If you’re a high school student interested in chemistry, a summer program can help you build lab skills and work with advanced equipment. These programs cover chemical analysis, organic synthesis, and biochemistry which can prepare you for fields like pharmaceuticals, environmental science, chemical engineering, and forensic science.
You’ll learn techniques such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and titration. Some programs also teach molecular modeling and data analysis software used in research. An added benefit is that these programs offer stipends, allowing you to gain hands-on experience while being compensated for your work.
Here are 10 chemistry programs that you can explore as a high school student!
10 Paid Chemistry Programs for High School Students
1. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: 38+ Department of Navy (DoN) labs across the United States
Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 10–12, aged 16+ by the program start
Application Deadline: November 1
Program Dates: June–August, with an optional 2-week extension
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) offers high school students the opportunity to develop key research and technical skills through hands-on experience in the Department of Navy labs. As an intern, you’ll gain proficiency in research methodologies, data analysis, and problem-solving.
If chemistry interests you, you can learn to analyze reaction mechanisms, synthesize materials, or study chemical properties using advanced tools like spectrometers and chromatographs. You’ll also develop your skills in data interpretation and learn how to apply them to real-world scientific challenges.
2. Idaho National Laboratory’s K-12 STEM Internship
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; rising juniors, rising seniors, or recent graduates; minimum 3.0 GPA; must be at least 16 years old; must pass pre-employment screenings
Application Deadline: Exact date falls somewhere around early summer
Program Dates: 6 weeks during summer each year (starting mid-June)
Stipend: Unspecified (paid position)
The Idaho National Laboratory’s K-12 STEM Internship gives high school students the chance to work on real-world research projects with expert mentors. You’ll develop skills in areas like nuclear energy, environmental monitoring, and cybersecurity, applying STEM concepts to solve practical problems.
You’ll gain hands-on experience analyzing chemical processes, modeling energy systems, and creating technical solutions. The program also provides insight into working in a professional research environment, helping you build both technical skills and confidence in your scientific abilities.
3. Project SEED by American Chemical Society
Location: Various U.S. research labs and academic institutions
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least one chemistry course completed; family income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty guidelines; U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Deadline: April (exact date TBD)
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks during summer (June–August)
Stipend: $4,000
Project SEED offers economically disadvantaged high school students paid summer fellowships, providing hands-on research experience in chemistry and related fields. Under professional mentorship, you’ll develop skills in experimental design, compound synthesis, analytical testing, and material development.
You’ll also strengthen your abilities in scientific communication by presenting your findings through posters or reports. The program equips you with valuable experience in conducting lab work, data analysis, and reporting.
4. Stanford University’s Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: April 1
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: Local high school students at least 16 years old by the start of the program can apply.
Stanford University’s Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program gives high school students a chance to explore advanced chemical research. Over two weeks, you will shadow graduate students and researchers in the chemistry department, observing experiments and learning about different areas of chemical study.
Rather than working on a single project, IFSS lets you follow multiple researchers, exposing you to various chemical techniques, instrumentation, and experimental methods. You will gain hands-on experience with analytical tools, synthesis processes, and reaction mechanisms, going beyond basic lab procedures to understand the chemistry behind real research.
5. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors (must graduate before the program begins); at least 16 years old; authorized to work in the U.S.
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: Summer (exact dates TBD)
Stipend: Unspecified (paid position)
The PPPL High School Internship Program lets you explore plasma physics and fusion energy, focusing on chemistry. As a chemistry intern, you’ll study plasma-material interactions, analyze reactor material degradation, and optimize hydrogen isotope handling. You’ll use tools like FTIR and optical emission spectroscopy to analyze plasma and reactions or simulate molecular behavior with LAMMPS and COMSOL.
You’ll gain experience in vacuum systems, gas purification, and surface analysis (XPS, SEM). Projects may include creating coatings, modeling erosion in tokamaks, or developing plasma sensors. You’ll also learn fusion-specific chemistry protocols, handle tritium analogs, and improve your programming skills in Python/Matlab for data analysis.
6. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; high school juniors or seniors graduating this year; must be at least 17 years old.
Application Deadline: February 24
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Stipend:$750 upon successful completion of the program
The Clark Scholars Program offers a seven-week summer research experience for high school students. Working with Texas Tech University faculty, you’ll conduct research in areas like chemistry, cancer biology, mechanical engineering, and more. You’ll attend weekly seminars and engage in social activities to build professional and academic skills.
The program includes free housing and meals on campus, providing a college-like experience. At the end, you’ll present your research through a final report and symposium, showcasing your work in a professional setting.
7. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (11th grade) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be at least 16 years old.
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Stipend: Awarded after the program (specific amount not disclosed)
The Simons Summer Research Program pairs high school juniors with Stony Brook University faculty for a six-week research experience. You’ll work on projects in fields like chemistry, biomedical engineering, or environmental science, learning skills like experimental design, computational modeling, and data analysis.
Weekly faculty talks and workshops will expand your knowledge of scientific research and professional development. The program ends with a poster symposium where you’ll present your findings, gaining valuable hands-on research experience and preparing for future STEM careers.
8. The Young Scientist Program (YSP) – Summer Focus
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (11th grade) from the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri or Illinois); strong interest in science; students from under-resourced schools or historically excluded groups are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline: January 27 (Recommendation letters due February 3)
Program Dates: June 2 – July 25
Stipend: $4,500
The Summer Focus program of the Young Scientist Program (YSP) offers an eight-week research internship for high school juniors. You’ll work with a lab mentor on hands-on research in fields like chemistry, biochemistry, or molecular biology, learning techniques such as spectrometry, chromatography, and computational modeling. A tutor provides academic support, and weekly courses cover science communication and college preparation. The program ends with a symposium where you’ll present your findings to mentors and peers.
9. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) – Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Spring: February 16; Summer: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring: March 3; Summer: June 16! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! If chemistry interests you, Horizon’s Formulation Chemistry course explores the science behind everyday products – how shampoo retains its fragrance, why certain ingredients are used in snacks, and how medicines are released in the body.
You’ll learn about emulsion preparation, system stability, and encapsulation techniques, with applications in food, cosmetics, paints, and pharmaceuticals. As part of the program, you’ll work on a research project, exploring scientific challenges at the intersection of Formulation Chemistry and Material Science.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
10. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Chemistry track
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I priority application deadline is March 9!
Lumiere, founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, offers the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs for ambitious high school students interested in chemistry. Participants are paired with a top PhD mentor and work one-on-one to produce a university-level research paper. The programs are conducted entirely online and vary in duration depending on the student’s research goals and depth of exploration.
Research areas include Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Kinetics, and Dynamics. For talented students from low-income backgrounds, the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation provides a fully funded research opportunity.
Image source – Princeton University
