If you’re a high school student curious about how the brain works and you have a passion for coding, data, or math, computational neuroscience might be the perfect intersection of your interests. This growing field uses tools from computer science, physics, and mathematics to model brain activity, understand neural networks, and explore how the mind processes information.
Computational neuroscience programs for high school students can open the door to this cutting-edge discipline by offering experiences well beyond the typical classroom. These programs might involve hands-on projects, exposure to machine learning and neural simulations, research opportunities alongside scientists, or even coding your own brain-inspired algorithms. Along the way, you’ll gain valuable technical and analytical skills, explore real-world applications of neuroscience and AI, and get a taste of what research or a career in brain science could look like.
Many computational neuroscience programs for high school students are free and hosted by top universities or research institutions. They’re often competitive, making them a strong addition to college applications. But more importantly, they provide a meaningful chance to connect with mentors and peers who share your curiosity.
To help you find the right opportunity, we’ve put together a list of 15 free computational neuroscience programs for high school students.
15 Computational Neuroscience Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; You can apply here
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4
Lumiere is a research program where high school students collaborate with PhD mentors to conduct an independent project. You’ll choose a topic from a range of fields such as psychology, computer science, international relations, economics, or physics, and work closely with a mentor to develop your research. If your specific interests aren’t listed, you can also suggest your own topic. The program is designed to give you firsthand experience with academic research and help you build skills in critical thinking, writing, and analysis.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Neuromatch Academy: Computational Neuroscience Course
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Past courses have offered fee waivers or scholarships
Application Deadline: February 24 – March 30 (tentative)
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Eligibility: High school students with a strong quantitative background; Prior coding experience helpful
This hands-on course centers on Python-based modeling, machine learning, neural data analysis, and core computational neuroscience concepts. You’ll participate in a pod of around 15 peers with near real-time support from mentors, and tackle group research projects. The curriculum covers topics like neural networks, dynamical systems, causality, and deep learning as applied to neural data. Lectures, live sessions, and coding tutorials guide you through building and analyzing your own computational models.
4. Boston Leadership Institute: Neuroscience Research
Location: Olin College, Greater Wellesley, MA
Cost: Varies; Selective need-based scholarships offered
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Dates: July 14 – August 1
Eligibility: Academically strong high school students
The Boston Leadership Institute’s Neuroscience Research program is a three-week, in-depth summer science experience designed for high school students interested in neurobiology and neurochemistry. You’ll study neuron structure and signaling, neural pathways across the major sensory systems, and higher-order functions like learning, memory, emotion, stress, and sleep. There is a significant focus on understanding the chemical and electrical principles underlying neural circuits, including the mechanisms of neural signaling and information processing, which form the foundation of computational neuroscience.
5. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD / Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend provided: $15/hour (in-person)
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 5-8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Baltimore (in-person) or anywhere in the U.S. or Canada (virtual)
JHIBS places you in a research lab, often on computational neuroscience projects, with guided mentorship from Hopkins faculty. Activities include clinical rotations, computational modeling, and training in neuroinformatics software. Weekly seminars and presentations are required. The program actively encourages applications from underrepresented and first-generation students. A virtual track is available for remote participation!
6. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipends offered
Application Deadline: December 16 – February 9
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Durham, NC, current high school sophomores or juniors, or seniors not enrolling in college in the fall (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
DUNE is an intensive research program where you’ll work on computational neuroscience projects in a university lab. You’ll gain hands-on research experience in data-driven brain science, use specialized software, and build skills in technical communication. Workshops will focus on neuroinformatics, scientific computing, and science writing! Students will also receive daily mentoring and career guidance. The program concludes with a poster session and a public presentation of research.
7. MPFI’s High School Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
Cost/Stipend: Free; $13/hour stipend
Application Deadline: March 4
Dates: 6 weeks from June – July
Eligibility: Palm Beach/Martin County rising high school juniors or seniors (16+)
MPFI’s rigorous program immerses you in lab research projects with computational neurobiology tracks, including imaging, neural coding, and data analysis. You will conduct presentations, maintain lab notebooks, and work closely with postdocs and faculty, emphasising genetic engineering, neural simulations, and brain mapping. You will also participate in journal clubs focused on developing critical thinking about computational neuroscience articles. The end-of-program symposium will showcase student research.
8. UCI Brain Camp
Location: UC Irvine campus, Irvine, California
Cost: $2,195; Need-based scholarships available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: July 14 – 25
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
UCI Brain Camp is an immersive, two-week in-person summer program that introduces middle and high school students to neuroscience, including modules with strong ties to computational neuroscience. You’ll participate in lectures, seminars, hands-on workshops, laboratory tours, and real experiments that cover topics like brain-machine interfaces, neuropharmacology, learning and memory, and comparative neuroanatomy. During the second week, you’ll design your own experiment, analyze data, and present your findings to faculty and peers, giving direct experience in scientific inquiry and computational analysis.
9. Rice University: RNS NeuroCamp
Location: Online and in-person at Rice University, Houston, TX (for greater Houston area students)
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Opens in March; Rolling until full
Dates: Online camp: July 19 – 20; In-person: August 9 – 10
Eligibility: High school students; No prior experience or prerequisites required
The RNS NeuroCamp’s curriculum covers core topics such as neurons and neurotransmission, neurological diseases, and neuroanatomy. It then exposes you to advanced subjects like computational neuroscience and the philosophy of mind. You’ll participate in career panels with STEM professionals, learn laboratory skills through independent experiments, and receive guidance on college applications and life as a university student. Camp activities are designed to foster STEM and professional development, mentoring, and long-term interest in neuroscience.
10. Marine Biological Laboratory: Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence and Success (SPINES)
Location: Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 24
Dates: June 15 – July 5
Eligibility: Highly motivated students interested in neuroscience
The SPINES program at MBL is a competitive, three-week neuroscience experience focused on developing the next generation of neuroscientists — particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. You’ll participate in a rigorous immersion that blends lectures, lab-based research, quantitative methods, and professional skill-building, including scientific communication and grant writing. The program emphasizes mentorship, networking, and preparation for academic and research careers, while supporting all costs associated with participation. With only 15-20 students accepted and instruction by 20 top faculty, SPINES offers deeply personalized guidance and a close-knit, dynamic learning environment.
11. UCLA Brain Research Institute NeuroCamp
Location: UCLA Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: April 27
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12); Preference for Los Angeles area students
In NeuroCamp, you will be part of a small cohort of 15-20 peers who will be guided through neuroscience concepts and hands-on lab techniques, covering topics such as molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy. The curriculum blends lectures, interactive labs, and experimental projects to introduce key skills and ideas in modern brain science. You’ll also get to work directly with UCLA faculty and researchers, experiencing the fundamentals of scientific research and data analysis in a university setting.
12. University of Pennsylvania: Neuroscience Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,949; Scholarships available for School District of Philadelphia public/charter students
Application Deadline: April 27
Dates: July 5 – July 26
Eligibility: High school students (9th-11th grade) who have completed one year of high school biology and one year of chemistry before the program
The Neuroscience Research Academy at Penn is a residential summer program that introduces high school students to the biological foundations of the brain, progressing from cellular neuroscience through sensory systems to higher-order functions like memory and emotion. You’ll engage in lectures and discussions with Penn’s neuroscience faculty, participate in a journal club where you’ll analyze peer-reviewed literature, and join a neuroethics club debating real-world issues. Lab activities provide hands-on exposure to experimental techniques, while outside-the-classroom learning includes films, readings, and field trips to sites like the Mütter Museum and Franklin Institute.
13. Ohio State University: Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program
Location: Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid (NIH-funded)
Application Deadline: March 7
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors interested in neuroscience; Must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents
The Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program is a selective 7-week, NIH-funded summer experience offering high school students an immersive introduction to neuroscience research. You’ll gain hands-on experience working in active laboratories focused on neuroscience, neurological injury, or neurodegeneration, receiving daily mentorship from faculty, graduate students, and technicians. Throughout the summer, you engage in networking opportunities, lab meetings, and group discussions, culminating in a research presentation at the end of the program.
14. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Also offered virtually
Cost: CNI-X (in-person): $2,895/session; CNV-X (virtual): $1,595; scholarships available
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1; Rolling
Dates: In-person: July 7 – 18 and July 21 – August 1; Virtual: June 16 – 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, and graduating seniors
During the Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X), you’ll participate in interactive seminars and lectures led by Stanford faculty, gaining a broad overview of topics such as clinical neuropsychiatry, psychiatric epidemiology, behavioral neuroscience, and brain imaging. You’ll also join in on small-team capstone projects that challenge you to develop and present creative solutions to real-world issues at the intersection of neuroscience and mental health. The curriculum features panels on professional careers and self-care strategies, as well as exploration of cutting-edge research in areas like neural modeling, brain-machine interfaces, and neuroimaging.
15. ENIGMA-U
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Self-paced; Research cohort sessions vary
Eligibility: High school seniors and early college students
ENIGMA-U offers a robust series of online modules focused on neuroimaging, brain mapping, big data analysis, and neuroscience foundations. You’ll learn MRI and brain network methodologies, complete guided assignments in data science, and explore current brain research literature. Completion of this program can provide eligibility for mentorship and summer research placements, immersing you in hands-on neuroscience activities led by leading faculty. The program supports independent study and research skill-building with global networking opportunities.
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