9 Free Neuroscience Programs for High School Students
Interested in the human brain and its functioning? For students in high school who would like to explore neuroscience, there are many programs and opportunities to explore. Participating in neuroscience programs during high school is an excellent opportunity to get a headstart in your STEM education.
Fully funded programs, such as the ones in this list, tend to be more selective than paid ones, which means they are a good marker of your ability for college admissions. These programs not only expose you to cutting-edge research but also prove to the admissions committee that you are skilled and committed to neuroscience. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Here’s our list of 9 free neuroscience programs for high school students!
1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation - Neuroscience Track
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall.
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Application deadline: May 17
Eligibility: All high school students for the online session, high school students from the greater Houston area for the in-person session
Program dates: TBA. Two sessions were offered in the past:
August 3 – August 4
July 13 OR July 14
Location: In-person in the Greater Houston area and virtual
Fee: Free
This free neuroscience camp provides a two-day immersive experience to introduce students to the field. This program is designed with a three-part focus: you will gain hands-on research skills through lab experiments, receive mentorship through sessions on university life and career paths, and dive into advanced topics like computational neuroscience and the philosophy of mind. Whether you are a beginner or just curious, no prior experience is necessary to join.
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility:
in-person program is open to high school juniors and seniors from Baltimore City public schools
virtual program is open to high school juniors and seniors across the United States
Program dates: June – August
Location: John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD or virtual
Fee: Free. In-person interns will be paid an hourly wage and receive transportation funds. Virtual interns on completion of the internship will receive a $500 scholarship to support their education
This internship was started to provide students from underrepresented backgrounds an opportunity to explore the field of neurological sciences. As an intern, you will be paired with a scientist to work on a specialized project and take part in clinical rotations alongside neurologists at John Hopkins. The program features seminars and weekly professional development sessions. The admission process is competitive, as only 5-6 students are selected per cohort. In-person interns will work for 8 weeks, attending scientific seminars, being mentored by JHU faculty, and presenting their findings in a poster session. Virtual internships last 5 weeks and include educational presentations and learning basic lab techniques that will serve you well in future research opportunities.
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older
Program dates: June 9 – July 31
Location: Stanford Medicine, Stanford, CA
Fee: Free. Students receive a stipend
The SIMR program gives students the opportunity to collaborate with Stanford faculty on medicine and biological sciences projects. You will attend lectures three times a week in the mornings and spend the remainder of your time conducting lab work. For students interested in neuroscience, the neurobiology research track is a good option. The program aims to increase students’ interest in biological sciences and medicine as well as help students understand how research is undertaken.
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students
Program dates: June 17 – August 9
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Fee: $1,500 for research projects (financial aid available); free for non-research projects
This program’s main aim is to increase awareness of computational science, but a number of its available projects are focused on studying neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, autism, etc. In this 8-week volunteer program you will be exposed to career options, hands-on computational experience, and one-on-one mentorship by research scientists. You are also expected to participate regularly in lab meetings and group discussions. While admissions for this year is over, applications will open again in the second week of February.
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 15 years old, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and live in North Carolina within commuting distance of campus
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: Free, stipend provided
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
The Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE) is an immersive summer program held at Duke University for high school students interested in neuroscience research. You will work in neuroscience labs, where you will gain hands-on research experience while being mentored by scientists. The program includes workshops covering college application strategies, effective scientific communication, and career options in neuroscience. DUNE concludes with a poster session, where you will present your research project to peers and mentors.
Application deadline: Applications will open in early January
Eligibility: High school students who will be 16 years of age or older by the start date of the internship
Program dates: Usually in the third week of July for six weeks
Location: Max Planck Florida Insitute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Fee: Free, students receive an hourly stipend of $12.50
The non-profit organization Max Planck Society or MPFI runs this internship which focuses on immersive lab experience. The 6-week internship is for students who have an interest in learning about brain structures, their functions and development, and the advanced imaging techniques and technologies used in neuroscience. By the end of the internship, you will have written a scientific abstract and delivered a presentation of your research topic. Keep an eye on their website for the next cycle of applications.
Application deadline: Registration opens on December 1. Join their email list to be notified when registration opens
Eligibility: Students from grades 6 to 12
Program dates: TBA
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Fee: While they have a fee of $2,195, they also provide need-based scholarships
UCI’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory hosts a yearly camp that provides an introductory neuroscience experience for middle and high school students. For two weeks, you will attend lectures on topics such as neuropathology and brain-machine interfaces, engage in lab work involving electrophysiology, and participate in hands-on workshops focused on design and data analysis. This camp blends psychology with neuroscience and is beneficial for those with a broader interest in the subject. While the program has a fee, it offers need-based scholarships on a rolling basis. You can go to their website to find more information.
Application deadline: Applications will open on December 1
Eligibility: Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who have completed a year of high school biology and chemistry and have a minimum GPA of 3.3
Program dates: July 5 – July 26
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Fee: $9,700; however, students attending a City of Philadelphia public high school or charter high school may attend free of charge through the Penn Summer Scholarship
UPenn’s residential program offers a solid introduction to neuroscience through a mix of lectures, journal clubs, lab work, and field trips to museums and research institutes. Here students will explore a wide range of topics, from the cellular makeup of neurons to complex cognitive processes like memory, emotion, and morality. A selling point of this program is its neuroethics club, where students are expected to actively engage in discussions and debates on pressing ethical issues within neuroscience. While there is a fee, the program provides need-based scholarships to ensure that financial limitations don’t hold back 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.