11 Great Summer Chemistry Programs for High School Students
Chemistry is one of the most popular STEM majors, and getting into a well-known institute for the subject boosts your shot at gaining research experience, mentorship, and networking opportunities. To make your college application stand out, you must demonstrate interest as well as experience in your field of interest. You can do this by participating in chemistry competitions such as USNCO, working on a related passion project, and participating in chemistry programs.
We’ve compiled a list of 11 great summer chemistry 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, Chemistry Track
Lumiere was founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Hundreds of ambitious high school students do chemistry research through the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs. Each student is paired with a top PhD and works with their mentor 1-1 to produce a university-level research paper. The programs are entirely virtual and vary in duration based on the student’s end goal with respect to how much of a deep dive they would prefer. The research opportunities range from Organic & Inorganic Chemistry, to Chemical Kinetics & Dynamics.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
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.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
RSI is a highly competitive (and prestigious) program that covers an array of STEM subjects, including chemistry. It has an acceptance rate of less than 5%, so you’ll find yourself among the brightest of peers. This summer program allows you to conduct independent research in chemistry while taking college-level courses. Here’s a chemistry project that previous RSI participants worked on - The Monoreduction of Diketones and its Application towards the Total Synthesis of Kalmanol (2006) by Kenneth I. Brewer. You can view more such projects here. You are expected to be aware of the latest literature in chemistry, design a research plan, and work on oral and written presentations of your findings.
Cost: Free of cost, stipend provided
Location: MIT Campus
Application deadline: January 15 for US citizens, and March 15 for International Students
Program dates: June 26 to August 6 (tentative)
Eligibility: All high school juniors can apply
Another great program that is free of cost is Illinois Tech University’s Summer Scholar Program. If you already have a strong grasp of chemistry and want to work in a research lab, then the Department of Chemistry (which hosts this program) has solid research options for you. Research areas in the program include bioanalytical chemistry, computational chemistry and biochemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry. You can expect to work for 30 hours a week for 8-10 weeks in the summer.
Location: Mies Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free of cost
Application deadline: March 30
Program dates: May 15 - July 10
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders who have taken at least one chemistry course in high school.
A 7-week summer program, ARISE is offered by NYU and combines college-level workshops and lab research in chemical engineering. If you choose to participate in the program, you will learn about expository writing, scientific methods, professional development, and ethics in science. Alongside these skills and exposure to academic research, you will receive presentation and public speaking training. As part of the program’s conclusion, you and your peers will present your research findings to NYU faculty and graduate students, ARISE, peers, and family members at the concluding colloquium.
Location: Tandon and Washington Square campuses, NYC
Cost: Free of cost, a stipend of $750
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: June 28 – August 11
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores residing in NYC can apply
The University of Pennsylvania hosts the Chemistry Research Academy annually on campus. CRA offers students foundational knowledge for research in chemistry before their college careers. You will be mentored by scholars at Penn. The Academy curriculum includes lectures, lab experience, presentations, trips, tours, and group discussions. You can choose to work on a capstone project, which can be a useful supplement for your college applications. The capstone project allows you to choose and plan your own research project using Penn’s online resources. You will leave with a plan you can use for entering a science fair such as ISEF or STS.
Location: University of Pennsylvania Campus
Cost: $9,700 + $150 application fee. Additionally, you are eligible for a full scholarship if you attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school as part of the Penn Summer Scholarship.
Application deadline: March 31 for international students and May 1 for domestic students.
Program dates: July 9 – July 29
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school chemistry before applying to the program.
UC Berkeley's SYIP program, hosted by its College of Chemistry, is for high schoolers who want to pursue a career in chemistry. Apart from basic chemistry, you will be encouraged to pursue research in related fields, such as biochemical chemistry and materials science. This is useful exposure, especially if you’re unsure about which specialization to pursue after picking Chemistry as your undergrad major. The program accepts about 30 students and offers a 4-week internship that includes data analysis, non-hazardous laboratory procedures and seminars and group meetings. Once selected, you will be paired with a mentor who will guide you through concept development, methods design, decision-making, and scientific processes. Before the internship, there is a 9-month remote coaching program that preps you.
Note: You can find presentations by previous SYIP participants here.
Location: UC Berkeley Campus
Cost: $14,750 + $75 application fees
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: 9-Month Remote Coaching: October through June, 4-week On-Site Internship: July 9 to August 5
Eligibility: Rising high school students who are in the top 10% of their class and have already taken general or AP chemistry are eligible to apply.
Columbia University's pre-college program in chemistry enhances your understanding of chemistry and current research methods. The summer program is open to all high-achieving high schoolers and follows a seminar format. You are expected to attend daily presentations, group discussions, and lab experiences. You will gain experience with various advanced methods such as spectroscopy, chromatography, magnetic resonance, and computer simulations. Guest lectures and field trips are also part of the experience. To successfully complete the program, you are expected to submit a small research project, prepare a scientific paper, and participate regularly in class discussions.
Location: Columbia University Campus
Cost: $12,449
Application deadline: March 3
Program dates: June 26–July 14
Eligibility: All high school students can apply, although at least one year of high school chemistry experience and two years of high school algebra experience are preferred.
This summer program selects 25 students to work on research individually with a UCSD faculty researcher across various subjects. You will receive access to laboratories on campus. Apart from working on your scientific thinking and research skills, the Research Scholars Program lets you build strong connections with peers, mentors, and other faculty. You can pick from the following program tracks: Design Thinking Lab, Bioengineering, Life Sciences, Marine Science, etc. Apart from research-based programs, you can also opt for an internship-based program for each of the subjects UC San Diego offers. You can check out subject-specific information here.
Location: In-person/virtual
Cost: Varies from program to program
Application deadline: Varies from program to program
Program dates: This program runs in the summer; you can check out subject-wise dates here.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
This long-running program allows San Francisco students from underrepresented populations in STEM professions to learn about science and sustainability. You will receive mentorship, build professional skills, and be compensated for your efforts. Throughout the program, you are encouraged to participate in seminars and conferences and interact with faculty, mentors, and peers. As for specific subject tracks such as chemistry, we reached out to the CiS team, and here’s the answer we received: Students are allocated to roles and departments in a museum setting based on their interests and the opportunities available in the museum at the time.
Location: California Academy of Sciences
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided
Application deadline: April 3
Program dates: Multi-year, year-round participation
Eligibility: All high schoolers residing in San Francisco can apply
The Simons Summer Research Program allows high school students to undertake research in a variety of disciplines, including chemistry. You can join research teams, collaborate with faculty members, and learn about laboratory equipment and methodologies. As part of the program, you will be expected to conduct your own research using cutting-edge equipment provided by the university. To complete this apprenticeship, you are required to produce a written research abstract and a research poster. The program has an acceptance rate of about 8%, making it quite competitive as well as prestigious. Note: The application requires you to submit 2 letters of recommendation, so ensure you have those before applying!
Location: Stony Brook University Campus
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided
Application deadline: February 10
Program dates: June 26 - August 11
Eligibility: Junior-year students who hold US citizenship are eligible to apply
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.