15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Louisville, Kentucky
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 3
- 9 min read
For high school students who want to make better use of their time outside the school year, STEM programs offer a way to explore academic interests more seriously. These programs allow you to focus on specific STEM areas, work through real problems, and learn in settings that feel different from regular classrooms.
What STEM programs are available for high school students in Louisville, Kentucky?
Louisville is home to a wide range of STEM programs run by colleges, research institutions, and educational organizations that work closely with students. These programs often involve hands-on activities, small group learning, and exposure to how STEM subjects are studied beyond high school.
As these options are local, they help you keep participation practical and affordable. These programs will also help you explore possible academic paths and give you concrete experiences to reflect on later.
To help you explore what’s available, here are 15 STEM programs for high school students in Louisville, Kentucky!
Note: If you’re looking for STEM programs in Kentucky open to high school students, check out our blog here!
15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Louisville, Kentucky
Location: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: $4,000 stipend paid to students; all expenses covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (approximately 20 students)
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro area; must be 16 by June 9
The Brown Cancer Center High School Summer Research Program offers you a research internship at one of the nation's leading cancer research institutions. You begin with an intensive two-week hands-on wet-lab tutorial, then work with a faculty mentor on an individual research project for the remainder of the eight-week program. You commit a minimum of 30 hours per week to the lab, attend weekly seminar series where leading researchers discuss cutting-edge cancer research, and complete a poster presentation of your findings at the end of the summer.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by the program. Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance (typical GPA 3.3+)
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: University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest, KY
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: Early June (Typically one week)
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: High school students
The Kentucky Forest Leadership Program takes place at the University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest and centers on field-based environmental science. You choose a track such as forestry, wildlife, or entomology, but you still work alongside students in other tracks throughout the program. Most of your time is spent outdoors identifying trees and insects, sampling wildlife habitats, learning how forests are managed, and studying how fire, pests, and land use affect ecosystems. You practice basic field research methods like data recording, observation, and species identification rather than in classroom labs.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
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. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you will get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you will have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: J.B. Speed School of Engineering, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Typically in June
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9-12)
The Brown-Forman INSPIRE Program is an engineering program hosted at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. You spend a full week on campus attending engineering workshops led by university faculty, visiting industry sites, and working in teams on a structured design challenge. The program introduces engineering fields through hands-on problem solving, technical demonstrations, and guided project work rather than lectures. Alongside technical sessions, you attend college preparation workshops and workforce-focused discussions. The program ends with a final presentation where you explain your design process and results.
Location: J.B. Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Cost: Varies by camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program
Dates: Varies by camp
Application Deadline: Varies by camo
Eligibility: Programs are offered for students from grades 3–12, with specific camps for upper elementary, middle school, and high school
The Speed School Outreach Programs at the University of Louisville offer a range of summer engineering camps with different technical focuses. Depending on the program you choose, you may work on microprocessor programming, bioengineering tools like bioprinting, additive manufacturing using 3D scanners and printers, or industrial engineering concepts such as systems design. You spend time in undergraduate labs using real equipment while working through structured engineering problems in small groups. Some programs include building and testing prototypes or applying design methods to real-world scenarios.
Location: Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 1–14 (tentative)
Application Deadline: April 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9–12, ages 16–17
AgDiscovery is a residential summer program hosted at Kentucky State University in partnership with the USDA. You live on campus and rotate through labs, field activities, and workshops covering agriculture, animal science, plant science, biotechnology, wildlife biology, and agribusiness. Activities include lab demonstrations, data collection, site visits, and hands-on projects led by university faculty and USDA professionals. You also attend sessions that explain how scientific research connects to careers in agriculture and environmental systems. The program also includes structured leadership and professional development activities as part of the daily schedule.
Location: University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Varies by course and whether you choose day or overnight
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rolling enrollment; multiple cohorts per program
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions across the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling registration; enroll by desired start date
Eligibility: Ages 7–17 (high school students welcome for advanced tracks)
iD Tech offers week-long summer camps at the University of Louisville covering cutting-edge tech skills. Programs include Python and Java coding, video game design with industry-standard engines like Unreal, mobile app development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics and BattleBots engineering, 3D printing and modeling with professional software, and more. Small class sizes ensure personalized instruction from mentors recruited from top universities. You work in next-gen labs on campus, learn from industry professionals, and build portfolio-ready projects. Many programs include optional overnight accommodations to experience college-style learning.
Location: Virtual (hosted by Kentucky Science Center, Louisville)
Cost: Free with registration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration
Dates: Multiple dates throughout the year
Application Deadline: Register online; no formal deadline
Eligibility: Middle and high school students worldwide
The Kentucky Science Center Youth Science Summit is a virtual conference that brings together high school students with industry professionals, university researchers, and STEM leaders. Over a full day, you attend live sessions where speakers discuss cutting-edge research, emerging technologies, and career pathways in STEAM fields. Topics have included mechanical engineering, structural engineering, automation and robotics, and environmental science. The summit is free and conducted entirely online, making it accessible to students anywhere.
Location: University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Paid—$15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Early June through mid-July (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students in Jefferson County
Louisville Science Pathways is a paid summer internship where you work directly in a real university lab. You'll be paired with a faculty mentor and work alongside graduate students on actual research projects. The program covers many STEM fields: neurobiology, chemistry, computer science, psychology, engineering, cancer research, and more. You work 20–30 hours per week and earn money while gaining genuine lab experience. The program also includes weekly career seminars where you learn about different science careers.
Location: University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Contact Speed School for pricing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited enrollment
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising grades 10–12; no prior experience needed
This camp teaches you how to design the computer chips that power phones, computers, and gaming devices. You'll learn microprocessor design using real equipment, get hands-on experience with circuit design, and tour the university's high-tech cleanroom facility where actual chips are made. Small teams work on design projects together under the guidance of engineering faculty.
Location: Kentucky Science Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Varies by program (typically $200–$400+ per week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Multiple weekly sessions; rolling registration
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions, June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling; register by desired start date
Eligibility: Grades 5–8 and up (programs vary by grade)
The Kentucky Science Center offers week-long summer camps designed to let you dive deep into hands-on STEM exploration. For older high schoolers, specialized programs include Veterinary Science, where you'll create enrichment tools for animals, practice suturing, and even customize prosthetic limbs, giving you insight into veterinary medicine and biomedical engineering. If forensics fascinates you, the Forensics camp teaches you techniques used by crime analysts, including facial reconstruction, forensic anthropology, blood spatter analysis, and dissection. The "Into the Upside Down" program delves into neuroscience, exploring how the brain works, investigating concepts like hive minds, and examining whether telepathy has any scientific basis.
Location: University of Louisville, Department of Chemistry, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Throughout the year; periodic "Nano Day" events
Application Deadline: None; contact the department directly
Eligibility: High school students in Jefferson County
The University of Louisville Chemistry Department runs this outreach program that connects you with undergraduate and graduate chemistry students through direct, hands-on work rather than a camp-style schedule. The program brings college-level chemistry into your school using near-peer mentoring, where you work alongside chemistry majors and PhD candidates during lab activities and visits. A central part of the experience is Nano Day, where you synthesize and study nanoparticles using standard laboratory equipment and learn how particle size, structure, and composition affect material behavior. You also take part in lab tours, poster sessions with active researchers, and science fair support, and you stay in contact with UofL students through a pen-pal style exchange.
Location: Remote research mentorship with a fully funded, four-day visit to MIT’s campus for finalists
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: January 1
Program Dates: Finalists are announced in February, and projects are completed by June of that year.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply as individuals or in teams of two.
The MIT THINK Scholars program offers high school students who have developed a research proposal in science, technology, or engineering the chance to receive mentoring and support. As a finalist, you will receive weekly guidance, technical assistance, and up to $1,000 in funding to help bring your project to life. The program also includes a four-day immersive visit to MIT’s campus in Cambridge, MA, with a virtual option available. Throughout the program, you’ll develop skills in research design, project management, and technical communication while working closely with experts in your field.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,725
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12%
Dates: Session I - June 8 – June 19; Session II - June 22 - July 3
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18
The Stanford Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience is a short virtual program focused on neuroscience, psychology, and mental health research. Stanford-affiliated instructors lead live sessions covering topics such as brain function, neuropsychiatric conditions, behavioral science, and clinical research methods. You work in small groups on a capstone project that applies course concepts to a defined neuroscience-related problem. The program also includes discussions on how neuroscience connects to clinical practice and research careers.
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.
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