About
The KEYS Research Internship trains high school students in bioscience methodology and techniques and builds on what they have learned in the classroom through real world application. Interns work with mentors on cutting edge University of Arizona research, connect with like-minded peers and research faculty, and complete assignments focused on science literacy, data science, and biotechnology between April and the start of the program in June. During the 7-week internship, students participate in one-week crash courses in a variety of bioscience techniques, data science techniques, and the foundations of science literacy, and present what they have learned and experienced at a research showcase.
• Ages: 16–18 years old
• Schedule: 7-week summer internship
• Price: No cost to participate
Next year marks 20 years of the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship. The program is led by the BIO5 Institute and funded by BIO5 and generous supporters including individuals, families, companies, foundations, and various UArizona faculty, colleges, and departments, and the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) enables student engagement programs like KEYS. It is described as one of Arizona’s premier training programs for high school students interested in developing STEM skills, where interns immerse themselves in real-world projects under the mentorship of University of Arizona scientists and are paired with researchers spearheading innovative projects that span multiple disciplines. Faculty, university students, and other lab personnel mentor interns, interns present at a research showcase to friends, family, and the academic community, participants earn 3 units of MCB credit, and they receive assured admission to the W.A. Franke Honors College, with housing provided for students who need it most for KEYS 2026. The university states that it strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
A 2013 KEYS intern stated that the program provided the opportunity to experience real science with hands-on involvement, including testing personal hypotheses, using tools of the trade, and experiencing the life of a researcher. A 2016 KEYS intern, Jason Juang, stated that KEYS gives students skills to communicate science, write an abstract, and make a poster, and that taking things slow helped in learning the proper way to communicate science and in later college work such as writing lab reports and creating Undergraduate Biology Research Program posters.
Last updated January 8, 2026.
• Ages: 16–18 years old
• Schedule: 7-week summer internship
• Price: No cost to participate
Next year marks 20 years of the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship. The program is led by the BIO5 Institute and funded by BIO5 and generous supporters including individuals, families, companies, foundations, and various UArizona faculty, colleges, and departments, and the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) enables student engagement programs like KEYS. It is described as one of Arizona’s premier training programs for high school students interested in developing STEM skills, where interns immerse themselves in real-world projects under the mentorship of University of Arizona scientists and are paired with researchers spearheading innovative projects that span multiple disciplines. Faculty, university students, and other lab personnel mentor interns, interns present at a research showcase to friends, family, and the academic community, participants earn 3 units of MCB credit, and they receive assured admission to the W.A. Franke Honors College, with housing provided for students who need it most for KEYS 2026. The university states that it strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
A 2013 KEYS intern stated that the program provided the opportunity to experience real science with hands-on involvement, including testing personal hypotheses, using tools of the trade, and experiencing the life of a researcher. A 2016 KEYS intern, Jason Juang, stated that KEYS gives students skills to communicate science, write an abstract, and make a poster, and that taking things slow helped in learning the proper way to communicate science and in later college work such as writing lab reports and creating Undergraduate Biology Research Program posters.
Last updated January 8, 2026.
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