About Us

The UCSF-Lowell Science Research Program was founded by Richard Shapiro, Lowell High Physics teacher, and Julia Ye, UCSF MSTP student, in the fall of 2010. It is a collaborative effort between Lowell High School and the University of California, San Francisco. This program will inspire and prepare Lowell students to complete a real science research project in an area that interests them. Its mission is to introduce students to the world of science, teach them laboratory techniques, and inspire a passion for research and discovery. Students will learn how to publicly present and publish their work, engage in original scientific research, and develop the professional skills necessary for a successful scientific career. The program is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with priority given to sophomores, juniors, and continuing interns.

During the school year, Lowell students will be taught and mentored by M.D.-Ph.D. students in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UCSF. Our planned talks from distinguished UCSF and Lawrence Berkeley faculty will include nano-biotechnology, stem cells, hematology, computational biology, computer science, computational physics, DNA self assembly and much much more. In addition, Lowell students will be mentored by distinguished faculty members at UCSF who have agreed to take Lowell students into their labs at UCSF to engage in research. The faculty will assign them a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow as a mentor as well as mentor the Lowell student themselves. An annual summer symposium concludes the UCSF-Lowell Science Research Program Summer Internship. It features an introduction from the MSTP director and the student leaders of the program, short talks by the high school student interns, and a poster session in the atrium for all of the interns.

This program is now being offered as an optional course, with a letter grade. It is NOT mandatory to signup for the class. Participants are expected to produce a paper/presentation on their research in early Fall following their internship. There will be some additional work if you are enrolled in the class. Signups for the class will happen in the first week of meetings.

The UCSF-Lowell Science Research Program:

  • Teaches students about the world of science.

  • Provides opportunities for students to interact with UCSF scientists.

  • Exposes students to common laboratory techniques.

  • Helps students develop the professional skills required to become successful scientists.

  • Identifies opportunities for students to conduct meaningful summer research.

  • Ignites a passion for scientific research.

  • Develops a model for high school science outreach programs.

  • Creates a vibrant community of students, teachers, and mentors.

  • Is dedicated to the pursuit of scientific discovery.

  • Gives students a chance to present their research to their school, the public, and at local and national science competitions.