If you’re a high school student in Chicago looking to explore academic research, the city offers a wide range of opportunities across fields like STEM, medicine, engineering, and the social sciences. These programs often take place in university labs or research institutions, offering practical experience with real-world problems while collaborating with faculty, graduate students, or industry experts.
Through these experiences, you’ll strengthen skills in data analysis, critical thinking, academic writing, and scientific communication.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated 10 research opportunities for high school students in Chicago that combine mentorship, skill-building, and meaningful academic exposure.
1. University of Chicago – Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: January 22
Program Dates: June 14 – July 12
Eligibility: High school students who have completed high school biology
Cost: $14,490
RIBS is a rigorous four-week, lab-based biology program designed to mirror the experience of a first-year undergraduate molecular biology course. You’ll receive hands-on training in techniques such as PCR, DNA cloning, electrophoresis, and microbial genetics. Throughout the program, you’ll work in teams to conduct multi-day experiments, document your findings in lab notebooks, and analyze data to draw conclusions. Daily sessions focus on reading and interpreting primary research articles to help you understand how real-world scientific research is conducted.
2. Northwestern University – College Prep Program (IN FOCUS Seminars)
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: Various 2-week sessions from June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $3,100 (commuter), $4,300 (residential); $60 application fee; scholarships available
These two-week seminars mirror the intensity and scope of Northwestern’s undergraduate courses, led by faculty who are both active researchers and practitioners. These immersive classes span fields such as global health, neuroscience, behavioral genetics, law, and aerospace engineering. Depending on the seminar, you may analyze datasets in RStudio or SPSS, conduct literature reviews, or refine your academic writing skills. Small class sizes mean plenty of one-on-one feedback and lively discussion. Most IN FOCUS seminars run just under two weeks, but the academic workload and capstone requirements mirror a three-week college module.
3. Rush University – Summer Research Academy
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 17 – July 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; underrepresented students encouraged to apply
Cost: Free
Stipend: $18/hour
This five-week program offers an immersive experience in biomedical research. You’ll be placed in a lab at Rush University Medical Center and work alongside faculty and graduate students on research projects involving cell biology, immunology, or medical imaging. Weekly workshops cover essential topics, including scientific ethics, research communication, and career pathways in science and healthcare. The experience culminates in a formal research presentation where you’ll share your findings with peers and mentors.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
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! Only a couple of 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, 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.
5. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student’s background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
6. Loyola University Chicago – Health Sciences Summer Internship
Location: Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: June 24 – July 26
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 11–12
Cost: Free for selected high school interns
This selective internship places you in real-world public health and clinical research environments within Loyola’s academic medical center. You’ll contribute to ongoing projects addressing topics such as health disparities, health equity, chronic disease management, or access to care in underserved populations. Guided by research faculty and healthcare professionals, you’ll participate in weekly seminars, skill-building workshops, and professional development sessions. You’ll also receive hands-on training in research tools like REDCap, gain exposure to HIPAA-compliant data practices, and perform literature reviews to support evidence-based research. The program often includes opportunities to shadow physicians and researchers, providing insight into both clinical and research careers.
7. Fermilab TARGET Program
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
Application Deadline: March 3
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA; must be eligible to work in the U.S.
Cost: Free
Stipend: Paid internship, approximately $17.20/hour
The TARGET program at Fermilab is a prestigious summer internship that introduces high school students to research in particle physics, electrical engineering, and computer science. Over six weeks, you’ll step into the world of national lab research, working alongside scientists and engineers on real projects that contribute to ongoing scientific discoveries. Whether you’re programming software tools, analyzing experimental data, or learning how particle accelerators operate, you’ll be gaining technical skills and professional insight that few high school students ever experience. You’ll participate in seminars led by Fermilab professionals, explore STEM career pathways, and engage in team-based research that culminates in a formal presentation of your work to scientists at the lab.
8. Adler Planetarium – Summer Teen Internship
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 10–12
Cost: Free
Stipend: Not mentioned
The Adler Planetarium’s Summer Teen Internship is a full-time program that immerses you in all aspects of museum work, including engaging with visitors, supporting hands-on science activities, participating in high-altitude balloon research, and assisting behind the scenes with exhibits and events. Throughout the internship, you can build skills in communication, leadership, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, all while working with passionate museum staff and like-minded peers. You’ll also get an inside look at how a major science institution operates — from education and outreach to research and technology
9. Northwestern Medicine – Discovery Program
Location: Chicago, IL
Program Dates: Two-year program with monthly sessions; fall session begins November 15; includes a summer immersion (June 24 – July 19)
Application Deadline: September 29 (for fall session)
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors aged 15+ with a GPA of 3.0 or above; exceptions considered with explanation.
Cost: Free
Stipend: $1,200; additional stipends up to $2,000 available for qualifying students based on financial need and placement site.
The Northwestern Medicine Discovery Program is a two-year, tuition-free initiative designed to help high school students explore healthcare careers while developing leadership, life skills, and a sense of community service. With monthly sessions held through two chapters, the program blends clinical shadowing, mentorship, and pre-health workshops. The summer immersion includes exposure to diagnostics, EMR systems, imaging labs, and guided case studies. Students may also participate in cross-chapter activities, expanding their peer network and real-world insight into medical careers.
10. Argonne National Laboratory – Learning Center Internships
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Learning Center, Lemont, IL
Program Dates: Summer, Spring, and Fall internships available; Fall session runs August 18 – December 5
Application Deadline: June 13 (for Fall session)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (typically 16+ years old) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Specific programs may require local residency or GPA thresholds
Cost: Free
Stipend: $650/week
This internship immerses students in real research settings, allowing them to work on STEM challenges aligned with Argonne’s mission, including renewable energy, environmental modeling, and advanced material testing. You’ll be part of a small research team mentored by scientists and engineers who guide you through the entire research process. Students learn to formulate research questions, develop hypotheses, design simple experiments, and interpret real datasets. You’ll build proficiency in using industry-standard tools, such as MATLAB for modeling, Arduino kits for engineering simulations, and spectrometry equipment for material analysis. Throughout the internship, students also attend professional development sessions on research ethics, STEM careers, and technical communication.
Images source – Northwestern University