If you're a high school student looking to gain research experience and explore a field of interest, a summer research program is a solid option. These programs help improve your research skills and introduce you to different career paths. A summer research program also helps you build connections with researchers in your field and peers while enhancing critical thinking and analytical skills. These skills come in handy when applying for more advanced research projects or internships.
In Illinois, many universities, organizations, and labs offer summer research programs, often free or with stipends or scholarships. Here’s a list of 10 summer research programs for high school students in Illinois to consider.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs in fields such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. You can choose between quantitative or qualitative research methods.
Once you pick a track, you'll work one-on-one with a professor or PhD scholar from a top university to produce a 20-page research paper suitable for submission to academic journals. The program gives you specialized field insights, expert mentorship, and a recommendation letter, along with detailed feedback to strengthen future projects and college applications. Apply now for this unique opportunity!
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Data Science
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple, year-round cohorts:
- December 2, 2024 onwards for the winter seminar
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 10, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, allows high school students to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project. You’ll receive guidance to develop a college-level research paper, with additional support from writing coaches.
You can choose subjects like mathematics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, and more. The program ends with a symposium where you can present your research with the potential for publication.
Subject Areas: STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple, year-round cohorts
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort
3. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduates, offers two key programs for high schoolers interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program emphasizes collaborative learning in AI applications, while the AI Fellowship provides personalized mentorship from PhD experts for individual research projects.
In the AI Fellowship, you’ll explore AI’s impact on fields like finance, medicine, and gaming, with opportunities to publish or present your work. Past projects have covered AI in medicine, educational tools, and gaming algorithms. The program focuses on building technical skills and applying AI concepts to real-world problems.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Medicine
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. December 16, 2024 onwards for the upcoming Winter cohort
Cost: $2,290 for the AI Scholars program (10-week bootcamp)
- $5,400 for the AI Fellowship (12–15 weeks, 1:1 mentorship)
- $6,900 for both AI Scholars + Fellowship
- Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students. Students applying to the AI Fellowship program must complete the AI Scholars program or provide evidence of previous experience in AI and Python
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. October 20, 2024 for the Winter cohort
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. December 16, 2024 onwards for the Winter cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program offers hands-on research in fields like neuroscience, cancer immunology, AI, bioengineering, and more. With a 5% acceptance rate, this is a highly competitive program. You'll engage in seminars, lab work, and faculty mentorship, culminating in a final poster symposium. This program aims to increase diversity in STEMM, with a special focus on students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Subject Areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Program Dates: June 17 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
Cost: No cost other than transport. Housing, meals, and a fellowship payment are provided
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. Subscribe here to be notified when applications open
The ResearcHStart program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct full-time cancer research in advanced laboratories. You’ll work with expert researchers on projects in areas such as bioengineering, cancer immunology, and experimental therapeutics.
The program includes research training, faculty lectures, career workshops, and networking with mentors. You will present your research findings at a symposium at the end of the program. Only 30 students are accepted each year.
Subject Areas: Biology
Location: University of Chicago | University of Illinois at Chicago | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Northwestern University | Rush University, IL
Program Dates: The program runs from the second week of June through the first week of August each year (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old and from the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign areas
Cost: No cost. Students will receive a taxable stipend of $3,000
Application Deadline: January 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Northwestern University’s Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program offers intensive research training and professional development. If selected, you'll work on a research project with a Northwestern faculty member focusing on lung disease research. The program includes workshops and activities to enhance your college applications and professional skills. It ends with a presentation at the Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium.
Subject Areas: Biology
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Program Dates: Early June through the end of July (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old
Cost/Stipend: Participation is free, but you must arrange your own housing and transportation. Interns receive a stipend, but the amount is not specified
Application Deadline: Applications usually open in January and close in February
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford’s summer science internship offers hands-on experience in medical research. This program includes working in a research team under the mentorship of professional scientists and faculty. Projects may involve vaccine development, drug development, or cancer research. You will receive career development training and present your work at a science forum. Only 5 students are accepted each year.
Subject Areas: Biology, Cancer Research
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL
Program Dates: June 10 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and attend a participating high school
Cost/Stipend: No cost. You will receive a stipend (amount not specified)
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Argonne National Laboratory’s College Bound Research Program offers high school seniors the chance to work full-time in a lab or office setting under the guidance of scientists and engineers. You'll have access to cutting-edge technologies and contribute to the lab’s research. The Argonne National Laboratory conducts research in areas such as advanced computing, energy technology and storage, astronomy and astrophysics, chemical engineering, and more. This prestigious program will help you develop useful research skills as you prepare to start your undergraduate education.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Program Dates: June 10 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Illinois high school seniors who:
- Are 18 years old
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.75/4.0
- Are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
- Have graduated high school and are enrolled to attend college full-time in the fall
Cost/Stipend: No cost. You will receive a weekly stipend of $500, and you are responsible for your own housing and transportation
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Fermilab QuarkNet Summer Research Program offers high school students a chance to work closely with scientists at a particle physics and accelerator laboratory. You can indicate your preference for which research lab you’d like to work in. Research projects change yearly, so make sure to check the website before applying. You will likely participate in research related to high-energy physics, particle detectors, and computational projects. This program enhances both your technical skills and soft skills like teamwork and communication, providing a solid foundation for a future STEM career.
Subject Areas: Particle physics
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who:
- Are enrolled in an Illinois high school
- Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Have valid U.S. work authorization
- Have proof of medical insurance
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $17.20/hour. Students have to cover their own housing, meals, and transportation
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.