40 years strong:  celebrating the high school science research internship since 1973

The Indianapolis Project SEED Committee welcomes you as we celebrate 40 years of public service providing Indianapolis area high school students the opportunity to explore scientific research.   This website is created to be an information center for the high school summer research interns and applicants, in addition to the interested public and supporters.  This website undergoes periodic changes, so please stay posted!  For further information and updates, please write us at indyprojectseed@yahoo.com or call the program coordinator, Elmer Sanders, at (317) 514-3212

Project Seed 2013

The 2013 summer research program started on June 3.   For details on the closing poster session and other summer program events, please email indyprojectseed@yahoo.com

The 2012 summer internship program presented research findings at the 40th Project SEED Poster Session at the Atrium of the Van Nuys Medical Sciences building at the Indiana University School of Medicine on July 26, 2012.  Joining the Indianapolis program was the inaugural program of the Purdue Project SEED at Purdue University.  A roster of interns, research projects and program details are available at this link.  

About Project SEED

Since 1973 Project SEED has served over 600 interns.  The 2012 Program was a phenomenal success and program students are now reporting outstanding scholarship offers and college acceptances to great schools here in the State of Indiana,  the Ivy League, MIT, Stanford, Johns Hopkins and others.  

The 2012 student interns had a productive fall semester.  On October 6, the students put on hands-on science projects for grade school children at Celebrate Science Indiana event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.   On October 15, many SEED students presented their research with college students and industry professionals at Martin University for the 14^thAnnual Poster Session of the American Chemical Society Indiana Section.  The event drew together one of the largest assortments of industry leaders.  

On February 23 SEED students have been invited to participate in the Indiana Physiological Society 3^rd annual poster session. 

Program Basics:  Students are accepted into the program based on their high school grade transcripts (one year of chemistry is mandatory), written essays, and teacher recommendations.  Those who meet the income guidelines of the A.C.S. National SEED Committee are provided a stipend during the summer; $2,500 for Summer I or $3,000 for returning Summer II participants.  In Indianapolis, other qualified students who do not meet the economic requirements are accepted into our local program (the Indiana A. C. S. Summer Research Program) and can receive a small honorarium in appreciation of their research contributions.  Through an interview process, students are matched with research preceptors who host and mentor them in their labs.  As a training ground for future careers, it is a full time experience for the students, Monday-Friday, 8 hours a day.

 History.  Project SEED was established in 1968 by the American Chemical Society as a means to provide students the opportunity to explore a career in science. The Indianapolis Program started in 1972 with Professor Edwin Harper (retired) of the Indiana University School of Medicine as an educational outreach of the Indiana Section of the ACS.  In addition to ACS membership professionals, many local companies have supported the Indianapolis SEED program over the years, especially Eli Lilly & Co., Dow Agro, Mays Chemical, AIT Laboratories and recently, the Indiana CTSI – Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

Thank you, CTSI.  The Indianapolis Project SEED program is very thankful to the Indiana CTSI for its support for the future scientists who intern with the program since 2009.  The research consortium under the leadership of Dr. Anantha Shekhar (MD, PhD) is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and supports many scientific research efforts across the state of Indiana.  The Institute's Director of Finance, Lisa Dinsmore has also joined the advisory Project SEED Committee .  Their support for Project SEED is in collaboration with other K-12 education outreach efforts with Dr. Kim Nguyen, Director of UCASE Operations at the IUPUI School of Education who also serves on the Committee.

 The Indiana CTSI is funded in part by an award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and operates as a partnership of the IU School of Medicine, IU-Bloomington, IUPUI, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame. The overarching goal of the Indiana CTSI is to improve the health of people throughout the state of Indiana by supporting research, education and community outreach.

We welcome your support!

Project SEED cannot operate without the generosity from individuals and companies that support these young scientists-in-training.  Are you able to financially support the program?   You can find more information by clicking the Donate tab at the top of this page.   There are also many ways in which you can volunteer your time to help this program.  Each year, Committee volunteers and local scientists and their lab colleagues who do not receive any monetary support from Project SEED volunteer countless hours to provide this amazing educational experience to these young scientists-in-training.  

Thank you sponsors!

Project SEED embodies the spirit of volunteerism and community support.  The 2011 program volunteers registered over 15,000 hours of public service. Each one of our contributors – whether individual or corporate – is indispensable to the success of the program.

We are thankful to Dean Simon Rhodes and the entire faculty of the IUPUI School of Science who partner with the Indiana Section of the American Chemical Society in providing a geographical and an administrative support center for Project SEED.  In addition to their financial support and the volunteer mentorship of so many of their research professors, they also help with the administration of a scholarship for students who have participated in this outstanding research program.   Dr. Jeffrey Watt, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Outreach, along with Dr. Kathy Marrs, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs provide grant support for the program.  Anne Marie Chastain, Executive Director of Development and External Affairs, coordinates with the IU Foundation to facilitate donations to the Indianapolis Project SEED Fund (click here) .  Joe Thompson, Amelia Miller, Natalie Mazanowski and Jonathan Berg from the Office of the Dean every year provide administrative support to not only to the students in the summer research program but also to those who continue their studies at IUPUI.   

Lastly, our program is forever grateful to the leadership of James ‘Jim’ McAteer (PhD) and Rosanne 'Rosie' Bonjouklian (PhD) who have each served the program over 30 years and counting.  Dr. McAteer, Professor of Anatomy from the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, recruits, trains, and coordinates the contribution of our talented research professionals who volunteer their time in mentoring the students we serve.

Dr. Bonjouklian hosted students in her research lab before she retired as a Medicinal Chemist from Eli Lilly & Co.  She has had a lifelong distinguished career of public service - from her early days in Africa with the Peace Corps, to serving Project SEED in many capacities over the years.  Most significantly, she established the Project SEED Scholarship with the IUPUI School of Science, enabling our program to serve students beyond their summer research experience into their college education and professional training.

And to the many research scientists from the IU School of Medicine, the IUPUI School of Science, and other IUPUI Schools, to the many other individuals not mentioned by name - but whose contributions nonetheless are indispensable to the success of our program - we offer our most sincere gratitude.  Thank YOU!