The Stowers Institute and the Graduate School welcomed 18 exceptional undergraduate students as the newest cohort of Stowers Summer Scholars. Rigorously selected from universities and institutes around the world, the students will spend the summer engaged in innovative research within Principal Investigator labs and Technology Centers, gaining new scientific knowledge, skills, and hands-on research experience.

The Summer Scholars Program is a challenging yet rewarding internship that introduces undergraduates to graduate level research within the Institute’s highly collaborative environment. Each scholar is matched with a Stowers scientist who will mentor and guide them through an independent research project. Designed to prepare students for graduate school, they will gain invaluable training with state-of-the-art techniques and technologies.

Over the course of eight weeks, the scholars also participate in weekly seminars led by Stowers researchers, providing exposure to a wide range of scientific fields and topics at the Institute. The program concludes with an all-Institute poster session, where scholars present their research findings to members of the Stowers community.

The program, funded by the Stowers Foundation and administered through the Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, is widely regarded as a catalyst for early-career scientists. This year’s program runs from June 2 - July 25, 2025.

List of scholars, university affiliations, and Stowers lab affiliation:

Augustin Au, University of Tulsa, OK, Zeitlinger   
Ellie Hart, University of Missouri-Wisconsin, MO, Zeitlinger 
Arturo Barazarte, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, Garruss 
Mia Stamos, Kansas University, KS, Garruss 
Emily Howell, Rockhurst University, MO, Gerton 
Meng-Ting Yeh, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, Gerton 
Sofia Grinberg, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Si  
Ailyn Vasquez Taveras, State University of New York, Stony Brook University, NY, Si 
Achuth Kartha, National Institute of Technology-Warangal, India, Li 
Jenna Kramer, University of Nebraska-Omaha, NE, Li 
Madolyn Jarrett, Purdue University, IN, Sankari 
Gino La Bella, Universidad Nacional San Martín, Argentina, Sankari 
Hana Babic, University of Sarejevo, Sarejevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sauka-Spengler 
Sienna Ficken, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO, Kostova 
Samuel Herman, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO, Özel 
Jacob Klipfel, Rockhurst University, MO, Halfmann 
Alexis Reed, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO, Zanders 
Raisa Sanaa, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, India, Mashruwala