15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Tampa, FL
- Stephen Turban
- 10 hours ago
- 10 min read
As a high school student, a structured STEM program is a great way to explore your interests, build new skills, and gain exposure to advanced learning environments outside the classroom. These programs offer advanced coursework, research, and projects that enable you to apply textbook concepts in STEM. Many of them also offer mentorship from university faculty or STEM professionals, exposing you to college-level expectations and career paths.
Why should you attend a program in Tampa, Florida?
Tampa, FL, is a great place to explore STEM opportunities, thanks to its wide range of universities and organizations offering high school students access to research facilities, STEM workplaces, and university classrooms. Across these programs, you may work on activities such as laboratory experiments, coding and robotics projects, data analysis, engineering design tasks, or mentor-guided research tied to academic and industry settings. Whether you live in Florida or are visiting the region, Tampa offers programs that support both local and out-of-state students looking to explore STEM in a structured environment.
To help you find the right learning experience, we have put together a list of 15 STEM programs for high school students in Tampa, FL.
If you are looking for summer programs in Tampa, check out our blog here.
15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Tampa, FL
Location: Placements within a 45-minute distance from your home; opportunities available across the U.S.
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates are flexible and set by students and mentors
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising and graduating high school seniors, ages 16 and up
Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, this eight-week paid program offers high schoolers exposure to fisheries and aquatic science. As a participant, you will be matched with a professional mentor in your local area and engage in fisheries science and habitat restoration activities. Tasks can vary by placement, but may typically involve testing water quality, electrofishing, conducting fish population surveys, and processing data. You will spend most of the summer conducting lab work and field research, gaining firsthand insights into what it means to be a biologist.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
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, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Moffitt Cancer Center at USF Campus, Tampa, FL
Stipend: $1,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older and enrolled in grade 11 or below
The HIP IMO (High School Internship Program in Integrated Mathematical Oncology) at Moffitt is an eight-week program designed for high school students who want to explore cancer research. You will work with faculty mentors on an individual interdisciplinary cancer research project that combines biology with mathematics, and engage in lab work, attend seminars, and attend lab meetings alongside researchers. You will also learn about scientific documentation, maintain a lab journal and digital records of your work, and write a three-page scientific report at the end of the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Cohorts run multiple times in a year; sessions run for 10 – 15 weeks
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship typically accepts previous AI Scholar participants or applicants with experience in working with AI 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, students 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, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Various employers across Hillsborough County, FL
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six weeks in the summer; dates vary by role and employer
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Hillsborough County residents who are 16 – 24 years old
This program connects students and young professionals with paid work opportunities in industries across Hillsborough County. You will be matched with a local employer for a structured internship where you will earn a stipend while building workplace soft skills. You can indicate your preference for a STEM-focused placement within fields like engineering, IT/Tech, or health sciences. As a participant, you will get to boost your career-readiness while attending professional development workshops.
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Six weeks in the summer + 18 Saturdays and after-school sessions during the academic year
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Local high schoolers living in low-income households or who are potential first-generation college students, attending Brandon High School, Jefferson High School, or Leto High School; check this page for the detailed eligibility criteria.
Hosted at the University of South Florida, USF UBMS is a federally funded program designed to help you boost academic and personal skills and work toward post-secondary goals. In the summer, you will spend six weeks on the USF campus, engaging in intensive academic instruction, hands-on science and math activities, and exposure to university research labs, computer facilities, and field sites. You will learn from mathematicians and scientists and connect graduate and undergraduate science and mathematics majors. Additionally, you will have access to counseling, recreational activities, and career exploration opportunities. You will also engage with the program during the academic year through campus tours, seminars, and other activities to prepare for postsecondary education.
Location: Manougian STEM Education Center at USF, Tampa, FL
Cost: Free for a select group of applicants + winners of the Hillsborough County Math Bowl; $500/week otherwise
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – July 3
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This program is designed to introduce high school students to advanced STEM topics through a research-based curriculum and advanced problem-solving. As a participant, you will also gain insights into how math supports innovation across the sciences. You will learn about domains such as mathematical modeling in epidemiology, machine learning, nanotechnology, quantum information, bioinformatics, and research in these fields. You will also work on research-focused projects that can develop into publication- or competition-ready work.
Location: USF Tampa’s College of Engineering, Tampa, FL
Cost: $1,350; optional residential add-on available at additional cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 22 students/year
Dates: July 13 – 17 | July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens February 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
The USF Biomedical Engineering Summer Program is a hands-on, week-long experience hosted by the University of South Florida College of Engineering for those interested in medicine, engineering, and human health. You will work closely with USF biomedical and electrical engineering faculty to explore key principles of biomedical engineering through interactive labs and projects. You will design, build, and test bioelectrical interfaces while learning how professionals measure and analyze biological signals used in fields such as cardiology and neuroscience. The curriculum includes exposure to instrumentation, data analysis, real-world medical applications, and the use of industry-standard tools in the DFX Lab.
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $999.99
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 students/year
Dates: June 22 – 26 | July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified; registrations open on February 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders
The USF High School Robotics Program is a week-long, immersive summer camp hosted by the University of South Florida College of Engineering, designed for those interested in robotics and engineering. You will design, build, and program your own autonomous mobile robot using tools such as Raspberry Pi, Python, Linux, sensors, actuators, and 3D printing. The curriculum blends foundational robotics theory with hands-on engineering practice, allowing you to assemble custom robots and program them to interact with real-world environments. You will also gain exposure to industrial robotics through hands-on work with ABB RobotStudio and access to USF’s engineering labs.
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $999.99
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 students/year
Dates: June 22 – 26 | July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified; registrations open on February 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
The USF High School Robotics Program is a week-long, immersive summer camp hosted by the University of South Florida College of Engineering, designed for those interested in robotics and engineering. You will design, build, and program your own autonomous mobile robot using tools such as Raspberry Pi, Python, Linux, sensors, actuators, and 3D printing. The curriculum blends foundational robotics theory with hands-on engineering practice, allowing you to assemble custom robots and program them to interact with real-world environments. You will also gain exposure to industrial robotics through hands-on work with ABB RobotStudio and access to USF’s engineering labs.
11. USF CyberCamp
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $650
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Capped at 30 students/year
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application deadline: Not specified; applications open on February 1.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
USF CyberCamp is a conference-style, five-day summer program designed to introduce high school students to the fast-growing field of cybersecurity through hands-on, real-world experiences. The camp emphasises choice-based learning, allowing you to select from daily breakout sessions such as lockpicking, hardware hacking, and critical infrastructure labs. You will learn directly from cybersecurity professionals across academia, industry, and government while building technical skills and professional connections. The program offers exposure to diverse cyber domains, including networking, AI, web exploitation, physical security, and social engineering.
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~15 students/section
Dates: Spring sessions; dates TBA
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
This after-school program is designed for high school students interested in exploring the science and theory behind robotics. You will explore robotics theory and then apply it through hands-on building, coding, and testing during school-year sessions. You will design and build robots while learning how mechanical systems power machines. Sessions will offer exposure to sensors, motors, and circuits, and the ways electrical systems drive automation. You will also explore coding basics like variables, loops, and logic to learn how to control robots and solve engineering challenges. Additionally, you will use 3D design tools and 3D printing to build custom parts for your robots.
Location: Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL (~25 minutes from Tampa, FL)
Cost: $2,250; scholarships available
Cohort size:
Dates: Session I: June 14 – 19 | Session II: June 21 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified; applications open in January
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11 and 12 in the fall; selected candidates must pass a pool swim test
This STEM program is designed to help high school students explore marine biology, geology, and chemistry through hands-on sessions conducted in local marine environments. You will run experiments in laboratories and in the field, analyzing seawater composition and exploring marine species. You will spend the week engaging in tasks such as identifying seashells on local beaches, observing foraging shorebirds, observing wild dolphins to understand their ecology and behavior, and studying live plankton organisms under a microscope. You will learn from marine science faculty and live on Eckerd College’s waterfront campus, gaining exposure to life on a university campus.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $20 application fee; no tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer program; dates not specified
Application deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students
SRI is a fully virtual summer research program run by the Harvard Undergraduate OpenBio Laboratory. You will be paired with PhD student mentors to work on original virtual research projects or structured literature reviews. The program includes weekly virtual programming sessions featuring guest speakers, networking opportunities, and interactive workshops focused on research development. The program culminates in a 5-6-page research paper, with selected projects published in an undergraduate research journal. The program can offer you exposure to advanced academic environments and research mentorship.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits; application fee of $25 (waived for financial need)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15 – 17 for remote internships, or ages 16 and up for in-person internships
ASSIP, hosted by George Mason University, provides high schoolers with STEM research experiences every summer. You will work one-on-one with faculty mentors and collaborating researchers on projects within STEM fields, such as chemistry, neuroscience, engineering, computer science, or physics. You will gain hands-on experience using advanced technologies while developing scientific writing, communication, and creative problem-solving skills. The program includes professional development forums, exposure to STEM career pathways, and opportunities to engage with role models in academia and industry. You will earn three undergraduate college credits from George Mason University and present your work at a formal poster session at the end of the program.
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.
Image Source - Veritas AI logo