

Juniors and seniors who have completed basic chemistry work alongside their scientist-mentors on research projects, learning about the process of science as well as possible career paths in the field. The eight-week program is designed to help students gain confidence, attain a sense of direction and realize their own potential.

Project SEED targets disadvantaged students and provides them with a $2,800 fellowship the first year. If students return a second year, they receive a $3,000 fellowship. The program emphasizes career development and the pursuit of higher education after high school.

“This is a rare opportunity for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds,” says Keith Stine, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMSL and Project SEED coordinator. “Spending a summer in the lab will aid in their education as well as strengthen their chances of going on and being successful in college.”

Visit http://portal.acs.org for more information about Project SEED.