If you’re a high school student interested in going beyond classroom learning, you should consider applying to a summer research program. Having research experience can be a significant point of differentiation in your college applications, and participating in one at a prestigious university can improve your chances even more.

Summer research programs give you useful experience while allowing you to work on research projects with mentorship. These opportunities are highly selective and geared towards talented high schoolers like you! 

To help you get started, we have compiled a list of the 15 best summer research programs for high schoolers interested in various fields!

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research 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. The 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.

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!

2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase 

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. 

Location: Virtual

Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).

Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.

Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.

3. NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)

The NYU ARISE program, hosted by the Tandon School of Engineering, is a tuition-free program that introduces you to research in fields such as biomedical engineering, civil and urban engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering. The program begins with four weeks of remote workshops in June, followed by six weeks of lab work. In addition to developing research skills, you will receive training in presentation skills and public speaking. This research program concludes with a colloquium, where you will present your research findings. Check out this ultimate guide to NYU ARISE!

Location: New York University campus

Cost: Free; $750 stipend provided 

Application deadline: March 6

Program dates: June 3 – August 9

Eligibility: New York City high school students currently enrolled in the 10th or 11th grade

4. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program

This 7-week program gives high school students the opportunity to undertake research in a variety of disciplines, ranging from science and math to engineering. Students can join research teams, collaborate with faculty members, learn about laboratory equipment and methodologies, and experience life at a research university.

Location: Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY)

Cost/stipend: The program offers a stipend, but the amount is unknown.

Application deadline: February

Program dates: June 26 - August 11

Eligibility: Applicants must belong to high schools that are enrolled in the partner database and must be nominated by their schools. Applicants should be at least 16 years of age, U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

5. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

Participants in the Clark Scholars Program work closely with Texas Tech's faculty. This engagement in a research setting over a seven-week period is a cornerstone of the program. The program is further enriched with weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. Selection for the program is highly competitive and is based on academic achievements, teacher recommendations, and clearly defined career objectives. In 2019, the average SAT score of the 12 selected participants was in the 99th percentile, highlighting the program's. For a deep dive into this program, check out this article!

Location: Texas Tech University

Cost: Free

Application deadline: February 15 

Program dates: June 16 to August 1

Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate in the next two years. International students are eligible to apply.

6. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program

If you're selected for this program, you will spend about 35 hours per week for 6-7 weeks at the RockEDU Laboratory at Rockefeller University, working on hands-on research in the field of biomedicine. The is an excellent learning opportunity since Rockefeller is the oldest biomedical research institute in the United States and attracts top talent for research. This program provides need-based stipends.

Cost: Stipend provided

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY

Application deadline: January 6

Program dates: June 26 – August 10

Eligibility: Juniors and Seniors currently in high school; should be at least 17 years of age.

7. Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program

The HOPP Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) is an eight-week internship focusing on biomedical and computational research. Areas of research include cancer biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, computational genetics, engineering, immunology, pharmacology, and structural biology. Each student is matched with a mentor who guides them through the internship. In addition to their project work, interns actively participate in laboratory meetings and program sessions, which offer exposure to the diverse professionals within their assigned labs and the larger MSKCC community. 

Stipend: $1,200

Location: Upper East Side Manhattan, New York City, NY

Application Deadline: Applications close in February.

Program Dates: June 27 – August 22 

Eligibility: Open to high schoolers (must have completed 9th grade) with a 3.5 GPA in science subjects. Must be 14 or older by June. Students accepted must commit to working 40 hours per week.

8. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of Navy

This is a prestigious, research-focused apprenticeship program that gives high school students the chance to work in Department of Navy laboratories across the country. With approximately 300 placements across over 38 laboratories nationwide, SEAP is fairly competitive. In this program, you will work with top researchers and engineers at Navy facilities on actual Naval research, while being mentored by expert Navy scientists and engineers. While working on projects hands-on, you will gain valuable knowledge and skills in various STEM disciplines, including engineering, physics, chemistry, and more. Your lab choice is based on your subject of interest. 

Location: Varies based on lab locations.

Application Deadline: Applications open in August and close on November 1 every year. Program Dates: June-August (8 weeks)

Eligibility:  High school students who are at least 16 years old, have completed Grade 9, and are U.S. citizens can apply.

Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) | $4,500 (returning participants)

9. MIT's Women’s Technology Program (WTP)

MIT's Women's Technology Program (WTP) is an intensive four-week summer academic experience introducing high school students to engineering through hands-on classes, labs, and team projects after 11th grade. The program is completely free with a mechanical engineering focus and looks to empower students with limited STEM access. You can expect to be introduced to topics such as fluid mechanics, statics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and engineering design. The program is designed and taught by graduate students and assisted by undergraduate students at MIT. 

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus

Cost: None

Program Dates: June 29 to July 26

Application Deadline: January 22 

Eligibility: Female-identifying 11th-grade students

10. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) – Haas School of Business, University of California (Berkeley)

This two-week course at UC Berkeley allows students to familiarize themselves with teamwork, communications, presentations, creating a business plan, and research methods in a highly selective cohort of only 50 students. In addition to the program, students will also attend guest lectures, engage in social activities, and work in teams to create a business plan that they will present at the end of the course. As part of the program, they will also be able to interact with other UC Berkeley students. 

Location: University of California (Berkeley) campus 

Cost: California resident tuition: $6,050; Out-of-state resident tuition: $7,050

Program Dates: Session I: July 6 – July 20; Session II: July 20 – August 3

Application deadline: March 15

Eligibility: High school students

11. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) 

SIMR lets high school students with diverse experiences, interests, and backgrounds engage in research alongside Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers. The program aims to boost interest in biological sciences and medicine among high school students and provides insight into the process of scientific research. Each year, about 50 students are accepted and participants are given a minimum stipend of $500. Participants are also allowed to choose from 8 research areas within the program. 

Location: Stanford University campus

Cost: $40 application fee

Program Dates: June 10 to August 1

Application Deadline: February 24

Eligibility: Students must currently be juniors or seniors at the time of application, be 16 years old or older by the start of the program, must currently be living in and attending school in the U.S., and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

12. Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Computer Science Scholars Program

CS Scholars (CSS), part of the CS Pathways initiative, is a fully funded, 4-week immersive program at CMU for rising high school juniors. Led by Carnegie Mellon faculty and researchers, it offers college-level courses, college prep seminars, and Python programming. In this program, you can expect to learn algorithmic components, basic data structures and computational skills. Students will engage in a group project addressing real-world challenges using computer science and present their work at the end of the program. Beyond the program, students will get to interact with CMU faculty and industry leaders in the field of computer science. 

Location: Carnegie Mellon campus

Cost: None

Program Dates: June 22 to July 20

Application Deadline: March 1

Eligibility: Students must be 16 years old by the program start date, be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient, and be a sophomore in high school at the time of application submission.

13. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)

The prestigious Spark Summer Internship Program matches high school students with industry experts, professors, and community leaders to work on projects with their mentors. As part of the program, students take on research projects through their internship for a period of 8-12 weeks. In the new model that the program is adopting in 2024, the mentors will choose their preferred candidates for the internship and guide them through their research work. The program focuses on various STEM fields and prepares students for a potential career in scientific research. 

Location: Depends on internship provider

Cost: To be announced

Program Dates: To be announced

Application Deadline: April (tentatively, based on previous years)

Eligibility: You must be in grades 9-12 and be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

14. Research Science Institute (RSI)

RSI provides students with a summer research initiative that is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and hosted at MIT. During this 6-week program, students participate in intensive STEM courses while working on their research projects. You will have the opportunity to work under esteemed scientists and get a hands-on understanding of the various components of a usual research cycle. You will also create a research project that you have the opportunity to present and publish at the end of the program.

Location: MIT campus

Cost: None

Program Dates: June 23 to August 3

Application Deadline: December 13

Eligibility: Current 11th grade students

15. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) at The University of Chicago

RIBS is a rigorous pre-college summer initiative designed to introduce students to diverse research methods in molecular biology, microbiology, and cellular biology. The primary focus of the program is hands-on lab work and projects, although they are supplemented by lectures that are included in the curriculum. At the end of the program, students have the opportunity to present their individual projects.

Location: The University of Chicago campus

Cost: $14,000

Program Dates: June 15 to July 13

Application Deadline: January 18

Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th grade students

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image Source: University of Chicago logo