15 Pre-med Research Opportunities for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
If you are considering medicine as a future path, it helps to understand how the field works beyond the school curriculum by exploring research opportunities. These opportunities involve working on structured tasks, such as reviewing studies, analyzing data, or assisting with basic research. You may also explore specific areas such as human biology, healthcare systems, or disease patterns in greater detail. This helps you move from general interest to a clearer understanding of the field.
Why should I participate in a pre-med research opportunity in high school?
Pre-med research opportunities give you experience with how scientific research is conducted. You learn how to read and interpret information, organize your work, and follow a method over time. They also build skills that are useful later, such as managing long-term tasks and analyzing complex information. These are skills that are expected in higher-level study. In addition, completing research work strengthens your academic profile. It shows that you have taken initiative and worked on something beyond classroom learning.
To help you get started, here are 15 pre-med research opportunities for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
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: Varying deadlines based on cohort
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 designed for high school students who want to work on an independent research project. During the program, you are matched with a PhD mentor and work one-on-one to explore a topic of your choice. The structure is designed to guide you through the research process, from formulating a question to developing and refining your ideas. Over the course of the 12-week program, you work toward completing an independent research paper. You can choose from a range of subject areas, including medicine, psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations, depending on your interests. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks. Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8–12. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Students get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients.
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: All students receive a minimum stipend of $500; students from underrepresented groups may receive up to $1,500
Application Deadline: February 21
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors at least 16 years old, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week biomedical research program. During this time, you are placed in a laboratory setting, where you observe and participate in how research projects are structured. Research areas may include stem cell biology, cancer research, immunology, neuroscience, or bioengineering. This includes learning how experiments are designed, how data is gathered and analyzed, and how results connect to broader medical questions. You work alongside graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, which gives you a clearer sense of how research teams function in an academic setting. The type of work you do will depend on the lab you are assigned to.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, NY
Cost: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Application Deadline: February 6
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 14 or older by June, are legally authorized to work in the U.S., live within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New Jersey, New York, or Connecticut, and have a 3.5 GPA in science courses
The HOPP Summer Student Program is an eight-week program focused on introducing you to translational cancer research. During the program, you are placed in a laboratory and work under the guidance of a principal investigator. Depending on your placement, you may be assigned to a biomedical or computational lab, where you assist with ongoing research projects and complete specific tasks. You also participate in training sessions covering basic research methods and laboratory practices. Alongside your lab work, the program includes facility tours and group discussions that help you understand how cancer research is conducted across different settings. These sessions often focus on topics such as laboratory techniques, data analysis, and common approaches used in oncology research.
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Application Deadline: January 30
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program are eligible to apply
The Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship provides hands-on experience in medical research through supervised laboratory work. You are assigned to work with faculty and researchers in areas such as immunology, cell biology, and disease mechanisms, assisting with ongoing lab projects. Throughout the program, you gain experience in basic research techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing. You also participate in professional development sessions and have opportunities to interact with researchers to learn more about their work. At the conclusion of the internship, you present your project at a research symposium, sharing your findings and the work you completed during the program.
Location: Chicago and the Urbana-Champaign area
Cost: No cost; $3,000 stipend
Application Deadline: Typically in January
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years of age at the start of the program and are residents of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
ResearchStart places you in a university laboratory where you participate in supervised cancer research. You contribute to ongoing projects in areas such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, or therapeutics by following established procedures and completing assigned tasks. In addition to your lab responsibilities, the program includes workshops and lectures that introduce relevant research skills and concepts. You receive support and guidance from both faculty and peer mentors throughout the program. Professional development sessions provide insight into various career paths in biomedical science. At the end of the program, you present your research to other participants and mentors during a symposium.
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Application Deadline: March 30
Dates: June 1 – August 7 OR June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 by the internship’s start date
This 10-week program provides an introduction to translational science and precision medicine through a combination of instruction and research experience. You attend sessions on digital health, clinical genomics, community engagement, and study design and analysis. The program also offers an overview of how clinical trials are developed, from initial proposals to interpreting results. Your specific work is determined by your mentor and may include analyzing genomic or clinical data. At the conclusion of the program, you present a scientific concept to the other participants. The program emphasizes learning the methods and approaches used in translational and clinical research.
Location: IU School of Medicine’s downtown Indianapolis campus, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Eligibility: High school juniors attending Indianapolis or Marion County public schools who have a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Future Scientist Program places you in a university laboratory for eight weeks, where you work with a faculty mentor on a specific research project. Depending on the lab, your work may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. Your daily activities include assisting with experiments and observing how studies are designed, conducted, and analyzed in cancer research. The program also provides opportunities to meet with physicians and research staff during organized sessions. Its purpose is to introduce you to research practices in oncology and give you a clearer understanding of potential pathways in academic medicine or cancer research.
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free; transportation support may be available
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by June
The Stanford Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Internship Program is a seven-week summer program for high school students interested in medicine, biotechnology, and surgical research. You work with Stanford surgeons and researchers on projects involving tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and the development of medical devices. In the lab, you gain hands-on experience with techniques such as tissue culture, 3D printing for medical applications, and prototype development. The program also includes seminars and collaborative projects that examine how engineering methods can be applied to clinical care.
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Cost: No cost; stipend of $14/hour
Application Deadline: February 8
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Eligibility: Legally authorized to work in the United States | Reside in Palm Beach or Martin Counties and entering their junior or senior year at a high school in these counties during the current school year | 16 years of age or older at the internship’s start
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship is a six-week program for high school juniors and seniors interested in neuroscience. You work with MPFI researchers and gain hands-on experience with laboratory techniques, including genetic engineering, histological staining, and advanced microscopy. During the program, you complete a written scientific abstract and give a presentation to share your findings. You have access to the institute’s research facilities and receive guidance from experienced mentors, providing a thorough introduction to neuroscience research and laboratory practices.
Location: Georgetown University
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: Mid-June to mid-August
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years old by June 23 of the year of application
The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Summer Research Volunteer Program is an eight-week program for students interested in cancer research. You work in a laboratory alongside research scientists, collaborating with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Your projects may involve areas such as cell signaling, tumor immunology, human cancer genetics, or drug development. Through your lab work, you gain experience with experimental techniques and data analysis. The program provides a structured introduction to cancer research and offers insight for students exploring careers in the biological sciences.
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, CO
Cost: None; stipend of $4,400
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Eligibility: High school seniors older than 18; Colorado residents
The Child Health Research Internship is a summer program run by the University of Colorado’s Department of Pediatrics and the Colorado Child Health Research Institute. You work with university and hospital faculty, gaining hands-on experience in pediatric research. During the internship, you conduct a personal research project focused on child health and participate in weekly lectures led by faculty members. At the end of the program, you prepare a summary of your research work, including any contributions or results from your project. You are also encouraged to submit your research to local or national conferences, and if your submission is accepted, the program provides funding to support your participation.
Location: Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, FL
Cost: None
Application Deadline: December 31
Dates: June 2 – December 3
Eligibility: Duval County or St. Johns County, FL, high school juniors and seniors; Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
Mayo Clinic’s SPARK program allows high school students to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within Mayo Clinic’s research facilities. You can explore various fields, including cancer biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, molecular biology, and others. During the program, you work on an individual research project that can be submitted to science fairs. You also participate in a weekly Lunch and Learn series, which provides additional insight into research and guidance on preparing for college. The program concludes with a poster presentation and awards session, where you present your research findings to peers and mentors. Funding is available to support participation in the final presentation event.
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
Cost: No cost; limited subsistence allowances available based on eligibility
Application Deadline: January 31 (tentative)
Dates: June 26 – August 7 (6 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, at least 15 years old by June 26, and permanent residents enrolled in school districts in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, or Chautauqua County in Western New York
The SURE-CAN program at Roswell Park, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Upstate New York, is a six-week immersive cancer research internship for local high school juniors. You take part in a curriculum that combines lectures, group discussions, and hands-on lab work in either a wet or dry lab setting, depending on your placement. The program introduces you to the fundamentals of cancer science, including cancer biology, imaging, genomics, and artificial intelligence methods used in cancer research. You also cover basic statistics, research ethics, and scientific rigor. Alongside your research, you attend seminars and professional development sessions on scientific communication and careers in the health sciences. The program concludes with a formal poster symposium where you present your research rationale, goals, and findings to scientists and peers.
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free; $3,600 stipend
Application Deadline: January 22
Dates: 6 weeks (summer)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (applying in junior year) who attend a high school in Massachusetts within commuting distance of the Broad Institute; must have earned a B or better in science and math; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens with employment authorization (including DACA); no prior research experience required
The Broad Summer Scholars Program is a highly selective six-week research program at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, accepting fewer than 20 students each year. You are matched with a Broad scientist and complete an original, independent research project in areas such as cancer biology, infectious disease, chemical biology, psychiatric disease, or computational biology. Because no prior research experience is required, the program is designed to be genuinely accessible to students who have had limited exposure to research settings. Your daily work takes place in one of the Broad's research labs alongside scientists and graduate students, with structured mentorship throughout.
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.