If you are a high school student interested in learning about matter, energy, space, and the laws and theories that control the natural world, then a physics program is worth considering!
A physics program usually covers key concepts like electromagnetism, mechanics, and thermodynamics. A paid physics program, like the ones in this list, also offers you opportunities to engage in hands-on work relevant to the field, learn from physicists, researchers, and professors, and conduct research, with the added benefit of a stipend. The experience could also help you work on your critical thinking and analysis, communication, data collection and interpretation, investigation, and lab skills
Some credible universities and organizations offer no-cost physics research programs and internships to high schoolers, while also awarding them with stipends, scholarships, or other monetary benefits for their participation.
If this sounds like something you would like to explore, we’ve listed 10 paid physics programs for high school students:
1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Subject areas: Plasma Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: No fee. A stipend is offered, but the amount is not mentioned on the official program page.
Eligibility: Applicants should be graduating seniors who are at least 16. They must have experience with coding, computer languages, and/or computer-aided design and should have worked on a plasma physics project.
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: The program begins right after high school graduation and typically runs for 8 to 10 weeks in the summer. The dates will be chosen according to your school schedule.
As the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratory managed by Princeton University, the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (or PPPL) is responsible for researching plasma applications. Through its high school internship program, the laboratory offers graduating students the chance to work on a project with in-house research or engineering staff.
You will also get some hands-on experience in multidisciplinary scientific research, learn about topics like fusion energy, and engage in lab work, all of which can be helpful if you’re interested in building a career in physics. If selected, you will spend most of your time working on an experimental or computational plasma physics project. You will be expected to work on this research for around 40 hours each week.
2. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Subject areas: STEM disciplines
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: AEOP interns get an educational stipend. The details regarding the precise amount are shared with applicants after they have been selected.
Eligibility: High school students | Additional requirements may vary for each AEOP internship opportunity
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program dates: The internships typically run for 6 to 10 weeks in the May to August period; however, the exact dates will be discussed with interns following their selection.
The AEOP Internships are Army-sponsored research-oriented opportunities for high schoolers interested in exploring STEM fields. If selected, you will work on real-world research relevant to the U.S. Army under the guidance and supervision of a university researcher or a Department of Defense scientist. You may be assigned tasks like data collection, experimentation, analysis, and comparison of data sets. Additionally, you may learn laboratory basics and techniques if chosen to work in a U.S. Army research laboratory.
During the program, you will attend workshops, online tutorials, webinars, and other learning materials to develop your professional skills and become better equipped for university STEM studies. This experience can help you hone your critical thinking and lab skills, utilize new resources, and get exposure to ongoing physical science research. You can learn more about the program and its application requirements here.
3. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Subject areas: STEM fields
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: A stipend is provided but the exact amount has not been specified.
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet the RSI academic requirements
Application deadline: Applications typically close in December/January.
Program dates: June 22, 2025–August 2
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a STEM-based program that allows high school students to engage in scientific research at MIT. This selective program has an acceptance rate of around 3%; it selects just 70 to 100 students each year out of 3,000 applicants. Hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education, RSI involves hands-on work on a research project under the guidance of MIT professors and scientists. If selected as an RSI participant, you also get to attend college-level classes, including those on physics, taught by MIT faculty members.
You will begin the program with one week of seminars covering current research topics in physics, other STEM fields, and humanities. At the end of this week, you will get your research assignments and work on them for the next five weeks. In the final week, you will present your findings. Throughout the program, you will explore key topics in physics and other disciplines and work on research skills like data analysis and interpretation, presentation, and collection. Lectures and field trips are also a of the RSI experience.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Subject areas: Multiple STEM and social science subjects, including neuroscience, biophysics, psychology, international relations, fluid dynamics and physics, machine learning, and more
Cost: You will have to pay a fee to attend the program. You can raise an interest form here to know the exact cost. However, full financial aid is available.
Eligibility: High schoolers who maintain a GPA of at least 3.67 on a 4.0 scale | A couple of tracks come with formal prerequisites listed on the application info page here.
Application deadline: Varies for different cohorts | The applications for the upcoming spring cohort close on February 16.
Program dates: The spring and fall cohorts last 15 weeks and the summer cohort runs for 10 weeks.
- Spring cohort will begin on March 3
- Summer cohort will begin on June 16
- Summer Session II will begin on July 14
The lab dates are flexible, but you should apply about four weeks in advance to ensure you get access to lab sessions.
The Horizon Academic Research Program or HARP is a chance for you to come up with your college-level research project in the field of physics. To determine the precise project topic in physics and your research question, you can check the course list. For instance, you can choose physics courses like protein biophysics or fluid dynamics and physics. The program also offers you a choice between quantitative and qualitative STEM research. Once you have a fair idea regarding the topic and type of research you want to conduct, you will be paired with a mentor, who will be a PhD scholar or a professor.
Under the expert’s mentorship, you will work on your research project—a 20- to 25-page university-level paper. Your project may also be shared with known scientific research journals for publication. This is an opportunity to get some in-depth insights into physical sciences and work with the expertise of experienced professors and researchers. At the end of the research experience, you will get a letter of recommendation and project feedback. You can attend an information session and/or check out the application form to learn more about the whole experience.
5. NASA’s OSTEM Internship Program
Subject areas: STEM subjects, mainly Astrophysics, Aerospace Engineering, Planetary Science
Stipend: You will get a stipend as an intern based on your academic level and internship session length.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Application deadline: Applications for the summer sessions close on February 28, and the fall internship applications are due May 16. Information on the spring session is not available.
Program dates: The exact dates and duration can vary for each internship opportunity based on the session for which you apply.
- Spring internship sessions run for 16 weeks, starting in the middle of January and ending in early May.
- Summer internships tend to run for about 10 weeks, starting in late May/early June and ending in August.
- Fall internships are typically conducted over 16 weeks starting in late August/early September and ending in mid-December/January.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides internships to high school and college students in various places around the U.S. It also offers remote internships from time to time. You can choose from various opportunities in physics based on your preferred format and grade level here. Most NASA internships involve hands-on work experience and offer opportunities to learn from research scientists and engineers. Each internship also involves hands-on work on a specific project. You may also assist with designing experiments, analyzing data relevant to NASA’s missions, or developing new technologies.
For instance, if you are selected for NASA’s Glenn High School Physical Sciences and Technologies Internship, you will help the space agency convert and organize its backlog of experimental space flight data onto the Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system—an online database of physical science ISS flight experiments. You can also consider applying for the Instrument Development for Heliospheric Particles Internship, where you will get to analyse laboratory and performance tests of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). Irrespective of your chosen internship or research opportunity, this experience can help you get insights into NASA’s work and the real-world application of physical science concepts and laws.
6. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Subject areas: Particle physics, Engineering, Quantum Science, and Artificial Intelligence
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Eligibility: Illinois high school seniors and recent graduates
Application deadline: The application window opens on January 15 and closes on March 15
Program dates: July 14–August 8
The Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship or PRISM is a four-week summer school that offers high school seniors and recent graduates a chance to explore STEM fields and topics like particle physics, quantum science, AI, and engineering design. Here, you will also interact with Fermilab professionals and learn about STEM careers.
Additionally, you will attend lectures, engage in hands-on activities, and tour Fermilab’s research facilities. You will also work on a research project and present your work, which includes an abstract and a poster, at the end of the program. Throughout the program, you will have access to mentors. This experience can help you get a sneak peek into a particle physics laboratory’s work, get some insights into physical science fields, explore available career opportunities, and access professional development opportunities.
7. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Subject areas: STEM fields, Business, Marketing, Education
Stipend: Up to $500 may be offered as a stipend.
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S. | Each SPARK SMP opportunity may have additional requirements in terms of interests, location, and education.
Application deadline: March/April (exact dates are yet to be announced)
Program dates: TBA, but the 8- to 10-week mentorship program typically runs from June to August each year.
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP) is an internship opportunity for high schoolers. The program connects students with credible organizations looking for interns. If selected as an intern, you will work on unique STEM projects, involving research, data collection, analysis, problem-solving, and/or assisting with the development of models or technology. You will get to work alongside professors, industry experts, and mentors.
Every year, the program offers in-person, hybrid, as well as remote internships in various fields, including engineering, data science, AI, and physics. Last year, SPARK SMP offered Quantum—Technical Writing Internship, in which, interns were required to proofread and edit draft versions of textbook-based problems related to quantum mechanics. Regardless of the opportunity you choose, the program can help you engage in hands-on work in a professional environment while also allowing you to explore your academic interests.
8. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Subject areas: Physics, Cellular Biology and Microbiology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, History, and Chemistry
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Stipend: A $750 stipend is offered at the end of the program.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17
Application deadline: February 24
Program dates: June 22–August 7
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an in-person research opportunity for high school juniors and seniors at Texas Tech University. This paid research experience allows you to work on a research project in your topic of interest while engaging with university faculty and experiencing life on a college campus. You will engage in hands-on research under one-on-one mentorship.
While applying, you can browse the list of research areas and choose physics to research a topic in the field. You can look at the research topics and areas explored by past participants here to know what to expect. Also part of the program are weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. The program is extremely competitive, with only 12 students selected each year. The program will end with the submission of a research project report.
9. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Physics & Astrophysics Track
Subject areas: Multiple options, including AI, anthropology, engineering, chemistry, math, and physics
Cost: $2,990–$8,900, depending on the format (premium research, individual research, etc.) you choose | Financial aid is available for eligible applicants.
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Varies as per the cohort. Applications for the upcoming spring cohort will close on February 9.
Program dates: The dates and duration depend on the cohort (summer, spring, etc.) as well as the program type.
- Individual Research Program runs for about 12 weeks
- Premium Research & Publication Program is conducted over 16–20 weeks
- Research Fellowship can run from anywhere between six months to a year
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded and managed by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, is a chance for you to explore the field of research and a topic of your interest before you decide on a college major. You can choose Physics & Astrophysics as your research area while applying. The program is selective, given that in the past, it accepted only 500 participants from over 4,000 applicants. If you get accepted into the program, you will get to work on a university-level research project under the mentorship of physics researchers, PhD scholars, and professors.
During the program, you will also work on your professional and research skills with the help of workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions. You can find further details about the research program and the available program formats on the application form.
10. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Subject areas: STEM disciplines, primarily Aerospace Engineering, Physics, and Material Sciences
Location: Several locations across the U.S. You can choose a site that offers research opportunities in physical sciences.
Stipend: A stipend of $492.40 per week is offered to AFRL scholars.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old | The detailed eligibility requirements are listed here.
Application deadline: Deadlines can vary based on the chosen program site.
Program dates: The internships typically run for 10 to 12 weeks in the summer, with a minimum requirement of completing at least 8 weeks. They can extend to 14 weeks if mentors want to continue them and if there is enough funding for these opportunities. on mentor preferences and availability of funds.
The AFRL Scholars program is primarily a research opportunity for high schoolers interested in exploring ongoing studies in aerospace engineering and STEM fields. As an intern, you will research topics under atomic physics, satellite navigation, astrodynamics, and more. Throughout the program, you will also have access to guidance from AFRL scientists and engineers. Here, you will also get to tour AFRL laboratories. You can check the research topics available here, and the mentor bios here to choose an option that aligns with your interests.
For instance, at Eglin Air Force Base, this year, you can choose to engage in ongoing research on the topic Complex Electromagnetic Structures, where you will get to assist with experiments and data collection related to fundamental physics of matter interaction, electromagnetic radiation, and electronic properties. The experience can help you explore emerging topics in physics and current research work.
Image source – Army Educational Outreach Program logo
