Best High School Summer Research Programs in Texas
Updated: 1 hour ago
Updated November 2026
TL;DR
This guide covers 10 summer research programs in Texas for high school students, from five-week lab placements at UT Austin to ten-week medical-center internships and one fully online option. Compare costs, dates, deadlines, and eligibility to find the right fit. Jump to which program fits your goal, researching if you don't live in Texas, or the cost, format, and selectivity comparison. Posted 2027 deadlines run from January 13 to March, costs run from no cost to $5,000, and stipends go as high as $7,200. If you want to research your own question online with a PhD fellow or postdoc, check out the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you’re in Texas and interested in research, you have more choices than you might expect. Some programs put you in a university lab for five to eight weeks, like HSRA at UT Austin and NanoExplorers at UT Dallas. Others pay you a stipend of up to $7,200 to work at a medical center, and a few cover your housing and meals or run fully online. This guide compares 10 options so you can see what each one offers, what it costs, and whether you’re eligible. If you’re watching your budget, see our list of free summer programs for high school students in Texas.
What kinds of summer research programs can you do in Texas?
Texas programs fall into four types, and the type decides how much of the project is yours.
University lab placements put you in a working lab for five to eight weeks. HSRA and NanoExplorers are examples, and the Welch Summer Scholar Program adds a five-week residency at one of five Texas campuses.
Medical-center programs run about ten weeks and mostly want juniors or seniors. The King Foundation program at MD Anderson pays a stipend, and Houston Methodist's research internship does not.
SEES is the NASA-linked option, with team projects you can finish from home or on site in Austin. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully online, and you write a paper on a question you pick with a PhD mentor.
If cost is your first filter, our guide to free summer programs for high school students in Texas is a good next stop.
How competitive are Texas summer research programs?
Most Texas programs don't publish an acceptance rate, but a few share numbers that show how small the cohorts are. SEES reported about 2,000 applicants and 215 accepted in 2024, which is about 11%. The King Foundation program lists up to 6 spots in 2027, the Clark Scholars Program takes 12 scholars, and UT Southwestern STARS had 48 high schoolers in 2026. Where a program hasn't shared a number, you'll see "Not published" in the Quick Facts.
Which Texas research program fits you?
If you want | Look at |
A paper of your own with a PhD mentor, from home | |
A summer where housing and meals are covered | |
A paid lab placement | |
To start as a sophomore | |
A lab in the Houston medical center area | |
Nanotechnology or materials research | |
NASA data, from home or in Austin |
Do you have to live in Texas to apply?
For several of these, yes, so read the eligibility line on each entry before you get attached. If you live somewhere else, SEES and the Clark Scholars Program accept applicants from across the U.S., and Lumiere runs online.
Who owns the research in these programs?
In most lab placements, you join a project that's already running, so the research belongs to the lab. At Houston Methodist, your mentor picks your summer project. The Welch program's FAQ says that if you want to present your work at a science fair later, the faculty member has the final say on the title and content. If you want to design a project yourself, from the question to the finished paper, that's how Lumiere's Individual Research Program is built.
When do Texas summer research applications open and close?
Most open between mid-November and mid-January and close between January 13 and March. Houston Methodist's window runs from December 4, 2026 to January 29, 2027, and the Clark Scholars application opens January 2, 2027. Four programs haven't posted 2027 deadlines yet, so use last cycle's dates as a guide and check the official page in the new year. Lumiere's Winter Cohort closes November 15, 2026, if you want to start research this winter.
10 Best High School Summer Research Programs in Texas
Location: Fully online, from anywhere
Cost: Financial aid is available; the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers the program at no cost to talented low-income students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA for 2027 cohorts (the Individual Research Program runs 12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Winter Cohort: November 15, 2026
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students
You choose a question and build it into a research paper with a PhD fellow or postdoc. The 12-week Individual Research Program has 9 sessions with your mentor and 2 with a writing coach, and it ends with a college-level academic paper. You can pick a topic in areas like psychology, physics, economics, computer science, or engineering. Completing a Lumiere program makes you eligible for 3 post-baccalaureate credits through UC San Diego Extended Studies. Longer tracks, such as Premium Research and Publication and the Research Fellowship, run past 12 weeks.
Who is it right for? You, if you want to design your own project, can't fit an in-person program into your summer, or live outside Texas.
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX (in person, non-residential; no housing or transportation provided)
Cost: $4,500 for 2027 (a $400 deposit is credited toward it); a limited number of need-based scholarships cover tuition and include a stipend, and there are no merit scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: June 7 to July 14, 2027 (off June 18 and July 5)
Application Deadline: March 2027 (applications open mid-January 2027; exact date TBA)
Eligibility: Texas residents, 15 or older by June 1, 2027, and a rising sophomore, junior, or senior (rising juniors and seniors preferred); the FAQ says out-of-state and international applicants can't currently be accepted
You spend five weeks in an active College of Natural Sciences lab, working on topics like biochemistry, neuroscience, genetics, or data analytics. Expect about 15 to 25 hours a week with your research group, plus Wednesday seminars with guest speakers. You finish with a printed poster at the closing symposium and a three-credit-hour UT Extension course (NSC309) built around reflection essays and readings.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a Texas sophomore, junior, or senior who wants real lab time and can cover tuition or qualify for need-based aid.
Location: UT Dallas, Richardson, TX (in person, non-residential; you arrange your own housing and transportation)
Cost: $5,000, with a limited number of need-based scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published (over 600 people have done the program since 2002)
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 8 to July 30, 2026)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: questionnaire due February 28, 2026)
Eligibility: 16 or older at registration (June 1 last cycle), and available 100% of the eight weeks
You join a faculty member's lab at UT Dallas for eight weeks, matched by interest and availability. Labs sit across natural science, engineering, computer science, and behavioral and brain science, and you're treated like any other lab member. Plan on 25 or more hours a week, then present your summer's work at a closing symposium. There's no formal application. You fill out a questionnaire, and UT Dallas uses it to judge whether you're a good fit for the program.
Who is it right for? You, if you're 16 or older and can give an entire summer to a lab in the Dallas area.
Location: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: None; you receive a $7,200 stipend for 10 weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 6 spots
Program Dates: June 7 to August 13, 2027 (June 14 start if you graduate on or after June 6, which makes it nine weeks)
Application Deadline: January 13, 2027 (applications open November 16, 2026; award notices go out February 23)
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors, 18 or older by the start date, accepted to a college for fall, and a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or work-eligible visa holder
You spend ten weeks in an MD Anderson lab, five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your project is guided by a faculty member, and faculty seminars fill in the science. The program may include abstract, poster, and elevator-speech competitions, and you wrap up with a presentation and a celebration lunch. If you're weighing hospital-based options, our guide to medical internships for high school students in Texas compares more of them.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a Texas senior who's already been admitted to college and is curious about allied health careers.
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: No stipend for high schoolers; no program fee is listed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: June 1 to August 6, 2027
Application Deadline: January 29, 2027 (applications open December 4, 2026)
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors who are 16 and have at least a 3.5 GPA
For ten weeks, you work alongside undergraduate research interns on translational research, which means taking lab findings toward patient care. Your assigned mentor picks your summer project, and you learn the lab techniques you need to finish it. The program ends with a poster symposium, and a professional development curriculum covers college applications along the way. Our Houston Methodist internship guide walks through the details.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a junior or senior with a 3.5 GPA who can work full days in Houston for the whole summer.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (residential)
Cost: None; on-campus meals, room and board, and weekend activities are covered. There's a $25 application fee; you pay for your own travel, and a $750 stipend follows a successful research report
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 scholars
Program Dates: June 20 to August 5, 2027
Application Deadline: February 15, 2027, 11:59 p.m. CT (applications open January 2, 2027)
Eligibility: 17 or older by the start date, a rising senior or recent high school graduate, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Twelve people get seven weeks on the Texas Tech campus, working with a faculty member on a research project. Weekly seminars and social events fill out the schedule. The application asks for essays, transcripts, test scores (at least a PSAT or PACT score), three recommendations with at least two from teachers, and a list of your top five activities.
Who is it right for? You, if you turn 17 by June 20, 2027, you're a rising senior, and you want a fully covered summer in Lubbock.
Location: Virtual, or on-site at UT Austin's Center for Space Research
Cost: Virtual: no cost. On-site: $2,000, which covers meals, housing, tours, and local travel, with scholarships available; you pay for travel to Austin unless you get travel support
Acceptance rate/cohort size: In 2024, about 2,000 applied and 215 were accepted
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: online modules May 15 to July 1, on-site July 5 to 18, symposium July 20 to 21, 2026)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: February 22, 2026, 8:00 p.m. PT, no late applications)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens only, current sophomores or juniors, 16 by the on-site start date (July 5 last cycle), and never a SEES intern before
You work with NASA and aerospace experts on mission-based projects in areas like astronomy, planetary science, remote sensing, and microgravity research. It starts with online learning modules, then you either work on a virtual project from home or spend two weeks on site in Austin. Everyone presents at a virtual symposium and earns a certificate of completion. The Center for Space Research says SEES depends on future funding, so check the page before you plan your summer around it. We break down the application in our SEES guide.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a U.S. citizen sophomore or junior who wants NASA-linked team research from home or in Austin.
Location: One of five Texas campuses (UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, University of Houston, or Texas Tech), residential; the selection committee assigns your site
Cost: No cost; the Welch Foundation covers room and board, in-town transportation, lab expenses, and study materials.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published (nearly 2,500 Texas high schoolers have taken part)
Program Dates: TBA (five weeks)
Application Deadline: TBA (no rolling admissions)
Eligibility: Enrolled in a Texas high school or homeschooled in Texas, and a current sophomore or junior when you apply; no course prerequisites
You spend five weeks in a university chemistry research lab with one-on-one mentoring from a professor and a graduate student or postdoc. Each week adds lectures, workshops, and tours of chemistry research facilities. To finish, you complete a research paper and a final presentation or poster. You have to stay in residence for all five weeks, and the program doesn't give college credit.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a Texas sophomore or junior who likes chemistry and wants a summer where everything is covered.
Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX (in person, non-residential)
Cost: You're paid a stipend (amount not posted); no program fee is listed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 48 high schoolers took part in 2026
Program Dates: Eight weeks (2027 dates aren't posted yet)
Application Deadline: January 22, 2027 (applications open November 16, 2026; dates are subject to change)
Eligibility: A current junior, 16 by June 1, enrolled in high school, and a U.S. citizen, national, or eligible to work in the U.S.; the program emphasizes North Texas, and you can't have prior research experience
You spend eight weeks in a biomedical research lab. The work is lab-only, with no clinical work or shadowing, and you present your results at a poster session at the end. The application asks for transcripts, test scores, a personal essay, and recommendation letters.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a North Texas junior who's curious about biomedical research and hasn't worked in a lab yet.
Location: MohanLab, University of Houston, Houston, TX (in person)
Cost: No funding for admitted interns, and you arrange your own boarding and transportation; Houston Metro provides free Metro cards in the summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 8 to July 31, 2026)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: March 26, 2026)
Eligibility: Rising seniors who've finished 11th grade, with a strong academic record and interest in biomedical, bioengineering, or computer science fields
You start with one to two weeks of basic lab technique, then do bench research under a scientist or graduate student. Projects fall in biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, big data analytics (including AI and image analysis), and neuroscience. You give an oral presentation at the end, and depending on your project, some of the work can feed into a publication. You can also keep working with the lab afterward on manuscripts or data analysis. If you're in Houston, our list of research programs for high school students in Houston has more nearby choices.
Who is it right for? You, if you're a rising senior who likes biology, engineering, or data and can get to Houston.
How do these Texas programs compare on cost, format, and selectivity?
Program | Format and length | Cost | Published selection number | What you finish with |
Online, 12 weeks | Paid; need-based aid available | Not published | Research paper | |
Austin, 5 weeks | $4,500; need-based scholarships | Not published | Poster and a three-credit-hour course | |
Richardson, 8 weeks | $5,000 in 2026 | Not published | Symposium presentation | |
Houston, 9 to 10 weeks | No fee listed; $7,200 stipend | Up to 6 spots (2027) | Presentation | |
Houston, 10 weeks | No stipend; no fee listed | Not published | Poster symposium | |
Lubbock, 7 weeks, residential | No program fee; $25 application fee; $750 stipend | 12 scholars | Research report | |
Virtual, or 2 weeks on site in Austin | Virtual free; on-site $2,000, with scholarships | 215 of about 2,000 (2024) | Symposium presentation and certificate | |
Five Texas campuses, 5 weeks, residential | No cost | Not published | Research paper and presentation or poster | |
Dallas, 8 weeks | Stipend; no fee listed | 48 took part (2026) | Poster session | |
Houston, about 8 weeks | No funding provided | Not published | Oral presentation |
If you're a junior, the January deadlines for STARS (January 22) and Houston Methodist (January 29) come first, so ask your recommenders before the holidays. Sophomores can aim for the Welch program and HSRA this spring, with SEES as a backup if you're a U.S. citizen.
5 Tips to Stand Out in Your Texas Research Program Application
1. Ask your recommenders before December.
Houston Methodist wants two recommendations, MohanLab asks for two teacher recommendations, and the Clark Scholars Program requires three. Recommenders need time, and some of these forms are online questionnaires, not letters. Pick your people in the fall and hand them a short list of what you've done in their class.
2. Check the test score rules before you apply.
The Clark Scholars application needs at least a PSAT or PACT score if you don't have SAT or ACT results by the deadline. Other programs look at test scores too, while HSRA says it doesn't consider GPA or class rank. Knowing which is which saves you from scrambling in January.
3. Match your essay to what the program actually does.
HSRA picks applicants based on a personal essay and research interests that line up with its labs. Read the lab list or research areas first, then write about the one that grabs you and why. A specific question, like how a protein folds or how a satellite measures water, sounds a lot more convincing than saying you love science.
4. Put every deadline on one calendar.
Posted deadlines range from mid-January to March, and some programs, like STARS, only take juniors with no research background. Make a simple calendar with every program you're eligible for. A junior could apply to STARS and Houston Methodist in January, the Clark Scholars Program in February, and HSRA in March.
5. Sort out housing and transportation before you commit.
HSRA, NanoExplorers, the King Foundation program, and MohanLab all expect you to arrange your own housing or boarding and transportation. The Clark Scholars Program and the Welch program cover room and board. Work out the cost of a summer in Houston, Dallas, or Austin with your family before you apply.
Do you want to research your own question?
Most programs on this list place you in a lab project that's already running. If you'd like to go deeper on a question you choose, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a PhD fellow or postdoc.
In the 12-week Individual Research Program, you meet your mentor nine times and a writing coach twice, then finish with a college-level research paper. The program is fully online, need-based financial aid is available, and the Winter Cohort deadline is November 15, 2026.
What you might still be wondering about these Texas research programs
Do I need lab experience before applying?
Not usually. Several programs say prior research isn't required, and one asks that you haven't done lab research before. If you already have experience, look for programs that go deeper.
Will my project stay in one science field, or could it cross fields?
It depends on the program. A few lab programs span fields like biology, data analytics, and neuroscience, while others stay in one area such as chemistry or biomedical science.
Can I do another program or a summer job at the same time?
Not usually. Several programs expect 25 or more hours a week or full workdays, and a few require you to be free for the whole run. If you want something that bends around your schedule, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully online and runs 12 weeks.
What do I get at the end?
Most end with a poster or an oral presentation, and a few ask for a written research paper. A couple adds extras like a three-credit-hour college course or a certificate of completion, and some pay a stipend. For more selective options, see our list of prestigious summer research programs for high school students in Texas.