Welcome to Northwestern University Research Program for High Schoolers (NURPH)!
Are you interested in a career in STEM? Learn about NURPH today!
Our Mission: NURPH empowers underrepresented Chicago-area high school students to pursue impactful STEM careers by fostering academic confidence, building supportive mentor networks, and developing foundational STEM skills through a summer research scholarship.
Northwestern University Research Program for High Schoolers (NURPH) is a seven-week paid program aiming to bring University laboratory resources to high school students from all Chicago and Evanston-area high schools. The program runs June 22nd – Aug 7th for the summer of 2026 and is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. No previous research experience is required. Applications are now open.
The link to the application can be found here. You can also join our mailing list for updates regarding the program.
Students will have the opportunity to perform novel research mentored directly by professional researchers in Northwestern University’s highly regarded Materials Science and Engineering Department. Materials Science and Engineering is an exciting interdisciplinary field with applications in energy, medicine, computing, and many other important scientific problems today. Program participants are fully funded by our sponsors, the National Science Foundation’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, the National Science Foundation’s Harnessing the Data Revolution fund, Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, the National Science Foundation’s HAMMER Engineering Research Center, Northwestern’s Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, and the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation.
NURPH students will receive a stipend (~$4000) for the seven week period (35 hours/week).
Over the course of a week, students will be guided through:
- 25 hours of research and technical skills development
- 5 hours of professional development
- 5 hours of Materials Science and Engineering education
Contact us at nurph@u.northwestern.edu with any questions.