11 Research Opportunities in Aerospace Engineering for High School Students
Aerospace engineering involves the development of aircraft and spacecraft, which may at first seem too advanced for a high school student to study. Luckily, plenty of opportunities are available if you’re interested in this field.
Most of these programs involve working with faculty in order to design an aircraft, which will require knowledge of basic aviation and related knowledge. That being said, some of these programs also accommodate students who lack prior experience, so if you are passionate about learning more, explore and apply to the programs listed below!
Here are 10 best aerospace engineering research opportunities available to ambitious high school students:
Upper-level high schoolers may have a chance to study at the Air Force Research Laboratory over the summer. If selected, you will have the opportunity to receive guidance from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers while touring AFRL laboratories and working on cutting-edge research and technology. You can expect to work on areas such as aerospace / mechanical design for morphing aircraft technology, complex electromagnetic structures, and metalens design and modeling (to name a few). These opportunities are also open to undergraduate and graduate-level students so be sure to filter for specific opportunities open to high school students. Competitive rates for stipends are available as well.
Costs: None
Eligibility:
Have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is encouraged and possess good academic standing.
Must be a US Citizen, be at least 16 years of age, and have a valid driver’s license.
Must be enrolled or accepted at an educational institution taking at least half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate for semester immediately preceding internship session.
Must be available to work full-time (40 hours per week) for summer internship positions.
Must be willing to temporarily relocate to a physical work location and arrange transportation to and from the worksite each day.
Must be able to pass a background check, such as the Secret Security Clearance.
Selectivity: High
2. Horizon
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Named after the renowned astronaut and physicist, the Sally Ride Science Academy and an initiative by UC San Diego, the Sally Ride Science Academy provides opportunities for students in grades 3-12 to experience STEM roles, such as space explorer and computer engineer. Workshops can be in-person or online and take place over four weeks. Popular workshops include iOS Programming, Messy Discoveries, and Tiny Houses, but for aerospace specifically, there is Space Out. Faculty at the University of California San Diego will be leading the program in order to ensure a fulfilling, academic experience for those who attend.
Costs: $450
Eligibility:
Entering grades 3-12
Interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Selectivity: Open
USC Viterbi's SHINE students have the chance to join a research team for seven weeks. In a team, you can discover how engineering addresses our real-world problems in various fields, including aerospace. Students will work in experimental lab work or computational research while pursuing the lab projects of cutting-edge technology. In addition, the community of SHINE is incredibly strong, as social and intellectual networking, college prep tips, and extensive experience in science communication will be provided.
Costs: $5,750, scholarships available
Eligibility:
The program is designed for freshman, sophomores and juniors.
GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale is recommended.
Throughout the duration of the program, student must be prepared to contribute at least 20 hours per week (except the July 4th and Juneteenth holidays).
Selectivity: High
Rising 10th through 12th graders can get hands-on experience in engineering at the University of Arizona. The program includes working with professors, undergraduate students, and graduate students by designing projects; learning about engineering as a career; exploring the UA campus and facilities; and networking with peers. Program details for summer 2023 are still being decided, so if you’re interested, check the website for updates.
Costs: Not mentioned. It is a good idea to contact them and ask.
Eligibility:
Open to all rising 10th–12th graders interested in learning about engineering.
Selectivity: Moderate
NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships at locations all around America. High school students located near NASA facilities can check which research facilities have open positions and have hands-on experience in subjects related to aerospace engineering.
Costs: None
Eligibility:
Must be a U.S. Citizen
Meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
Selectivity: Moderate
The Engineering Summer Camps at the University of Illinois has multiple sessions for their Aerospace Engineering program for high schoolers of all grade levels, although juniors and seniors are preferred for on-campus activities. Though many campers have some sort of experience with the aerospace field, you don’t need experience to apply. Students will learn about aerospace engineering topics including flight mechanics, aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, and more.
Costs: $1,000 for on-campus activities, $50 for virtual camp activities
Eligibility:
Open to all students from grades 9-12.
Though most of the students who attend are from the Midwest, students all over the U.S. and the world are welcome to apply.
Selectivity: Moderate
This is a nationally competitive STEM program for high school students where students work beside NASA subject matter experts. The program is focused on Earth and space research and relies on interns to assist with analyzing and visualizing data - key aspects of moving a project faster and foundational knowledge for aerospace engineering. All project teams will present their research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium. There is a virtual, learning component to the program and then an onsite experience on campus at University of Texas, Austin.
Cost: None
Eligibility:
Applicants must be sophomores or Juniors in High school.
Must be 16 by July 1, 2023, and have a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Ability to complete online requirements prior to the on-site intern program. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Selectivity: High
MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute will be offering various virtual project-based courses for academically driven students in high school. Topics can range from different engineering concepts such as Embedded Security and Hardware Hacking and Serious Game Development with AI, but for aerospace engineering in particular, there is Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing and Remote Sensing for Disaster Response. The program experience includes classes from 10am - 6pm EDT during the weekdays, along with a mix of lectures, labs, and office hours.
Costs: None
Eligibility:
Must be a student attending high school in the United States.
Program encourages interested students to be nominated or self-register to access the online course, but as a limited number of students are selected, accepted students are usually rising seniors.
Selectivity: High
Every summer, the College of Engineering at NC State University accepts passionate 11th and 12th graders to attend programs on engineering and reside in its Raleigh campus. In particular, the Look Up! Way Up! program provides classes on airfoil and aircraft performance to structures and propulsion. Students will be able to participate in wind tunnel and building labs while applying basic principles of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Ultimately, with the aid of the faculty and undergraduate students, students will build and fly a model airplane. Field trips to local airports and access to flight simulator programs are available as well.
Costs: $1,225, limited financial aid available
Eligibility:
Must be in 11th or 12th grade in fall 2023. Younger students are not able to apply.
Home-schooled students are also encouraged to apply, as are students from out of state and out of the country.
Selectivity: Very High
Among the summer camps offered by Embry-Riddle, there are many options for those interested in aerospace engineering and aviation. High schoolers that are 18 years old or younger will take a look into the world of aerospace by exploring topics of space flight, aviation maintenance, the science of flight, and more. The programs that are available are Aerospace Camp, Aerospace Career Exploration Camp, Aerospace Engineering, Air Traffic Control, Aircraft Accident Investigation, and Aviation Voyage Camp.
Costs: Varies by program, but ranges from $950 to $2,475
Eligibility:
Age range varies by program
Selectivity: Moderate
If you are passionate about STEM subjects, check out some of our other opportunities in computer science, physics and biology.
If you're looking for a real-world internship that can help boost your resume while applying to college, we recommend Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective program equipping students with virtual internship experiences at startups and nonprofits around the world!
The startups range across a variety of industries, and each student can select which field they would most love to deep dive into. This is also a great opportunity for students to explore areas they think they might be interested in, and better understand professional career opportunities in those areas. The startups are based all across the world, with the majority being in the United States, Asia and then Europe and the UK.
The fields include technology, machine learning and AI, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, media and journalism and more.
You can explore all the options here on their application form. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship - the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding you through the internship and helping you navigate the startup environment.
Cost: $1490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: April 16 and May 14
Program dates: 8 weeks, June to August
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students!
Additionally, you can also work on independent research in AI, through Veritas AI's Fellowship Program!
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. 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 have students pursue their own independent AI research project. Students work on their own individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3, 2023.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Program selectivity: Moderately selective
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions pertaining to the students background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are passionate about research, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that was founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Lydia is currently a sophomore at Harvard University, studying Molecular and Cellular Biology. During high school, she pursued engineering activities like attending the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. In her spare time, she likes to create digital art while listening to music.