TL;DR
This list includes food science programs covering food chemistry, nutrition, food technology, food processing, agriculture, aquaculture, and agricultural research. You’ll find options ranging from short summer camps to multi-week university programs and research opportunities, with some programs offering free participation, stipends, or residential experiences. The programs also vary in their focus, so you can choose one based on your interests, grade level, budget, and how much hands-on research you want to do. If you want to explore food science through a focused academic research experience, the Horizon Academic Research Program can help you develop your interests into a structured research project with expert mentorship.
If you’re interested in food science but aren’t sure what kind of program fits you, start by looking at the work you’ll actually do rather than the name of the program. Some options put you in a university lab for several weeks, while others use food production, nutrition, agriculture, or processing to show you how science works in practice. The list below covers food science research and related summer programs for high school students, with options across different ages, budgets, locations, and levels of research intensity. If you want to compare these with broader science opportunities, you can also explore 14 Science Summer Programs for High School Students.
What kind of food science experience are you looking for?
The easiest way to narrow a long list is to start with the experience you want. This quick guide groups the programs by the kind of work they emphasize.
For a broader look at research-heavy options, 35 Summer Research Programs for High School Students is another useful comparison point.
1. UC Davis Young Scholars Program
Location: University of California, Davis, CA
Cost: $7,750 + $200 refundable security deposit; $45 application fee. Fee reductions and application fee waivers are available.
Program Dates: June 21–August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16 by the first day of the program and not yet 18 by the final day; permanent U.S. residents currently living and attending school in the U.S.
The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential research program for high school students interested in biological, agricultural, environmental, and natural sciences. You’ll work one-on-one with a UC Davis researcher on an individual project, write a research paper, and present your findings at a symposium. You’ll also attend professor lectures, take Northern California field trips, live on campus, and earn five units of university credit.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 11–12 who want six weeks of full-time university research in biology, agriculture, environmental science, food science, or related fields and are ready to produce a research paper and presentation.
2. UGA Young Scholars Program
Location: University of Georgia campuses in Athens, Griffin, or Tifton, GA
Cost: Free; paid internship
Program Dates: June 1–July 7; research conference July 8–10
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: High school students who have completed sophomore year, are at least 16 by the program start date, and are first-time YSP participants; applicants must also have completed one high school science course with a laboratory and one semester of algebra
The UGA Young Scholars Program is a paid five-week summer research internship for high school students interested in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences. You’ll spend about 30 hours a week conducting supervised research with a faculty mentor at the Athens, Griffin, or Tifton campus. You will present your research at the three-day Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference in Athens.
Who is it right for? Students entering their junior year who are at least 16 and want hands-on research in agricultural, food, or environmental science while working with a UGA faculty mentor.
3. NC A&T Research Apprenticeship Program
Location: North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC
Cost: Free; $25 nonrefundable application fee
Program Dates: June 14–26
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in Fall who are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 2.8 GPA
The Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at North Carolina A&T is a two-week residential program for students interested in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences. You’ll live on campus and conduct an independent research project under the guidance of a research scientist in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. You’ll receive a stipend after completing the program and enrolling in a CAES major.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 11–12 with a 2.8+ GPA who want hands-on research in food, agricultural, or environmental science and are interested in pursuing a CAES major at N.C. A&T.
4. USC Pre-College: The Science of Food, Nutrition and the Biological World
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $8,130 commuter or $11,570 residential for domestic students; $85 nonrefundable application fee
Program Dates: June 22–July 17
Application Deadline: May 8 for domestic applicants; March 13 for international applicants
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least 9th grade and have completed one year of high school biology with a grade of B or above; open to domestic and international students
USC’s four week Pre College course gives you college level instruction in biology, food science, microbiology, genetics, and nutrition. You’ll explore topics like food molecules, nutrients, fermentation, GMOs, taste and smell, and the environmental impact of food production. You will also make foods like pickles and miso, extract DNA, perform PCR and gel electrophoresis, visit a local farm and cooking school, design an experiment, and present on a public health or nutrition topic. You’ll earn three units of USC elective credit.
Who is it right for? Students who want hands-on experience with food science, nutrition, microbiology, genetics, and laboratory techniques such as PCR and gel electrophoresis.
5. USDA Pathway to University Program: Summer Research Training
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: Free; participants receive a $1,000 stipend and certificate
Program Dates: June 29–July 24
Application Deadline: No separate application; students are selected from the USDA-PUP Summer Camp.
Eligibility: Students selected from the USDA-PUP Summer Camp; the program selects up to 10 students
The USDA Pathway to University Program’s Summer Research Training Program gives selected Summer Camp students four weeks of hands-on research experience at the University of Houston. You’ll work in teams across five labs focused on food science, nutrition, and agricultural biotechnology. You will learn research and lab safety skills, train with graduate students, and eventually design and conduct your own experiments under supervision.
Who is it right for? Students who complete the USDA-PUP Summer Camp and want hands-on experience designing experiments and conducting laboratory research in food science, nutrition, or agricultural biotechnology.
6. ACS Project SEED
Location: Academic, industry, and government laboratory sites across the U.S.
Cost: Free; $4,000 fellowship for Summer I and Summer II participants
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks during summer, typically June–August
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: High school students who meet ACS financial-eligibility requirements, have completed at least one high school chemistry course, and demonstrate an interest in science or chemistry; current sophomores, juniors, and seniors are preferred
ACS Project SEED gives you 8 to 10 weeks of hands-on chemistry research at a participating laboratory with a scientist mentor. You’ll spend about 40 hours a week working on a research project in chemistry or a related field, then complete a written report or research poster. Some sites also offer field trips, campus tours, career panels, and presentation opportunities.
Who is it right for? Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who have completed high school chemistry and want intensive, full-time laboratory research experience in chemistry or a related scientific field.
7. City of Hope STEP Science and Nutrition Summer Research Program
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Cost: No program fee listed on the official website
Program Dates: July 7–30; half-day sessions
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9–12 who can attend all sessions in person and commute to the City of Hope Duarte campus
The City of Hope STEP Science & Nutrition Summer Research Program is a four-week program exploring nutrition, health, and the factors that shape individual and population health. You’ll study carbohydrates, fats, and proteins while examining how genetics, behavior, healthcare access, food systems, and the environment affect health. You’ll work in a small group to develop a health or science question, review peer-reviewed research, and present your findings to a general audience.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–12 who want to explore nutrition and population health while developing skills in scientific literature review, critical thinking, research questions, teamwork, and science communication.
8. COSMOS at UC Davis: Future Foods – Aquaculture and Aquaponics
Location: University of California, Davis, CA
Cost: $5,793 for the four-week residential program
Program Dates: July 6–31
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: California high school students entering grades 9–12 with a minimum 3.5 GPA
COSMOS at UC Davis is a four-week residential STEM program where you’ll explore aquaculture and aquaponics through the Future Foods cluster. You’ll combine biology, chemistry, engineering, and ecology to study aquatic food production, hydroponics, and recirculating aquaculture systems. You will also explore how these systems connect to food production, conservation, and sustainability.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 9–12 with a 3.5+ GPA who want to explore food production through aquatic biology, aquaponics, engineering, and environmental science.
9. Virginia Governor’s School for Agriculture at Virginia Tech
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: $300 non-refundable program fee; full or partial fee waivers are available based on documented financial need
Program Dates: June 20–July 11
Application Deadline: February 25 through the Virginia Department of Education; local school or division deadlines vary
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from Virginia public, private, and home schools who are identified as gifted or advanced
The Virginia Governor’s School for Agriculture is a three-week residential program where you’ll explore agriculture through STEM, economics, and natural resources. You’ll work in a team of 4 to 5 students on a research project covering topics such as plant and animal health, food safety, agricultural technology, or rural economics. You will produce a research paper, poster, and presentation while learning from Virginia Tech faculty and researchers.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 11–12 who are identified as gifted or advanced and want a residential, research-focused introduction to agriculture, food science, natural resources, engineering, or related STEM fields.
10. Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences at UT Martin
Location: University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN
Cost: Free
Program Dates: May 31–June 26
Application Deadline: December 5
Eligibility: Tennessee high school students entering their senior year who are nominated by their high school
The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences is a four-week residential program where you’ll explore agriculture through coursework, hands-on activities, field trips, and projects. You will learn about areas such as veterinary science, crop and soil management, agricultural engineering, natural resources, and agricultural business with guidance from university faculty and industry professionals.
Who is it right for? Students entering senior year in Tennessee who want hands-on exposure to agriculture, environmental science, agricultural engineering, veterinary science, or related careers while earning college credit.
11. Tuskegee University Agri-TREK/Sci-TREK Summer Institute
Location: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 7–20
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Tuskegee University’s Agri TREK and Sci TREK Summer Institute introduces you to agriculture, science, and related STEAM fields through hands-on activities, research, and enrichment sessions. You’ll learn from university faculty and agriculture and science professionals while exploring different career paths. Agri TREK focuses on agriculture, while Sci TREK offers a broader science and STEAM experience.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–12 who want a residential introduction to agriculture, food and nutrition, environmental science, or other STEAM fields through hands-on learning and research activities.
12. UConn Pre-College Summer: Nutrition – Food Science and Technology
Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Cost: $2,350 for one residential non-credit course; $50 non-refundable application fee
Program Dates: July 19–25
Application Deadline: June 11: priority deadline; applications may continue afterward based on course availability
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors who are 14–17 years old, have completed at least one year of high school, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA
UConn’s one-week Food Science and Technology course combines classroom learning with hands-on lab experiments. You’ll explore food microbiology, safety, chemistry, quality assurance, food engineering, product development, packaging, sensory evaluation, and food regulations. You’ll also learn about modern food processing and how it affects food quality and safety while exploring food science and nutrition careers with UConn faculty.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–11 who want hands-on exposure to food chemistry, microbiology, food processing, packaging, and quality assurance while exploring careers in food science and nutrition.
13. K-State Feeding Your Future Camp
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Cost: $75
Program Dates: June 9–13
Application Deadline: Registration deadline varies based on availability
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
K State’s Feeding Your Future Camp introduces you to the science and technology behind turning farm products into food and feed. You’ll explore grain science through activities like milling, baking, feed production, and agricultural processing. You will also visit K-State facilities, see processing equipment in action, and learn about careers in grain science from faculty and industry professionals.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 10–12 who want hands-on experience with grain science, food processing, milling, baking, feed production, and agricultural technology.
14. UNL Food Science Summer Camp: Rise and Grind – A Wheat Tale
Location: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Cost: $150
Program Dates: June 16–19
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
UNL’s Rise and Grind: A Wheat Tale summer camp follows wheat from the farm to the foods you eat. You’ll visit a farm, explore how wheat is dried and milled, and see how it becomes flour and baked goods. At UNL’s Food Innovation Center, you’ll explore food science and technology while learning how agriculture connects with chemistry, engineering, nutrition, and food safety.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–11 who want hands-on exposure to wheat production, food processing, food science, and the technology behind everyday grain-based foods.
15. Roger Williams University Food Science Camp
Location: Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Cost: $1,995, including tuition, room, and board
Program Dates: July 19–24
Application Deadline: No application required; $500 deposit required to secure registration, with final payment due May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
Roger Williams University’s Food Science Camp explores how food connects with science, health, and the environment. You’ll work in a food science lab to explore fermentation, the microbiome, food chemistry, food waste, and plant based proteins like tofu. You will also visit oyster farms, a regenerative farm, and campus gardens while learning about sustainability and food systems.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 10–12 who want hands-on food science experience while exploring fermentation, food chemistry, plant-based foods, sustainability, and food systems.
What changes when you compare these programs side by side?
The list includes programs that look similar at first but lead to very different experiences. A six-week faculty-mentored research program is a different commitment from a one-week food science camp, and a paid internship has a different financial profile from a tuition-based pre-college course.
If you’re trying to understand how much a research experience actually matters beyond the program itself, Do Summer Research Programs Actually Help with College Admissions? looks at what students actually produce and learn rather than treating every summer program as equivalent.
How should you choose between a research program and a food science camp?
A program is more useful when its structure matches what you want to learn. If you already know you want to do research, a longer faculty- or scientist-mentored program may give you more time to develop a question, work through a project, and produce something concrete. If you’re still figuring out whether food science is for you, a shorter course or camp can be a lower-commitment way to test the field.
Before applying, look closely at the project structure, how much time you’ll spend actually doing research or laboratory work, whether the program produces a paper or presentation, and whether the subject area matches your interests. If you need help narrowing a broad interest into a workable research question, how to choose a research topic as a high school student can help.
Questions students ask about food science programs
No. Some programs are broad enough to let you explore food science alongside nutrition, agriculture, biology, chemistry, or environmental science. Others are much more specialized, so it helps to read the project or course description before applying.
Not necessarily. This list includes faculty-mentored research, paid internships, pre-college courses, agricultural programs, and shorter camps. If producing a research paper or conducting experiments is your priority, focus on programs whose descriptions explicitly include research, laboratory work, or a defined project.
Several options in the list are free, including the UGA Young Scholars Program, NC A&T Research Apprenticeship Program, USDA Pathway to University Program, ACS Project SEED, Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences, and Tuskegee University Agri-TREK/Sci-TREK Summer Institute. Some also provide stipends or fellowships. Always check the individual program details for the exact financial terms.
Yes. The list includes options for students entering grades 9–12, although several research-heavy programs are limited to juniors and seniors. Check the eligibility section for each program before spending time on an application.
No. Food science overlaps with nutrition, chemistry, microbiology, agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, and environmental science. Programs such as aquaculture, agricultural research, grain science, and nutrition can all give you useful exposure to food systems depending on what you want to study.
The program itself is only part of the story. What you actually do matters more: a research question you investigate, a paper or presentation you produce, a technique you learn, or a problem you explore can give you something concrete to discuss later. If you want a more structured independent research experience, Horizon Academic Research Program pairs high school students with mentors while they develop an individual research project.
Image source: UC Davis