APS Foundation Grant increases access for KEYS 2026
One of Arizona’s premier research workforce development programs increases accessibility for students across the state by providing housing for those who need it most.
Deanna Sanchez, BIO5 Institute
As biosciences become a larger and more vital part of Arizona’s diversifying economy, it’s more important than ever to have a highly skilled workforce in the state.
The BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship is a unique opportunity for Arizona high school students to gain real-world, in-depth training in the labs of University of Arizona researchers over a seven-week intensive summer program, preparing them for exactly these positions.
The program is open to students from all over the state, but students from communities that are further from University of Arizona campuses have often faced barriers to participation due to lack of housing.
Thanks to support from the APS Foundation, next year’s program (its 20th anniversary) will be more accessible than ever with free dorm space available to students from non-metro areas, opening the program and career path to a more regionally diverse group of students.
“The APS Foundation believes that investing in STEM education is investing in Arizona’s future,” said Tina Marie Tentori, executive director of APS Foundation. “It is our honor to support the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship and its mission to inspire the next generation of scientists. By opening doors for Arizona students, especially from rural and underserved backgrounds, this program helps build a talented STEM workforce that will strengthen our communities for years to come.”
While housing had been available previously, this is the first time it’s returned since the pandemic.
“We are so grateful to the APS Foundation for receiving the support needed to provide campus housing to out of town students participating in KEYS,” said Kelle Hyland, KEYS program director. “This allows us to remove resource barriers and make participating in KEYS accessible for all students outside the Tucson metro areas who would not be able to participate otherwise due to housing constraints.”
Last year KEYS expanded to Phoenix with its inaugural class of six. This year, the program hopes to host students from Yuma, Douglas, Sierra Vista, and beyond.
The KEYS team has been on the road promoting the internship and housing opportunities in schools throughout Southern Arizona in advance of the December application deadline.
See how you can support the KEYS internship and help grow the next generation of Arizona’s bioscience workforce.