Duke-Marshall STAR Program Partnership

Duke University-Marshall University STAR Program Partnership

West Virginia needs physicians, scientists, and health care professionals who understand the communities we serve. Recognizing this need, the Duke-Marshall University STAR Partnership Program will introduce West Virginia high school students to mentorship and training in high-quality clinical research beginning in summer 2027. As an extension of the Summer Training in Academic Research Program (STAR), this inaugural cohort will be based at Marshall Health Network sites in Huntington, Point Pleasant, and Logan, West Virginia. The 2027 Marshall program will be a vibrant summer community of four trainees and four or more core faculty from Marshall University.

The partnership is designed to provide West Virginia high school students with meaningful exposure to biomedical research, strengthen their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and health professions, and enhance the pipeline of future physicians, scientists, and health care professionals. Students will undertake rigorous didactics in high-quality research methods and medical writing through short courses and small group sessions. Additional instruction will cover professional development topics. Through a mix of didactic and hands-on research experiences, students will develop a deeper understanding of the research process and gain communication and presentation skills.

*Students will receive a stipend for participation in the program.

Eligibility

Please note that for the 2027 program, eligible applicants for the Duke-Marshall partnership are:

  • Rising 11th- or 12th-grade high school students in West Virginia, or
  • Students who are homeschooled in West Virginia at the 11th- or 12th-grade level. 

Due Dates, Links, and Contacts

Application Due Date: XXX

Contact: XXX

Please submit the following:

  • Completed application for high school students (use the button below).
  • School transcript.
  • Two letters of recommendation provided by nonrelatives. Letters are to be submitted by the person who wrote the letter by the application deadline (use the button below).
  • Essay: “What I want to be, and how I’m going to make it happen” (300- to 500-word limit).

The application cycle is not yet open. Please check back in fall 2026.

Additional Contacts

Other students: Please see the STAR Program main page