STARS II Program

The STARS II program is designed for Yale College socioeconomically disadvantaged students to pursue studies and careers in the sciences and engineering. 

STARS II provides an intensive research experience for juniors and seniors who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Beginning in the fall semester of their junior year and continuing through the senior year, STARS II scholars receive a stipend to support up to ten hours per week of laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty mentor and graduate student(s). *If you are taking research for credit, you cannot receive a stipend and credit simultaneously for the same hours of work.  However, you may receive the STARS stipend for up to 10 additional hours beyond those received for credit.  During the intervening summer, the program provides stipend support for students to continue their research full-time for up to ten weeks. In the spring semesters of their junior and senior years, STARS II scholars conduct a formal presentation of their research, in the form of a poster or a talk, at the STARS II Research Symposium. STARS II students participate in mandatory  workshops designed to develop their scientific skills. They are encouraged to present their research at regional and national scientific conferences/meetings, and submitting their research for publication.  *

If you are accepted into the STARS II Program, you must participate in 75% of the workshops and activities offered each semester. Failure to do so will result in your dismissal from the program.

STARS II Highlights

• Welcome Reception in September for the STARS II juniors and their mentors

• Academic Year Stipend Support for up to 10 hours per week (up to 13 weeks per semester) of laboratory research during the junior and senior years 

• Summer Stipend Support (if required) for full-time laboratory research for up to ten weeks during the summer between the junior and senior years

• STARS II Research Symposium for STARS II junior and senior scholars to present their final research projects to their colleagues and mentors (April 2024 - view the schedule)

• Mandatory workshops designed to prepare scholars for the STARS II Research Symposium and other scientific conferences/meetings

• Group Activities designed to increase the feeling of community and support among the STARS II junior and senior scholars
• Funding support to present at conferences. *Requests for funding must be made 3 months prior to the actual conference date(s) by submitting a CONFERENCE - TRAVEL REQUEST FORM to donalee.slater@yale.edu. Please read the Conference Travel Policy before submitting your request.

Application Information

• The STARS II application for AY24-25 will open Friday, July 5, 2024 in the Yale Student Grants & Fellowships database. The deadline is 3:00pm ET on Friday, September 20, 2024.

• Information Session  TBA 

• For application questions please contact Donalee Slater at donalee.slater@yale.edu