Schiff Family Science Research Institute

Our students don't have to wait until college or graduate school to find out what it's like to work in a professional lab. At The Summit, real-world research with working scientists happens during high school.  

Upper School students in the program spend eight weeks in the summer working with a professional researcher. Then they write up their research in scientific journal style, develop their scientific poster and perfect their oral presentation of their work. Some of their posters and presentations have gone on to win prestigious awards.   

 Our Science Research Institute is unique to Cincinnati. Biochemist Jessica Sakash Replogle, Ph.D., leads the program through three sequentially tiered classes and work in research labs. She builds on the foundation of Middle and Upper School science courses to give students a head start when it comes to scientific literacy and laboratory experience. College professors have remarked at how well prepared these institute students are in operating in a higher education laboratory setting. 

 At The Summit, this is part of how we are turning out scientists. Your teen could be the next to have the chance to author or co-author a scientific, peer-reviewed journal article. Some students have earned full U.S. Patents on their research projects.   

 We accept up to 14 juniors in this highly competitive program. We evaluate applications based on good character, motivation, scientific pursuits outside the classroom, academic performance, work ethic and emotional intelligence. We do not necessarily admit applicants with the longest resume or highest test scores. We take a holistic approach. 

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Jessica Sakash Replogle, Ph.D. is the head of the Schiff Family Science Research Institute. Dr. Replogle received a doctorate in biochemistry from Boston College and bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from University of New Hampshire. She has been published in numerous professional, scientific journals from her work at Boston College and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. 

Learn more

SRI Blog

teen working in research lab
Selena Xie explores how smartphone color analysis might aid in data collection

Senior Selena Xie had an opportunity this summer to join researchers in the University of Cincinnati's Chemistry Department in a project regarding color detection using smartphones. Selena's experience is part of the curriculum in The Summit Country Day School's Schiff Family Science Research Institute.

teen wearing orange vest and safety helmet stands outside water treatment plant
Larkin Woodward explores how PFAS might be removed from water

Senior Larkin Woodard had an internship this summer with Brown and Caldwell, an environmental engineering firm, where he explored how PFAS conceivably could be removed during the water treatment process. Larkin's experience is part of the curriculum in The Summit's Schiff Family Science Research Institute. 

teen working in professional materials lab
Leo Schrantz gets real-life research experience in aerospace materials lab

Senior Leo Schrantz had the opportunity this summer to intern at Renegade Materials, a company that manufactures materials for aerospace applications. Leo developed a calculus-based Excel program that verifies the cure cycles in ovens. Leo's experience is part of the curriculum in The Summit Country Day School's Schiff Family Science Research Institute.

teen boy stands in front of streetcar in downtown Cincinnati
Evan Mescher examines traffic engineering research for specific intersection

Senior Evan Mescher's had the opportunity this summer to research traffic patterns at Madison and Grandin Roads during an internship with the traffic engineering firm, Illumine Transportation. Evan's experience is part of the curriculum in The Summit Country Day School's Schiff Family Science Research Institute.

teen sits at table using laptop
Anna Reineck analyzes impact of diet rich in fruits and vegetables

Senior Anna Reineck had the opportunity to join a research project at the University of Cincinnati's Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. She analyzed participants’ intake of added sugar from before and after dietary intervention. Anna's experience is part of the curriculum at The Summit Country Day School's Schiff Family Science Research Institute.

girl smiling at computer
Ana Leyendecker studies health literacy and numeracy in Type 1 diabetics  

Senior Ana Leyendecker's summer internship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital involved discovery of how different demographic factors affected levels of health literacy and numeracy in Type 1 diabetes patients and guardians of patients. Her experience is part of the curriculum in The Summit Country Day School's Schiff Family Science Research Institute.