15 Science Research Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 13 min read
Joining a science research program in high school can be one of the smartest decisions you make early on. It shifts how you approach learning, moving you from memorizing concepts to actually questioning and testing them. Research pushes you to think through problems, work with uncertainty, and rely on evidence rather than assumptions.
At first, science can feel focused on concepts and definitions. But research is where those ideas are applied. Science research programs for high school students involve tasks like designing experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results. You may also read research papers or work through a question over time, which shows how scientific work is actually done.
Why should I participate in a science research program in high school?
Science research programs for high school students give you direct experience with how research is carried out. You learn how to form a research question, choose a method, and analyze results using basic tools and techniques.
They also give you outcomes you can use in college applications. A completed research project, paper, or presentation shows that you have worked on something beyond school coursework. This makes your interest more specific and easier to demonstrate.
To make your search easier, here are 15 science 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 and provide substantial stipends, including MD Anderson Summer Program ($7,200 for 10 weeks), Max Planck Florida Neuroscience Internship ($14/hr), HOPP at Memorial Sloan Kettering ($1,200), ARISE at NYU ($2,000), ResearchStart at University of Chicago ($3,000), and NIH Summer Internship (stipend varies by institute), making science research broadly accessible to high school students.
Programs span a wide range of science fields including cancer biology and oncology (HOPP at MSK, MD Anderson, ResearchStart, Fox Chase Cancer Center), neuroscience (Max Planck Florida), biomedical and regenerative medicine (Stanford SIMR, Stanford STaRS), Earth science and satellite data (NASA SEES), computational biology and AI (ARISE, HARP, Lumiere), and general STEM research (RSI at MIT, Simons at Stony Brook, UC San Diego Research Scholars).
Several programs are among the most selective pre-college research opportunities in the country, including RSI at MIT (fully funded, applying around December, extremely competitive nationally), SIMR at Stanford (approximately 50 students), and HOPP at MSK (approximately 2% acceptance from 1,000+ applications), requiring exceptional academic records and early preparation.
Students looking for virtual or geographically flexible programs can apply to Lumiere Research Scholar Program, HARP, NASA SEES (hybrid virtual and in-person), and UC San Diego Research Scholars (virtual options available), while most other programs require physical presence at their host institutions.
Deadlines for competitive programs are concentrated in January and February, with MD Anderson closing January 14, Fox Chase closing in early November, RSI closing in mid-December, NIH SIP closing around February 18, and Stanford SIMR closing February 21, so students should begin identifying programs in the fall and prioritize October through February deadline programs first.
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 a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students. It provides one-on-one mentorship, pairing you with a PhD-level mentor to guide you through an independent project in a subject area of your choice. Over the course of 12 weeks, you’ll work closely with your mentor to explore your topic, develop your ideas, and produce a research paper. The program covers a wide range of fields, including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations, allowing you to pursue an area that aligns with your interests. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: $50 application fee. Need-based stipends are available
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) runs for 8 weeks and centers on guided biomedical research. During this time, you join a laboratory and take part in ongoing research projects, where you learn how experiments are planned, data is analyzed, and results are related to medical questions. You work closely with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, which helps you understand how research groups operate in an academic environment. The specific work you do depends on the lab you are assigned to, with possible areas including stem cell research, cancer biology, immunology, neuroscience, or bioengineering. In addition to lab work, you attend weekly lectures and discussions that introduce different careers in medicine and research, including both clinical and academic paths.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th- or 11th-graders! A few tracks require prerequisites
Horizon runs trimester-length research programs for high school students in areas such as data science, machine learning, and political theory. You can choose between quantitative and qualitative research approaches, depending on your interests and the subject you select. After choosing a track, you are matched with a professor or PhD researcher who mentors you through the process of developing your project. Over the course of the program, you will work toward producing a research paper of around 20 pages based on your findings. You’ll also receive structured feedback on your work and a letter of recommendation at the end, which you can use to support future academic applications or projects.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: Typically early- to mid-December
Dates: Six weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet the RSI academic prerequisites
RSI is a fully funded STEM research program held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the first week, you attend a series of seminars led by faculty, which introduce a range of advanced topics in science and engineering. For the next five weeks, you focus on an individual research project, typically in computer science or a related programming area, working under the supervision of a mentor. During this time, you develop your approach, work through data and results, and improve how you document your work in writing. At the end of the program, you complete a research paper and give a presentation summarizing your project in a format similar to that of an academic conference.
Location: New York University, New York/Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Fully funded + $2,000 stipend
Application deadline: February 27
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 living in New York City and attending NYC schools
ARISE is a 10-week summer program for high school students in New York City that focuses on research experience in STEM fields. Over the course of the program, you take part in both training sessions and supervised lab work, where you learn about research methods, scientific writing, and areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, computer science, and machine learning. You are introduced to topics including experimental design, data analysis, research ethics, and professional skills. During the program, you complete around 120 hours of lab work, attend seminars, and develop a research project. By the end of the summer, you will present your work as part of a final research presentation. The program also offers guidance on college applications and connects you with an alumni network.
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 that provides hands-on experience in translational cancer research. You are paired with a principal investigator and placed in either a biomedical or computational lab, where you complete assigned tasks and contribute to ongoing projects. Alongside your lab work, you participate in training sessions that cover research methods and lab procedures. The program also includes facility tours and discussions that give context on how cancer research is conducted. Group sessions focus on laboratory techniques, data analysis, and standard practices in oncology research.
Location: NIH campuses, primarily the main campus in Bethesda, MD, with select placements at other NIH sites across the country
Cost: Free; stipend provided (amount varies by institute and student level)
Application Deadline: Around February 18 annually; reference letters due approximately one week later
Dates: 8 weeks; typically June through August
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are enrolled at least half-time as a senior at the time of application, and will graduate before the internship begins. You must be 18 by September 30 of that year; if you are 17 as of June 1 and reside within 40 miles of an NIH campus, you may still qualify.
The NIH Summer Internship Program places you in a research laboratory at one of the National Institutes of Health campuses, where you work under the supervision of an NIH investigator. Your tasks vary depending on your lab and mentor and can include areas such as cancer biology, infectious disease, immunology, neuroscience, genomics, or clinical research. Your work may be laboratory-based, computational, or patient-focused, and you can indicate your preferences when applying. In addition to your research, you attend seminars, presentations, and orientation sessions offered across the NIH. These sessions cover topics such as research ethics, career paths in medicine and science, and the functions of federal health agencies.
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 laboratory at a participating university, 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 lab work, you attend workshops and lectures that introduce relevant techniques and concepts. Faculty and peer mentors provide guidance throughout the program, and sessions on professional development explore various career paths in biomedical science. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your research to other participants and mentors.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost; stipend of $7,200 for the 10-week program and $6,120 if participating for 9 weeks.
Application Deadline: January 14
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Eligibility: Open to Texas-resident high school seniors, 18+ at the start
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program, hosted by the University of Texas and MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a 10-week research program for students interested in biomedical science. During the program, you work on a research project, such as cancer biology or genetics, under the guidance of MD Anderson faculty. You gain hands-on experience in the lab, learning research methods, data collection, and analysis. The program also includes seminars that provide context on the research process and introduce concepts in biomedical science.
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 summer program for high school students interested in medicine, biotechnology, and surgical research. In the program, you work with Stanford surgeons and researchers on projects in areas such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and medical device development. In the laboratory, you gain hands-on experience with techniques like 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 in clinical settings.
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. During the internship, you work with MPFI researchers and gain experience with laboratory techniques such as genetic engineering, histological staining, and advanced microscopy. You also receive guidance from mentors and have access to the institute’s research facilities, providing a structured introduction to neuroscience research and lab practices. The program concludes with a written scientific abstract and a presentation, where you share the results of your work.
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, PA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Registrations typically run for 3.5 weeks from early to mid-October into early November
Dates: early January – mid-March
Eligibility: Students from the Philadelphia- Tri-State area who are at least 16 years of age and have completed high school chemistry and biology
At Fox Chase Cancer Center, you can take part in a program for high school students that introduces biomedical research, with an emphasis on how nutrients influence development. The program meets on Saturdays for about three hours and includes a mix of lectures, laboratory activities, and an individual research project. Over the course of the program, you work through basic research methods and apply them to your own project. At the end, you present your results during a final presentation session. Each group is limited to 16 students. The program is fully funded for participants from the Philadelphia tri-state area. To apply, you need to submit two letters of recommendation and complete an interview.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free
Application deadline: February 5
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and are at least 16 years old
The Simons Summer Research Program, held at Stony Brook University, provides high school students with experience in STEM research. During the program, you join a research group and contribute to an ongoing project in areas such as computer science or engineering. As you work on your project, you learn to use laboratory methods, tools, and research practices relevant to your field. The program also includes faculty talks and workshops that introduce different STEM disciplines and help you develop research skills. At the end of the program, you prepare a research abstract and present your work in the form of a poster.
Location: Both virtual and in-person opportunities are available
Cost: Varies by program and format; Scholarships available for some programs
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Dates: Varies by program, with winter opportunities available
Eligibility: High school students (15+) in grades 9–12 with a minimum GPA of 3.0
The UC San Diego Research Scholars Program provides high school students with organized research experience across areas such as bioengineering, life sciences, medicine, marine science, design thinking, and business. The winter session, typically running from January through March, combines instructional coursework with supervised research activities led by UC San Diego faculty and staff. Your work depends on the track you select. You might perform laboratory procedures, use programming tools such as MATLAB or Python, conduct field-based research, or complete a structured project. Past work has included studying environmental DNA to track endangered species, reviewing injury trends in athletes, and examining components of local marine ecosystems. By the end of the program, you will prepare a written summary or a poster to present your findings.
Location: Online and University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (in-person for final two weeks)
Cost: $2,000 for the in-person portion
Application deadline: February 22
Dates: Virtual modules: May 15 – July 3 + On-site: July 5 – 18 + Virtual symposium: July 20–21
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old
SEES is a STEM research internship run through a partnership between NASA and the University of Texas at Austin. In this program, you work with researchers on projects related to Earth science, satellite data, and analysis methods. Part of the program focuses on using programming tools, including Python, to process and interpret satellite data. During the in-person portion at UT Austin, you participate in team-based work that may include analyzing large datasets, conducting fieldwork, and attending sessions on topics such as remote sensing, satellite systems, and climate science. The program concludes with a virtual symposium where you share your project with other participants and mentors.
Frequently asked questions
What types of science research programs are available for high school students?
Options include fully funded STEM research programs (RSI at MIT, ARISE at NYU), paid biomedical and cancer research internships (HOPP at MSK, MD Anderson, Max Planck Florida, NIH SIP), free university lab research programs (ResearchStart at UChicago, Simons at Stony Brook, Fox Chase Cancer Center), Earth science and satellite data programs (NASA SEES), virtual and independent research programs (Lumiere, HARP), surgical and bioengineering research programs (Stanford STaRS), and multi-disciplinary research programs (UC San Diego Research Scholars).
Which science research programs offer the largest stipends?
MD Anderson Summer Program provides the largest stipend at $7,200 for ten weeks of cancer biology research. Max Planck Florida Neuroscience Internship pays $14 per hour. ResearchStart at University of Chicago provides $3,000. ARISE at NYU provides $2,000. HOPP at Memorial Sloan Kettering provides $1,200. NIH Summer Internship provides a stipend that varies by institute and student level.
Which programs are best for students interested in cancer or biomedical research?
HOPP at Memorial Sloan Kettering places students in translational cancer research labs for eight weeks. MD Anderson Summer Program provides ten weeks of mentored cancer biology and genetics research with the largest stipend on this list. ResearchStart at University of Chicago places students in cancer immunology and bioengineering labs across Chicago institutions. Fox Chase Cancer Center Immersion Science Program meets on Saturdays for students in the Philadelphia area throughout winter and spring.
Which programs are most selective or competitive?
RSI at MIT is widely considered one of the most competitive pre-college research programs in the country, with a December deadline and extremely limited spots nationally. HOPP at Memorial Sloan Kettering accepts approximately 2% of applicants from over 1,000 submissions. Stanford SIMR accepts approximately 50 students. Simons at Stony Brook has an acceptance rate under 5%. NIH Summer Internship is highly competitive across its institutes nationally.
Are there science research programs accessible to students outside major research hubs?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully remote and open to students worldwide with multiple cohort cycles throughout the year. HARP is fully virtual and accepts students from any location with a strong academic record. NASA SEES combines virtual modules with a two-week in-person component at UT Austin, making it partially accessible to students outside the Texas area. UC San Diego Research Scholars offers both virtual and in-person tracks depending on the program selected.
When should I apply to science research programs for high school students?
Fox Chase Cancer Center opens applications in October for its January start. RSI at MIT closes in mid-December. MD Anderson closes January 14 and NIH SIP closes around February 18. Stanford SIMR closes February 21, ARISE closes February 27, and Simons closes February 5. HOPP at MSK closes February 6. NASA SEES closes February 22. Students should begin researching in the summer and prioritize October through December 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.