15 Natural Sciences Research Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 14 min read
Natural sciences research programs offer high school students the opportunity to move beyond classroom experiments and engage with the scientific process firsthand. Whether your interests lie in biology, chemistry, environmental science, ecology, geology, or astronomy, these programs allow you to investigate real questions, analyze data, and learn how scientific discoveries are made. Many programs pair students with researchers, faculty members, or industry professionals, providing valuable mentorship and exposure to advanced laboratory and field techniques.
Why Participate in a Natural Sciences Research Program?
Participating in a natural sciences research program can help you develop critical thinking, scientific writing, data analysis, and problem-solving skills while giving you a clearer understanding of what research careers involve. Some programs focus on laboratory-based projects, while others emphasize fieldwork, environmental monitoring, or interdisciplinary scientific investigations. For students considering STEM majors or research-intensive careers, these experiences can provide both academic enrichment and meaningful additions to college applications.
To make your search easier, here are 15 natural sciences research 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 Smithsonian NMNH Internship ($5,600), SUNY Oneonta BFS Internship ($3,500 plus college credit), Hutton Junior Fisheries Program ($3,000), Argonne College Bound Research Program ($500/week), Lundquist High STAR (stipend upon completion), and Princeton LLP (free), making natural sciences research broadly accessible to motivated students.
Programs span a wide range of natural science sub-fields including marine and aquatic science (Hutton Program, SUNY BFS), astrophysics (Northwestern REACH, SSP Astrophysics), environmental science (Argonne ESRP, NMU Environmental Science Camp, UNC Geo-Health Saturdays), cancer biology and biomedicine (Lundquist High STAR), ecology and field research (Headwaters Science Institute camps), and geology and natural history (Smithsonian NMNH, NMU Seaborg Camp).
Several programs incorporate both fieldwork and laboratory components, including SUNY Oneonta BFS (lake sampling and fish dissection), Headwaters Science Institute (lakeside ecological research), Hutton Program (marine and freshwater field placements), and NMU Environmental Science Camp (river field trips and geological exploration).
Programs specifically designed for girls or underrepresented students include Headwaters Science Institute Girls Summer Research Camp (all-girls cohort with female scientist mentors), UNC Geo-Health Science Saturdays (Robeson County students), and SSP Astrophysics (free for families earning under $75,000, with scaled financial aid above that).
Deadlines are concentrated between January and March, with Hutton Program closing January 25, Argonne College Bound closing February 6, SSP Astrophysics closing February 19, and Princeton LLP closing March 15, so students should begin identifying programs in the fall and apply to January and February deadline programs first.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 1-on-1 student to mentor ratio
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to one year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
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 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1 (tentative, based on an earlier cohort), typically in the summer between high school graduation and the college fall term (40 hours/week)
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Illinois high school seniors graduating from a local high school in May/June; should be enrolled to attend college full-time; must be at least 18 years of age (check all criteria here)
Argonne National Laboratory's College Bound Research Program provides high school seniors with opportunities to explore scientific and engineering research. You will work under the guidance of professionals in specialized areas of science/engineering and could be placed in a natural science lab or in an office environment. The wide variety of labs at Argonne includes ones dedicated to analytical chemistry, environmental science, bioscience, and more. You will gain opportunities to assist in innovative discoveries, using cutting-edge tools and equipment. At the end of the program, you will have developed strong research skills while starting college academics.
Location: Cambridge
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Maximum of 12
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 – 15 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience undergraduate life firsthand. You will live on a university campus and study in a small group of peers, and attend interactive lectures led by tutors from eminent top universities like Oxford and Cambridge. You will expand your knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology through hands-on scientific research, applying what you learn to real-world challenges. You will complete an individual research project with guidance from a tutor. You will receive written feedback and a certificate of achievement at the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Cost: Free for participants (costs of transportation, food, and all materials for the research project to be borne by the school team)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Teams of 4 – 8 students led by your school teacher
Program Dates: Across the school year, typically starting in August till early Spring
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students age 16 or older (should be part of the school team) selected by the school teacher; the science teacher leading the school team should hold a valid state teaching certificate for grades 9 – 12
Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory's Exemplary Student Research Program (ESRP), you work on a scientific project led by your school science teacher. You will work with peers to prepare a research plan. An Argonne lab scientist will provide the guidance and support needed to conduct the project's experiments. Earlier cohort teams have analyzed microbial DNA data from the oceans, used X-rays to study fossils, conducted chemical analysis of soil, and more. One of the key research skills that you will learn is how to write a professional scientific report. Your team will present your work to the research community through a poster at the end of the program.
Location: Across multiple locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico (within a 45-minute commute of the student's home)
Stipend: $3,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Flexible dates (8 weeks), depending on the mentor, typically start after May 31 and end before August 31
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or rising college freshmen; must be 16 years old by June 1
Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid summer internship program for high school students keen to pursue careers in fisheries or aquatic science. You will be matched with a fisheries professional to collaborate on research work in a marine and/or freshwater setting. You will conduct research in the field or in a lab, such as on fish habitats, aquatic vegetation, water quality, and more. Based on the research work, you may gain learning opportunities through an overnight field trip. At the end of the program, you will gain networking opportunities with fisheries professionals and peers at the Hutton Scholars Summit.
Location: The Lundquist Institute (TLI) Torrance Campus, CA
Cost/Stipend: None. A stipend is offered at the end of the program (the information on cost and stipend amount is not available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled as high school juniors/seniors in the fall with strong academic achievements, with a particular focus on science coursework.
High school students interested in conducting individual research in interdisciplinary fields of science and medicine may consider the Lundquist Institute’s High School Summer Training in Advanced Research (High School STAR) Program. You can work on research projects such as bioscience and biomedicine, with a research track in cancer biology and immunotherapeutics. This summer program focuses on an individual research project across eight weeks. You will work alongside physician-scientists, receiving hands-on training in lab techniques and processes in a real-world lab setting. You will make a presentation of your work to peers, family, and the research community and receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Based on project requirement; highly selective, with approx. 3,000 applications
Program Dates: 5 – 6 weeks in the summer (dates as scheduled by the department faculty)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a local NJ high school (high school graduates who have not yet turned 18 by June 15 are also eligible); must be 16 years old or more by June 15; must be U.S. citizens currently in the U.S. (check all criteria here)
Princeton University's Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a free, unpaid science outreach program for local high school students to gain hands-on research experience in natural sciences (an engineering track is also offered). You will work on a research project in a Princeton lab under the mentorship of Princeton faculty and research staff. You will develop key research skills in formulating a research question, applying research methods, and drawing conclusions. These, along with the data you collected for the research, will then be summarized in a research report to be submitted at the end of the program. Earlier cohorts have worked on analyzing density fluctuations in water, investigating alternate fuels, using microfossils to study ocean circulation, visualizing 3D anatomical data in reptiles, and more.
Location: SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station (BFS), Cooperstown, NY
Cost: Free; $3,500 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 1 – 3 per project
Program Dates: Late May through August with flexible start and end dates (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 26 (applications typically open in January)
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates who are New York State residents; must be age 16 or older as of June 20; should have a strong academic background in environmental or natural sciences
The SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station (BFS) internship is a research-focused program that provides high school students and undergraduates with hands-on experience in lake management fieldwork, combined with lab work and data analysis. You will receive mentorship from BFS faculty and scientists and get access to docks and boats for field work and labs for analytical and other research work. You will conduct surveys of plants and fisheries, collect water samples, etc., while lab work includes fish dissection, zooplankton ID, and more. You will develop key research skills, including processing and preparing field samples for storage in the lab, analyzing data, writing scientific reports, and more. You will also attend seminars where BFS faculty and staff present on local ecology and watershed hydrology. At the end of the program, you will make a research presentation and receive one semester hour of free undergraduate college credit.
Location: National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $5,600 stipend ($700/week)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 23 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 20 (applications typically open on February 16)
Eligibility: Current enrolled high school students in grades 9 – 12; should be ages 15 to 18 at the start of the internship; must be U.S. citizens/permanent U.S. residents; must be located within the D.C., Maryland, or Virginia area, within commuting distance of NMNH.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Summer High School Internship Program provides high school students with opportunities to gain real-world experience in scientific research and museum work. You will work on projects with an internship supervisor 2 to 3 days/week and participate in enrichment activities 1 to 2 days/week. Potential internship projects in the field of natural sciences include paleobiology and botany. Based on the type of project, you may gain opportunities to learn lab techniques, use sophisticated lab equipment, conduct data analysis, and develop other research skills. You will also undertake behind-the-scenes tours of the museum and participate in skill-building sessions.
Location: Lumberton/Pembroke, Robeson County, NC
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available (limited spots)
Program Dates: March 14 and March 28
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: High school students from Robeson County
High school students from Robeson County interested in exploring the field of geoscience could consider the University of North Carolina's Geo-Health Science Saturdays program. Two sessions are scheduled, led by the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment and UNC-Pembroke. You will participate with peers in hands-on geoscience and environmental health research activities. One session focuses on Energy and our Health, and the other on Water and our Health. You will also attend talks by scientists and professionals to gain insight into higher educational opportunities and careers in geoscience and environmental health.
Location: Webber Lake Campground, Truckee, CA
Cost: $600 with financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 5 – July 8
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Girls in grades 6 – 12
Headwaters Science Institute Girls Summer Science Camp allows you to take part in a field-based science experience where you work on an independent research project alongside an all-girls cohort and female scientist mentors. You’ll spend several days at a lakeside field site, learning how to ask scientific questions, design methods, and collect real data in an outdoor environment. The program is structured around building a complete research project, so you move from idea to data collection and then to analyzing your results and preparing a final presentation. Alongside the research, you also take part in outdoor activities like hiking and exploring the area, which keep the experience grounded in real ecological settings. By the end, you’ll have a finished research project and a presentation that reflects your work, with the option to continue developing it further.
Location: Northwestern University, CIERA, Evanston, IL
Cost: $2,500 (Core Program); an additional $1,500 (REACH Further Program); need-based full/partial financial aid is available (no housing facility available; free CTA transit passes available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 50 for the core component, based on the number of mentors available (typically 12 – 18 mentors); limited spots for the REACH Further component
Program Dates: Core program - June 15 – July 2 (Session 1); July 6 – 24 (Session 2); REACH Further program - July 6 – 24 (Session 1) and July 27 – August 14 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (grades 10-12)
The Research Experiences in Astronomy (REACH) program at Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) has two components: a three-week core program and an optional REACH Further program. In the core component, you will be introduced to Python programming and scientific data analysis, apply these to computer-based astronomy activities, work on an astronomy research project, and give a presentation of your work at the end of the program. You will also participate in solar observing sessions at an observatory and attend talks on astronomy careers. On completing the core component, you have the option to apply for the REACH Further program to work on a more in-depth individual research project one-on-one with a CIERA scientist.
Location: Webber Lake Campground, Truckee, CA
Cost: $400 with financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 8 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and up
Headwaters Science Institute's Introduction to Research Camp is a three-day, two-night overnight camp that provides middle and high school students with exposure to research methodologies and processes in ecology. You will gain the skills of a research professional, learning how to develop an idea into a project. You will explore the natural habitats around the study site, such as streams, meadows, and forests, and professional scientists will provide mentorship on how to generate questions to develop an ecological research topic. You will then expand on the topic, gather data, and develop it into a research project. At the end of the program, you will make a professional presentation of your work.
Location: Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
Cost: $849 registration fee (will increase to $949 on June 1); scholarship offered to students with demonstrated financial need to offset the full fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 12 – July 18
Application Deadline: July 6 (scholarship application closes on May 29)
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Environmental Science Camp at Northern Michigan University (NMU)'s Seaborg Science and Math Center provides high school students with opportunities to explore the fields of environmental science and geology. You will undertake daytime field trips on the river and across the local geologic landscape, participating in activities such as planting beach grass as part of a water conservation project, discovering coastlines with and without green infrastructure, and more. You will monitor water quality issues, learn about techniques to extract local minerals, discover the effects of mining on the environment, and more. You will also attend talks by NMU faculty and experts about their field of expertise. At the end of the program, you will showcase your experience at an open house session for families.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Cost: Up to $11,800 (scaled to family’s affordability); no application fee; free for participants with a family income of $75,000 or less, and a discounted fee for participants with a family income under approximately $140,000 (check details of financial aid here)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 36
Program Dates: Vary based on location, typically in mid – late June (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 19 (domestic applications); January 29 (international applications)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who have completed or are in the process of completing any level of high school physics and precalculus by June for credit and a grade; must be at least 15 years old but not yet 19 during the duration of the program.
The SSP International's Summer Science Program Astrophysics Track provides high school students with real science research experience. You will gain exposure to residential campus life with other high schoolers from around the world, and have an immersive experience in collaborative science research with professional scientists. You will use professional research equipment to conduct experiments. You will receive a letter of completion at the end of the program, and you may request an LOR from a faculty member. You can also participate in an optional mentorship program where you will be paired with younger alumni mentors to receive guidance on the college application process.
Frequently asked questions
What types of natural sciences research programs are available for high school students?
Options include paid national laboratory internships (Argonne College Bound, Argonne ESRP), paid fisheries and aquatic science internships (Hutton Program, SUNY BFS), paid museum internships (Smithsonian NMNH), paid biomedical research programs (Lundquist High STAR), free university research placements (Princeton LLP), astronomy and astrophysics programs (Northwestern REACH, SSP Astrophysics), ecology and field research camps (Headwaters Science Institute), environmental science camps (NMU Seaborg, UNC Geo-Health), and virtual and independent research programs (Lumiere, Immerse Education).
Which natural sciences programs offer the largest stipends or financial support?
Smithsonian NMNH provides the largest stipend at $5,600 for eight weeks. SUNY Oneonta BFS provides $3,500 plus one semester hour of free college credit. Hutton Junior Fisheries Program provides $3,000. Argonne College Bound pays $500 per week. SSP Astrophysics is free for families earning under $75,000 with scaled financial aid up to approximately $140,000. Lumiere and Immerse Education offer full financial aid for eligible students.
Which programs are best for students interested in fieldwork or outdoor science?
Hutton Junior Fisheries Program places students with fisheries professionals for eight weeks of marine or freshwater field research. SUNY Oneonta BFS combines lake sampling, boat-based fieldwork, and lab analysis over eight weeks. Headwaters Science Institute camps are set at a lakeside field site in Truckee, California, with ecological research and outdoor activities. NMU Environmental Science Camp includes river field trips, coastal exploration, and geological site visits over one week.
Which programs are best for students interested in astronomy or space science?
SSP International Astrophysics Track provides five weeks of collaborative astrophysics research using professional equipment in a residential setting, with optional alumni mentorship for college applications. Northwestern REACH introduces Python programming, scientific data analysis, and astronomy research over three weeks, with an optional advanced individual research component through REACH Further.
Are there natural sciences research programs specifically for girls or underrepresented students?
Headwaters Science Institute Girls Summer Research Camp is exclusively for girls in grades 6 through 12 and is led by female scientist mentors in a field-based ecological setting. UNC Geo-Health Science Saturdays is specifically designed for students from Robeson County, North Carolina, a community with limited access to higher education resources. SSP Astrophysics is free for families earning under $75,000, making it accessible to students from lower-income backgrounds nationally.
When should I apply to natural sciences research programs for high school students?
Hutton Junior Fisheries Program closes January 25. Argonne College Bound closes February 6 and SSP Astrophysics closes February 19 for domestic applicants. Princeton LLP closes March 15, Lundquist High STAR closes March 30, and SUNY Oneonta BFS closes March 26. Smithsonian NMNH applications open in mid-February and close March 20. Students should begin researching in the fall and prioritize January and February deadline programs well before the winter break.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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.