15 Summer STEM Research Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 4
- 14 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Gaining research experience in high school can be an important step if you're considering an undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering, or math. These opportunities allow you to explore specific STEM disciplines in more depth than what you typically encounter in school. Beyond developing background knowledge, you also get hands-on practice with lab techniques, exposure to research design, and a better understanding of how scientific questions are investigated in real-world settings.
Many summer research programs are hosted by universities, laboratories, or research-focused organizations. Through these programs, you might work alongside faculty, graduate students, or professional researchers, learning how to frame a research question, collect and interpret data, and present your findings. These experiences can help you figure out which areas of STEM you’re most drawn to and what types of college programs or careers you may want to pursue.
We’ve compiled a list of 15 summer STEM research programs for high school students that offer a mix of structured coursework, lab work, and mentorship. Whether you’re interested in computer science, biology, physics, or environmental science, these programs are designed to give you a closer look at how STEM research happens and to help you develop the skills needed to take the next step.
15 Summer STEM Research Programs for High School Students
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 80 - 100
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: Late June to early August, typically June 22 - August 2/June 23 - August 3
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors; Standardized testing scores recommended - PSAT Math 740 and Verbal 700, ACT Math 33 and Verbal 34
Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE), the Research Science Institute (RSI) is a free program hosted in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for high school juniors with strong mathematical, scientific, and academic potential. You will attend college-level classes led by MIT faculty members and get hands-on research experience with access to MIT's research computing resources.
The program begins with academic lectures and seminars to get insight into contemporary STEM research topics. You will then immerse yourself in a research project under the mentorship of MIT graduate students, researchers, and faculty, with lab work in collaboration with your peers. Theme-based daily educational activities, outdoor games, and off-campus field trips are also scheduled. The program culminates with submitting a professional-level written and oral presentation of your research work, and the best are then selected for awards.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 1-on-1
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase, $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program, $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. 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, 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.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 - 40
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Free with stipend on program completion (earlier cohorts have received $1000 stipend)
Dates: June 25 - August 16
Application Deadline: Typically March (earlier deadlines have varied – March 1, March 8, March 12)
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th Grade by June, must be age 16 years as of July 1; must be fully available for the entire program
The Partners in Science Program, hosted by the Liberty Science Center, is an immersive 8-week summer STEM research program for high schoolers with a keen interest in science and technology. You will be paired with science, health, and technical mentors and receive a stipend on program completion.
You will work in a professional lab environment and deep dive into scientific research techniques and processes, learn lab protocols, and develop competency in reading scientific literature, as well as oral and written science communication skills. You will get the opportunity to network with specialists in the scientific community and can submit your completed research work at science fairs and competitions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25
Location: Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free, LA city minimum wage paid to all participants eligible for the paid internship track
Dates: Starting June 30, 6 - 10 weeks (pre-appointment onboarding requirements are in May-mid-June)
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 by the program start date, preferably in Los Angeles or the surrounding area, with reliable transportation to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and eligible to work in the U.S.
The Inspiring New Scientists through Professional Internships and Research Experience (INSPIRE) at Cedars-Sinai is an intensive hands-on training program for high schoolers in basic, translational or clinical research in healthcare. You will spend approximately 20 hours/week with an assigned mentor, engage in research discussions and journal club activities, and attend virtual workshops on skill development and career opportunities in the healthcare field.
You will receive training in lab safety and a deep dive into the principles of the research process, as well as learn about the appropriate use of Protected Health Information (PHI). Alongside your mentor, you will collect and analyze data and collate it to write a professional-level research paper, including a synopsis, main text, endnotes, and citations. You will develop skills to design a research study and develop a hypothesis, and understand the presentation and review process of scientific literature.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies, typically a maximum of 24 - 30
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Varies, starts from $650; partial scholarships available for applicants who are eligible for the Federal free or reduced lunch program; a few programs are free
Dates: Vary, June through July
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Grades 9 - 12; each program has specific additional subject requirements
Stony Brook University's Institute for STEM Education (I-STEM) hosts summer research programs for high school students with a strong interest in STEM disciplines. You will get an understanding of the basic concepts of science, engineering, and math as applicable to the program you choose, and engage in hands-on activities to develop skills and lab techniques relevant to future academic pathways and careers.
Current I-STEM summer research programs for high school students include participating in hands-on activities including IBM Quantum Composer simulations (Quantum Information Science & Technology Summer Program); exploring lab techniques for high school level research (Lab Techniques in Biotechnology); discovering fascinating physical phenomena (Physics Summer Program); developing skills and scientific techniques to process a mock crime scene (Explorations in Forensics); and getting exposure to electrical engineering and computer programming (Engineering Summer Program).
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically 24 - 25 per session
Location: EOHSI, Rutgers Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $925 with need-based financial aid offered
Dates: July 21-25 (Session 1), July 28-August 1 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school students entering Grades 10 - 12 in the fall; recommended to complete at least one high school biology course before program start; must be available for the full program duration
Rutgers University Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy host the Toxicology Health and Environmental Disease (THED) summer program for high schoolers with an active interest in biomedical research. You will get the opportunity to explore career opportunities in medicine, pharmacy, toxicology, environmental health science, and research through discussions with faculty and professionals, and get hands-on experience in genetics, histology, pathology, and other labs.
You will learn various lab techniques used in the biomedical and environmental health sciences fields, such as pipetting, DNA isolation, cell culture, and more! You will also attend sessions on lab ethics, experimental design, drug disposition, forensic toxicology, and other aspects of medicine & pharmacy. You will receive training in analyzing clinical findings and exploring real-world applications of the collected data. The program culminates with group presentations to parents and instructors.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: UC, Berkeley campus, CA/ UC Santa Cruz campus, CA
Cost: Vary, starts from $1,255; financial aid is offered to Bay Area teens and prioritized based on financial need, family exposure to higher education, and access to STEM opportunities and mentors
Dates: Vary, June through July (multiple sessions offered)
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: High school students entering Grades 7 - 12, some programs may require specific programming or other skills
UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science hosts annual summer teen research programs with residential and non-residential options. The one-week programs offer research-based experiences in university labs to get exposure to real-world applications of STEM disciplines, including biomedical science, electrical engineering, genetics, ecology, computer science, AI, and more! You will also experience college life, interact with your peers and faculty, and get networking opportunities.
High schoolers in grades 10 - 12 can select from programs in biotech engineering and innovations in genetics, climate data analysis and visualization with Python, AI for solving real-life problems, marine biology, field ecology, and more. Students in grades 7 - 9 can select from programs in coding and Nano-satellites, electrical engineering and solar energy, body systems and biomedical innovations, to name a few.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective with approx.10%-15% applicants accepted
Location: Belin-Blank Center, Iowa College of Education, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $7,500 + $95 non-refundable application fee; financial aid up to 95% of the cost of the program offered to accepted students + merit and need-based scholarships and funds for NYC-enrolled students (international students are ineligible for financial aid)
Dates: June 18 - July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 10 – 11; must commit to full participation for the program duration; international students not living in the U.S. and not having U.S. citizenship must have a student visa
The Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) hosted at the University of Iowa's Belin-Blank Center is a highly selective program for high schoolers to dive into authentic STEM research. You will have an immersive research experience in a chosen field of interest alongside university faculty mentors in labs with access to libraries and other facilities. As an SSTP participant, you will be enrolled as a registered student at the University of Iowa to receive three semester hours of credit on successful completion of the program.
You will get hands-on experience in conducting individual research, touring labs of other research projects, and developing communication and presentation skills. SSTP's current research areas include neuroscience and pharmacology, civil and environmental engineering, geographical and sustainability sciences, mechanical engineering, and more! You will attend seminars to get guidance on the program, including readings and assignments, and participate in recreational activities with your peers. The program wraps up with a poster presentation of your research.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 - 18
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free, with $4,500 stipend + free MetroLink and MetroBus monthly pass
Dates: June 2 – July 25 (Orientation & Research Bootcamp in late May)
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school students currently in 11th Grade in the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois) and are going into the 12th grade after the summer, must be permanent residents of the St. Louis metro area
The Young Scientist Program (YSP) is a Summer Focus, lab-intensive program offered at Washington University in St. Louis for high school students interested in biomedical sciences. You will attend a boot camp on lab safety and lab techniques prior to the program. No previous research experience is necessary!
In the 8-week YSP internship research program, you will be paired with a scientist from Washington University with whom you will conduct an independent research project and work full-time in a lab for 40 hours a week. You will also be paired with a literature mentor to develop skills in reading scientific papers and other research material, and attend a 'NextUp' course on college and career prep. You will present your research project at a symposium at the end of the program. Earlier projects have included research topics in neuroscience, microbiology, ecology, chemistry, biomedical engineering, and more.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: up to 90
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $5,500 with full-funded need-based scholarships available for Florida high school students + $50 non-refundable application fee (fee waiver available)
Dates: June 8 – July 26
Application Deadline: April 15 for Florida high school students, April 1 for out-of-state/international students, with rolling admissions till spots fill
Eligibility: Students currently in the 11th grade, must be age 16 years or older by program start; must commit to the entire program
The University of Florida's Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET) hosts the Student Science Training Program (UF SSTP) in which UF research faculty engage high school students in university-level research experiences within diverse STEM fields as part of their lab team for about 30 hours/week. In the 7-week residential program, you will experience a diverse range of studies, including clinical research, engineering projects, computer-based projects, etc. Florida high school students have a free Dual Enrollment (DE) opportunity to earn credits for the lab component and Honors Seminar Course.
You will be assigned a research lab with a UF faculty research scientist based on your interest, attend interdisciplinary faculty lectures, and participate in the UF Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar Course with your topic choice. You will prepare a professional research paper, deliver a scientific talk mid-term, and at the program's end. You will also prepare a poster based on the lab research. Weekend events such as field trips, social events, and service activities are also scheduled.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: UChicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $14,490 with partial/full financial aid available
Dates: June 14 - July 12
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Current high school students in Grades 10 - 11; must be at least 15 years of age; additional subject criteria requirements are applicable
The University of Chicago offers high schoolers an immersive research experience in the 4-week Practicum program, with current summer programs including biological science and paleontology.
The Research in Biological Sciences (RIBS) program, focused on various areas of biological science, will teach you basic lab techniques before you take up an independent research project. You will work on weekly writing assignments, maintain a detailed lab notebook, and attend seminars led by faculty. The program culminates with presenting your project results at a research forum. The Stones and Bones program will give you insight into concepts in geology, paleontological methods, and more while you work in the lab and in the field with scientists and researchers. You will learn conservation and analysis techniques of the fossils that you collected in the field.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 - 40
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free (unpaid internship)
Dates: Based on research personnel and project specifics (5 - 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Current high school students who live locally; must be 16 years of age or older by June 15, students who have graduated from high school but have not yet turned 18 by June 15 are also eligible; must be U.S. citizens/legal permanent residents currently in the U.S. attending a U.S. high school; some research opportunities may have additional eligibility requirements
Princeton University's Laboratory Learning Program is an intense research-focused non-residential internship which provides high school students an insight into scientific research processes in sciences, engineering and healthcare. In addition to hands-on lab work, you will attend lab group meetings, engage in research discussions with faculty and peers, and attend seminars and other educational events.
You will be placed in a university lab to design and conduct experiments under the mentorship of research specialists. Earlier cohorts have worked on projects related to building materials, geothermal energy, biological engineering, genetics, and others. You will enhance data analytical and problem-solving skills and submit a two-page research summary report at the end of the program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 - 15
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: Free, with a stipend ($2,500+ offered in 2024) + lunch + GoPass
Dates: June 16 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising juniors and rising seniors in high school in summer, must be age 16 years or older, priority to Durham Public School students, but all eligible North Carolina students can apply
Launched by Duke Ph.D. students in biomedical engineering, the Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP) is hosted by Duke University's Biomedical Engineering Department (BME) for local high schoolers, with priority given to students from underrepresented and underserved groups. You will get hands-on engineering research experience working in a research lab with Ph.D. students, scientists, and engineers, and participate in enrichment activities, with leadership and mentor training.
You will work for seven weeks (about 8 hours daily) in a research lab at the Pratt School of Engineering under the mentorship of a graduate student or postdoctoral student. You will attend professional skill development workshops hosted by the university's Career Center, learning how to draft a resume and develop interview skills as well as enhancing oral and written communication skills. You will also interact with a panel of undergraduate students from the university's various engineering departments to get insight into potential career options. At program end, you will complete a final research report and poster presentation.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 - 30
Location: Michael B. Silevitch and Claire J. Duggan Center for STEM Education, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free, a stipend + MBTA pass may be given (not guaranteed each year)
Dates: June 23 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current juniors entering grade 12 in the fall after the summer you do YSP) with at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA; must live in and go to a school in MA, within commuting distance of Northeastern University; must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents
North Eastern University's Young Scholars Program (YSP) offers MA high schoolers hands-on practical research experience in a university lab with the opportunity to explore a potential future career path in science, engineering, and health sciences.
You will work in a research lab on a faculty-assigned project, such as cancer drug resistance, bio-inspired robots, lasers, energy systems, and so on. You will attend seminars led by faculty and graduate students to learn about higher education and professional career pathways, receive college and career counseling, and attend off-campus site visits to companies and national labs.
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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