15 Research Programs for High School Students in Maine
- Stephen Turban
- 7 hours ago
- 12 min read
Research programs for high school students are a great way to build experience with scientific research, make connections with faculty and industry experts, and explore specialized academic fields. Providing a combination of mentorship, training, and practical work, research programs can enrich your high school academic experience through their interactive and personalized structure.
Why should I do a research program in high school?
Research programs have tangible benefits across college preparation, professional development, and academic exploration. With research experience becoming an increasingly common resume credential for students admitted to top colleges, these programs can put you in a competitive position within the applicant pool. You’ll demonstrate a motivation to pursue more challenging academic opportunities than those at your school and show your preparation for college-level work. Research programs help you produce academic papers or research posters, which prepare you for research competitions, science fairs, or publication, serving as a pathway towards additional achievements. You’ll also get to specialize in more unique academic disciplines and speak with professionals in the field, as many college majors do not directly align with high school courses. You can explore potential options or confirm that your current academic plans are the right fit.
In this blog, we’ve reviewed 15 research programs for high school students in Maine. This list features selective opportunities that offer networking opportunities, mentorship from college professors or industry professionals, and rigorous research experience. With disciplinary focuses across astrophysics, ecology, marine sciences, genetics, technology, and more, this list is a great place to start your search, no matter your academic interests.
Location: Multiple host institutions in Maine
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; about 8–20 students
Dates: 6 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students attending high school in Maine; U.S. citizens and Maine residents; strong academic record with A average; interest in STEM; some computer experience; must live within commuting distance to host site
Maine Space Grant Consortium’s MERITS Program is a NASA-funded six-week summer program for high school students in Maine with an interest in STEM. You’ll be matched with an academic or industry research institution focused on science and/or technology development to complete a paid internship under professional mentorship. Potential host sites include the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, the Marine Environmental Research Institute, AEC Engineering, Maine’s Department of Marine Resources, and more. Your experience will vary depending on your placement, but all students are expected to complete high-level research in a field aligned with their interests and their mentor’s research focus areas. You’ll prepare a formal research report at the end of the program.
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.
Program 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 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: Multiple college campuses, including Colby College, Waterville, ME
Cost: Sliding scale from $0 to $11,800, based on family income. Students with family income of $75,000 or less receive fully-funded attendance, as do many with an income of $100,000 or less. All students with a family income of $140,000 or less qualify for some financial aid. Some students from low-income backgrounds receive $3,000 stipends. See more information here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 7-10% acceptance rate
Dates: Colby College Program: June 22 - July 25. Dates vary by project area and campus; all are 5 weeks in early June to early August
Application Deadline: February 21 (US applicants) or January 24 (International applicants)
Eligibility: Open to current 11th graders (rising seniors). You must be 15–18 years old at program start. Astrophysics applicants must have completed any level of high school physics and precalculus, or calculus and precalculus if their school does not offer a physics course.
The Summer Science Program is a highly selective research opportunity for high school students with an Astrophysics program hosted at Colby College in Maine. You’ll spend approximately 60 hours each week on a collaborative research project studying celestial bodies, working under expert researchers in astrophysics and planetary sciences. Exact project topics vary yearly. You’ll learn research methodologies like operating professional-level telescopes, programming and analyzing data in Matplotlib and Astropy, and digital observational techniques and astrometry. You’ll complete research tasks such as reading celestial coordinates, calculating an asteroid’s position and velocity vectors, and estimating orbital elements. You’ll learn advanced concepts in mathematics, astronomy, and physics, including cosmology, quantum mechanics, vector calculus, and differential equations. Your work will be shared with the Minor Planet Center, an international astrophysics organization. You’ll also participate in programming like networking events, a Guest Lecture Series with Nobel Laureates and renowned scientists, and academic and career guidance from an SSP alumnus/alumna. SSP offers three additional Project Areas — Bacterial Genomics, Biochemistry, and Cell Biology — and hosts programs at 12 additional colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada; projects offered vary between sites.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid is available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program 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/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see 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: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Cost/Stipend: $7,500; includes fully funded room, board, and travel
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 24–28 students (high school and undergraduate)
Dates: May 30–August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: 12th-grade students and undergraduates; must be 18+; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
The Jackson Laboratory’s JAX Summer Student Program offers 12th-grade students the opportunity to conduct full-time, paid research alongside undergraduates and professional researchers at their Maine laboratory. You’ll be matched with a laboratory aligned with your interests, where you’ll join an ongoing research project focused on genetics, genomics, and their impact on biological systems under the mentorship of a JAX scientist. Your work can specialize in subfields across epigenetics, structural genome variation, neurodegenerative diseases, and more. You’ll learn research skills through workshops on methodologies such as genetic testing and data visualization. You’ll also gain professional development guidance through Journal Club meetings, peer review and publishing processes, career discussions, and networking with industry professionals in fields including grant writing, law, veterinary medicine, and scientific services. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to JAX staff, peers, and family members.
Location: In-person opportunities across all 50 states, including Maine
Cost/Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; about 34 students selected
Dates: 8 weeks; scheduled between student and mentor
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students and rising college freshmen; must be at least 16 by June 1
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid research experience for high school students in Maine and beyond. You’ll be matched with a fisheries researcher in or near your local area to serve as your Hutton Mentor. You’ll design a research project focused on aquatic sciences, with topics such as ecological health and sustainability of fisheries, physiology and toxicology, biodiversity, and conservation. Your experience will vary based on your project, but Hutton internships typically include laboratory and/or field work with tasks including data processing, testing water quality, examining aquatic specimens, electrofishing, and taking fish population surveys. If your project emphasizes field research, your internship might include intensive outdoor work such as overnight multi-day trips to natural settings. At the end of the program, you’ll attend the Hutton Summit hosted on a U.S. college campus, where you’ll attend workshops on college and career preparation, participate in fisheries activities, and learn about professional paths in the field.
Location: Multiple locations in Maine
Cost/Stipend: Hourly wage at or above minimum wage; varies by host
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 5 students
Dates: One-year program
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Wabanaki or Native American high school students eligible for the Native American Waiver and Education Program; must be a Maine resident
The WaYS Internship Program is a paid, year-long program offering both mentorship and research internships for Native American high school students in Maine. In the research portion, you’ll work with two advisors: one Western researcher or professional and one Cultural Knowledge Keeper from the Wabanaki community, to design a science-related internship project with a connection to you and your tribal community. Your research internship might include conducting wetland research with the UMaine School of Biology and Ecology, studying forestry at the U.S. Penobscot Experimental Forest, or developing fisheries restoration initiatives with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Outside of research, you’ll be mentored by college and graduate students from the Wabanaki community, participate in social gatherings, and attend programming on indigenous ways of knowing and cultural values. You’ll engage with UMaine faculty from programs across Forestry, Anthropology, Creative Arts, and more, gaining additional networking experience and exploring potential academic pathways in college.
Location: MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME
Cost/Stipend: $18/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; ~6% acceptance rate
Dates: June 1–August 7
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Current high school seniors; GPA 3.0+ (exceptions considered for extenuating circumstances); must be authorized to work in the U.S.
MHIR’s Summer Research Internship Program is a 10-week research, academic, and professional training program with a focus on biomedicine. One of a limited number of funded undergraduate-level programs open to current 12th-grade students, you’ll work alongside college students and MHIR researchers to conduct an advanced research project. You’ll specialize in one of MHIR’s Research Centers, such as Molecular Medicine, Clinical and Translational Science, and Interdisciplinary Population and Health Research for your project. You’ll be trained in biomedical science research methodologies, professional development and career planning, and skills in research project leadership with mentorship from MHIR scientists. You’ll also attend a weekly research lecture series with MaineHealth researchers and clinicians, professional development activities, and networking events with MaineHealth leaders and community partners.
Location: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 16 students
Dates: May 17–22
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students from Maine (public, private, or home schools)
The Keller BLOOM Program at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a week-long research program for high school students in Maine, providing both field and laboratory work experience. You’ll begin the program by studying methodologies in ocean specimen sampling and data collection before conducting field research in the Sheepscot River Estuary using oceanographic equipment. In the following days, you’ll conduct laboratory research under the mentorship of Bigelow scientists, using professional-level equipment and instruments to study specimens such as zooplankton, bacteria, and marine viruses. You’ll also network with professional scientists during activities and discussion sessions on topics such as research ethics, science and public policy, and topics in ocean science. You’ll also participate in the Marine Science Career Night, where you’ll learn about undergraduate programs in marine sciences and career paths in the field. You’ll deliver a presentation to Bigelow staff, peers, family, and friends on your research experience and findings at the end of the program.
Location: University of Maine, Orono, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; ~50% acceptance rate, 44 students per cohort
Dates: July 12–15 | July 19–22 | July 26–29
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students
University of Maine’s Consider Engineering program is a fully-funded one-week opportunity for high school students focused on research and professional development. Under the instruction of faculty researchers, you’ll participate in engineering research experiments and problem-solving activities both in UMaine labs and in the field. You’ll network with professional engineers across disciplines and professors, learn about college campus life, explore careers in engineering, and more.
Location: University of Maine, Orono, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 50 students
Dates: June 22–28
Application Deadline: N/A; high schools nominate students
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students in Maine; must be nominated by their high school
University of Maine’s Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service offers a fully-funded summer experience for high school students in Maine, emphasizing leadership and academic development. You’ll participate in activities centered around collaboration, team-building, and overcoming obstacles to success. You’ll network with leaders such as Senator Susan Collins, Maine Governor Janet Mills, and former Secretary of Defense and Senator William Cohen, who will guide civic engagement and leadership. You’ll take a college course with transferable credits in leadership studies, which encompasses ethics, civic engagement, and sociocultural issues; assignments might include case studies, group projects, and written reflections. You’ll also tour UMaine’s academic institutes and research facilities, such as the Advanced Composites and Manufacturing Center and the Climate Change Institute. While not a traditional research program, you’ll gain experience in research through completing undergraduate-level course assignments and engaging with research initiatives at UMaine’s academic centers and institutes.
Location: Shoals Marine Laboratory, Appledore Island, ME
Cost/Stipend: Tuition $1,940 per credit; room and board $234 per night; $410 program fee per course
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 13–27 | July 27–August 3 | August 3–10 | August 10–17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current grades 10–12; must have B- or higher in at least two year-long science courses
Shoals Marine Laboratory’s High School Courses, offered in partnership with Cornell University, provide college-level academic training featuring hands-on field research. You’ll choose from 4 course options: Marine Environmental Science, Introduction to the Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays, Marine Vertebrates of the Gulf of Maine, or Introduction to Scientific Illustration, all led by college professors and/or marine science researchers. You’ll study topics such as coastal marine habitats, human impacts on environmental health, elasmobranch biology, and evolutionary morphology. You’ll participate in research activities including laboratory projects, dissections, field research on islands and marine settings, and more. You’ll earn either 2 or 4 transferable college credits from Cornell based on your course choice, allowing you to get ahead on undergraduate coursework in biology or marine science.
Location: University of Southern Maine – Portland campus, Portland, ME
Cost/Stipend: $50
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions from early July to early August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students attending high school in southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine’s SMART High School Research Sessions are week-long academic outreach programs for high school students interested in technology and its applications to science and sustainability. Your research will focus on one of Maine’s 7 priority targeted technology sectors, such as Biotechnology, Environmental Technologies, Composites and Advanced Materials, or Marine Technology and Aquaculture. You’ll apply your work to a specialized sub-field that rotates yearly. You’ll work in USM-Portland campus labs to complete research projects under the direction of university faculty and industry professionals specializing in technology and the targeted subfield. For this year’s focus, algae growth research, your work might include experimenting with varied algae species and applying conditions such as growth media or agitation. You’ll gain networking experience with academics and professional researchers, learn about careers in technology and other STEM fields, and more.
Location: MDI Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Cost/Stipend: $2,000; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 22–26
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students aged 16+; must live within commuting distance to MDI
MDI Biological Laboratory’s Biomedical Bootcamp is a week-long research program for Maine high schoolers in the Bar Harbor area with a focus on academic and professional development. You’ll learn biomedical research skills such as DNA extraction, conducting Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), DNA sequencing, and using bioinformatics software, and apply them to projects primarily focused on C. elegans nematode worms. You’ll also tour MDI’s technology and animal research facilities, learn about its ongoing research projects, participate in a scientific ethics roundtable, network with Maine scientists and bioentrepreneurs, and explore careers in biomedical research and STEM.
Location: Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership, Rockland, ME
Cost/Stipend: $2,400 standard; $2,150 early bird (by December 31)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 26–August 4
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-grade students interested in marine science
Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership’s Advanced Ocean Lab is a Maine research program emphasizing field work and sustainability. You’ll design a field research project on a topic of your choice under the guidance of faculty scientists, with potential topics including environmental DNA, archaeology, coastal water quality, and other areas of marine ecology. You’ll learn skills in research project design, data collection in intertidal and waterfront zones, working in ocean research vessels, and learn sustainable practices while living “off-grid” on Hurricane Island. You’ll also speak with scientists about their educational and professional paths, gaining networking experience and exploring potential future careers.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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