STARS student
STARS: Students Targeted toward Advanced Research Studies
Accelerated Degree Program
Launch your biomedical career with the STARS Accelerated Degree Program
College of Veterinary Medicine > Education > Undergraduate > Students Targeted toward Advanced Research Studies

Launch Your Biomedical Career with the STARS Program

Earn your PhD faster—start your research journey now.

The Students Targeted toward Advanced Research Studies (STARS) accelerated degree program at Washington State University is a prestigious, accelerated pathway for high-achieving junior and senior undergraduates who are passionate about biomedical research.

As a STARS student, you can earn your PhD in as little as 7 years after high school graduation.

Why choose STARS?

You’ll join a community of driven students, work alongside top faculty, and get a head start on your graduate education—all while completing your undergraduate degree.

  • Early admission to graduate school—qualify as early as your junior year
  • Dual-track progress—complete your bachelor’s degree while beginning graduate-level research
  • Personalized mentorship—work one-on-one with faculty mentors from your first year
  • Hands-on experience—rotate through at least three research labs to find your passion
  • Elite community—join a small, supportive cohort of top biomedical students from across the country

Apply to our program

Quick links

Early research opportunities mean STARS students are competitive for nationally recognized awards such as the Goldwater Scholar award and to present research at WSU and national and international conferences.

STARS graduates go on to earn advanced degrees at WSU and other top institutions, launching careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, healthcare, and beyond.

Explore your future in science.

Ready to fast-track your future in biomedical research?

Apply to become a STARS student.

The STARS Accelerated Degree Program is your opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, mentorship, and a direct path toward a PhD or dual-degree program (MD/PhD or DVM/PhD).

You’re eligible if you:

  • Are admitted to a major in the College of Veterinary Medicine (biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, microbiology, neuroscience, or public health)
  • Have four semesters remaining in your bachelor’s degree
  • Are passionate about pursuing a PhD in the biomedical sciences
  • Have previous mentored research experience

Take the next step toward your research career.

Apply
Natasha Puzon in a lab.

The STARS program was the number one reason why I came to WSU. As a senior in high school, I was excited to do research in college. WSU gave me the perfect route to getting involved in research during my freshman year, while also preparing me for graduate school on an accelerated PhD track.

Scott Stevison, PhD student in molecular biosciences

Tuition and financial resources

Group of winners from the 2025 Research Symposium.

College Research Symposium

The annual event showcases research by our undergraduate, graduate, and professional veterinary medical students, postdoctoral researchers, and veterinary residents and interns. During the symposium the college also recognizes excellence in research with a keynote address by the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence faculty recipient.

Next Research Symposium is October 2026

Learn more about the College Research Symposium

STARS stories

Meet our STARS students: Matteya Proctor

Before she ever set foot in a graduate classroom, Matteya Proctor was already deeply engaged in research through the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Students Targeted toward Advanced Research Studies (STARS) program — an accelerated undergraduate pathway designed to prepare students for advanced research careers and graduate-level study. STARS immerses students in research beginning in their first year, pairs them with faculty and peer mentors, and offers specialized coursework, seminars, and presentation opportunities within a close-knit research community.

Meet our STARS students: Scott Stevison

From the moment Scott Stevison arrived at Washington State University, he was eager to dive into research – and the STARS program gave him exactly that opportunity. Through STARS, he began working in Dr. John Wyrick’s lab during his second year, exploring DNA damage patterns at transcription factor binding sites.

Q&A with graduate student Bayley McDonald

Bayley McDonald is pursuing a doctorate in molecular biosciences while leading advanced research in the lab of Dr. Sascha H. Duttke into gene regulation with the aim of uncovering the fundamental principles that govern how genes are turned on and off. 
View all STARS stories
June morning Kamiak butte

Tours & visits

Pullman is located in the Palouse region of the Inland Northwest, homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people. The Palouse has one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the world. Rolling hills and wide-open skies give the region its distinctive appeal. Residents enjoy outdoor activities and the benefits of small town living with the cultural richness of bigger city life.

Visit Pullman
Tours & visits

Notice of Nondiscrimination – WSU does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran/military status, or immigration or citizenship status in any education program or activity that it operates complaint with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. Inquiries regarding Title IX, ADA, or other civil rights laws, as well as reports of discrimination can be directed to the Compliance and Civil Rights, WSU ADA Coordinator, or WSU Title IX Coordinator. More information on WSU’s policies and procedures to respond to discrimination and harassment are available here: Nondiscrimination statement.  

Questions about giving? Contact Lipi Turner-Rahmen or 509-335-4849.

 Support a STARS student