If you've ever been curious about how our brains work, high school neuroscience programs are a great way to start exploring. Whether you're interested in cognitive science, psychology, or biology, these programs will immerse you in the field's most cutting-edge research.
What makes these opportunities even better? They're fully funded! This means you’ll have access to all the tools, mentorship, and hands-on experience you need, without worrying about the cost.
Here are 12 free neuroscience programs for high school students in 2024–2025!
12 Free Neuroscience Programs for High School Students
Horizon Academic provides high school students with the opportunity to undertake trimester-long research projects in areas like neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the computational neuroscience track, you’ll start with basic topics like nervous system functions and move to advanced concepts such as neuron activity and neural network simulations.
The program pairs you with a mentor — a professor or PhD researcher from a top university — who will guide you in developing a 20-page research paper suitable for submission to academic journals. This program is unique because it allows you to explore both quantitative and qualitative research, offering valuable guidance on complex topics.
In the end, you’ll get a project evaluation and a letter of recommendation, helping you build a strong foundation for future academic and research opportunities. Apply here!
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary — neuroscience, computational neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases, and more.
Location: Virtual
Cost: 100% financial aid offered!
Application deadline: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort!
Program dates:
- Summer seminar — June 24, 2025 - September 2, 2025
- 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 couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Founded by graduates of Harvard and Oxford, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a challenging research opportunity designed for high school students. It offers personalized 1-on-1 mentorship with PhD experts in various fields, including neuroscience.
Throughout the 12-week program, you’ll work closely with a mentor on an independent research project of your choice. By the end, you'll have produced a comprehensive research paper. You can select from a wide range of topics, including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Subject areas: Arts, sociology, STEM fields, including neuroscience, computer science, aerospace engineering, environmental science, and many more.
Location: Virtual
Cost: 100% financial aid offered!
Application deadline: The winter cohort application deadline is November 24, 2024! Fall, winter, spring, and summer cohorts are available annually.
Program dates: 12 weeks for the research scholar program. 16–20 weeks for the Premium Research & Publication Program. The upcoming winter cohort will begin on Dec 16, 2024, and carry on for 12–20 weeks depending on the type of program you select.
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 GPA can apply.
The AI + Medicine track by Veritas AI introduces high school students to the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. In this program, you’ll explore key topics such as diagnostic tools, medical image processing, and predictive analytics, learning how AI is applied to solve real-world challenges in medical settings. Through hands-on projects, you will develop skills at the intersection of AI and medicine, preparing you to contribute to advances in science. Here is the program brochure and the application form!
Subject areas: AI, Medicine, Machine Learning, Biology
Location: Virtual
Cost: 100% financial aid offered!
Application deadline: Sep 9, 2024. TBD for the next cohort.
Program dates: Sep 29 — Dec 1, 2024. TBD for the next cohort.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience can apply.
Ladder Internships connect you with startups in health tech and AI where you can apply neuroscience concepts to real-world projects.
In this 8-week virtual program, you’ll collaborate with experienced professionals, receive guidance from startup managers, and work with a Ladder Coach to complete your tasks. The program also includes workshops and one-on-one coaching to improve your communication, organization, and professional skills. For students interested in medicine and healthcare, there is an option to work with companies specializing in these fields.
Subject areas: Technology, Healthcare, Medicine, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, and more.
Location: Virtual
Cost: 100% financial aid offered!
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. November 24th for the upcoming winter cohort!
Program dates: 8 weeks, with multiple cohorts throughout the year in fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks can apply.
SIMR offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in biomedical research, including projects focused on neuroscience. This 8-week summer program allows you to work in a research lab within Stanford University’s Institutes of Medicine, collaborating closely with a mentor on ongoing research projects and gaining practical experience in scientific discovery.
If you’re interested in neuroscience, you can indicate this preference in your application, and accepted students are matched with labs that align with their academic interests. For a broader perspective, SIMR also offers a bioengineering boot camp, which provides project-based learning in bioengineering for students who prefer an alternative to traditional lab work.
Subject areas: Biological sciences including neuroscience
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate in the program, although a $40 application fee applies, which may be waived for students with financial need. While housing and meals are not included, all participants receive a stipend of at least $500. Additional need-based stipends, ranging from $2,500, are available through special grants.
Application deadline: Feb 22, 2025
Program dates: Jun 9- Jul 31, 2025 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) allows you to explore neuroscience research through the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. The program offers two formats: an 8-week in-person internship, and a 5-week virtual program.
The in-person track includes a research project, mentorship, seminars on neurological science, and career development sessions, ending with a presentation of findings. Both tracks offer workshops on professional skills, college prep, and networking. The virtual track focuses on basic lab techniques and building research skills. Explore past research topics here to learn more about the program’s scope.
Subject areas: Neurological sciences
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, east Baltimore Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free. The in-person program includes an hourly stipend and covers transportation (housing excluded). The virtual program provides a $500 education scholarship.
Application deadline: Applications for 2025 will open on Dec 1, 2024.
Program dates: The in-person program lasts 8 weeks, while the virtual program runs for 5 weeks from June–August.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (in the US for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD for the in-person program) from underrepresented backgrounds can apply.
The Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program at Ohio State University provides a paid research opportunity for high school students with an interest in neuroscience. Supported by NIH funding, this program places you in a working lab where you’ll engage in research areas such as neurological injury and neurodegeneration. Under the guidance of a research mentor, along with graduate students and lab technicians, you’ll participate in the daily activities of neuroscience research and learn from their expertise.
Beyond lab work, the program includes attending lab meetings, participating in a neuroscience journal club to build your skills in analyzing scientific literature, and joining social events. The program concludes with a presentation of your research findings.
Subject areas: Neuroscience
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided (amount not specified)
Application deadline: Applications usually close in April.
Program dates: Jun 23 — Aug 8, 2025
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in high school can apply.
The BRAINYAC program at Columbia University offers high school students an immersive research internship in neuroscience. The program begins with a training phase where you’ll acquire key lab skills, including microscope use, pipetting, dissection, neuroethics, experimental coding, and data analysis.
After learning these techniques, you’ll collaborate on a research project with a Columbia mentor and engage with the broader neuroscience community, including graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and program alumni. The internship culminates in a symposium at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute, where you’ll present your findings, followed by a STEM event at the American Museum of Natural History.
Subject areas: Neurology and neuroscience
Location: In-person at Columbia University, New York
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided (amount not specified).
Application deadline: October 29th, 2024 (for the 2025 program)
Program dates: TBA for 2025 (tentatively 6 weeks between July and August as per 2024’s schedule).
Eligibility: High school students nominated by partner programs from select schools in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx can apply. Check details here.
The UCSF Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) High School Intern Program provides an eight-week research internship for students with interests in areas such as neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, cancer, and stem cell research. As part of a cohort of around 25 peers, you’ll work closely with a UCSF scientist mentor on a research project, gaining valuable experience in a professional lab setting.
The program also supports your academic development with workshops on topics like building a strong resume, navigating financial aid, and exploring college options through campus tours, equipping you for future studies and research opportunities.
Subject areas: Biomedical sciences including neuroscience
Location: University of California, San Francisco campus, CA
Cost: No cost. The part-time internship (25 hours/week) pays $3,200 upon program completion | Full-time internship (35 hours/week) pays $4,500 upon program completion
Application deadline: Applications typically close in February. TBA for 2025.
Program dates: The 8-week program typically runs from June to August. TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: High school juniors attending an SFUSD school, SF charter school, or participating in College Track San Francisco and from a background considered historically marginalized in the sciences can apply.
NeuroCamp, a free summer program by the UCLA Brain Research Institute, invites 15–20 motivated high school students each year to learn about neuroscience. You’ll learn core concepts like molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy while practicing basic lab techniques. Designed to inspire students from the Los Angeles area, the program aims to spark your interest in college and science careers through hands-on research and engaging instruction.
Subject areas: Neuroscience
Location: UCLA Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Free!
Application deadline: Applications typically close in May.
Program dates: This program typically runs June — August.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply, with preference given to Los Angeles residents.
The MPFI Summer Research Internship provides an opportunity for high school students interested in neuroscience to gain practical experience in a leading research setting. If selected, you’ll collaborate with expert neuroscientists at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, working on projects that explore brain structure, neural circuits, and advanced imaging techniques.
During the internship, you’ll primarily engage in wet lab work, gaining hands-on experience with techniques such as genetic engineering, histological staining, microbiology, and microscopy. You’ll apply these skills to real research challenges, and by the end of the program, you’ll present your findings to peers, researchers, and the local community through a scientific abstract and oral presentation.
Subject areas: Neuroscience, scientific programming, mechanical engineering
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: No cost. $14 per hour
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for 2024 and will open on Jan 7, 2025, for the 2025 cohort.
Program Dates: June 17–July 26, 2024 (6 weeks). TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old, live in Palm Beach or Martin County, and have U.S. work authorization can apply.
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital offers high school students a chance to explore neuroscience and neurology. You’ll gain direct exposure to top neurologists and neuroscientists while engaging in hands-on research and mentorship. The program begins with an intensive boot camp that prepares you for both lab research and clinical work.
Throughout the internship, you’ll work with a faculty mentor and an undergraduate student on ongoing research projects in a team-based lab setting. Weekly sessions led by experts will expand your knowledge of neurology, while social events and tours provide a well-rounded experience. At the end, you’ll present your research findings to faculty, peers, and family, showcasing your growth in the field.
Subject areas: Neurology, neuroscience
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided (amount not specified).
Application deadline: Jan 31, 2025.
Program dates: June 30–Aug 8, 2025.
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school juniors (or rising seniors) or recent high school graduates can apply.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.