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Science, Technology, and Research Scholars (STARS) Program

photo of the 2023 CSHL STARS participants
2023 CSHL Science, Technology, and Research Scholars (STARS) program participants

The Science, Technology, and Research Scholars (STARS) program aims to cultivate and diversify the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) leaders. STARS is specifically designed for high school students from Long Island and the NY metro area entering grade 10 and above who are members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in the sciences. Led by CSHL in partnership with Stony Brook University and Hofstra University/Northwell Health, STARS provides hands-on summer research experiences, ongoing mentorship, and opportunities for additional research internships (including Partners for the Future). The program also offers college guidance and support within a network of alumni. Ultimately, STARS aims to support students throughout their entire career trajectory and hopes to welcome them back to CSHL, Stony Brook, Hofstra, and other institutions as researchers, faculty, doctors, and other health professionals.

Applications open annually, each January, decisions by May.

First summer of STARS enrollment

Summer research introduction:

  • Family welcome program and alumni meetup (Saturday before start of STARS STEMM)
  • Week 1: Molecular biology experiments, intended to give students an initial grounding in basic laboratory techniques.
  • Week 2: Coding skills and bioinformatics expose students to data science and computing in biology. We also include an off-site field trip to Stony Brook University.

Ongoing High School research experiences

After the summer of enrollment STARS students are supported with:

  • Participation in DNA Learning Center DNA Barcoding research programs.
  • Application and placement in other summer research, internships, and shadowing opportunities (e.g., Partners for the Future, other local and national programs).
  • College prep and application help (priority given to 11th and 12th graders).
  • Assistance with research experiences as well as graduate and medical school guidance and job placement (college students)
  • Assistance in tutoring as needed.

Ongoing mentoring and alumni activities

Regularly discussion and advice on career topics, academic success, and study/work/life balance:

  • Monthly virtual and in-person meetups for all STARS high school alumni.
  • Quarterly meetups for STARS college alumni.
Student High school Grade at enrollment
Genesis Acevedo Huntington High School 12
Logan Acuria-Lauer General Douglas MacArthur High School 10
Liah Branam-McClurkin Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School 12
Aydan Cowan Long Island Lutheran High School 12
Dante Del Vecchio Schreiber High School 11
Madelyn Eisenberg Half Hollow Hills High School West 10
Eliana Eisenberg Half Hollow Hills High School West 10
Amasa Ellis East Stroudsburg High School South 10
Angelina Gonzalez Villalba Valley Stream North High School 11
Sury Guadalupe-Pena Stony Brook School 10
Allison Hernandez Commack High School 10
Madison Jairala North Shore High School 11
Morgan Jairala North Shore High School 9
Gabrielle Jeanty Holy Trinity DHS 10
Isabel Larrea Kellenberg Memorial High School 11
Jean-Parnell Louis Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School 12
Joaquin Martin Lynbrook High School 10
Augustin Mingoia Murphy Garden City High School 12
Giovanna Petruccelli Manhasset Secondary School 11
Derek Poetzsch Hicksville High School 11
Peter Ruiz II Island Trees HS 11
Sara Tovar Harborfields High School 11
Saydee Westman Homeschool 10
photo of the 2022 CSHL STARS participants
2022 CSHL Science, Technology, and Research Scholars (STARS) program participants
Student High school Grade at enrollment
Kiangelo Arce Kellenberg 12
Kaydee Bonilla Copiague 10
Grant Creedon Locust Valley 9
Ayomide Ewumi Freeport 12
Christian Fils-Aime Stony Brook School 10
Carina Garcia Baldwin 11
Sofia Garnier Valley Stream North 11
Erin Garnier Valley Stream North 10
Steven Hernandez Central Islip 12
Christopher Hidalgo Central Islip 11
Kadiann Hudson The Academy Charter School 10
Madison Jairala North Shore 10
Glorianni Pena Feliz Copiague 10
Gianluca Pillaga Central Islip 11
Daniel Sanwo Half Hollow Hills East 10
David Sanwo Half Hollow Hills East 11
Siera Smith Long Island Lutheran 10
Isabella Stefanopoulos Ramirez Commack 10
Aidan Vera Baldwin 12
Gabriella Williams Elmont Memorial 11
Eran Ximines-Colon Brentwood 10
Student High school Grade at enrollment
Gentiva Abrahams Freeport Graduate
Jordan Blake District 1 10
Camille Crumpton West Hempstead 10
Chrysnell Destina Central Islip 11
Carlos Diaz Wyandanch 10
Kelly Gaussaint Central Islip 10
Jayden Hoff Isabell Huntington 10
Nile Jean Westbury 10
Madison Krug Farmingdale 11
Kenly Moran Freeport 11
Osaretinmwen Oriakhi Central Islip 12
Joshua Paz District 28 10
Julia Rodriguez Farmingdale 10
Evan Spagnoletti Huntington 11
Lucas Spagnoletti Huntington 10
Student High school Grade at enrollment
Jaime Abreu Freeport 11
Donal Akerele Half Hollow Hills 10
Madelynd Argueta Brentwood 11
Harrison Banks Tenafly, NJ 10
Skyler Basco Bellmore-Merrick 12
Matthew Beal Half Hollow Hills 10
Khameira Bradshaw Bedford Stuyvesant 12
Jordan Brown Manhasset 11
Anna Carvajal Copiague 12
Stephanie Dyer Half Hollow Hills West 12
Ellis Eisenberg Half Hollow Hills 10
Ashley Ferreira Mineola 10
Brianna Francis The Scholars’ Academy 12
Samantha Gonzalez Copiague 12
Isabel Louie Sacred Heart Academy 10
Gabriel Morales-Flores Huntington 12
Leann Nicholas Farmingdale 12
Rachael Peterkin Radnor 12
Catalina Ramirez Hempstead/Rockville Centre 10
Edinelly Rosario Copiague 12
Gianna Russell-Irace New York District 30 12
Logan Saenz Broward County 12
Jenna Schetty Cold Spring Harbor 10
Bianca Stith Bronx 8 11
Olivia Taylor Watkinson School 11
Sofía Valdebenito East Rockaway 11
Angelique Wheeler Chappaqua Central 11
photo of the 2019 CSHL STARS students

Student High school Grade at enrollment
Joelle Ade Brentwood 10
Q’irah Ali Brentwood 10
Damani Aristilde Freeport 11
Diana Benedicto-Jimenez Port Washington 10
Joshua Cabrera St. Anthony’s 11
Janelle Cabrera St. Anthony’s 11
Amir Cambridge Farmingdale 12
Derek Cortavarria Brentwood 10
Jaden Davis District 27 10
Valentina Flores Middle Country 10
Joanna Flores Locust Valley 11
Lidia Flores South Huntington 11
Zen Ho Sang Central Islip 11
Elijah Johnson Copiague 12
Jason Lazo Central Islip 11
Jennifer Martinez Diocese of Rockville Centre 12
Elsy Martinez Hempstead 11
Justin McCoy North Babylon 10
Oscar Murga Central Islip 12
Jose Quito Central Islip 11
Deyby Rodriguez Central Islip 11
DenMark Simon North Babylon 11
Anthony Valle Hempstead 11
Natalie Villalba Central Islip 11
Nigel Williams Sewanhaka 11
Z’Dhanne Williams Amityville 12
Olivia Wright Amityville 10