2025 KEYS Research Internship kicks off with record-breaking cohort
Sixty-five Arizona high school students begin a summer of intensive research across Tucson, Phoenix and online.
Six interns are part of the inaugural Phoenix cohort for the 2025 KEYS Research Internship.
The 2025 KEYS Research Internship at the University of Arizona BIO5 Institute officially launched on June 2, welcoming the program’s largest cohort yet with 65 exceptional high school students from across the state. These future scientists are beginning their summer immersed in real-world research alongside University of Arizona researchers.
This year’s KEYS (Keep Engaging Youth in Science) program includes 50 students based at the Tucson campus and nine participating virtually. A new and exciting addition is the inaugural Phoenix cohort, with six students working in labs at the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix. This expansion marks a major step forward in offering hands-on bioscience research opportunities in Arizona’s largest metro area.
“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome the largest KEYS cohort in the program’s history, and for the first time, to expand the in-person experience to students in Maricopa County,” said Vignesh Subbian, interim director of the BIO5 Institute. “This milestone growth is a reflection of our shared commitment to STEM education and research workforce development across Arizona. I’m especially grateful to our BIO5 members and U of A faculty for serving as mentors and whose dedication to research training is helping shape the next generation of biomedical scientists and innovators.”
A record-breaking year
This year’s program saw record interest, with over 400 applications submitted in the two-week application period in late 2024. Students from 34 Arizona high schools were then matched with 54 research labs across the Tucson campus in record time, thanks to the many scientists who welcomed these students into their labs.
In Phoenix, staff partnered with local high schools, the Phoenix Biomedical Core, and the College of Medicine – Phoenix to create a pilot program tailored to the city’s students.
The six interns in Phoenix received hands-on biotechnology training at the Phoenix Biomedical Core.
The six interns in this cohort receive in-person training and are fully integrated into the KEYS community. Their research projects span topics such as cardiovascular health, microbiology, and neuroscience, with mentorship from six faculty members.
The 2025 cohort includes 54 juniors, seven seniors, and four sophomores representing 12 Arizona communities, including Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Oro Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Sahuarita, Scottsdale, Tucson, and Vail. Approximately 26% of this year’s interns come from underserved or under-resourced communities. The BIO5 Institute is committed to fostering inclusive excellence and expanding access to research opportunities for all students, ensuring that learners from every background have the support and inspiration needed to thrive and contribute to Arizona’s future.
Training tomorrow’s innovators
The program begins with an intensive research training week designed to build foundational skills in biotechnology, data science, and professional communication.
Many students are stepping into a lab for the first time, and the KEYS team provides hands-on instruction and support to prepare them for success. Interns then meet with their mentors at an informal lunch before beginning their six weeks of research on June 9.
Interns conducting in-person research connected with their mentors at an informal lunch on both the Tucson and Phoenix campuses.
Along with their individual scientific projects, interns will come together each week for science seminars and social activities that showcase the breadth of research at the University of Arizona and help build a supportive community of curious, like-minded peers.
Celebrate and support student research
All interns will present their research at the KEYS Research and Innovation Showcase on July 18 at the Health Sciences Innovation Building in Tucson. This event is free and open to the public. Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to attend and celebrate the students’ achievements.
KEYS thrives thanks to the generous support of donors across Arizona. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who helps fund tuition, financial aid, KEYS Crew, and overall programming. If you’re interested in making a difference for future KEYS interns, visit https://keys.arizona.edu/give.
Photos from the KEYS 2025 Training Week
The week starts with an orientation focused on what the KEYS interns can expect in their in-person and virtual labs.
In-person KEYS interns at the Tucson and Phoenix campuses learn fundamental biotechnology training techniques to set them up for success once they are placed in their labs.
Part of the research training involved learning bioinformatics and fundamental data science techniques.
In-person interns had the opportunity to meet their research mentors for the first time during KEYS training week.
All 50 in-person interns met their mentors for the first time at a lunch hosted by the BIO5 Institute on the University of Arizona Tucson campus.
Nine virtual interns participated in the KEYS training week.
KEYS faculty instructor Uwe Hilgert explains laboratory equipment to the six Phoenix interns at the downtown Phoenix Biomedical Campus.
Interns are placed in several small crews led by a peer mentor to help them navigate their internship experience.