Summer Program for Research Interns (SPRI)
For many students, summer internships conjure up hours of filing, fetching coffee or running errands.
For students at the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, however, summer internships mean working in professional R&D labs participating in research to help cure diseases, track dangerous weather patterns, make our food supply safer, develop new surgical procedures and more.
The School's Summer Program for Research Interns, required of all Governor's School students and offered to other qualified students statewide, gives rising high school seniors real-life, hands-on experience working side-by-side with professional scientists in research labs across the state. All of the students' projects are components of their mentors' ongoing research efforts.
Students begin the research program in their junior year working with a Governor's School faculty advisor to develop a project in an area of scientific interest to them. Typically, three to four of these projects garner national attention through publication in professional scientific and academic journals or through recognition by national science competitions.
The ultimate objective of SPRI is to enhance South Carolina's economic competitiveness by inspiring our state's brightest high school students to pursue degrees and careers in science, math, medicine, engineering and research. Program participants receive exposure to interactive "real-world" experiences that catapult many into the latest fields of biomedical, nanotechnology and alternate fuels research and engineering.
This research internship is funded by grants and private sector contributions through the GSSM Foundation.
The School's Summer Program for Research Interns, required of all Governor's School students and offered to other qualified students statewide, gives rising high school seniors real-life, hands-on experience working side-by-side with professional scientists in research labs across the state. All of the students' projects are components of their mentors' ongoing research efforts.
Students begin the research program in their junior year working with a Governor's School faculty advisor to develop a project in an area of scientific interest to them. Typically, three to four of these projects garner national attention through publication in professional scientific and academic journals or through recognition by national science competitions.
The ultimate objective of SPRI is to enhance South Carolina's economic competitiveness by inspiring our state's brightest high school students to pursue degrees and careers in science, math, medicine, engineering and research. Program participants receive exposure to interactive "real-world" experiences that catapult many into the latest fields of biomedical, nanotechnology and alternate fuels research and engineering.
This research internship is funded by grants and private sector contributions through the GSSM Foundation.
Mentor Opportunities
The role of the mentor is to guide the intern in developing a specific scientific research project during a span of six weeks. The mentors assist the interns as they conduct experiments and analyze data. SPRI mentors have the opportunity to work with some of the brightest high school students in South Carolina who are capable of assisting in advancing their research. Mentors receive a small stipend to cover the cost of additional materials.
If you are interested in serving as a 2008 SPRI mentor, please call Randy LaCross at 843-383-3916.
Randy LaCross
Director of Outreach
843-383-3916
Marilynn Moore
Outreach Assistant
843-383-3958
