If you are looking to explore research opportunities as a high school student in Kentucky, you’re in the right place. Research programs are a great way to dig deeper into a subject you’re passionate about, build hands-on skills, and gain real-world experience.
These programs let you explore advanced topics, conduct experiments, and improve your problem-solving and presentation skills. You’ll also get a feel for lab work and scientific research making you ready for the future.
If you’re wondering where to start with research in Kentucky, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 research programs for high school students in Kentucky.
10 Research Programs for High School Students in Kentucky
1. University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Summer Research Training Fellowship
Subject area: Medicine
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Stipend: $2,500
Application deadline: March 31
Program dates: Eight weeks between June 3-August 2 (depending on the assigned lab)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have taken advanced classes in both Biology and Chemistry
The UK College of Medicine’s Summer Research Training Fellowship gives high school students the chance to work in a professional research laboratory for eight weeks. During the program, you will conduct research under the supervision of a graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, or research scientist.
You will gain experience in research methodologies, data collection, and analysis, and perform independent experiments. At the end of the program, you will present your findings in an oral presentation. This fellowship focuses on research experience and offers students the opportunity to develop practical skills in a laboratory setting.
2. University of Louisville’s High School Summer Research Internship Program
Subject area: Cancer research
Cost: Free
Location: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Application deadline: March 11
Program dates: June 10 – August 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old and live in Louisville and the Jefferson County Metro area
The University of Louisville’s High School Summer Research Internship Program offers high school students a wet lab research experience at the Brown Cancer Center. You will spend 16-20 hours per week in a research lab, learning about basic and translational cancer research.
Under the guidance of a faculty member, you will be involved in various research activities and attend weekly seminars. At the end of the program, you will create a research poster based on your work and present it at three events: a poster session, the BBC retreat, and Research! Louisville at the university.
3. University of Kentucky’s Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program
Subject area: Cancer research and biomedical sciences
Cost: Free
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Application deadline: May 1
Program dates: Monthly sessions from August 10 – May 10. Summer residential program from June 8 – July 12
Eligibility: High schoolers who are native to one of the 54 Appalachian Kentucky counties, enrolled in a high school within the area, and a member of an underserved group in the research workforce as defined by the NIH (Details available on the program website)
The University of Kentucky’s ACTION Program gives high school students the chance to explore cancer research and clinical work while learning about biomedical careers. The program includes monthly sessions throughout the academic year, followed by a summer residency. You will be paired with two mentors, one focusing on research and the other on clinical work.
During the program, you will conduct experiments, study advanced coursework, and receive professional guidance. Outreach activities are also an important part, where you will organize events to help the community understand cancer. This is a selective program, accepting only 20 students per cohort.
4. Western Kentucky University’s The Gatton Academy
Subject area: Multiple fields
Cost: Free
Location: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Application deadline: February 1
Program dates: The entire junior and senior years of high school
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors, Kentucky residents, who have completed Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II (or equivalents) and have a minimum math score of 22 on the ACT or 540 on the SAT.
The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science is a two-year, residential STEM program for high school students seeking advanced education. As a participant, you will remain enrolled at your home school but spend the last two years at the academy. You will take college-level classes across various subjects and earn at least 60 hours of college credit.
The program has a strong focus on research, allowing you to engage in undergraduate-level research with professors and attend research internships during the summer. Upon completion, you will earn both a high school diploma and an Associate Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
5. Northern Kentucky University’s STEM Summer Academies
Subject area: Multiple options available
Cost: $180 for a half-day program to $315 for a full-day program
Location: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: Week-long sessions between June and July, exact dates TBA
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
Northern Kentucky University’s STEM Summer Academies focus on providing you with research opportunities in specific fields. You’ll engage in hands-on activities that help build your research skills. In the BRAIN Academy, you’ll conduct neuroscience research, learn to perform EEGs, and analyze brain activity. You’ll also gain experience in lab settings where you study animal brains, from fruit flies to humans.
In the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Academy, you’ll work on projects related to circuits and motors, all designed to give you practical research experience. You’ll even learn how to use microcontrollers and Arduinos to apply your knowledge in real-world projects.
6. Western Kentucky University’s Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY)
Subject area: Multiple options available
Cost: $3,900. Need-based financial aid is available
Location: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Application deadline: April 30
Program dates: June 22 – July 12
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 7-10
Western Kentucky University’s Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth is a three-week, residential program for high school students in Kentucky. It offers you the chance to explore a specific field in-depth with six hours of classes each weekday, followed by a study hall.
You can choose from a variety of courses in both STEM and humanities fields, many of which incorporate research. For example, the astronomy course involves research through model construction, physical experiments, and computerized simulations. In the psychology course, you will learn research methods like case studies and correlation studies, gaining practical research experience in both fields.
7. Asbury University’s Environmental Science and Biotechnology Camp
Subject area: Environmental science and biotechnology
Cost: $550
Location: Asbury University, Wilmore, KY
Application deadline: No registration deadline
Program dates: June 9 – 13
Eligibility: All high school students
Asbury University’s Environmental Science & Biotechnology Camp lets you spend five days learning advanced research techniques in ecology, biotechnology, and conservation biology. You’ll work on hands-on projects that help you develop essential research skills. For example, you’ll do DNA fingerprinting on your DNA, giving you practical experience in genetic analysis. You’ll also collect and identify aquatic invertebrates, which will teach you field research skills and how to observe ecosystems closely.
In addition, you’ll examine genetically modified fish using molecular techniques, giving you insight into genetic research. You’ll also explore environmental DNA detection, which is a method used to identify species based on DNA traces they leave behind.
8. University of Kentucky’s STEM Experiences
Subject area: Multiple options available
Cost: $275 per camp. Financial aid is available
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Application deadline: Registrations open March 4
Program dates: Drone Camp from June 3 – 7, Go! START STEM! Camp from June 10 – 14, Chem Camp from June 17 – 21
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
The University of Kentucky’s STEM Experiences program lets you explore STEM fields through hands-on activities and real-world applications. If you’re in high school, you can choose between Drone Camp, Chem Camp, and Go! START STEM! Camp. In Drone Camp, you’ll study unmanned aircraft systems and geology. Chem Camp focuses on lab work, and the Go START STEM camp looks at how local industries use STEM in their work. While the program isn’t fully focused on research, you’ll gain practical lab skills and experiences that are useful for research.
9. AgDiscovery Program
Subject area: Agricultural and animal science
Cost: Free
Location: Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY
Application deadline: April 15
Program dates: June 1 – 14
Eligibility: All high school students between the ages of 16 and 17
Organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AgDiscovery is meant for high school students interested in agriculture and animal sciences. The program takes place at several universities across the country. At Kentucky State University, the curriculum dives into animal science, veterinary medicine, and the business side of agriculture. You can expect plenty of hands-on work like animal dissections and goat venipunctures as well as field trips to a horse farm, a dairy farm, and a behind-the-scenes look at a zoo.
While this isn’t a traditional research program, the hands-on experiences and practical skills are similar to those offered by research programs. You will learn from university professors, veterinarians, and other industry experts.
10. University of Kentucky’s Forest Leadership Program
Subject area: Environmental sciences
Cost: $500
Location: University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest, KY
Application deadline: February 15
Program dates: June 1 – 6
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
The University of Kentucky’s Forest Leadership Program introduces you to research in environmental sciences, ecology, and natural resources. You can choose from three tracks: Forestry, Entomology, or Wildlife. Throughout the program, you’ll collaborate with peers from other tracks to tackle real-world challenges, such as developing a sustainable forest management plan.
You’ll conduct field-based research activities, including tree identification, water quality analysis, insect preservation, and species diversity surveys. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings, showcasing the skills and knowledge you’ve developed.
Bonus:
If you’re looking for a remote research opportunity that is open to students from Kentucky, here’s a bonus program for you:
11. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
One more option – 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 – University of Kentuky logo
