The Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) is a nonprofit research mentorship program for high school students in grades 9–12. Based in Fremont, California, ASDRP offers hands-on research experience across chemistry, biochemistry, physics, biological sciences, computer science, engineering, biomedical research, and astrophysics. No prior research experience is required.
Students work with mentors on original research projects, typically in evenings and on weekends during the school year, or full-time during the summer. Students local to the Bay Area attend in person; those elsewhere may participate remotely. ASDRP receives applications from students across the Bay Area, California, and other US states.
The published program fee is $1,070 per semester. Partial and full need-based scholarships are published, but the Spring and Summer 2027 forms exclude both international students and students outside California from financial assistance. Participation outside California, including remote work, does not establish aid eligibility. Applicants seeking aid complete a separate form after the program application: the Spring form says aid applications close one day after program applications, while the Summer form requires aid by the same priority deadline used for the program application. No additional cutoff hour is stated.
Calendar checked November 4, 2026: the official About page labels its schedule Academic Year 2026–2027. Together with the linked Spring 2027 form and Summer 2027 form, it supports the Spring and Summer dates above. The Apply page gives Summer opening October 21, while About gives October 15; the exact opening date remains uncertain. April 15 is called Applications Due in the deadline panel and priority round 3 in the timelines, so a separate later final date is not assumed.
Fall 2027 is not separately announced in these sources. Its prior catalog dates are qualified only as unverified history in the notes. The general Fall schedules also differ on opening (May 15 versus May 1) and priority cutoff (July 1 versus July 15); these recurring schedules are not rolled forward into a confirmed Fall 2027 cycle. Continuing researchers need not reapply unless they leave for a term.