9 Research Programs for High School Students in Colorado
- Stephen Turban
- Dec 9, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 8
Are you a high school student in Colorado looking to dive deeper into research? Whether you're interested in STEM, medicine, or the humanities, participating in a research program can set you apart academically. These programs offer hands-on experience that helps you build essential skills, from critical thinking to problem-solving. Not only will you gain valuable insight into your field of interest, but the research experience you gain can also enhance your college applications, showcasing your dedication and commitment to learning.
In this blog, we’ll explore 9 research programs in Colorado that offer high school students the chance to develop advanced skills and explore their academic interests.
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 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.
Location: Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
Cost: $6,919 – $9,609. See the full-cost breakup here
Program Dates: July 8 – 24
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Colorado College offers a variety of summer pre-college programs for high school students, where they can earn 0.75 credits that are transferable to other colleges and universities. One of the courses available is ‘Climate Change and Sustainable Development,’ which is ideal for students interested in research in this field. The course covers the history and definitions of sustainable development, along with the key actors and institutions that have worked to promote it globally. You will also explore the socioeconomic, political, cultural, historical, and philosophical factors shaping current environmental conditions. The course includes perspectives on potential responses to climate change and the ongoing debates surrounding these issues.
3. Veritas AI Fellowship
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: Vary 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.
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: Anschutz Medical Campus (Children’s Hospital Colorado), Aurora, CO
Eligibility: High school seniors (18+ by internship start), undergraduates, and graduate students
Application Deadline: Applications open in December
Dates: June 3 – August 2
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3,500 (housing and travel support)
The Child Health Research Internship offers high school students the chance to engage in hands-on research alongside faculty at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado's Department of Pediatrics. You will assist with research on child health topics and work directly in the hospital lab. Throughout the internship, you will attend weekly workshops and, at the end, present your research findings through an oral presentation or poster. This program provides valuable research experience, mentorship, and an opportunity to contribute to meaningful research in child health.
Locations: Various universities across the country, including the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors (and some sophomores) who are at least 15 years old and have completed the required coursework
Application Deadline: International applicants: January 24; Domestic applicants: February 21
Program Dates: Typically mid to late June
Fee: $8,800. Need-based aid is available, offering partial discounts and full fee waivers
The Summer Science Program (SSP) offers high school students a research experience in one of four fields: astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, and synthetic chemistry. You will work in groups of three on real-world projects, such as asteroid orbit determination, fungal crop pathogens, antibiotic resistance evolution, and macrocyclic drug creation. The track offered by the University of Colorado is in the field of Astrophysics, where you will learn about and research Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, and Scientific Programming. The program is highly competitive and offers significant hands-on research experience, preparing you for advanced academic work.
Location: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by the start of the program
Program Dates: June 7 – July 26
Cost: $1,995
This six-week research immersion at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is ideal for students eager to gain hands-on lab research experience. You’ll be paired with a mentor and work on an assigned research project while also conducting independent studies. Throughout the program, you’ll learn key research skills such as selecting topics, analyzing data, reading scientific literature, and evaluating research validity. The program culminates in a Research Expo where you will showcase your findings through poster presentations.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; virtual interns receive a $500 stipend
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: 5 weeks, July – August (virtual)
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors nationwide
The JHIBS 5-week virtual research program is designed for high school students from underrepresented communities, aiming to promote diversity in the neurological sciences. You will work closely with researchers at Johns Hopkins University, gaining hands-on experience in neuroscience through projects, scientific seminars, and personal development sessions. The program concludes with a presentation of research findings, either through oral or poster presentations, giving you the opportunity to showcase your contributions. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost: $1,150
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: June 10 – 21
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12
This biomedical research program lasts one week at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. You will gain hands-on experience with advanced laboratory techniques, tour the university’s facilities, and delve into the ethics and impact of biomedical research. The program also provides opportunities to explore diverse research career paths, interact with professional scientists, and develop a scientific research proposal. While prior knowledge of topics such as cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins is helpful, it’s not a requirement.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, with stipends provided
Application Deadline: Open year-round; apply here
Program Dates: Flexible, with the option to extend internships to accommodate academic schedules
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have completed at least one honors-level science or English course and maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher
This internship offers a research opportunity for students eager to explore the renewable energy and energy storage sectors. Designed to accommodate various schedules, the program offers both half-time and quarter-time options, ensuring flexibility for participants. You will get to engage in a variety of tasks, including researching innovative energy technologies, analyzing market trends, and contributing to published articles and reports. The program aims to deepen your understanding of renewable energy and storage solutions while helping you develop practical research and analytical skills.
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.
