seed2STEM

Photo courtesy of STEMCELL Technologies

Thank you to everyone who submitted applications and project proposals. Matches for 2026 have now been confirmed.

Summer 2026 program – key dates

June 11, 4-6pm: Optional Workday consulting session for students (Zoom)
June 15, 10:30am – 1pm: supervisor and lab member pre-placement workshop (Zoom)
June 23, 10:30-12:30: How to be a great seed2STEM supervisor workshop for trainee supervisors (Zoom)
June 25: student pre-placement workshop on Zoom (open to any students who can’t attend in-person sessions)
June 29: student in-person pre-placement workshop in Vancouver
July 3: student in-person pre-placement workshop in Kelowna
July 6: First day of Summer 2026 program! Group activities (both sites)
July 7: students’ first day in labs (note: students placed in BCCRC labs will have 2 additional training days and start in their labs on July 9)
July 13, 20, 27: Group activities, Vancouver
July 20, 27, 28: Group activities, Kelowna
August 3: BC Day stat holiday
August 10: Group activities
August 14: Poster celebration and last day of program.

Details may change; please check back for updates. Please contact seed2STEM@ICORD.org or call 604-675-8830 for more information.

Are you a faculty member in a STEM field? Would you like to host a high school student from an Indigenous background in your lab next summer? See this page for full details.

Have questions?

Contact us by email (seed2STEM@icord.org) or phone (604-675-8830) / Download our 4-page program overview

STEM fields are critical in advancing health care and driving economic success in Canada, yet Indigenous representation in these skilled, well-paid positions remains disproportionately low. seed2STEM, a summer research program for Indigenous high school students in Metro Vancouver and Kelowna, aims to increase Indigenous participation in STEM by introducing Indigenous youth to STEM fields in a fun and supportive environment with paid placements and wraparound supports to ease participation barriers.

How it works: In seed2STEM, university labs host Indigenous high school students in Grade 9-12 for 6-week, paid summer research internships on a topics including neuroscience, engineering, chemistry, biology, math, physics, and other areas of STEM. Students are paid minimum wage to work 25 hours a week. In addition to their research projects, students take part in weekly research-focused group activities, learn from guest speakers (STEM professionals, Indigenous community members), and visit scientific and cultural places of interest on field trips. seed2STEM alumni who go on to undergraduate post-secondary studies at any institution are invited to return for 4-month paid research assistantships, and also act as mentors to new high school students. At the end of the program, students present their research to the research community, friends, family and teachers at a celebration symposium. Wraparound supports (transit passes, loaner laptops, some meals, youth support workers) are provided, and travel bursaries for students from remote communities are available.

L-R: Cheryl Niamath, Dean Harris, Shana George, Brian Kwon, Ken Sim, Carla George, Mackenzie Su, Corree Laule at the City of Vancouver Awards, October 2025

seed2STEM received the Leadership in Reconciliation Award from the City of Vancouver for 2025!