High School
2023 MERITS Program is now OPEN!
NEWS FLASH!!!! We have extended our application due date – see below!!
Also, new this year, we are pleased to announce additional support will be provided by the NSF EPSCoR Maine-eDNA Project
APPLICATION DUE DATE IS NOW JANUARY 31, 2023
Our Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) Program provides summer (six weeks) research opportunities to Maine high school juniors in host institutions across the state. Students who are interested in STEM fields and would like to experience “real-time” applications of STEM in a research-focused work world conducting research and technology development should apply.
Due to potential COVID-19 restrictions, internships may either be in-person or virtual/remote and will be dependent on host organization’s ability to accommodate either scenario.
Our MERITS interns are paid a stipend for their six-week summer research experience.
Students must be U.S citizens, residents of Maine and must be enrolled at a Maine school to apply to this program.
Download 2023 MERITS Student application form and the 2023 MERITS Student Flyer NEW – check out our NEW program flyer!
For TEACHERS:
MERITS Teacher Recommendation Form
We thank our host participants for many years of continued support of our program! Below is a list of some host organizations who have participated in our program since 2008, when we took the program under our wing!
List of MERITS host participants since 2008
SAMPLES of final reports from past students:
Past MERITS Classes
Class of 2022
Class of 2021 – Virtual, no group photo
Class of 2020 – Program was cancelled
Class of 2019

Class of 2018
Class of 2017

Class of 2016

Class of 2015
Class of 2012
Class of 2011
Class of 2010
Class of 2009