14 Selective Neuroscience Research Opportunities for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 hours ago
- 9 min read
Participating in neuroscience research opportunities for high school students is an excellent way to explore the complexities of the brain and the nervous system. These programs offer college-level academics, research experience, and valuable mentorship, helping you build a strong foundation in neuroscience while still in high school. Participating in a selective program can significantly boost your college applications, especially if you want to study neuroscience in college.
Neuroscience research opportunities for high school students give you access to advanced labs and industry exposure, allowing you to gain practical skills and connections that are typically hard to find. Whether it’s preparing for future academic pursuits or simply exploring your interests, neuroscience research opportunities can shape your future. To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 14 selective neuroscience research opportunities for high school students that combine rigorous learning with application.
14 Selective Neuroscience Research Opportunities for High School Students
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Stipend: $500 – $1,500
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 22
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old; U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card
Acceptance Rate: Less than 3%
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an intensive eight-week internship for high school juniors and seniors interested in the biomedical sciences, including neuroscience. As a participant, you’ll work in Stanford’s cutting-edge laboratories under the mentorship of faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. The program features hands-on research, career development sessions, and weekly seminars. You’ll choose from eight research areas or a bioengineering boot camp. With an acceptance rate of less than 3%, SIMR offers a rare opportunity to gain advanced lab experience and develop research skills.
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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Stipend: Stipend available (amount unspecified)
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 16 – February 9
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending public or charter high school in Durham, NC; at least 15 years old; U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, or legal resident. For more info, see here.
The Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE) is an 8-week summer program where you’ll conduct neuroscience research in a lab with postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and staff scientists. Alongside hands-on lab work, you’ll attend workshops on scientific communication, college preparation, and career paths in neuroscience. The program includes a series of scientific development lectures and community-building activities. It concludes with a poster session where you’ll present your findings to peers and scientists. You’ll also receive a stipend, daily lunch, and a laptop for research.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid 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: UCLA Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: 2 weeks.
Application Deadline: February – May (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12
Cohort Size: 15 – 20 students
NeuroCamp is a selective neuroscience research opportunity for high school students that’s offered by the UCLA Brain Research Institute. The free, competitive program admits only 15-20 students each year and introduces them to molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy, along with essential lab techniques. This program aims to inspire students from the Los Angeles area to pursue college and careers in neuroscience and related fields. It provides a hands-on introduction to research, making it a valuable step in exploring the possibilities of neuroscience research careers.
Location: Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA + Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 16 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 7 – March 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16 – 18 years old
The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program is a selective neuroscience research opportunity for high school students from underrepresented communities that focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As a participant, you will engage in data entry, literature reviews, brain-cutting sessions, and clinical trial preparation and will get to work closely with physician-scientists. The program also includes seminars, journal clubs, and community outreach initiatives. There are both in-person and virtual formats, with structured activities to enhance knowledge in neuroscience, research, and advocacy.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, or other locations
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: November 1 – January 31
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school juniors (or rising seniors) or recent high school graduates. For more info, see “Eligibility Details.”
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program offers selective neuroscience research opportunities for high school students in Massachusetts. It combines hands-on lab research with neurology-focused learning. In the first few days of the internship, you will undergo an initial boot camp to build your research and clinical skills and start your 1:1 mentoring. During the program, you will get to work on real-world projects under the mentorship of an MGH Neurology faculty member. You will also engage in weekly didactics led by top neurologists, neuroscientists, and other professionals who aim to expand your knowledge of neurology and even attend the occasional field trip and social lunch. The experience culminates with final presentations and provides long-term career support. This initiative emphasizes diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented communities in neurology.
Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD, or Virtual
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June – August (8 weeks in person) | July – August (5 weeks for the virtual experience)
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; in-person applicants must attend a high school in Baltimore
Cohort Size: Only 8 students are selected for the in-person experience
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a summer research program for high school juniors and seniors interested in neurological sciences. It provides experience and mentorship in brain science, guiding students toward careers in research or clinical neurology. As an in-person participant, you will conduct research, attend seminars, and engage in clinical rotations with neurologists at Johns Hopkins, culminating in a final presentation. Only 8 students are selected for the in-person experience. As a virtual participant, you will attend online seminars and mentorship and learn basic lab techniques. You will also receive mentorship training and a certificate of completion at the end of the internship.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Stipend: Stipend provided (amount not specified)
Dates: June – August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: October – January (tentatively)
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-grade students currently enrolled in one of their partner programs: S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, and BioBus; must reside in New York (preference given to applicants from upper Manhattan and the South Bronx). See more info here.
The BRAINYAC program at Columbia University offers high school students an immersive research internship in neuroscience. As a participant, you will receive training in lab techniques, including microscopy and data analysis, before working alongside a mentor on a specific research project. The program culminates in a symposium and STEM event at the American Museum of Natural History. Applications are by nomination only from partner organizations like S-PREP and Lang Youth Medical Program.
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old, live in Palm Beach or Martin County, and have U.S. work authorization
The MPFI Summer Research Internship is a six-week program for high school juniors and seniors interested in learning about brain structure, function, and development, and the advanced imaging techniques and technologies used in neuroscience. You can choose from three tracks: Neuroscience, Scientific Programming, and Mechanical Engineering. In the neuroscience track, you’ll gain experience in techniques like genetic engineering, histological staining, microbiology, and microscopy while working on research projects about brain structure and neural circuits. The program culminates in a scientific abstract and oral presentation. In the scientific programming track, you will work on projects developing software for neuroscience data analysis, using languages like Python, Matlab, or Java. A great fit for students with expertise in programming, physics, or math.
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $1,000
Dates: July 7 – August 9 (based on the previous year's program)
Application Deadline: February – March
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 16 years old. See more here.
Designed for students seeking selective neuroscience research opportunities for high school students, this five-week paid internship will immerse you in research and clinical activities. As a participant, you’ll collaborate with a neurologist or neuroscientist on a basic science or clinical project, shadow physicians in clinics, and join weekly educational sessions. The program concludes with a poster presentation at a mid-August conference.
Location: The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,700 (scholarships available)
Dates: July 5 – July 26
Application Deadline: NA
Eligibility: Current 9th – 11th grade students who have completed one year of high school biology and chemistry
The Penn Neuroscience Research Academy is a selective neuroscience research opportunity for high school students. For over three weeks, you will learn about the brain’s biological foundations, from cellular structures to cognitive functions like memory and emotion. You will also participate in lectures, hands-on lab activities, and visits to notable sites like the Mütter Museum and the Franklin Institute. You’ll also engage in journal clubs, neuroethics discussions, and presentations. This fully residential program will immerse you in neuroscience research and its applications in both health and disease.
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Cost: $2,200
Dates: July 14th - August 1st
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High-achieving students in grades 8-12 can apply
The Boston Leadership Institute offers a three-week neuroscience research program for high-achieving school students, focusing on neurobiology and neurochemistry. As a participant, you will study neuron components, signal transmission, and various signaling molecules. The program covers sensory systems, including visual and auditory pathways, and higher-order functions like memory, emotion, and stress. Through lectures, field trips, and hands-on experiments, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system and its functions.
14. UCI Brain Camp
Location: The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Around $2,195 (scholarships available)
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: High school students
The UCI Brain Camp is a two-week program for high school students where you will get to explore neuroscience through lectures, seminars, workshops, and hands-on lab activities. As a participant, you will learn about brain anatomy, neuropathology, and brain-machine interfaces using advanced techniques like electrophysiology and optogenetics. In the second week, you will design experiments, analyze data, and present your findings to families and UC Irvine faculty. This immersive experience also includes exposure to college life and career opportunities in neuroscience.
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