Massachusetts is known for its universities (such as Harvard) and cutting-edge research opportunities open to students from all backgrounds. For high school students, it’s a solid place to explore research programs that can sharpen your scientific skills and expose you to advanced fields of study.
From hands-on lab work to collaborative projects with university professors, these programs allow you to tackle real-world problems and learn what it’s like to work as a researcher. Whether you’re interested in biology, engineering, computer science, or another field, Massachusetts offers various programs to help you develop critical thinking and research skills.
Here are 12 research programs for high school students in Massachusetts to get you started!
12 Research Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
The Research Science Institute (RSI), in partnership with MIT, allows you to engage in research across various fields. The program starts with a week of classes introducing research methodologies, followed by five weeks where you’ll work on a research project with guidance from field experts. You’ll have the chance to choose from a range of research topics and participate in lab work. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings to an audience.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free of cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: January
Program Dates: 2 months between June and August (tentative, based on previous years).
Eligibility: High school juniors, including international students, with recommended PSAT or ACT scores. For more details, click here.
2. Harvard-Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program
The Harvard-Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program allows you to engage in a year-long astrophysics research project. You will have the chance to work with scientists from Harvard or the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). As part of a small group of students, you will receive guidance from CfA astrophysicists. The program includes a combination of virtual and in-person activities, such as workshops, lectures, and a final research symposium.
Subject Areas: Astrophysics
Location: Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA. Can be virtual as well.
Cost/Stipend: Free. A stipend is provided courtesy of the City of Cambridge.
Application Deadline: Applications are currently closed, check here for updates
Program Dates: September - May
Eligibility: Must be a Cambridge Rindge and Latin School student, but they are looking to broaden the scope of their program.
3. Northeastern University’s Young Scholar Program (YSP)
The Northeastern University’s Young Scholar Program (YSP) offers rising seniors from Massachusetts high schools the chance to participate in research in the Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences departments. Over six weeks, you’ll engage in lab-based research and work on faculty-led projects. Topics have included agent-based modeling, battery chemistry, model compression algorithms, and cancer therapies. You’ll collaborate with professors and attend seminars and career counseling sessions.
Subject Areas: STEM
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided
Location: Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
Application Dates: February 20
Program Dates: 6 weeks, June 23 – July 31
Eligibility: High school juniors from Massachusetts with strong academic credentials and a well-rounded balance of extracurricular activities are eligible.
4. Broad Institute Summer Scholars Program
The Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) gives high school students interested in science the chance to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute. You’ll work closely with Broad scientists on research projects in areas like cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, and infectious disease. Besides research, you’ll learn about scientific careers, attend talks, present your work at a poster session, participate in a college fair, and engage in social events.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost to apply or attend, $3,600 stipend is provided as well as partial reimbursement for transportation costs.
Application Deadline: January 22
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising seniors at Massachusetts high schools within commuting distance of the Broad Institute, with a B or better in science and math, US citizenship or authorization, and available for the full 6-week program.
5. MIT’s PRIMES-USA
PRIMES-USA is a year-long, tuition-free research program for high school students passionate about mathematics. Mentored by university faculty, including MIT professors, the program has four phases.
In Phase 1, you’ll work through advanced readings to build a strong math foundation. Phase 2 involves collaboration with graduate students and faculty on challenging problems. In Phase 3, you’ll conduct independent research on a chosen project. Phase 4 concludes with a presentation at the Fall-Term PRIMES conference. Throughout the program, you’ll develop research, problem-solving, and communication skills, with opportunities to publish your work or submit it to competitions.
Subject Areas: Mathematics
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA or virtual
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: October 1 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Program Dates: Year-Round, from January 1 to December 31 of the calendar year.
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores (including home-schooled) residing in the United States are eligible if they live no closer than 50 miles from Boston (Students residing within driving distance from Boston should apply to the MIT section of PRIMES).
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Women’s Technology Program
The MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP) in Mechanical Engineering is a four-week summer program for high school women, introducing you to engineering concepts through classes, labs, and group projects. You’ll explore topics like fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and engineering design. The program aims to provide an inclusive environment, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and doesn’t require prior engineering experience. This program lets you explore and be curious without the stress of grades.
Subject Areas: Mechanical Engineering
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with family income under $120,000; sliding scale fees for others, up to $15,000. More details here.
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: June 28 -July 26
Eligibility: Rising female seniors (11th-grade students) with strong math and science backgrounds.
7. Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center’s CURE Summer Only Program
The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center’s Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience (CURE) Summer Only Program offers high school and college students the chance to engage in cancer research. Over 8-12 weeks, you’ll work in research environments at local cancer institutions. You’ll learn from professionals focused on cancer prevention, treatment, and cure. The program connects academic knowledge with hands-on experience. It fosters interest in biosciences and cancer research.
Location: Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost, weekly stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: 8 – 12 weeks starting June 18
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores, juniors; must be at least 16, reside in or attend school in Massachusetts, and travel to Boston’s Longwood Medical Area five days a week in summer.
8. MIT THINK Scholars
The MIT THINK Scholars program is for high school students with a developed research proposal in science, technology, or engineering. As a finalist, you’ll receive weekly mentoring, technical support, and up to $1,000 in funding for your project. The program also includes a four-day visit to MIT’s campus in Cambridge, MA, with a virtual option available.
Throughout the program, you’ll develop skills in research design, project management, and technical communication. You’ll work with experts, present your work, and gain insights into your research area. The program helps advance your project and deepen your STEM engagement.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Virtual + in person at MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: January 1
Program Dates: Finalists are announced in February and projects are completed by that year’s summer in June.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply as individuals or in teams of two.
9. Wolfram High School Summer Research Program
The Wolfram High School Summer Research Program is a two-week experience focused on developing programming and problem-solving skills. You will work on research projects under expert mentors and develop solutions to current problems, selected in collaboration with Stephen Wolfram. At the end of the program, you’ll create a computational essay and an interactive research paper, which you’ll publish. If successful, your project may be submitted to STEM competitions, turned into an academic paper, or presented at the Wolfram Technology Conference.
Subject Areas: Computer Science, Data Science
Location: Virtual + Bentley University, Boston, MA
Cost: $4500, including a $500 non-refundable deposit. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: April 15. Applications are currently open - Apply Here!
Program Dates: June 25 – July 12
Eligibility: Academically advanced high school students aged 14-17 with a passion for STEM are encouraged to apply.
10. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital is designed for high school students interested in neuroscience and neurology. The program connects you with neurologists and neuroscientists, offering a combination of research experience, mentorship, and professional exposure. You will start with an introductory boot camp to help you understand the basics of lab research and clinical work.
During the program, you will be paired with a faculty mentor and an undergraduate student, working alongside them on ongoing research projects. Weekly sessions led by experts will expand your knowledge of neurology, while social events and tours provide additional opportunities to engage with the field. At the end of the program, you will present your research to faculty, peers, and family.
Subject areas: Neurology, neuroscience
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided (amount not specified).
Application deadline: January 31
Program dates: June 30 – Aug 8
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school juniors (or rising seniors) or recent high school graduates can apply.
11. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) is a six-week summer program at Boston University for high school juniors interested in science. The program offers two tracks: internship and practicum. In the internship track, you’ll work on research projects alongside faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students. The practicum track provides a structured syllabus for students who prefer a more organized approach, focusing on Computational Neurobiology or Data Science.
Subject Areas: Computational Neurobiology, Data Science
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,700 tuition fees. More details on additional costs are here. Limited need-based financial aid is available.
Application deadline: February 14
Program dates: Jun 29 – Aug 8 (residential) | Jun 30 – Aug 8 (commuter)
Eligibility: Applicants must be entering their senior year of high school and be US citizens or legal permanent residents.
12. University of Massachusetts Research Intensives
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst offers a six-week Research Intensives Program for high school students interested in research. This program allows you to work in professional labs alongside faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. You can choose placements in biology, biochemistry, environmental conservation, psychology, or food science.
When applying, you’ll need to select your top three lab preferences and explain your reasons for choosing them in your statement. The Research Intensives are part of the Residential Pre-College Programs, which are held on the UMass Amherst campus.
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Cost: Residential $12,157 | Commuter $7,022
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Applications open in January
Program Dates: June 29 – August 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with grades B (GPA 3.0) or above in mathematics and science courses can apply.
Bonus –
If you’re a high school student in Massachusetts looking for a remote research opportunity, here are two bonus programs for you:
13. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students, with topics including data science, machine learning, psychology, and political theory. You can choose to focus on either quantitative or qualitative research, depending on your interests. Once you select a subject area, you will be paired with a professor or PhD scholar who will guide you through the research process. The program culminates in the development of a 20-page research paper, which you may submit to academic journals for consideration. Additionally, you will receive a letter of recommendation and feedback to help support your academic growth and research skills.
Subject Areas: Environmental health and engineering, behavioral economics, psychology, international relations, neuroscience, data science, machine learning, network science, biophysics, biotechnology, chemistry, physics, history, philosophy, political theory, sociology, and more!
Location: Virtual
Application Deadlines: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 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.
14. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research opportunity for high school students, offering one-on-one mentorship with Ph.D. mentors. You can select from a variety of subjects, such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. During the program, you will work on an independent research project, developing your research skills and gaining practical experience. By the end of the program, you will have completed a research paper that reflects your ability to conduct scholarly research. Find more details about the application here!
Subject Areas: Multidisciplinary – biology, psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, gender studies, engineering, chemistry, business, entrepreneurship, international relations, environmental science, and more!
Location: Remote – you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Individual Research Program ($2,990), Premium Research & Publication Program ($5,900), the Research Fellowship ($8,900), Professor Premium Publication Program ($8,900)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Winter Cohort II application deadline is December 29, 2024!
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school, demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4), and no previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Image source – Harvard University logo
