Best Research Opportunities for High School Students in California
Updated: Oct 7
TL;DR
Looking for research opportunities in California? These 17 programs include university research, biomedical internships, computational projects, STEM programs, independent research, museum internships, and college-level coursework. Some are free or provide stipends, while others charge tuition or registration fees. Several are designed for California or local students, while others accept students from outside the state. If you want a structured research experience with one-on-one mentorship, you can also explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
California has research opportunities across many fields, so the experience can look very different depending on the program. You might work in a laboratory, analyze computational data, conduct an independent project, work with a researcher, or take university courses. The programs below make those differences easier to compare.
If you are still exploring research options, you can also explore research opportunities for high school students.
Which of these programs are open to students outside California?
Not every opportunity on this list requires California residency. Some programs accept students from across the U.S. or internationally, while others have specific requirements based on location, school district, county, or state.
Programs such as Lumiere Research Scholar Program, ASDRP, and some national research opportunities can be accessible from outside California. Others, including several university and local research programs, have California, county, or school-specific eligibility requirements.
How much do California research opportunities cost, and which ones offer financial support?
Costs range from free research internships to programs with tuition, registration, or housing fees. Opportunities such as Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) and City of Hope Cancer Center’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy provide financial support, while other programs offer scholarships or financial aid.
For more options, see free research opportunities for high school students.
What types of research can you do through California research programs?
The opportunities cover areas such as biomedical research, computer science, engineering, biology, chemistry, nanoscience, computational research, and independent research. Programs such as Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) involve hands-on laboratory research, while Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) supports original research across several disciplines.
Which California research opportunities offer remote or virtual options?
Some opportunities can be completed remotely, while others combine virtual work with an in-person research experience. Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully remote, while Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) accepts students from outside the Bay Area and offers research options for students in other U.S. states and internationally.
Eligibility and cost at a glance
Program | California Residency Required (Y/N) | Grade Eligibility | Minimum GPA | Cost/Stipend |
Y | Rising 9th–12th | 3.5 typical | $5,793 + $46 application fee; financial assistance available | |
N | High school | Not specified | Full financial aid available | |
Not specified | Juniors and seniors | Not specified | Free + summer stipend | |
N | Juniors, seniors + undergraduates | Not specified | Free | |
Not specified | High school + undergraduate | Not specified | Free + $4,500 stipend for most students | |
Y | 9th–10th | 2.5 | Free + paid above minimum wage | |
N | Entering 9th–12th | Not specified | $1,070/semester; scholarships available | |
Y, San Diego County | High school | 2.75 | Free + paid internship | |
Y, San Diego County | High school | 3.0 | Free + $5,040 stipend | |
Not specified | High school | Not specified | Varies by units and housing/commuter status | |
Y, specified counties | Sophomores and juniors | 2.5 | Free + $3,000 stipend | |
Y, Southern California | Grades 10–12 | 3.0 | $2,000; scholarships available | |
Not specified | High school | 3.0 | Fee varies; scholarships may be available | |
Not specified | Juniors, seniors + undergraduates | Not specified | Free + $2,500 stipend | |
Not specified | Grades 10–12 | Not specified | Free + $300 stipend | |
Not specified | High school, 15+ | Not specified | $400/unit + $175 registration fee | |
Not specified | Grades 10–11; exceptional 9th graders considered | 3.80 weighted | Not specified |
17 Best Research Opportunities for High School Students in California
Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC San Diego, or UC Santa Cruz
Cost: $5,793 for the four-week residential program, plus a $46 non-refundable application fee. Financial assistance is available.
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Four weeks in summer
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: California high school students; rising 9th through rising 12th graders
COSMOS is a four-week residential STEM program where you work with faculty, researchers, and scientists on hands-on, lab-intensive projects. You explore advanced STEM topics while working in a university environment, with each campus accommodating about 160–200 participants. You will live on campus for the full program.
Who is it right for? Students who want an intensive residential STEM experience at one of several UC campuses and already have a strong interest in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Lumiere pairs you one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor for an independent research project. You can explore subjects including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. The 12-week option culminates in an independent research paper.
Who is it right for? Students who want to conduct mentored research remotely and explore a subject outside the traditional classroom.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free; the program provides a summer stipend
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 7–July 29
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors graduating in 2027 or 2028, at least 16 years old, living in and attending high school in the U.S., and U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SIMR is an eight-week biomedical research internship where you conduct hands-on research with a Stanford mentor. Research areas include immunology, cancer biology, stem cell biology, neuroscience, cardiovascular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, and bioengineering. The program also includes lectures, seminars, and a final research-poster presentation.
Who is it right for? Students interested in biomedical research who want to work directly with a Stanford mentor during an intensive summer research experience.
Location: Research sites across the U.S. and U.S. territories, coordinated through STEP-UP centers
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer; exact dates are not specified
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; designed to support students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research, including students with disabilities and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
STEP-UP gives high school and undergraduate students hands-on biomedical research experience. You work with researchers at participating institutions and receive research training and mentorship in areas connected to NIDDK's mission. The program operates through coordinating centers across the U.S. and U.S. territories.
Who is it right for? Students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research who want hands-on research and mentorship through an NIH-funded program.
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Cost: Free; participants receive a $4,500 stipend upon completing the 10-week program
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1–August 6
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students at least 16 years old; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; high school applicants must have completed chemistry and biology
The 10-week program places you on a biomedical research team at City of Hope. You select a research project based on your interests and work with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and laboratory staff. Seminars, laboratory meetings, journal clubs, professional development, and a final research presentation are also included.
Who is it right for? Students who want full-time biomedical research experience and already have coursework in chemistry and biology.
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free; CiS interns are paid Academy employees and earn above minimum wage
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Multi-year, year-round; students participate for 2–3 years through high school graduation
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications are expected to reopen in February
Eligibility: Current full-time 9th- or 10th-grade SFUSD students, minimum 2.5 GPA, C or higher in science and math, and able to obtain a valid U.S. work permit
CiS is a paid, multi-year STEM internship combining science training, fieldwork, research, environmental action, and public engagement. You work with STEM professionals, participate in research or environmental-action projects, and receive college and career guidance and mentorship.
Who is it right for? San Francisco students who want a multi-year STEM experience that combines research, fieldwork, communication, and career development.
Location: ASDRP research facilities in Fremont, CA; students outside the Bay Area may conduct research virtually
Cost: $1,070 per semester; partial and full scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1–August 30 for the summer term
Application Deadline: April 15 for the summer term; priority deadlines are February 1 and March 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 after the summer; applicants may be from the Bay Area, elsewhere in California, other U.S. states, or internationally
ASDRP pairs you with a research mentor from academia or industry and has you work on an original research project. You can work across biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, psychology, medicine, engineering, and other fields. The program includes scientific writing, mock peer review, a research paper, and a poster presentation.
Who is it right for? Students who want original mentored research with the flexibility to participate virtually from outside the Bay Area.
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost: Free; paid internship
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 14–August 6
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: San Diego County residents attending high school in San Diego County, at least 16 years old by June 14, minimum 2.75 GPA, and at least one high school biology class
This eight-week paid internship lets you work alongside Salk scientists on real research projects. You gain experience in wet-lab techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis, and science communication, with seminars, workshops, and biotech industry visits included. The program ends with a research symposium.
Who is it right for? San Diego County students who want hands-on biological research and have already taken biology in high school.
Location: Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA
Cost: Free; students receive a $5,040 stipend for the seven-week internship
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 22–August 7, plus a mandatory three-day training boot camp on June 16–18
Application Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who most recently attended an eligible Scripps Research REACH partner school/program; at least 16 years old; one year each of biology and chemistry; minimum 3.0 GPA; legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The seven-week, full-time internship gives you hands-on biomedical research experience with a scientist mentor. You learn experimental design, laboratory techniques, and data interpretation, then present your research at a campus-wide Summer Intern Symposium.
Who is it right for? Eligible San Diego County students who want intensive biomedical laboratory experience and have completed both biology and chemistry.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Varies by number of units and housing/commuter status
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer; courses are generally eight weeks
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who meet Stanford Summer Session admission requirements; course-specific prerequisites may apply
Stanford Summer Session allows you to take university-level courses alongside Stanford undergraduates and other visiting students. Courses cover natural sciences, computer science and engineering, social sciences and humanities, creativity and design, and other fields. You can live on campus or commute.
Who is it right for? Students who want university-level coursework at Stanford and want to explore subjects through formal classes.
Location: Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA
Cost: Free; students receive a $3,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer; one mostly virtual prep week followed by six weeks of in-person research
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors at least 16 years old, living in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; minimum 2.5 GPA; Algebra 1 and Biology; household-income limits also apply
iCLEM is a paid summer research program focused on biotechnology and biomanufacturing. You complete a hands-on research project in JBEI's laboratories with mentorship from JBEI researchers and UC undergraduate students. The program also covers microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biofuels, and synthetic biology.
Who is it right for? Low-income Bay Area students who want hands-on biotechnology research and have completed the required math and biology coursework.
Location: UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Cost: $2,000 registration fee; full and partial scholarships are available. Application is free.
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 8–July 31
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Southern California residents in grades 10–12; at least 16 years old by June 15; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
REHS is an eight-week computational research internship where you work with a research mentor on an established project. You learn to formulate and test hypotheses, conduct computational experiments, analyze results, and participate in lab meetings and discussions. The program typically requires 10–20 hours per week and ends with a research poster.
Who is it right for? Southern California students interested in computational research who want to work with a mentor while spending 10–20 hours a week on the program.
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Program fee and optional housing costs vary by the current Summer Institute fee schedule; scholarships may be available
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer; exact dates not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students; UCLA Summer Institutes require a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA, with additional program-specific requirements possible
The Applications of Nanoscience Summer Institute introduces you to nanoscience and nanotechnology through seminars, laboratory work, and field experiences. You learn research methods, experiment development, scientific writing, and presentation skills, then design and conduct an exploratory nanoscience experiment.
Who is it right for? Students interested in nanoscience and nanotechnology who want to design an experiment and present their results to a technical audience.
Location: UCSF and affiliated research institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area
Cost: Free; high school interns receive a $2,500 stipend
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer; eight weeks. Exact dates not specified
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates; at least 17 years old by the start of the internship
The program gives you research experience in rheumatology and immunology, with work that can involve basic laboratory research, clinical epidemiology, translational research, or bioinformatics. The eight-week internship requires about 40 hours per week and ends with a UCSF poster presentation and a short research paper.
Who is it right for? Older high school students interested in autoimmune disease who want a full-time biomedical research experience.
Location: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free; interns receive a $300 stipend based on participation
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer session: June 15–August 16; academic year session: September 7–May 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
Art Speak gives you experience with Asian art and cultural traditions, local artists and arts organizations, museum careers, and visitor programming. You also develop art activities to teach museum visitors and can take part in college-access programming.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 10–12 who want to explore museum work, cultural research, and Asian art outside a traditional classroom setting.
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; online courses are also available
Cost: $400 per unit for visiting students + $175 registration fee; other fees may apply
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer sessions run June 22–September 11; individual courses last 3–10 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies by session and student type; visiting-student registration opened February 18
Eligibility: High school students ages 15 and older by June 22; course-specific requirements may apply
UCLA Summer Sessions lets you take college-level courses across the arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and sciences. There are more than 100 in-person courses for high school students across more than 30 subject areas, along with online options.
Who is it right for? Students who want to explore university-level subjects at UCLA and prefer the flexibility of choosing between in-person and online courses.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara
Cost: $5,675 for commuters and $13,274 for residential students
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 14–July 31; virtual component June 14–16 followed by six weeks in person
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11; outstanding 9th graders may be considered case-by-case; minimum 3.80 weighted academic GPA
UCSB's Research Mentorship Program pairs you with a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty mentor. You work on a research project across fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and psychology. You spend 35–50 hours per week on research, earn 8 university credits, and present your findings at a formal academic symposium.
Who is it right for? Students with a strong academic record who want an intensive, full-time research experience with direct mentorship from UCSB researchers.
Common questions about research opportunities in California
1. Do I need to live in California to apply to these programs?
No. The list includes programs with California-specific or local eligibility rules as well as opportunities that accept students from elsewhere, including remote options. You can also explore more research opportunities for high school students if you are looking beyond California.
2. What GPA do I need to qualify for these programs?
It depends. The supplied program details include minimum GPAs ranging from 2.5 to 3.80, while some programs do not specify a minimum.
3. Do these programs pay a stipend, or do I need to pay to participate?
Both. Some programs are free and provide stipends or paid participation, while others charge program or registration fees and may offer financial assistance or scholarships.
4. Do I need to live on campus, or are virtual options available?
No. The list includes residential programs, in-person programs, and virtual options, so the format depends on the specific opportunity. If you want to conduct mentored research remotely, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers a flexible virtual research format.