7 Dental Research Opportunities for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 15, 2025
- 7 min read
For high school students curious about the intersection of science, medicine, and patient care, dental research programs offer one of the more focused and underexplored routes into healthcare. These programs give you early exposure to oral biology, craniofacial anatomy, biomaterials, public health, and clinical simulation — areas rarely covered in high school curricula but central to dentistry and biomedical science careers.
Here is a curated list of 7 dental research opportunities for high school students, each hosted by a well-regarded institution and offering strong mentorship through lab placements, clinical training, or independent research projects.
Quick Look
7 programs total spanning independent research mentorships, lab-based summer internships, clinical simulation intensives, and an AI-in-medicine course covering dental and medical applications
Most in-person programs are free with a stipend: UConn HSRAP (stipend provided), Texas A&M SPEP (stipend for food and travel), and OHSU Research Internship (stipend provided); Stanford STaRS is free but offers no stipend and requires students to cover housing and travel; Harvard MEDscience Dental costs $2,800; Lumiere starts at $2,990 with full financial aid available
Geographic restrictions apply to several programs: UConn HSRAP is limited to Connecticut residents, Texas A&M SPEP to Dallas-area sophomores and juniors, and Stanford STaRS to students aged 16 and above regardless of location; Lumiere and Veritas AI are fully remote and open globally
Programs are generally open to students in grades 9 to 12; UConn HSRAP specifically targets juniors; Texas A&M accepts sophomores and juniors only; OHSU accepts students aged 16 and above including undergraduates
The earliest known deadline is Stanford STaRS (typically November), followed by UConn HSRAP (April 1) and Texas A&M SPEP (May 9)
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—Dentistry track
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.
Location: Stanford, California
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; however, you’re responsible for travel, housing, and meals. No stipend is provided.
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically closes in November each year
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older
Through the Stanford STaRS (Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery) program, you’ll spend seven weeks conducting lab research under the guidance of a clinician-scientist mentor. You can focus on areas that align with your interests—several mentors have expertise in dental research, including orthodontics and craniofacial reconstruction. As part of a small cohort of about 20 high school students, you’ll gain experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. Expect to engage with scientific literature, attend faculty-led lectures, and learn lab safety protocols. The program ends with a final presentation, allowing you to share your work and receive feedback from faculty and peers. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
3. Veritas AI's AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. 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.
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. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Location: UConn (Mansfield) or Central Connecticut State University (New Britain), Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; stipend provided (amount not specified)
Dates: June 16 – July 18
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Connecticut high school juniors from underrepresented backgrounds with a ‘B’ average or higher; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This five-week summer program places you in a basic science or clinical research lab, where you'll participate in medicine, dental medicine, or biomedical research. Under the mentorship of UConn researchers and faculty, you’ll learn to frame research questions, design experiments, interpret data, and present your findings to a professional audience. Whether exploring cellular biology, oral health, or clinical procedures, you’ll contribute to active research while building core lab skills. You’ll also attend lectures, workshops, and community-building events alongside a small cohort of peers. With just 5–6 students accepted annually, the program offers close mentorship.
Location: College Station, Texas
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; stipend provided to cover food, travel, and other costs
Dates: July 14 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Dallas-area high school sophomores and juniors with a minimum 2.75 GPA; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Texas A&M’s SPEP gives you a one-week introduction to academic and hands-on experiences in dentistry. You'll participate in lab projects using dental materials, attend lectures on preclinical dentistry, and present on a dental topic to peers and mentors. The curriculum includes a cultural competency seminar to help broaden your understanding of patient care in diverse communities. Throughout the week, you’ll work with faculty and dental students, gaining exposure to the tools, terminology, and collaborative environment of dental education. The program supplies all lab and instructional materials, and a stipend helps cover logistical expenses.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: $2,800 (includes scrubs, materials, snacks, and lunch; housing and travel not included)
Dates: One-week session in June
Application Deadline: Not currently listed
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
In Harvard’s MEDscience@HMS Dental program, you’ll spend a week building foundational skills in oral healthcare through simulations and clinical-style training. You’ll work in Harvard Medical School’s advanced simulation lab, where you’ll learn how to evaluate and manage dental conditions alongside dental students, physicians, and practicing dentists. Expect instruction in suturing, IV placement, tooth carving, impression-taking, and digital scanning—giving you a feel for real dental procedures. You’ll also attend seminars on oral health, engage in small-group workshops, and explore pathways into dental careers through professional development sessions. This program is designed for students curious about the clinical side of dentistry.
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; housing is not covered. A stipend is provided (amount not specified).
Dates: Minimum 8 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Not currently listed
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students aged 16 or older
In this summer internship, you’ll join ongoing investigations in oral microbiomes, dental biomaterials, tissue engineering, orthodontics, or public health. Over eight weeks, you'll work with faculty mentors in university labs, learning core research techniques while contributing to a project. From developing hypotheses to analyzing data, you’ll see how dental and craniofacial research occurs. You’ll gain access to specialized equipment, and at the end of the program, you’ll present your findings to faculty and peers in a formal setting. This is a solid opportunity to explore dental science in depth, especially if you’re curious about research careers or advanced studies in health and science.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior science or dental knowledge to apply to these programs?
No prior dental or research experience is required for most programs on this list. Lumiere, Harvard MEDscience Dental, Texas A&M SPEP, and OHSU all describe their programs as introductory and suitable for students with general interest in the field. Stanford STaRS benefits from a strong academic background in science but does not require specific dental knowledge. UConn HSRAP requires a B average or higher and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency but no prior research experience. Veritas AI's AI and Medicine program is the only option that benefits from prior coding knowledge or completion of the AI Scholars prerequisite.
Are any of these programs accessible to students outside the United States?
Lumiere is the only program on this list that is fully remote and open to students worldwide with no geographic restriction and rolling deadlines throughout the year. Veritas AI is also virtual and accepts international students globally. All other programs are U.S.-based and most have geographic eligibility requirements — UConn HSRAP is limited to Connecticut residents and Texas A&M SPEP to Dallas-area students. Stanford STaRS, Harvard MEDscience, and OHSU are open to U.S. students broadly but require in-person attendance in California, Massachusetts, and Oregon respectively.
Is dental research a strong focus area for college applications?
Yes, particularly for students applying to pre-dental or pre-med tracks, where demonstrated clinical curiosity and research experience are increasingly expected rather than optional. Dental research is a notably specific and uncommon focus at the high school level, which makes it stand out in a pool of applicants with general STEM or medical experience. Programs that produce a research paper (Lumiere), a formal poster or presentation (Stanford STaRS, OHSU), or hands-on clinical simulation certifications (Harvard MEDscience) give you specific, verifiable outcomes that admissions officers can evaluate clearly. Even short programs like Texas A&M SPEP demonstrate intentionality and direction of interest, which carries real weight.
Summary
This list covers 7 dental research opportunities for high school students, ranging from one-week clinical simulation intensives at Harvard to eight-week lab internships at OHSU and Stanford, with most in-person programs offered free of charge and several providing stipends to offset costs. The programs most likely to produce a tangible, application-ready outcome are Lumiere (independent research paper with a PhD mentor, submittable for publication), Stanford STaRS (final research presentation to faculty), and OHSU (formal research presentation at program end), making them the strongest choices for students who want something concrete to reference in college essays. For students outside the U.S. or without access to a local program, Lumiere and Veritas AI are the only two options on this list that are fully remote and globally accessible year-round.
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Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.