14 Research Programs for High School Students in Louisiana
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 6
- 9 min read
High school is a good time to start exploring a subject in more depth, especially if you already have an idea of what you enjoy. Research programs are one of the most practical ways to do that, since they move you beyond standard coursework and into focused, project-based learning.
If you are in Louisiana, there are multiple institutions that run research programs designed for high school students. Through these, you can work closely with mentors, study a topic in detail, and understand how academic work is actually carried out. This kind of exposure can help you decide what you want to pursue further.
Why should I do a research program in high school?
By joining a research program, you develop skills such as analytical thinking, research methodology, writing, and interpretation of data. You also gain experience in managing long-term projects and explaining your findings.
Local programs can be more accessible since you avoid extra costs related to travel and accommodation. On top of that, research experience strengthens your college applications and gives you clear, real examples to discuss during interviews, something that stands out to admission committees.
With that, here are 14 research programs for high school students in Louisiana!
14 Research Programs for High School Students in Louisiana
Location: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 15-20 students
Dates: 15-20 hours per week during the summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 6
Eligibility: High school students who are currently enrolled as a 9th, 10th, or 11th grader, are at least 15 years of age, and have a 3.5 (or equivalent) high school GPA are eligible to apply.
Louisiana State University’s program places you inside faculty-led research teams working across areas like engineering, computer science, and construction management. You spend your time contributing to ongoing projects while also observing how research groups operate day to day. Alongside this, you attend workshops on lab safety, research ethics, and technical communication. The program is structured so you move through both hands-on work and guided sessions. You also learn how research questions are framed and how results are documented. At the end, you present your work through a formal poster, which reflects what you worked on during the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA
Stipend: $2,645
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: New Orleans high school juniors and seniors, between the ages of 16 and 18 at the time of the application, are eligible to apply.
LSU Health New Orleans places you in labs or clinical environments where you work alongside researchers and healthcare professionals. Over eight weeks, you learn how common lab techniques and research methods are applied in health sciences. The program also includes seminars that cover career pathways and professional development. You are guided on how to present scientific work, especially in formats used in conferences. Your work builds toward a final presentation, either as a poster or oral session. The experience is structured around both lab exposure and formal instruction.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple year-round cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) are eligible to apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites; more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – 26
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school students advancing into 12th grade who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program are eligible to apply. Applicants must be residents of and attend high school in Louisiana.
Ochsner’s STAR Program places you in a structured environment where you work on research within a dedicated student lab. You carry out investigations under the guidance of scientists while learning how medical research is conducted. The program also includes sessions with healthcare professionals who explain current developments in the field. You are introduced to medical technologies and how they are used in practice. Alongside research, you attend workshops on skills like résumé writing and presentations. There are also sessions like CPR training and discussions on healthcare-related issues.
Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: Check here for updates
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from the Greater New Orleans area are eligible to apply. Applicants must apply for a Tulane Science Scholars Program course, attend a public school, and apply for financial aid.
Tulane’s program gives you direct access to research labs where you work with faculty and graduate students. Over several weeks, you take part in scientific investigations and learn how lab work is structured. In addition to research, you are enrolled in a credit-bearing course through the Science Scholars Program. This allows you to connect your lab work with academic learning. The program is paid, and your work contributes to ongoing research within the university. You experience both classroom and lab environments during the program.
Location: The University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Stipend: $2000
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students residing and attending high school within 40 miles of the University of New Orleans are eligible to apply
The University of New Orleans program places you in full-time research roles within advanced laboratory settings. You either work on your own project or contribute to a larger research effort led by scientists. The research areas vary widely, including chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, and materials science. Alongside lab work, you attend weekly sessions on topics like research ethics, instrumentation, and computational methods. The work is exploratory, so you engage with both theory and application. You also learn how to use specialized equipment and interpret results.
Location: Louisiana State University Health, Shreveport, LA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 8–12 students
Dates: Yearlong program
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school seniors are eligible to apply. Applicants must be currently preparing for senior year in Caddo, Bossier, or DeSoto parishes, have a suggested ACT score of 28, and have completed or are currently enrolled in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, or some other advanced science classes.
The SMART Program at LSU Health Shreveport runs over a full year and focuses on biomedical research. You work with clinicians and researchers on investigative projects while learning how medical research is conducted. The program includes hands-on exposure to lab technologies and scientific tools. You also earn academic credit as part of the experience. The structure involves coordination between your school and the program. Throughout the year, you build familiarity with research methods used in healthcare fields.
Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.
Cost: Commuter Enrichment: $995 | Commuter Credit-Bearing: $2,595 | Residential Enrichment: $5,495 | Residential Credit-Bearing: $6,595. Need-based financial aid is available, with priority given to Louisiana residents.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: Varies depending on the courses.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders are eligible to apply
Tulane’s Newcomb Summer Session focuses on research and discussion around topics like gender and social change. You take part in seminar-style classes where you analyze ideas and engage in group discussions. The program requires you to work through readings and contribute to conversations actively. You also complete written and group-based projects that reflect your understanding. The structure is academic, with a focus on critical thinking and analysis. Through this, you build research and communication skills within a social science context.
Location: Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA.
Cost: Credit-bearing: $2,900 | Non-credit: $2300. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: June 27 – July 25.
Application Deadline: Priority application deadline: March 2 | Final application deadline: April 27.
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders who are at least 16 years of age are eligible to apply.
SOAR X at Xavier University focuses on preparing you for college-level academic work through research-driven learning. You engage with complex topics through readings, discussions, and collaborative projects. The program encourages you to explore research questions that match your interests. You present your work through structured formats like papers and discussions. The learning environment is interactive, with an emphasis on participation. Alongside academics, the program also includes activities that support your transition to college.
Location: DeFelice Marine Center, Cocodrie, LA
Cost: $400. Need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 21 – 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply
Field Marine Science (FMS) Camp, a one-week residential camp, provides high school students with practical experience conducting field research in the coastal marshes of south Louisiana. You will investigate marine resources, design and carry out research projects through daily field excursions and laboratory work, and learn how to analyze and present your findings. You will have access to research vessels, scientific equipment, laboratories, and mentorship from consortium scientists, and engage in presentations and panel discussions addressing coastal systems and environmental change. The program culminates in students communicating their research results to science professionals.
Location: Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA
Cost: Check here for updates
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: The program runs for 5 weeks
Application Deadline: Check here for updates
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
LUMCON’s Field Marine Science Camp takes you into coastal environments where you conduct field-based research. You collect data during field trips and analyze it in lab settings. The program includes access to research vessels and scientific equipment. You design and carry out your own small research project during the week. There are also sessions with scientists who explain coastal systems and environmental issues. The program ends with you presenting your findings to professionals.
Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Cost: Commuter Enrichment: $995 | Commuter Credit-Bearing: $2,595 | Residential Enrichment: $5,495 | Residential Credit-Bearing: $6,595. Need-based financial aid is available, with priority given to Louisiana residents.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Varies depending on the courses
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Rising 11th and12th-graders who have a strong interest in science and mathematics are eligible to apply
The Tulane Science Scholars Program is a selective pre-college summer program designed for high-achieving rising 11th and 12th-grade students with demonstrated strength in science, engineering, and mathematics. The two-week program enables you to enroll in college-level courses and earn academic credit prior to graduating from high school. You will engage in rigorous coursework, research, laboratory sessions, and lectures delivered by Tulane faculty, providing early exposure to the expectations of undergraduate study. A limited commuter option is available for students living in the greater New Orleans area.
Location: DeFelice Marine Center, Cocodrie, LA
Cost: $400. Need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 7 – 13
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply
LUMCON’s LEAD Camp focuses on studying coastal ecosystems through a mix of field and lab work. You take part in activities like research vessel trips, marsh exploration, and species surveys. The program gives you access to scientific tools and guidance from researchers. You learn how to collect and analyze environmental data. The sessions also include discussions on ecological challenges affecting coastal regions. Throughout the week, you apply scientific methods to understand real environmental questions.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.
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