Each summer, for more than 30 years, students selected for the UTMB High School Summer Research Program work in biomedical research labs on projects ranging from burn medications to vaccines for tropical diseases. Students also study medical ethics and participate in career seminars with scientists from across the university. “Because the faculty here at UTMB understands it is their responsibility to grow the next generation of scientists, they go out of their way to make the effort and the allowances that let a teenager work in a lab,” said Kathy Tiernan, associate professor, director and one of the founders of the program, along with Clifford W. Houston. Houston said, “The High School Summer Research Program is one of very few instances where students this young get hands-on experience in a real lab, something that can often be life-changing.” The program has a track record of hosting students who end up at prestigious institutions such as Princeton and MIT.