10 Best Research Mentorship Programs for High School Students
- Dhvani Thakkar
- Nov 17, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 25
If you're a high school student interested in enhancing your college application profile by engaging in advanced coursework, consider a research mentorship program! In this blog, we've covered 10 of the best research mentorship programs for high school students, including STEM research mentorship programs, free research mentorship programs, and online research mentorship programs for high school students!
How did we choose the best research mentorship programs?
To identify the best research mentorship programs for high schoolers, we looked for programs that gave students one-on-one guidance from advisors.
These programs give students access to university faculty and have a demanding schedule, making them academically rigorous.
The acceptance rate for some of these programs is as low as 5%. Participating in such a selective program can be a great addition to your college application profile.
Why should I do a research mentorship program in high school?
Doing a research mentorship program in high school comes with many benefits, some of which are summarized below!
TLDR;
Programs from Ivy Leagues and other top colleges
Build relationships with the best minds in research
Programs in artificial intelligence, media, STEM, & more
In-person and online options
Opportunities for students from all over the world
Opportunities to receive stipends
Here are the 10 best research mentorship programs for high school students! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research mentorship program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. This research mentorship program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: New York
Cost: Free
Application deadline: December 9
Program dates: 2 years for sophomores,1 year for juniors (6-7 weeks of mentorship, July - August)
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school sophomores and juniors nominated by their high school teachers
Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops, and commercializes medicines for people with serious diseases. They facilitate a high school mentorship program to encourage high school students to conduct scientific research. This program aims to give students an opportunity to work with Regeneron scientists both inside and outside the lab to develop their scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills. If you’re intrigued by industrial medicine innovation, do check out this program.
3. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: On a rolling basis.
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort
Program selectivity: Moderately selective
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here.
Subject areas: Astrophysics
Location: Harvard or MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free; stipend paid by City of Cambridge
Application deadline: May
Program dates: September - May (year-long)
Program selectivity: Extremely high
Eligibility: Applicants must be local high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This program runs through the school year and gives students the opportunity to work alongside astrophysicists and climate scientists on the Harvard and MIT campuses. It includes monthly workshops with the director and guest lecturers and an end-of-the-year symposium where students present their research in talks at Harvard.
Subject areas: Chemical research
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Application deadline: May 1
Program dates: June 20th - July 1st
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be over the age of 16 by the start of the program. U.S. citizens and permanent residents - particularly women and under-represented minorities - are encouraged to apply.
This program is hosted annually by the chemistry department at Stanford University and aims to provide high school students with access to chemical research. As a participant, you will shadow a graduate student mentor as they work in the laboratory. Women and under-represented minorities interested in the sciences are encouraged to apply!
Subject areas: Research & Innovation
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free; receive funding up to $1,000
Application deadline: January 1
Program dates: ~6 months
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time high school students & must have permanent U.S. residency during the academic year. U.S. citizenship is not required.
Rather than requiring students to have completed a research project before applying, THINK caters to students who have done extensive research on the background of a potential research project and are looking for additional guidance in the early stages of their project. The program is organized by a group of undergraduates at MIT. It seeks proposals in the fields of science, technology, and engineering, including green technologies and practical devices for software applications. If you have experience in research, this program would be a great fit for you.
Subject areas: 24 fields (e.g., biology, economics, engineering, mathematics, etc.)
Location: Mix of virtual and in-person
Cost: $4,700 (commuter option), $6,599 (residential option)
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: June 20 - August 4
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Applicants must currently be a high school sophomore or junior (outstanding 9th graders accepted on a case-by-case basis)
UC Santa Barbara holds a summer program each year that provides students with research opportunities. In the program, students spend 30-40 hours per week working with their research mentor and building a research presentation. The program also provides university credit with two additional courses—Research Presentation Techniques and Introduction to Research. This program is unique because it allows students to explore various interdisciplinary research topics and then rank projects they would like to work on. All students choose a research mentor (graduate student, postdoc, or faculty) to conduct university-level research with.
Subject areas: Ecology
Location: Wave Hill, Bronx, NY
Cost: Receive $3,900 as compensation for the 14-month program. Other benefits include earning 9 college credits and 30 hours of community service
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: June - August of the next year
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: High school student, 16 years old by June 15, and a New York City resident eligible to work in the United States.
This 14-month program offers high school students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of ecology and participate in fieldwork and science research. You will also contribute to local efforts by participating in field research with local scientists and restoration practitioners. If you're looking to work in the grassroots of ecological New York, this program is for you.
Subject areas: Engineering & Natural Sciences
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 23
Program dates: 5-6 weeks over the summer
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students between the ages of 16-18
The Laboratory Learning Program is a full-time research experience in the sciences or engineering where students participate in ongoing research projects. This program ensures that students are closely supervised by Princeton faculty and research staff. Each research opportunity has its own schedule. Please note that this research mentorship program is not a summer camp; students who are accepted will have to find their own housing.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No application cost, stipend of $750 provided.
Application deadline: TBD
Program Dates: 7 weeks, typically from mid-June to August.
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years of age
This well-regarded research program accepts only 12 students per year, with an acceptance rate of less than 3%. Selected students receive guidance from faculty while working on one of seven research areas. Subject areas offered include nutritional science, computer science, mechanical engineering, and history. This prestigious program can make a great addition to your college application. Read our in-depth review of applying for this program.
Are you looking for more programs? Here are some of our blogs like 15 best free summer programs for high school students and 15 Virtual Research Opportunities for High School Students.
Dhvani (the-one-e) is a program manager at Lumiere, in addition to being an entrepreneur, dialogue facilitator, and boxer. She graduated from UC Davis where she studied Design, Psychology, and Sustained Dialogue. She has a passion for all things education, inclusion, and empowerment!
