If you’re a high school student looking for research opportunities during the winter months, these research programs should be on your radar! Research programs allow you to gain academic experience, work on cutting-edge projects, and learn about the research process from experts. Winter research programs offer many advantages, such as increased chances of securing placements in the most prestigious programs. These programs occur during the academic year and provide a great opportunity to explore your interests while managing your school commitments.

Additionally, such experiences demonstrate your dedication to your chosen field and show admission officers that you can apply theoretical concepts in practical situations. It can also help you network with researchers in your field. You can later use these connections for job opportunities or even letters of recommendation!

Here are the 9 best winter research programs for high school students! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.

Cost: Full financial aid is available!

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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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.

2. OHSU School of Medicine Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI)

Location: Virtual over Webex

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: November 24

Dates: January 15 - May

Eligibility: Only high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible.

The Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI) program introduces high school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine or biomedical research to the scientific process. During the program, you will meet for two hours on Wednesdays for a lecture series and to learn about ongoing research projects conducted by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Each student will be mentored by a researcher. You’ll gain knowledge of research methods and, with your mentor's help, present a published research article in a journal club format and develop your research proposal. You may elect to join a scientific laboratory or perform clinical research over the summer. A poster symposium is held at the end of the summer internship series to showcase your research.

3. Veritas AI 

Location: Virtual

Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here. 

Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).

Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.

Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. 

Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here. 

4. Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute

Location: Cleveland, OH

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Dates: Flexible depending on the applicant’s preference.

Eligibility: Students must be 16 years of age or older.

Research opportunities are available in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute laboratories for high school and undergraduate students to gain experience in laboratory techniques and explore careers in biomedical research. The number of laboratories with opportunities varies throughout the year. After identifying labs of interest to you, you can send each Principal Investigator a brief email to introduce yourself, your interest in the work of that particular lab, relevant science courses that you have taken, and previous research experiences (if applicable). Include when you would like to work in a lab and why you would like to have research experience. You can find labs that interest you using the lab search tool or through the Science page.

5. Burke Neurological Institute’s Introduction to Neuroscience Course

Location: Online via webinars

Cost: $500 (Full scholarship available).

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.

Dates: February 6 to March 28 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Eligibility: All high school students who have completed the NYS Regents Living Environment or equivalent Biology class can apply.

This course offers an overview of fundamental neuroscience concepts, from the structure and function of neurons to the complexities of neural circuits and behavior. Through lectures, laboratory experiments, and discussions, you'll understand the principles that underlie neurological function. You will conduct experiments on state-of-the-art equipment, exploring topics such as neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and neuroanatomy. The course provides opportunities for collaborative projects and exposure to the latest advancements in neuroscience research. 

6. Penn State Research Internships and Observation

Location: Penn State College of Medicine (PSCOM), Hershey, PA.

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Internships may or may not provide a stipend. 

Application Deadline: No deadline has been specified.

Dates: Flexible dates, based on which research mentor you select.

Eligibility: High school students who are residents of the United States and are sponsored/supervised by a member of the College of Medicine faculty.

Penn State College of Medicine offers high school students biomedical research internships and observation opportunities. You can choose brief 1-2 day shadowing experiences or internships spanning weeks or months. Your role will involve shadowing and observing the daily activities of a research mentor, gaining insight into their methodologies, experiments, and approaches to biomedical research. You will observe laboratory procedures, experimental setups, data collection methods, and analysis techniques. Note: Before applying, students should seek a potential research supervisor. To explore faculty research interests at Penn State College of Medicine, students can browse the Penn State Research Database. 

7. Jackson Lab Academic Year Fellowships

Location: Farmington, CT or Bar Harbor, ME

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: July 7 (Bar Harbor, ME) | September 15 (Farmington, CT)

Dates: TBA

Eligibility: High school students aged at least 16 years and enrolled as a junior or senior in good standing at a high school within commuting distance of the Jackson Laboratory campus in either Farmington, CT, or Bar Harbor, ME.

The Jackson Laboratory offers limited in-person, hybrid, and fully remote research opportunities with researchers at their Maine and Connecticut campuses. During the program, you’ll join a JAX research group and learn and practice the technical skills necessary to become a member of the research team. You’ll also develop personal skills, including problem-solving, effective scientific communication, time management, and teamwork. Working with your mentor, you’ll design an independent research project within the scope of the lab’s ongoing research. Mentors include JAX faculty, postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and other biomedical research professionals.

8. Cornell Precollege Program (Winter session)

Location: Online (this includes live sessions and offline work)

Cost: $1,750 per credit (3-credit course)

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in December.

Dates: Vary for different courses but typically run in January.

Eligibility: All high school students are eligible. Different courses may have different criteria; check before you apply. 

With a diverse range of course options, this program covers biomedicine, economics, ethics, and more. These courses provide a valuable introduction to college-level academics while letting you explore subjects that interest you. For instance, Biomedical Terminology introduces you to the language of the biomedical field, equipping you with the vocabulary necessary to navigate the complex world of medicine and healthcare. Introductory Microeconomics offers a foundational understanding of economic principles, helping you comprehend supply and demand dynamics, market behavior, and consumer choices. These courses can deepen your knowledge in subjects of interest and provide a glimpse into college-level academics.

9. Research Scholars at UC San Diego

Location: University of California, San Diego, CA

Cost: Ranges between $2,000 and $3,000.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis till the slots are filled.

Dates: Typically runs between January and March.

Eligibility: Students who are at least 15, in grades 9-12, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0

UC San Diego's Academic Connections Research Scholars program offers a variety of research-focused tracks, including Bioengineering, Business Research, Design Lab, Life Sciences, Marine Science, and School of Medicine. For example, in the Life Sciences track, you will learn about fundamental molecular biology topics and modern laboratory techniques. You will synthesize life science fundamentals, conduct fieldwork, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, collect and process samples, execute experiments, and analyze data. This experience culminates in showcasing your research findings through poster presentations attended by local scientists and industry leaders. 

Jessica attends Harvard University where she studies Neuroscience and Computer Science as a Coca-Cola, Elks, and Albert Shankar Scholar. She is passionate about educational equity and hopes to one day combine this with her academic interests via social entrepreneurship. Outside of academics, she enjoys taking walks, listening to music, and running her jewelry business! 

Image Source: Burke Neurological Institute logo