15 Competitive Natural Sciences Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 42 minutes ago
- 16 min read
If you're passionate about subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or neuroscience, participating in a competitive natural sciences program can help you explore these fields in greater depth. These programs often bring together highly motivated students and provide opportunities to work with researchers, learn advanced scientific concepts, and contribute to ongoing investigations. Many are hosted by universities, research institutes, and national laboratories, giving you exposure to the environments where scientific discoveries are made.
Why Participate in a Competitive Natural Sciences Program?
A competitive natural sciences program can help you develop research, analytical, and scientific communication skills while introducing you to topics that may not be covered in a typical high school curriculum. Depending on the program, you may conduct experiments, analyze scientific data, review academic literature, or complete an independent research project under a mentor's guidance. These experiences can help you better understand the research process and determine whether a future in science is right for you. Beyond the academic benefits, competitive programs can strengthen your college applications by demonstrating initiative, intellectual curiosity, and a sustained commitment to science.
In this blog, we’ve reviewed 15 competitive natural sciences programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
Several programs are free or provide substantial stipends, including Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (free or paid hourly), UCSF Summer Student Research Program ($3,000), PNNL Internships ($17 to $23/hr), ARISE at NYU ($2,000), Simons SSRP (stipend upon completion), UNMC Travis B. Lewis Scholarship ($1,500), Jim Holland RISE ($600), and Summer Science Program (stipends up to $3,000 for low-income students).
Programs span a wide range of natural science sub-fields, including biomedical and genomics research (UCSF, Scripps, SIMR at Stanford, ARISE), neuroscience and pharmacology (UNMC, Simons SSRP), astrophysics and chemistry (Summer Science Program, RSI), ecology and evolutionary biology (Princeton LLP, Simons SSRP), and translational medicine (Scripps, ARISE, Stanford SIMR).
Several programs are among the most selective pre-college science opportunities in the country, including Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (under 1% acceptance), RSI at MIT (under 2.5%), Simons SSRP (under 5%), and Summer Science Program (7 to 10%), requiring exceptional academic records and early applications.
Several programs specifically prioritize students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, including the UCSF Summer Student Research Program (required eligibility criterion), ARISE at NYU (NYC residents from underrepresented communities), and Jim Holland RISE and SSRP (students from varied backgrounds with priority for program alumni).
Deadlines for competitive programs are concentrated between February and April, with UNMC closing on February 1, Simons SSRP on February 5, Stanford SIMR on February 21, and Princeton LLP on March 15, so students should begin preparing applications in the fall and prioritize February-deadline programs well before the winter break.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost/Stipend: 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.
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. 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 natural science fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, medicine, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free ($75 application fee)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 100 students, <2.5% acceptance rate
Dates: 6 weeks in June-August
Application Deadline: Early- to mid-December
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with exceptional achievement in STEM
Research Science Institute is considered one of the most prestigious STEM programs for high school students in the US, offering an intensive research experience in the natural sciences and other STEM fields. At the beginning of the program, you’ll complete a week of academic training in advanced natural sciences topics and research methods across biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering. You’ll then take on a research project of your own, which you’ll complete under the guidance of an MIT faculty member or a researcher from a prestigious Boston-area university or research institution. Along the way, you’ll receive training in research protocols, literature reviews, experimental design, and more. Outside of your research, you’ll attend an evening lecture series with prestigious guest speakers, go on academic and recreational field trips, and network with professors and mentors. You’ll write a research paper on your work, with an expectation of professional conference-level quality, and deliver a presentation to the RSI cohort and a panel of external expert judges. The top 5 papers and presentations will receive awards and be featured on RSI’s website.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. You can explore over 20 subject areas, including an interdisciplinary Natural Sciences program and specialized tracks in Biology, Medicine, Physics, Earth Sciences, and Chemistry. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Stipend: $3,000 (Undergraduates receive $4,300)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; exact numbers not provided, but research programs with substantial stipends are typically the most competitive high school programs
Dates: June 15 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Current 10-12th graders aged 16+ by the program start date. Must be from a background underrepresented in STEM (underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, students with disabilities, first-generation college students, and students from low-income families). Must have taken at least one year of high school math and biology
UCSF offers a paid, 7-week natural sciences research program for high school students, with opportunities to focus on biomedical or clinical research. You’ll be matched with a UCSF lab to complete a research project with one-on-one faculty mentorship in a field such as endocrinology, genetics and genomics, immunology, molecular cell biology, and more. You’ll attend biomedical academic workshops, clinical practice seminars, research protocol training, medical simulations, and networking events with clinicians and researchers. You’ll present your work through both a research poster and an oral presentation at the final symposium. Many former projects have led to expanded grant-funded research, academic journal publications, and new developments in medical treatment.
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified; paid or course credit-based opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 40 students/year, including undergraduate and graduate students
Dates: June 1 – August 7 | June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High schoolers, undergraduates, graduate students, and professional school students aged 16+. Must have a strong interest in genomics and/or mHealth translational research.
The Scripps Student Research Internship is a prestigious paid opportunity in the natural sciences for advanced high schoolers and undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students. You’ll be assigned a primary mentor aligned with your research interests and design a research project in the fields of translational medicine, genomics and genetics, proteomics, and/or mobile health. You’ll receive training and education in topics across modern translational science, lab research protocols, data analysis, clinical trial design, and more through both mentor meetings and educational seminars. You’ll also receive guidance on academic and career planning; while you’ll mostly work with your primary mentor, you’ll be encouraged to network and collaborate with other Scripps Research Translational Institute faculty members. You’ll share your preliminary research findings at a Translational Institute Research Meeting in the second half of the internship, then deliver a final presentation on your research outcomes at the internship Poster Symposium.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Varies by lab; Programs are free OR paid an hourly wage
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective; 1% acceptance rate. Each project typically accepts 1-2 students.
Dates: 5-6 weeks over the summer; varies by project
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ by June 15. Applicants must be enrolled in a New Jersey high school local to Princeton (in Princeton or surrounding communities in close commuting distance). Students must be U.S. citizens and currently in the United States. Some research placements may have additional requirements.
Princeton’s Laboratory Learning Program is a fully funded research opportunity for students in the Princeton, NJ area, offering placements in Natural Sciences or Engineering. You will apply for up to two research projects out of over 15 Natural Sciences offerings. You’ll directly contribute to ongoing research led by a Princeton professor; departmental placements range across Chemistry, Geosciences, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology, and more. You’ll work closely with the faculty member leading your research project, learning and applying laboratory protocols such as cell imaging, flow cytometry, CRISPR base editing, and molecular simulations. You’ll finish the program by writing a two-page research report summarizing your project question, methods, data, and conclusion. Some projects require additional assignments, such as an oral or poster presentation. With an acceptance rate below 1%, LLP is a highly competitive program that provides substantial prestige and rigorous undergraduate-level research experience.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 50 students admitted across 8 Research Institutes.
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th graders can apply | Must be a US citizen or permanent resident and attend school in the US
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program is a paid, competitive opportunity for high school students to study the natural sciences with an emphasis on medical applications. You’ll work at one of Stanford’s 8 Institutes of Medicine, with placement options including Genetics and Genomics, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Neurobiology. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor to help you design an independent project supporting the Institute’s research goals. Outside of the lab, you’ll attend educational and professional development programming spanning career exploration, scientific presentation skills, college preparation, and networking events. You’ll present your research findings to Stanford researchers, peers, and mentors at the end of the program.
Location: The program is based at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY; lab placements are hosted at both NYU’s Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: Group Interviews: March 16-20 and 29-30 | Remote Workshops: June 1 - 25 | Program: July 6 - August 14
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th grade students who are full-time residents and students in NYC
ARISE is a selective research program for high school students in NYC that provides hands-on research opportunities in the life and natural sciences. You’ll be matched with a lab aligned with your interests; students interested in natural sciences can pursue research placement options such as Developmental Genomics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Evolutionary Morphology, Chromosome Inheritance, and more. You’ll spend the first 4 weeks of the program in educational sessions covering research and college-preparation topics, including lab protocols, safety training, college essay writing, leadership, and public speaking. During the following 6 weeks, you’ll work full-time in your lab with mentorship from NYU faculty and graduate researchers. You’ll design a research poster after completing your project, which you’ll present in a Poster Symposium hosted at the American Museum of Natural History. You’ll access other program benefits, including networking opportunities with academics and industry leaders, one-on-one college application advising, and connections to additional resources, including continued research collaborations and internship opportunities.
Location: Indiana University at Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Stipend: $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 8-10 students admitted
Dates: June 21 - July 3
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students from varied backgrounds. Students must have an unweighted GPA of 3.2+, be taking or have taken science and math courses, and be interested in pursuing a science career. Students who have previously participated in other Holland Summer Science Programs are prioritized.
The Jim Holland Research Initiative in STEM Education (RISE) is a paid, competitive natural science and college preparation program with an emphasis on biology. You’ll spend two weeks on campus at Indiana University Bloomington attending college-level lectures on scientific research, learning professional and technical research skills, and participating in hands-on scientific activities. You’ll cover advanced STEM research topics, developing research questions and goals, research ethics, and the scientific process. You’ll also cycle through faculty laboratories across a variety of natural science disciplines, learning and trying out the research methodologies used in their specialization areas. On the side of college preparation, you’ll attend workshops on planning for college applications, admissions procedures, financial aid and scholarships, networking skills, and more.
Location: University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, NE
Stipend: $1,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 4-5 students admitted
Dates: June 1–August 7
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ with strong qualifications in STEM | Preference given to students from Nebraska and surrounding states. | Must be a US citizen or permanent resident | Minimum GPA of 3.0.
The University of Nebraska’s College of Medicine offers a highly competitive natural science program for high schoolers through its Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience. Selecting up to 5 students each year, the Travis B. Lewis Scholarship provides a $1,500 stipend for 10 weeks of intensive research. You’ll work with a mentor from the department to develop an independent contribution to the lab’s ongoing work; your research may focus on areas such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, HIV-1-associated dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease. You’ll develop skills in experimental design and research protocols while learning topics in medical research from virology to immunology to neuroregeneration. You’ll work alongside a cohort of college students in the analogous undergraduate program, accessing additional programming such as faculty research presentations, formal research seminars, laboratory meetings, and presentation opportunities at the Summer Undergraduate Research Program poster session.
Location: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Cost/Stipend: None. A stipend of $17.13 - $23.08/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; typically one intern selected for each posting
Dates: Academic Year Internships: August-May | Summer Internships: June - August; typically 10 weeks total
Application Deadline: Academic Year: June | Summer: March
Eligibility: Current 10th-12th grade students aged 16+. GPA of 3.0+ (from 9th grade through time of application) required. Some experience-based criteria may vary between internships. Students must be aged 18+ for research in some field placements and for laboratory spaces.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) provides paid summer internships to advanced high school students, offering competitive research opportunities in natural sciences fields such as analytical chemistry, geosciences, and chemical physics. You’ll contribute to projects advancing national priorities in energy and sustainability, providing substantial hands-on research while receiving guidance and training from experienced PNNL scientists. You’ll also access professional development programming targeted towards high schoolers across leadership skills, communication, and career planning.
Internships are offered both in the summer and the academic year; summer internships are a full-time and more intensive experience, while school year options are limited to a maximum of 4 hours a day to accommodate your course schedule. PNNL also supports high schoolers seeking course credit for their internships in coordination with work-based learning programs; if this opportunity is offered at your school, you can simultaneously build professional-level research experience while making the internship a more accessible addition to your schedule.
Location: Indiana University at Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Cost/Stipend: The program is free; a $125 registration fee is required
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 20-24 students
Dates: July 12 - 19
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th-grade students from varied backgrounds. Minimum 3.2 GPA. Students must be taking or have taken science and math courses and be interested in STEM careers.
UI Bloomington’s Summer Science Research Program is a week-long natural science program for high school students offering a mentored research experience in a university lab. You’ll be assigned a faculty mentor before the program begins to plan your project contribution and learn about their lab’s research focuses, preparing for the summer. You’ll begin the program by learning research protocols and operating laboratory equipment before conducting a small research project contributing to the lab’s current work. You’ll attend lab meetings and work closely with the entire laboratory team, including graduate students, postdocs, and visiting professors. This broad exposure provides additional networking experience and a look into life as an academic researcher at multiple career levels. You’ll document your work progress throughout the program and design a research poster after completing your project, which you’ll present at the end of the program.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided upon program completion. Residential students must pay for housing ($2,450)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; <5% acceptance rate
Dates: June 29 - August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Rising seniors aged 16+ who are US citizens or permanent residents | Students must be nominated by their high school to be eligible to apply; each high school may nominate up to 2 students
SSRP is a competitive high school summer program that places talented high school students with faculty researchers to contribute to advanced research projects. You’ll choose from research opportunities in nearly 15 natural sciences disciplines, including Geosciences, Neurobiology & Behavior, Physics & Astronomy, Ecology & Evolution, and more. You’ll be paired with a mentor, with whom you’ll determine an independent research contribution to their lab’s ongoing work. Opportunities cycle yearly due to faculty needs, but potential research topics may include applying machine learning to extreme weather prediction, analyzing embryonic stem cell fate determination, or predicting microbial traits through DNA samples. You’ll also attend a weekly lecture series, academic workshops, and networking events. You’ll write an academic research paper on your project and findings, which you’ll present to the cohort.
Location: Hosted on college campuses; varies yearly and by topic
Cost/Stipend: $9,800. Up to full financial aid is available; some students from low-income backgrounds receive $3,000 stipends.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 7-10% acceptance rate
Dates: Varies by project area; all are 5 weeks in early June to early August
Application Deadline: February 21 (US applicants) or January 24 (International applicants)
Eligibility: Open to current 11th graders (rising seniors). You must be 16–18 years old at program start. SSP looks for strong STEM coursework and research interests.
SSP is a competitive natural sciences research program for high school students offering four specializations in biochemistry, bacterial genomics, astrophysics, and synthetic chemistry. In a small group cohort, you’ll spend 60 hours each week working on an advanced research project within your chosen field. While you’ll have some independence in structuring your research approach and workflow, specific projects are designed for the program each year. Your work might entail cultivating antibiotic-resistant microbes, altering cell cycles through genetic editing, or predicting the orbital positions and trajectories of near-Earth asteroids. You’ll work under the guidance of researchers from top universities, and build additional connections in natural sciences and academia through networking events and a prestigious guest speaker series. You can choose to participate in a post-program mentorship program, where you’ll receive guidance on preparing for college admissions, undergraduate academics, and future internships and careers in STEM.
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost/Stipend: $5,500; financial aid available for Florida students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; <15% acceptance rate for 90-student cohort
Dates: June 7 - July 25
Application Deadline: April 1 (out-of-state and international students) or April 15 (Florida residents)
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students aged 16+. Florida residents are prioritized.
The Student Science Training Program at the University of Florida provides a 7-week combination of research, coursework, and professional development with a strong focus on the natural sciences. You’ll be matched with a UF researcher in a natural science discipline - other STEM options are available as well, to conduct a university-level research project contributing to your mentor’s current work. You’ll also attend a lecture series by UF professors on scientific concepts, experimental methods, and research applications across STEM disciplines. Lectures in natural science may feature topics such as the Challenges of Tropical Diseases in the Modern World and Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies. You’ll enroll in a college credit-bearing Honors Seminar on a specialized subfield in STEM, completing assignments, discussions, presentations, and assessments. Former courses include Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Carbon Nanotube Technology for Energy Applications, and Science in the News. You’ll submit weekly lab notes on your research project, write an academic paper on your findings, design a research poster, and deliver two presentations on your work.
Frequently asked questions
What types of competitive natural sciences programs are available for high school students?
Options include residential university research programs (RSI at MIT, Simons SSRP, Summer Science Program, UF SSTP), paid national laboratory internships (PNNL), paid biomedical research programs (UCSF, Stanford SIMR, ARISE at NYU, Scripps), stipend-bearing neuroscience programs (UNMC), local university research placements (Princeton LLP, Indiana University Holland SSRP and RISE), virtual research programs (Lumiere), and university campus academic programs (Immerse Education).
Which natural sciences programs offer the largest stipends or financial support?
PNNL pays $17 to $23 per hour for summer internships. UCSF provides a $3,000 stipend for high school students. ARISE at NYU provides $2,000 upon completion. Simons SSRP provides a stipend upon completion. UNMC Travis B. Lewis Scholarship provides $1,500. Summer Science Program provides up to $3,000 stipends for students who would otherwise need to work, with substantial financial aid available for all admitted students.
Which programs are best for students interested in biomedical or clinical research?
UCSF Summer Student Research Program pairs students with faculty in endocrinology, immunology, molecular cell biology, and other biomedical fields for seven weeks. Stanford SIMR places students at one of eight institutes covering cancer biology, genomics, neurobiology, and stem cell research. ARISE at NYU offers placements in developmental genomics, molecular and cellular biology, and chromosome inheritance. Scripps Student Research Internship focuses on translational medicine, genomics, and mobile health.
Which natural sciences programs are the most selective?
Princeton Laboratory Learning Program has an acceptance rate below 1% and is limited to New Jersey students near Princeton. RSI at MIT accepts under 2.5% of applicants nationally. Simons SSRP accepts under 5% and requires a school nomination. Summer Science Program accepts 7 to 10% of applicants. UNMC Travis B. Lewis Scholarship selects only 4 to 5 students nationally each year.
Are there natural sciences programs specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds?
UCSF Summer Student Research Program requires applicants to be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, have a disability, be a first-generation college student, or come from a low-income family. ARISE at NYU is restricted to NYC residents and prioritizes students from underrepresented communities. Jim Holland RISE and SSRP at Indiana University emphasize students from varied backgrounds and give priority to alumni of other Holland Summer Science Programs. Summer Science Program states that financial need has no impact on admissions decisions.
When should I apply to competitive natural sciences programs for high school students?
UNMC Travis B. Lewis Scholarship has the earliest deadline at February 1. Simons SSRP closes February 5, Stanford SIMR closes February 21, and Summer Science Program closes February 21 for U.S. applicants. Princeton LLP closes March 15, Scripps closes March 30, and UF SSTP closes April 1 for out-of-state students. RSI at MIT closes in mid-December, making it the earliest deadline on this list. Students should begin preparing in the fall and prioritize December and February deadline programs before the winter break.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.