15 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in California

If you are a high school student in California interested in exploring science, math, tech, and engineering, a STEM summer program in the state can be a productive way to spend your school break.

Summer STEM programs can help you explore higher education and career paths in science and dive deep into one or more STEM fields. As a participant, you may get to gain practical skills like critical thinking and data analysis through hands-on project work. 

Many STEM programs also offer lab work opportunities, university-level coursework experience, networking events, and field trips. Participation in such experiences can also boost your profile for college applications, as it highlights your willingness to learn beyond the classroom. 

To help you find the right opportunity, we have come up with 15 STEM summer programs for high school students in California. We have focused on factors like rigor, networking opportunities, and credibility of the host institution. These programs cover a diverse range of STEM disciplines, including computer science, biomedical research, marine science, and engineering design.

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1-on-1 program

Location: Virtual

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer sessions that run between June and August

Application deadline: Multiple deadlines for each cohort; summer session applications are due in May/June

Eligibility: High school students with strong academic backgrounds; accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research program designed for high school students who want to pursue university-level research. Opportunities are available in various fields, including STEM areas like biotechnology, diseases, astrophysics, engineering, data science, and chemistry. During the program, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on designing and conducting independent research. At the end of the 12-week program, you will have a complete research paper on a topic of your choice. Other subject options include psychology, finance, international relations, etc. You can find more details about the application and available program formats here.

2. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24

Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, CA

Cost: Free (no stipend)

Dates: June 23 – July 25; commitment of 30-40 hours/week

Application deadline: March 17

Eligibility: Current first-generation, low-income high school juniors in Northern California

The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is an in-person opportunity to explore a diverse range of medical fields through guest lectures, demonstrations, and lab sessions. During the program, you will participate in a medical internship at Stanford Hospital, engaging in shadowing and hands-on lab and departmental activities. You will also have access to weekly lectures on public health and research methodology, preparing you to tackle a group research project based on health disparities. For the project, you will work with a small group of peers, write a college-level research paper, create an academic poster, and deliver a presentation. Workshops covering college admissions, applying for financial aid, and writing college essays are also part of the experience. You will attend additional guest lectures and demonstrations led by professionals in the medicine and healthcare fields, including ophthalmology, dermatology, and gastroenterology. 

3. Veritas AI Programs

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohorts

Location: Virtual

Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including in summer

Application deadline: Summer sessions have a May/June deadline. You can apply here.

Eligibility: High school students | Some programs require coding knowledge in Python, prior experience with AI/ML, and/or previous participation in a Veritas AI program

Veritas AI offers multiple learning opportunities focused on artificial intelligence exploration. These programs have been developed and executed by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If applying to the beginner-friendly AI Scholars program, you will get to work with Ph.D. students from top institutions and learn about the applications of AI. Here, you will also learn how to work with Python and explore key machine learning, AI, and data science concepts. You can also opt for the AI Fellowship program, which offers you mentorship to help you develop your own unique project. In the past, Veritas AI program participants have worked on interdisciplinary STEM projects that utilize concepts from medicine, AI, environmental science, and mental health. You can check out past projects here.​​

4. City of Hope Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70 – 75

Location: City of Hope Cancer Center, CA

Cost: Free with a $4,500 stipend

Dates: June 2 – August 8

Application deadline: March 12

Eligibility: High school students who have completed high school courses in chemistry and biology, as well as undergraduates, who are at least 16 and U.S. citizens/permanent residents

City of Hope’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy is an in-person research experience where you get to be a member of a biomedical research team. Here, you will take a biology course as well as a Responsible Conduct of Research course, read lab notebooks and journal articles, and engage in social activities, events, and field trips. You will design and work on a research project in a STEM area of your specific interest under the mentorship of a City of Hope faculty member. The program also offers access to faculty-led lectures on scientific topics like DNA repair and stem cells, as well as guidance on career paths in science and medicine. You will attend seminars to develop skills in scientific writing and oral and written communication skills—all crucial for scientific communication. The program ends with a poster session, where you present your research results. Following this, you may get to make a presentation at the annual Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research.

5. Joint Bio Energy Institute iCLEM Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6–8 students each year

Location: Joint Bio Energy Institute (JBEI), Emeryville, CA

Cost: Free with a $3,000 stipend

Dates: June 16 – August 1

Application deadline: March 16

Eligibility: Low-income rising juniors and seniors who have a GPA of 2.5 or more, are at least 16, and have passed Algebra 1 and Biology; applicants must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents and residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties who meet the income eligibility requirements.

The Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM) program offers under-resourced high school students a paid summer research internship to prepare them for careers in science and engineering. Sponsored by JBEI and the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center, the program provides hands-on research experiences focused on bioenergy and lectures led by leading scientists. As an intern, you will work 30+ hours a week working on assigned tasks, attending in-class instructions on lab materials and techniques, and practical lab work, such as tracking the growth of bacteria and analyzing enzymes. You will participate in field trips to biotech companies in the Bay Area and research universities. You will receive guidance on preparing personal statements for college applications, resume writing, and developing essential professional skills.

6. Scripps Research High School Research Internship Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, exact details not specified

Location: Scripps Research Institute’s La Jolla campus, La Jolla, CA

Cost: Free; a stipend of $4,830 offered

Dates: June 23 – August 8

Application deadline: April 4

Eligibility: San Diego County high school students who have 3.0 GPA or higher, are 16 or older, and have completed one year of high school-level chemistry and biology each (check full eligibility criteria here) 

The Scripps Research High School Research Internship Program is part of the REACH (Research Awareness for Community High Schools) program that offers high schoolers from underrepresented backgrounds access to support, resources, and opportunities in biomedical research. If selected, you will begin the internship with a three-day boot camp or training course. Then, you will be matched with a research laboratory and a graduate student mentor to dive into research in the fields of genomics, bioinformatics, and digital medicine. The experience will help you learn lab techniques, experimental design, and data interpretation. In addition to lab instruction, your mentor will provide guidance on the college application and selection process, as well as offer insights into writing effective application essays.

7. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Summer Student Research Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50

Location: Various university and research sites in Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco

Cost: Free with stipends ranging from $3,000–$4,300

Dates: June 2 – August 1

Application deadline: February 14

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or above who are 16 or older (check all eligibility criteria here)

The Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) is a nine-week opportunity to undergo research training in labs and learn about health science careers.  You will either engage in laboratory research within a basic science lab, clinical research covering health and disease, or community health/public health research. You will deep dive into an active biomedical research project under the one-on-one mentorship of healthcare providers and researchers. You will also engage in lectures, seminars, workshops, lab training, simulations, and networking opportunities during the program. Lectures and program activities typically cover themes like AI in medicine, oncology, cardiology, and mental health.

8. UCLA’s Engineering Design Summer Institute

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available

Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

Cost: $2,881; merit-based scholarships available for California students

Dates: Session A: June 23 – July 11 | Session B: July 14 – August 1

Application deadline: June 13

Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 who are at least 15 by the start of the program and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher for the Rovers and Go-Karts tracks or a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for the Microcontrollers track; applicants should have some experience in engineering and/or science

UCLA's Engineering Design Summer Institute is a three-week commuter program that introduces high schoolers to engineering design through projects and coursework. You will choose from three tracks—Go-Karts/Mechanical Engineering, Microcontrollers/Electrical Engineering, or Rovers/Mechanical + Electrical Engineering, and work on and present a project relevant to the chosen track. In the Go-Karts track, you will learn how to use tools like 3D printers and laser cutters, attend tutorials on CAD, chassis, steering & brake systems, present an optimized go-kart design, and participate in a go-kart race with peers. The Microcontrollers track offers lab tours, instruction on circuits, voltage dividers, binary numbers, etc., opportunities to program computer interfaces, and project work involving designing a game controller. In the Rovers' track, you will work on soldering, wiring, laser-cutting, and programming, attend tutorials on schematic drawing and CAD, and design and assemble a model rover that will compete with the rovers designed by your peers. You will get college credit on an official UCLA transcript and a letter grade awarded upon completing the program. 

9. Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement in STEM (SAGE) Summer Camps

Location: Various sites—Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), CA; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park/Palo Alto, CA

Cost: No cost

Dates: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab camp: June 9 – 13; Lawrence Livermore National Lab: June 8 – 14; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: June 22 – 28

Application deadline: March 21

Eligibility: 9th,10th, and 11th graders and homeschooled students in Northern California; 14-17  years old

SAGE Camps are free, week-long residential summer experiences designed for high school students. Hosted by scientists and engineers from the Department of Energy National Laboratories, the program offers you an opportunity to explore STEM careers through hands-on activities, job shadowing opportunities, and professional development sessions. You will also work on small projects and engage in interactive sessions during the program. Tours of the chosen facility and exposure to STEM research and experiments are also part of the experience. The program allows you to directly engage with engineering professionals and gain insights into their daily lives. 

10. Nanoscience Lab Summer Institute @ UCLA 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Cost: $1,981 for commuters; $2,470 for residential participants

Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 12 who are at least 15 years old (at least 17 for the residential program) and have a strong background in chemistry and biology, as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher

Application deadline: Residential: June 6 | Commuter: June 13

Dates: Residential: July 20 – July 25 | Commuter: July 21 – July 25

The Nanoscience Lab Summer Institute, led by the UCLA faculty, is meant for high school students interested in nanosciences and nanotechnology. The five-day program is conducted like a workshop, allowing you to get some hands-on experience in these fields. You will learn about key concepts in nanofabrication and nanoscience, work on fabricating nanostructures, and assess the properties of specific materials and devices. You will engage with ongoing nanoscience research through active participation in seminars, hands-on experiments, and data collection. The curriculum also explores topics like bio-toxicity, photolithography, and supercapacitors. 

11. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 residential and 64 online participants

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (virtual option also available)

Cost: $8,575 (residential) | $3,580 (online) + possible additional expenses for materials not exceeding $100 + $65 application fee; need-based partial/full financial aid offered

Dates: Session 1 (residential): June 22 – July 18 | Session 1 (virtual): June 16 – July 4 | Session 2 (virtual): July 7 – 25

Application deadline: February 3

Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 who are 15 – 18 and have a strong academic background in high school geometry and algebra; familiarity with number theory & modular arithmetic preferred

SUMaC offers high schoolers with a strong interest in mathematics an in-depth exploration of the subject. You can choose between two academic tracks—Abstract Algebra & Number Theory (Program I) or Algebraic Topology (Program II). In either of the tracks, you will work on problem sets, explore mathematical research, and learn about the historical development of key math areas and math applications across scientific disciplines. In the four-week residential option, you will attend TA sessions, guest lectures, and workshops. You will also engage with your peers in social activities, such as board games, community-building conversations, and math discussions, and go on field trips around the Bay Area. You will present a final research project at the end of the program.

12. UC Davis Young Scholars Program

Cohort size: ~40

Location: UC Davis, Davis, CA

Cost: $7,500 with need-based fee reduction available (up to 90%) + $45 application fee with available waivers

Dates: June 22 – August 2

Application deadline: March 15

Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 but not 18 years old during the program and are permanent U.S. residents 

The UC Davis School of Education's Young Scholars Program (YSP) offers high schoolers hands-on research experiences in agricultural, environmental, biological, and natural sciences. During the program, you will work on a research project and attend lectures to explore foundational science concepts and career paths. You will work in a UC Davis lab under one-on-one research mentorship. You will maintain a research notebook, write a professional journal-quality article on your research project, and present it at a research symposium as well as to students at your high school. Earlier papers investigated topics like low-noise amplifiers, landscape irrigation efficiency, and the form and function of plant cell walls. Weekend trips are also part of the experience, allowing you to visit educational institutes and labs in Northern California. On program completion, you will receive five units of University Group Study Credit!

13. California State Summer School for Math and Science (COSMOS)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 160 – 200 students /UC campus

Location: UC Davis, Davis, CA | UC Irvine, Irvine, CA | UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA | UC Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA | UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Cost: $5,256 + $44 application fee; need-based financial aid available

Dates: July 6 – August 1 at UCI and UCSD | July 6 – August 2 at UCD, UCLA, and UCSC

Application deadline: February 7

Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders in California with a 3.5 or higher GPA who are participating in COSMOS for the first time

COSMOS is a residential pre-college program for students interested in STEM. Over four weeks, you will participate in lab sessions and explore educational and career options in STEM fields. You will participate in a selected cluster, which will cover advanced topics in STEM, including biomedical sciences, marine science, astronomy, and robotics. You will engage with your peers, work on group projects under the mentorship of UC faculty, researchers, and scientists, and attend alumni programs. Recreational activities, such as sports and social events, as well as weekend trips, are also part of the experience.

14. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~25 students

Location: Virtual

Cost: $850 + $40 application fee; need-based fee waivers available

Dates: June 16 – 27

Application deadline: February 28

Eligibility: High school students; strong preference for applicants with programming/math skills or experience participating in a healthcare project; must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Stanford’s AIMI (Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging) offers two-week virtual internships to students interested in learning about the role and future of artificial intelligence in addressing medical challenges. During the program, you will attend lectures on machine learning fundamentals, work in a small team on a healthcare-focused AI project, and receive guidance and support from Stanford researchers and student leaders. The program offers career-focused Lunch-and-Learn sessions led by professionals from various sectors to help you learn about paths in STEM fields. You will attend technical lectures on the use of AI in healthcare. 

15. Camp Sea Lab

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available

Location: Aptos, CA (camp drop-off/pick-up locations vary)

Cost: Varies; scholarships and discounts available

Dates: Various camps are scheduled from July to August

Application deadline: Applications remain open till the camp is full

Eligibility: Anyone between the ages of 8 and 16 who can swim; exact requirements vary by camp

Camp SEA Lab offers educational and hands-on experiences in marine science and marine ecology through day and overnight camps. You will learn about marine ecology and ocean conservation, and participate in aquatic activities like snorkeling and kayaking. You can attend a day camp called Stewards of the SEA, overnight camps Kelp Forest Quest and Keepers of the Coast, and Voyage Seaward. Each camp offers opportunities to refine your observation skills, learn scientific illustration techniques, take part in plankton studies, dissect marine species, and gain knowledge about marine life like sand crabs and sea otters. Whale watching, conservation-based discussions, and site visits may also be part of the experience, depending on the camp you choose.

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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