BioBus Junior Scientist Internship Program: A Deep Dive into Fostering Future Scientists

BioBus is dedicated to helping K-12 and college students in New York City discover, explore, and pursue science, with a particular focus on students excluded from the scientific community due to factors such as race, gender, economic status, and physical access. Through immersive laboratory environments, including mobile labs and community labs, students join scientists for hands-on scientific exploration during in-school, after-school, weekend, and summer programs as well as internships. One of the most impactful programs offered by BioBus is the Junior Scientist Internship.

BioBus: Cultivating Scientific Potential

BioBus' mission is to build inclusive and accessible scientific communities where every New York City student can fulfill their academic, financial, and personal potential in science. Since its founding in 2008, BioBus has reached 350,000 students at more than 900 schools and community organizations, primarily NYC public and charter schools, and as far away as California, Rwanda, Egypt, and Jordan. BioBus students connect with scientists from diverse backgrounds, learn lab and research skills, practice science communication, and take steps to become the next generation of scientists and problem-solvers, making the world better for all of us. Our students access and become part of the scientific community through introductory science labs aboard our mobile labs at their schools; after school, weekend, and summer programs; and year-long internships.

BioBus operates programs throughout the NYC area with a focus on Harlem, the South Bronx, and the Lower East Side, and has recently expanded to New England. BioBus has had a long history working with the community on the Lower East Side, operating out of community laboratories in the Lower Eastside Girls Club, The LES Ecology Center, and School for Global Leaders. Since 2008, youth on the LES have spent over 70,000 hours in BioBus mobile and community laboratories! Since 2008, over 35,000 young people from School Districts 1 and 2 have experienced the joy of scientific discovery aboard a BioBus mobile laboratory at their school! During the school day, BioBus Community Scientists bring research-grade equipment and scientific expertise to students at schools such as School for Global Leaders, PS/MS 34, and East Side Community School.

The Junior Scientist Internship: A Comprehensive Overview

The BioBus Junior Scientist Internship is a 12-month paid science research internship program designed for students with a passion for science exploration who are interested in gaining mentored research and teaching experience. This program offers a unique opportunity to delve into the world of scientific research while also developing valuable teaching and leadership skills.

Program Structure and Key Components

The internship is structured to provide a well-rounded experience, encompassing research, teaching, and mentorship. The program runs for 12 months and includes the following key components:

Summer Research Immersion: During the first summer, students engage in intensive scientific research, acquiring essential skills in experimental design, laboratory techniques, and data analysis.
Teaching Experience: Junior Scientists utilize their training and gain teaching experience by engaging with the public and with younger students through BioBus teaching events.
Academic Year Research: Throughout the academic year, Junior Scientists receive training and mentorship from research scientists while developing their own independent projects using research-grade microscopes and equipment.
Co-Instruction and Leadership: They also gain further teaching and leadership experience by serving as co-instructors in BioBus weekend and summer programs.

The New York City Virus Hunters Program: A Case Study

One notable example of the Junior Scientist Internship is the New York City Virus Hunters program. This initiative, a collaboration among BioBus, the Krammer Lab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the Wild Bird Fund, engages high school students as paid Junior Scientist interns in vital research.

Focus and Objectives

The New York City Virus Hunters initiative, funded primarily by Flu Lab and launched in 2020, is the first safe community science program worldwide that screens wild birds in an urban area for infectious diseases that can be harmful for other birds, wildlife, and even humans. Together with their scientist mentors, Junior Scientist interns collect samples of bird feces in local parks to test for viruses that can transfer to other birds and, sometimes, to humans. Their findings are vital to prepare for and prevent a possible future pandemic, and to identify viruses that may be harmful to humans and other birds. The program focuses on equipping high school interns with the skills and experience to build their own identity as scientists, gaining both a sense of belonging in the scientific community and valuable experience as they pursue further science education and careers.

Research Activities and Findings

Junior Scientist interns in the program use modern viral surveillance techniques to explore their environment and generate crucial data on the prevalence of avian diseases. As part of the program, Junior Scientist interns collected 2500+ samples and screened them for the presence of avian influenza (AIV) and avian paramyxovirus (APMV-1). Virus Hunters identified eight birds that were positive for avian paramyxovirus by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), indicating high unknown diversity of APMV-1 in urban wild birds. Two live APMV-1 viruses were isolated from common pigeons, named, reported to the USDA, and whole genome sequences were published at the online data repository GenBank. Since January 2022, the Virus Hunters specifically screened 1400+ samples from raptors, poultry and waterfowl for H5N1, the Eurasian H5 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu.

Mentorship and Collaboration

The Junior Scientists are paired with scientist mentors who guide them through the research process, culminating in publications and presentations at research symposia. In the program’s first three years, fifteen Junior Scientists (high school interns) gained the scientific knowledge, identities, and experiences to kickstart careers in STEM. Hundreds more students participated in community sampling events and learned about the importance of vaccines and pandemic preparedness through dedicated outreach.

Program Evaluation and Outcomes

Dr. Lindsay Barone conducted a two-year mixed methods evaluation beginning in fall 2020 to measure the impacts of the New York City Virus Hunters internship on students’ science identity and their overall perception towards science. The evaluation focused on science identity as students with a strong science identity are more likely to pursue science careers (NIH). The aggregate results showed a significant change in students’ science identity. Specifically, we found that the Virus Hunters program resulted in substantial development of students’ science identities through close, skills-based mentorship; in-person science activities; and recognition as scientists by external institutions of note. Among the students who have completed the Virus Hunters internship to date, two students now attend Brown University and were hired for positions in Dr. Krammer’s lab. Fellow alumni have gone on to study at New York University, Hunter College, John Jay College for Criminal Justice, Binghamton University and Pennsylvania State University, and American University. Other students have continued their high school studies.

Read also: Freshman to Senior: A Guide

Outreach and Dissemination

Outreach activities raise awareness about influenza and the One Health Initiative and communicate findings from the Virus Hunters to the general public. These range from a live YouTube event while the most significant COVID precautions were in place to in-person symposia and conference presentations. At the first Virus Hunters student research symposium in June 2022, more than 70 scientists and community members learned about this exciting community scientist initiative. In addition, more than 20 posters in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Turkish, German and even Scottish, showcased the latest research performed at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Florian Krammer and Viviana Simon labs.

Research Symposia, Outreach, Conferences, and Press

The New York City Virus Hunters program has been featured at several prestigious events, including:

NYCVH Student Research Symposium, New York Academy of Medicine - 2022, 2023
American Society for Virology Conference (2021, 2022, 2023)
Global Community BioSummit (2021, 2022, 2023)
Citizen Science Association’s Citizen Science Conference (2021, 2022, 2023)

The program has also received media attention, including:

CUNY TV: Simply Science (2022)
USA Today: High school scientists-in-training take on the Big Apple as urban virus hunters (2022)
Spectrum News NY1 (Nationwide): Can wildlife predict the next pandemic?

BioBus Programs: A Closer Look

In BioBus Explore programs, students have the opportunity to dig deep into a scientific topic through multiple sessions alongside BioBus Community Scientists! Explore courses take place as after school programs or summer camps, and provide continued touchpoints for students interested in continuing their journey with science past our single-day introductory programs. Some recent Explore projects have included studying how climate change is affecting neighborhood ecosystems and learning how to build compost bins to combat food waste.

Alongside BioBus Community Scientists, middle and high school students can dig deep into a scientific topic over several sessions in BioBus Explore programs! Explore courses take place as after school programs or summer camps, and provide continued touchpoints for students interested in continuing their journey with science past our single-day introductory programs. Some recent Explore projects have included studying how climate change is affecting neighborhood ecosystems and learning how to build compost bins to combat food waste.

Read also: Unlock Junior Scholarships

In the BioBus Junior Scientist Internships, high school and college students receive training and mentorship from research scientists while developing independent projects and co-teaching BioBus programs for younger students! Junior Scientist interns develop lab and science communication skills and serve as near-peer mentors for younger students. All high school and college Junior Scientists are paid for their work with BioBus. A few recent internship projects have included studying the water quality of the Hudson River near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, investigating stress levels while playing video games, exploring the effect of noise pollution on plant health & survival, and tracking virus transmission in birds throughout the city.

BioBus in Harlem

BioBus’ first program in Harlem was in March 2008. Since then, we’ve integrated ourselves and our students into Harlem’s burgeoning biotech scene. From bringing our signature introductory Mobile Lab programs to neighborhood schools and community centers to hosting after school programs, community tours, and paid internships in our state-of-the-art BioBase Harlem community lab at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute on 129th St, BioBus is committed to bringing science to every corner of Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. Since 2008, we’ve partnered with over 160 schools and community organizations in Upper Manhattan to teach hands-on science in schools and host various in-depth after-school, weekend, and summer programs. Our mobile labs park at schools, typically for a full day of hands-on science with six classes and about 150 students. In classes led by BioBus Community Scientists, students learn to use microscopes and explore topics like Cell Celebration, Ecosystem Exploration, Bug Bodies, and more! In 2017, BioBus began operating our uptown lab space, BioBase Harlem, in the ground floor of the Columbia Zuckerman Institute. This lab can host school classes for hands-on science visits. We can see up to two classes a day for 90 minutes each in an extended science exploration using our microscopes and lab equipment. We also offer after-school visits for after-school providers and community-base organizations in Harlem and Washington heights. These visits are available for grades 3-12.

BioBus on the Lower East Side

The LES Junior Scientist program has been developed in collaboration with schools including East Side Community High School and The New School. Recently, LES Junior Scientists have been working on research in environmental science, studying how clams filter microplastics, how water quality impacts photosynthesis and plant structure, and much more! After school, young scientists can participate in Tool Time, a program where they use a new piece of science equipment each week. High schoolers participate in Explorers Club, a program in which students build an interdisciplinary relationship with science while building solutions to issues in their communities such as flooding.

Key Personnel

The BioBus Junior Scientist Internship program is supported by a dedicated team of scientists, educators, and mentors:

Christine: Christine received her PhD from the University of Vienna in Genetics and has vast experience in national and international science communication and outreach, including building Community Science infrastructure.
Philip Meade, PhD: Dr. Meade is a Postdoctoral Associate, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Florian Krammer, PhD: Dr. Krammer is an endowed tenured full Professor in the Department of Microbiology and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VaRPP) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Paul: Paul is an alumnus of BioBus programs.
Rita McMahon: Rita McMahon is co-founder and director of the Wild Bird Fund (WBF).
Isabel Francisco, DVM: Dr. Francisco was previously a Postdoctoral Associate, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who worked with the Virus Hunters.

How to Get Involved

BioBus is seeking high school students passionate about scientific exploration and making science accessible to all. Preference will be given to individuals from groups that are underrepresented in STEM FIELDS. If you are an undergraduate, graduate student or scientist, you can volunteer to teach programs with the Harlem team! Become a mentor who launches a thousand science careers and creates equity in the scientific community.

For Students

Are you a high school or college student in NYC with a passion for science exploration and an interest in gaining research and teaching experience? BioBus Junior Scientists are high school and college students who receive training and mentorship from research scientists, while developing their own independent projects and co-teaching BioBus programs for younger students! Junior Scientists gain research experience, develop lab skills, and learn science communications.

The 2023-24 internship application is closed. You can also learn more about other BioBus internships.

For Educators

BioBus Community Scientists lead the hands-on research projects that transform students into scientists, and prepare low-income New Yorkers for a life in science.

For Scientists and Professionals

In BioBus’s Community Scientist Fellowship Program, you will join a community that is changing the face of science. You will learn to help as few as five or as many as five thousand young scientist pursue a science career. With professional development from seasoned BioBus scientists from public schools in Harlem, the Lower East Side, and across New York City, you will measurably improve your science communication and mentorship powers. Combining theory with the hard work needed to create equity in science careers, fellows complete 50 hours of training during this one year program. However, the fellowship is designed to accommodate your demanding research schedule. Research scientists will connect throughout the program, strengthening professional networks. In addition to connecting to like-minded professional scientists, you will broaden your network to include young scientists with great potential but few science opportunities. Developing your personalized goal for your fellowship.

Additional Internship Opportunities for High School Students

While the BioBus Junior Scientist Internship offers a unique and comprehensive experience, numerous other internships cater to high school students interested in STEM and other fields. Here are some examples:

The Smithsonian Institution: For students with a passion for history, museums, and research.
NASA High School Internship Program: For students interested in space and engineering.
California Academy of Sciences, Careers in Science: A year-round, paid internship designed to help San Francisco high school students from underrepresented communities break into STEM careers.
The Pathways Program: The US State Department’s Pathways Program is a paid internship that gives high school, undergraduate, and graduate students exposure to careers in the federal government.
Senate Page Program: A prestigious internship within the law, government, and public policy sphere.
Microsoft High School Discovery Program: For students in the tech and computer programming fields.
Port of Seattle High School Internship Program: Designed to provide students with exposure to careers in aviation, maritime, local government, community engagement, and environmental fields.
Seattle City Lights: For students interested in exploring the business of energy production and distribution.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD): Offers local high schoolers paid internships with real-world experience in a variety of different fields.
New York High School Automotive Internship Program: Gives students hands-on experience in maintaining vehicles for the largest municipal fleet in the United States.
Chicago Student Intern Opportunities: The city of Chicago offers a wide variety of internships within the municipal government.
George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP): Gives high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with professional scientists.
University of California, Santa Barbara: The Research Mentorship Program gives high schoolers the chance to complete research in a college-level, interdisciplinary setting.
University of California, Santa Cruz: The Science Internship Program (SIP) is a research internship that allows high schoolers to lead their own research projects across a wide variety of disciplines.
University of California, San Diego: UCSD’s Research Scholars engage in specialized research opportunities across multiple topics.
US Army Educational Outreach Program: Pairs high school students with researchers at top universities and US Army Research facilities.
Clean Water Ambassadors Internship: A paid internship program created by the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and the King County Wastewater Treatment Division.
Institute of Systems Biology (ISB): ISB has multiple, competitive high school intern programs that can jumpstart your career in biology.
University of Texas Health: UT Health’s San Antonio campus hosts a year-round program designed to expose students to the fields of immunology, molecular pathogenesis, genetics, and clinical epidemiology.
Stanford University SHTEM Internships: Stanford’s SHTEM Internships emphasizes interdisciplinary research opportunities.
Abbott: Abbott offers a variety of internships that explore every facet of their healthcare company.
University of Nebraska: The College of Information Science & Technology’s computer science-focused summer internship program gives high school students hands-on experience in multiple labs.
Louisiana State University School of Medicine: LSU’s Summer Research Program prepares high schoolers for careers in public health and clinical science.
Vanderbilt University Aspirnaut Program: Aspirnaut Summer Research Internships give high schoolers hands-on laboratory experiences within the STEM field.
US Navy Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP): SEAP is a highly competitive internship that allows high school students to assist with research in Naval facilities.
Dallas Bar Association: The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) is a partnership between the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Independent School District.
US Department of Education: The US Department of Education offers multiple unpaid internship opportunities.
StandOut Connect: Matches talented high school students with online internships in fields like finance, STEM, medicine, law, and the arts.
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program: Interns gain valuable hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research.
American Fisheries Society Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program: The program is provided by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) to stimulate interest in fisheries and aquatic science among underrepresented groups in the profession.
INROADS Corporate Internship Program: If selected, you’ll gain hands-on experience within leading organizations-giving you the chance to learn, grow, and accelerate your path to career success.
Goodwill Industries Youth Work Experience Program: This program is for students who plan to participate in a school-sponsored work experience program during their senior year.
Microsoft High School Internship: Throughout the program, students learn industry-aligned technical and professional skills.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program: Participants in the HOPP Summer Student Program are assigned to an eight-week biomedical or computational lab-based internship.
Columbia University BRAINYAC: The Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) program prepares high school students for careers in science.
Genspace BioRocket Internship: Participants explore cutting-edge topics in genetic engineering and biology while developing practical lab skills and learning how to communicate scientific ideas to diverse audiences.
Columbia Engineering Hk Maker Lab: An intensive six-week summer program teaching participants the foundations of design.
Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program: A full-time, free research experience in the sciences or engineering for high school students.
Kaiser Permanente High School Program: Offers young adults a variety of paid internship opportunities in its Oakland headquarters and medical offices across Northern California.
Sandia National Laboratories Student Intern Program: Welcomes student interns at all levels, from high school seniors to PhD candidates.
Stanford University Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program: Participants in the eight-week Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) perform basic research on a medically oriented project.
Georgia Aquarium Beginner Environmental Leadership Program: A great option for students with a passion for aquatic ecosystems and engaging personalities.
Adler Planetarium Teen Internship Program: Offers various opportunities for teenagers to participate in STEAM-based programs.
Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS): Provides high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on biomedical engineering research experience.
University of Michigan Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship: Participants work hand-in-hand with researchers, conduct their own research project, and gain firsthand lab experience while developing an interest in scientific research.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITES Summer Program: A six-week, on-campus program that immerses participants in rigorous and rewarding courses in mathematics, science, and humanities.
Massachusetts General Hospital MGH Youth Scholars: Builds participants’ interest in science and healthcare, sparks college aspirations and preparedness, and provides the support scholars need for success in high school, college, and the workforce.
Dartmouth Health High School Foundations Summer Internship: Participants gain real-world experience and insights into a variety of potential career paths.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Youth Summer Program: A six-week, 30-hour-per-week paid experience focused on professional development, gaining a deeper understanding of careers in healthcare, and exploring community health and health equity.
Girls Who Code Summer Program: Students gain the computer science skills they need to make an impact and prepare for tech careers through this free virtual summer program.
New York University Applied Research Innovation in Science & Engineering (ARISE): This free 10-week program combines training on lab safety, research skills, and college writing, followed by working in a research lab.
Microsoft Discovery Program: This program for graduating high school seniors.

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