The George Washington University’s (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (BLS) Department’s Research & Inquiry in STEM Exploration (RISE) Summer Program is a virtual, two-week asynchronous experience designed for high school students and first-year college students to develop research and scientific writing skills. The program includes daily modules that consist of various learning activities that students can complete asynchronously (i.e., on their own time), but must complete all assigned activities by the end of each day. To complete this program, students must have a working computer and a reliable internet connection.
If accepted into the RISE summer program, the applicant will receive an acceptance letter outlining the process for submitting a registration fee of $500.00 via credit card. A payment plan is available.
Virtual
Location
$500
Fee per person
May 4th
2026 Application Deadline
July 6th - 17th
2026 Session Dates
- Program Structure
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The program emphasizes research strategies and design through a multidisciplinary, interprofessional approach, focusing on current issues in health, biotechnology, and biomedical sciences. It will cover the following areas:
- Research theory
- Scientific writing
- Citation and Reference Formats
- Plagiarism
- Group research project
- Group research presentations
- Program Outcomes
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At the successful completion of the RISE program, students will be able to:
- Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and explain their differences.
- Formulate researchable questions or hypotheses on a chosen STEM-related topic.
- Organize information logically into sections
- Apply a standard citation style (e.g., APA or MLA) consistently in text and in references.
- Paraphrase and quote sources correctly to avoid plagiarism.
- Create tables, graphs, or simple visuals to support data interpretation.
- Deliver an organized oral presentation that includes evidence-based explanations.
- Collaborate with peers to plan and present a group research project.
- Additional Details
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Certificate of Completion
- Students will receive a certificate of completion that can be listed on resumes, college applications, or for volunteer hours.
- Certificate of Completion will be awarded only to students who complete all of the modules by the deadlines.
- Applying to the RISE Program
- Financial Assistance
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Financial scholarships (partial and full) are available to students who can show proof of financial need. Acceptable documents to show proof of financial hardship include:
- Unemployment compensation statement
- Proof that you qualify for federal or state government assistance programs, including but not limited to: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for food, Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for healthcare, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for energy cost and Housing Choice Vouchers for Rent (Section 8), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for financial and welfare assistance.
Questions
If you have any questions, please email gwrise [at] gwu [dot] edu (gwrise[at]gwu[dot]edu).