The Summer Science Program in Biochemistry at Indiana Univ

The Summer Science Program (SSP) is a nonprofit offering an immersion experience in experimental science to rising high school seniors. Working in teams of three on a college campus, participants complete a hands-on research project. SSP offers programs in Biochemistry at Indiana University and Perdue University. We also offer Astrophysics and Genomics at other partner sites across the county.

The SSP Biochemistry program demands hypothesis-building based on integration of existing information, critical analysis and interpretation of novel experimental results, and application of those results. Each team studies its own target, performing the research from start to finish: acquiring and analyzing experimental data and reporting the results. These highly practical aspects of modern biochemical research will train students how to intellectually approach a biochemical research problem.

Classroom and lab sessions are scheduled six days a week, interspersed with guest lectures and other special events. Classroom time is for developing an understanding of experimental science in general and the research topic in particular. Problem sets reinforce the material.

Each program’s faculty includes an Academic Director, Associate Academic Director (both PhD scientist-educators), Site Director, and four Teaching Assistant and Mentors. Everyone works together, immersed in the culture and values of science.

After the last day, the community does not end, it disperses and broadens. Participants become voting members for life, and join a unique global network of over 2,500 alumni and former faculty, ages 16 to 78, all smart people doing interesting things, including supporting this unique nonprofit with donations of time and money.