What if you could step into a lab, work alongside professional scientists, and contribute to discoveries that could shape the future, all while still in high school? Science research programs open that door by allowing you to go beyond textbooks and see how theories transform into experiments, data, and real-world impact. These experiences help you develop advanced skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration, while also giving you a chance to explore whether a career in science and research feels right for you.
From analyzing DNA sequences to studying environmental systems or engineering new technologies, science research programs for high school students provide a hands-on look at the methods driving innovation today. This hands-on experience not only deepens your understanding of scientific concepts but also prepares you for college and future careers by encouraging the ability to contribute original ideas to your fields of interest.
In this blog, we’ve compiled 13 of the most exciting science research programs for high school students, each designed to help you grow as a young scientist.
1. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: None / stipend between $501.60 – $805.60/week
Dates: Fall: 16 weeks (late August/early September – mid-December); Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May); Summer: 10 weeks (late May/early June – August)
Application Deadline: Varies based on the AFRL sites and/or projects to which you are applying; Summer deadline is January 9
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students | U.S. citizens
The AFRL Scholars Program is a paid internship where you work alongside Air Force scientists and engineers on active research projects. High school students selected for the program contribute to work in fields such as aerospace systems, artificial intelligence, physics, or data science. You may have the opportunity to assist with tasks such as developing software, designing experiments, analyzing satellite systems, or exploring new defense technologies, all depending on your placement. The program also connects you with professional mentors who help you build technical and career skills in a government research setting. It is a competitive program offering a unique research experience and exposure to advanced science and technology environments.
2. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants); $4,500 (returning participants)
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer (option to extend by 2 weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens | some labs may have additional criteria
Through the SEAP program, you spend eight weeks of the summer working in a U.S. Navy research laboratory under the mentorship of scientists and engineers. Around 300 high school students are selected each year to join projects in areas such as computer modeling, materials science, robotics, marine engineering, or cybersecurity. Your day-to-day tasks may involve assisting with simulations, testing materials, or contributing to environmental studies, depending on your lab placement. You’ll be matched with a lab based on your interests, enabling you to model systems in ANSYS, help with cybersecurity simulations, or analyze components of naval tech.
3. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: $75 application fee (waivers are available)
Dates: June 22 – August 2 (tentative for 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 years of age by July 1 of the program year
At the Research Science Institute, hosted at MIT, you spend six weeks immersed in both scientific study and hands-on research. The first week is dedicated to intensive seminars across STEM disciplines such as biology, chemistry, and engineering, preparing you for the five-week research internship that follows. During this placement, you review scientific literature, design experiments, and analyze results while working under the guidance of researchers. You also attend evening lectures by leading scientists and gain exposure to cutting-edge developments across fields. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your findings through a written paper and an oral presentation.
4. Scripps Student Research Internship
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Dates: June 2 – August 8 or June 16 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 16 years old by the internship start date
At the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, you spend 10 weeks working on projects that combine data science, genetics, and health technology with a focus on improving human health. You spend most of your time in a dry lab, where you analyze genomic or clinical data using computational tools, though limited wet lab opportunities are available. The program pairs you with a faculty mentor who guides you through tasks such as studying genetic links to disease or testing how wearable devices can track patient health. Weekly seminars, journal clubs, and roundtable discussions expose you to broader topics in personalized medicine and translational science.
5. High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences – MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None / $6,800 stipend for 10 weeks and $6,120 for nine weeks
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who will be over 18 years of age by the program’s start | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders
At MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, you can join a 10-week summer program that introduces you to biomedical research and allied health careers while working full-time in a laboratory. Under the supervision of faculty, you contribute to an ongoing project, gaining experience in experimental techniques, data analysis, and the research process. Alongside your lab work, you attend seminars led by scientists on a range of topics in cancer research and medicine. The program also includes activities such as abstract writing, poster sessions, and elevator pitch competitions. At the end of the summer, you present your research to faculty and peers at a concluding symposium.
6. BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship – UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: None
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically April
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors intending to mentor interns in the next year
The UCLA BrainSport internship allows you to work on clinical research centered on concussions and pediatric brain injuries. Over the summer, you contribute to the CARE4Kids study by helping with tasks like participant recruitment, data collection, and cognitive testing while learning how medical studies are designed in real-world clinics. Weekly team meetings expose you to the process of study coordination and the challenges of working with clinical data. You collaborate with physicians, medical students, and researchers, gaining insight into how sports medicine and neuroscience intersect. To wrap up the program, you develop and present a project based on your area of interest.
7. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: Bar Harbor, ME
Cost/Stipend: None / $7,000 stipend plus room, board and travel
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school seniors who have completed grade 12 | At least 18 years old | U.S. citizen or permanent resident
In the Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program in Bar Harbor, Maine, you join about 40 other students to spend 10 weeks exploring genetics and genomics through hands-on research. You are paired with a mentor and develop an independent project that involves designing a study, analyzing results, and presenting your findings at the end of the summer. Alongside lab work, you participate in seminars and discussions that expose you to current topics in biomedical research. A stipend is provided, and the program also offers access to recreational activities in nearby Acadia National Park and community-building events.
8. Roswell Park High School Summer Research Program
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / Limited funding is available to support subsistence allowances for a select number of applicants subject to eligibility
Dates: June 26 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors residing and enrolled in a school in Western New York | U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents | 15 years of age or older at the program start
Through the SURE-CAN program, you spend six weeks learning about cancer research while contributing to projects in either laboratory or computational settings. You may explore cancer biology, genomics, or emerging tools like AI and medical imaging, depending on your placement. You also get to attend lectures and seminars that cover topics such as research ethics, biostatistics, and the ways engineering and physics support oncology. The program covers professional skills too, with group discussions and communication workshops built into the schedule. It concludes with a formal symposium that gives you the chance to present your work in a professional environment.
9. High School Research Immersion Program – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Location: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: None / $4,800 stipend
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors from the Memphis-Shelby County area and surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas | 16 years or older | Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the High School Research Immersion Program allows rising seniors from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas to spend the summer working on projects that connect to pediatric care and public health. You are matched with a mentor in areas such as laboratory science, clinical studies, psychology, or epidemiology, where you gain exposure to how research supports medical discovery. As you progress, you work on developing communication skills that can support college applications, including writing a personal statement. At the end of the program, you present your work at a community exhibition in the form of a scientific poster.
10. NYU Tandon’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,000 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York residents
Through NYU Tandon’s ARISE program, you spend 10 weeks combining training and independent research in a university setting. The first four weeks focus on building skills through workshops on lab safety, research methods, and academic writing, while the remaining six weeks are spent working in one of around 80 NYU research labs. Areas of research include robotics, machine learning, biomedical engineering, and materials science, and you contribute around 120 hours of lab work under the mentorship of faculty and graduate students. The summer concludes with a research symposium at the American Museum of Natural History, where you display your project to an audience of peers, mentors, and community members.
11. Simons Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cost/Stipend: None, but on-campus housing and meals cost $2,360.25, plus $500 for extra food / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 or older by the program’s start date | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In this program, you can select up to three preferred fields or mentors from diverse areas such as mathematics, biomedical informatics, computer science, astronomy, pharmacology, civil and mechanical engineering, neurobiology, and others. You become part of a research team, collaborating closely with a faculty mentor, gaining practical experience in experimental design, laboratory techniques, and research methodologies. Research tasks may include conducting lab-based experiments, developing algorithms for high-performance computing and machine learning, performing bioinformatics analyses, or creating statistical models to forecast health outcomes. The program also offers lab tours, workshops, lectures from faculty members, and various events. It culminates in presenting a research abstract and delivering a poster presentation.
12. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: None except a $25 application fee / $750 stipend upon completion of a successful research project report
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 17 years of age by the start of the program and are graduating this year or the next year | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week residential research experience open to only 12 high school juniors and seniors nationwide. As a participant, you are paired with a faculty mentor to carry out an independent research project in disciplines ranging from biology and chemistry to engineering, business, or even the humanities. Your work could involve designing experiments, analyzing data, or conducting literature-based scholarly research depending on your chosen area. Beyond research, the program includes seminars, field trips, and group discussions that broaden your perspective and expose you to interdisciplinary ideas.
13. UCSF High School Intern Program (HIP)
Location: UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $3,200 for 25 hours/week; $4,500 for 35 hours/week
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors enrolled in an SFUSD school, SF charter school
The UCSF High School Intern Program is an eight- to nine-week paid opportunity for rising seniors from San Francisco public schools to conduct original research in fields like neuroscience, immunology, infectious disease, or cancer biology. The program pairs you with a UCSF scientist who guides you through designing experiments, analyzing data, and preparing to present your results at a formal symposium. The program includes preparation for higher education, offering writing workshops, financial aid guidance, and one-on-one advising on college applications. You also participate in seminars, journal clubs, and group activities that connect you with peers and faculty across the university.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – UC San Francisco