If you're a high school student interested in physics, participating in a research program can provide practical experience and exposure to the field. There are various opportunities available for high school students in physics, with many universities and institutes offering research-focused programs or internships.
Whether your interest lies in astrophysics, biophysics, nanotechnology, or cosmology, these programs will allow you to work on projects with guidance from experts, collaborate with peers who share similar interests, and explore potential career paths. Additionally, gaining research experience in physics can enhance your college applications by showcasing your practical skills, experience, and dedication to the subject.
To help you get started, here’s our list of 13 great physics research opportunities for high school students!
Subject Areas: Plasma physics, research, fusion energy, engineering, and other related fields.
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ. This is a commuter program but remote projects may be available.
Stipend: Participants receive a stipend but the exact amount is not specified.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close on March 1 every year.
Dates: 8-10 weeks (Monday-Friday, 40 hours/week) in the summer, with the exact dates and duration depending on the student’s school schedule; some internship options run during school semesters.
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, offers an internship program for graduating high school students. This program provides the opportunity to work on a project alongside a member of the laboratory’s research or engineering team, offering valuable hands-on experience in research and laboratory work—an important step toward a career in physics. For those interested in aerospace engineering, the internship also highlights the role of plasma physics and fusion energy in aircraft and spacecraft design.
If selected, you will participate in an experimental or computational plasma physics project, exploring various aspects of plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields. The internship requires a 40-hour workweek, Monday through Friday. Applicants should have prior experience with a computational or experimental plasma physics project, relevant coursework in engineering, physics, advanced mathematics, and chemistry, as well as some familiarity with coding, computer-aided design (CAD), and related software tools.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)—Physics Track
Subject Areas: Environmental health and engineering, biotechnology, chemistry, physics, behavioral economics, network science, biophysics, psychology, international relations, neuroscience, data science, machine learning, history, philosophy, political theory, sociology, and more!
Location: Virtual
Cost: There is a fee. You can raise an interest form here to find out the exact cost.
Application Deadline: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort.
Dates:
- Summer seminar: June 24–September 2, 2024
- Fall seminar: October 23, 2024–February 19, 2025
- Flexible dates are available for Horizon Labs 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! You can check out the prerequisites for different tracks here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in a range of fields, including data science, machine learning, political theory, biomedical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology, among others. A key feature of the program is that students can choose between using quantitative or qualitative research methods. If you’re interested in physics-based research, Fluid Dynamics and Physics might be a good course option for you.
After selecting a subject area and research type, you will be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university who will mentor you throughout the research process. During the program, you will develop a 20-page, university-level research paper, which you can submit to reputable journals for potential publication as a high school student.
The program offers a valuable opportunity to conduct research in specialized fields with guidance from an experienced scholar. You’ll also receive a letter of recommendation and detailed project feedback, which can be useful for future research and college applications. You can apply here!
Subject Areas: Physics, mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum dynamics, and astrophysics.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Students who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be eligible to attend free of charge with a Penn Summer Scholarship.
Application Deadline: The applications for 2024 are closed. The applications for summer 2025 will open in late fall 2024.
Dates: July 6–July 27, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in grades 9–11 can apply.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Summer Academies are three-week, subject-focused programs. The Experimental Physics Research Academy covers physics concepts including quantum dynamics, astrophysics, mechanics, and electromagnetism through a combination of lectures, activities, projects, and discussions. As this is a residential program, you’ll get to stay on the UPenn campus and have access to its resources.
The program begins with an introduction to various physics topics, including kinematics, electricity, nuclear physics, modern physics, and quantum mechanics. It also covers the philosophy of science, experimental design, educational pathways, and the ethics of science. During the program, you will have the chance to learn about current research at Penn through faculty talks on their areas of expertise. The program will also help you prepare for college-level physics. More information about the curriculum and alumni experiences can be found here.
Subject Areas: High-energy-density physics, planetary science, and Python.
Location: Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students receive a stipend as well as academic credit.
Application Deadline: You can contact the CMAP program administrator at natalie.antal@rochester.edu for nomination deadlines.
Dates: Program dates vary each year, but the internship lasts between 4 and 5 weeks.
Eligibility: Applicants must be nominated by their high school teachers from the Rochester City School District and Pittsford Central School District to apply.
The CMAP Research Experience for High School Students (REH) is a paid, one-month summer internship offered by the University of Rochester. It provides students with the opportunity to experience campus life while conducting research in areas such as energy-density physics, planetary science, and Python programming. During the internship, you will observe and take part in experimental demonstrations and collaborate on real-world projects in university labs alongside Rochester physics and astronomy graduate students.
In addition to working on research projects, you will tour the campus and the Laboratory of Laser Energetics. The program also offers support for college applications and insights into various STEM careers. You will gain experience in astronomy and related fields, along with guidance for the college application process.
Subject Areas: STEM fields including physics, humanities, and research.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Participants receive a stipend but the exact amount is not specified.
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: The six-week program runs from June to August; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet the program's academic requirements are eligible to apply.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a highly selective program that offers high school students the opportunity to conduct scientific research at MIT. Organized by the Center for Excellence in Education, the program involves hands-on research projects guided by MIT professors and scientists. Participants also attend college-level classes taught by faculty members.
The program begins with a week of seminars on current research topics in physics, other STEM fields, and the humanities. Research assignments are given at the end of the first week, followed by five weeks dedicated to working on those projects. In the final week, you will get to present your findings. Throughout the program, you will develop essential research skills such as data collection, analysis, and presentation. The program also includes lectures (with past speakers listed here) and field trips. RSI is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 3%, selecting 70–100 students each year from approximately 3,000 applicants.
Subject Areas: Astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, medical laboratory research, neuroscience, nutrition, and more.
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $8,990–$9,296; Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: February 14, 2024; Applications for the 2025 program will open on December 15, 2024.
Dates:
- June 29–August 8, 2025 (Residential)
- June 30–August 8, 2025 (Commuter)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are US citizens can apply.
Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Internship Track offers a six-week opportunity for students interested in hands-on research to explore the various aspects of university laboratory work across different fields. In this program, you will conduct research for 40 hours per week under the guidance of a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate student mentor. As a RISE Internship participant, you will work on a research project, develop technical and analytical skills, and present your findings at the Poster Symposium. There is also the potential to submit your work to national science competitions, such as the Regeneron Science Talent Search. You can review profiles of various departments and mentors to find professors whose research aligns with your interests.
The program includes weekly workshops on topics such as the scientific process, research ethics, reading scientific papers, creating research posters, and networking in the scientific community. Additionally, there are sessions on college admissions strategies and preprofessional health programs. In 2024, around 130 students took part in the RISE program.
Subject Areas: Physics, math, computer programming, astronomy, and astrophysics.
Location: The program consists of a two-week online self-study component followed by a four-week residential experience at Yale's Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium in New Haven, CT. Students are housed in a dormitory located 0.8 miles from the planetarium.
Cost: YSPA does require tuition, but the cost for 2025 is yet to be announced. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Applications will open in December 2024 for the 2025 program and are likely to close in early March.
Dates: The six-week program typically runs from June to August; TBA for 2025
- Two weeks online: June 24–July 5, 2024
- Four weeks in person: July 7–August 4, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors at least 15.5 years old by the start of the program can apply.
The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) is a six-week program for 32 high school students with an interest in science, math, and astrophysics. YSPA is a research and enrichment program at the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium (LFOP). The program is divided into two components: a two-week online directed self-study followed by a four-week residential program. During the online portion, you will learn the basics of observational astronomy and Python programming, which will help you prepare for the in-person experience.
Once on campus, you will attend classes covering topics such as observational astronomy, telescope optics, CCD imaging and calibration, photometry, spectroscopy, stellar astrophysics, and stellar evolution. In addition, you will gain experience in programming, data analysis, and using telescopes to gather data for your research projects. At the end of the program, you will present your findings in a scientific paper at the YSPA mini-conference. The program emphasizes foundational research concepts, hands-on project work, and practical skills in programming, data analysis, statistics, scientific writing, and other research methods, which are valuable for careers in STEM. For more insight into the program, you can review experiences from past YSPA participants here.
Subject Areas: Math, astronomy, physics, geosciences, atmospheric and marine sciences, chemistry, neurobiology, medicine, ecology, engineering, biomedical informatics, computer science, and pharmacological sciences.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: There is no tuition fee for the program, but participants opting for on-campus housing will need to pay $2,781.50, which covers accommodation and meals. A stipend may be provided at the end of the program, though the specific amount is not listed on their website.
Application Deadline: February 7, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: July 1–August 9, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply.
The Simons Summer Research Program is a STEM-focused program that offers high school juniors the opportunity to work on a research project. Applicants can choose from various STEM fields, including physics, and select their top three choices of mentors or research areas. Once accepted, you will be assigned to mentors and research groups, where you will learn research techniques and work on your projects. The program also includes weekly faculty research talks, workshops, tours, and special events.
Throughout the program, you will be required to prepare a written research abstract and a poster, which you will present at the closing poster symposium. There is also the possibility of receiving a stipend upon completion of the program. With an acceptance rate of 5%, this program is highly competitive. For those interested in physics-based research, opportunities include working in the Physics & Astronomy department on topics such as geometric optics, simulations, machine learning in near-field optics, and quantum material research.
Subject Areas: Astrophysics, quantum physics, Python coding, quantum computing, and cosmology.
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: July 8–July 26, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school students who are female or gender minorities, currently in grades 9–11, can apply. Priority will be given to first-generation students, individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in physics, and rising seniors.
SPINWIP, hosted by the Stanford Physics Department and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, is designed for high school girls interested in physics and coding. The three-week program includes lectures by Stanford professors and researchers, small group work led by Stanford undergraduates, and workshops on college planning and career development.
During the program, you will explore topics such as quantum physics, quantum computing, light, optics, lasers, and cosmology (including dark matter, black holes, and exoplanets). The program includes in-class worksheets and homework to reinforce the concepts covered in lectures. The complete syllabus is available here for review before applying. Additionally, you will learn to code using Python, apply these skills to physics-related projects, and be introduced to Boolean Logic, NumPy, and Matplotlib. The program also offers insights into career paths in physics and astronomy.
Subject Areas: Biology, chemistry, data analysis, physics, computer science, engineering, information technology, cybersecurity, mathematics, and planetary science.
Location: In person at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, or Virtual.
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates:
- Summer session: June 25–August 22, 2024; TBA for 2025
- Academic year session: September 16, 2024–May 2025; the exact dates are TBA.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 15 years old and have a minimum GPA of 2.8 can apply. Applicants should also have permanent residency in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area.
The ASPIRE program, offered by Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), is designed for high school students interested in exploring STEM careers before choosing a field of study in college. In the application, you can select one of eight placement areas, including physics and planetary science. If accepted, you will be paired with an APL staff mentor who will guide you through a project in your chosen field. The program offers both in-person and virtual experiences, with virtual internships being conducted entirely online except for onboarding, equipment returns, and IT troubleshooting.
Throughout the program, you will work on developing both technical and interpersonal skills relevant to a professional setting. You are expected to dedicate 40 hours per week to ASPIRE tasks. The program concludes with the submission of digital project posters. If you wish to continue interning during the academic year, you will need to adhere to the guidelines provided here. The program is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 15–20%.
Subject Areas: STEM subjects covered include chemistry, physics, computer science, environmental science, and engineering. Applicants should review the details here before selecting a NIST laboratory.
Location: NIST laboratory at Boulder, CO, or the Gaithersburg, MD campuses.
CostStipend: Free for all accepted participants; Unpaid
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025. You can check the application guide here.
Dates: June 16–August 8, 2025
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors or seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 can apply.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and one of the oldest physical science laboratories, offers the Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) for students interested in scientific research. As a SHIP intern, you will collaborate with scientists and engineers on a research problem, gaining insight into NIST's cutting-edge work.
NIST consists of six laboratories: Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), and Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML). You can explore these labs’ websites, select one based on your interests, and mention your preference in the application. The PML, for example, focuses on areas like atomic, molecular, optical, and radiation chemical physics, as well as quantum-based electrical measurements, environmental sensing, and industrial radiation dosimetry. This internship will allow you to participate in active research at NIST and work on real-world projects with its scientists and engineers.
Subject Areas: STEM fields—physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.
Location: Fermilab site, Batavia, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend of $17.20/hour is provided.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February. Applications will reopen in November 2024.
Dates: Typically mid-June to late July. The 2024 program ran from June 17 to July 26. Dates TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: Illinois high school sophomores or juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA and eligibility to work in the U.S. can apply.
Fermilab, the leading particle physics and accelerator laboratory in the U.S., offers several programs for students, including TARGET—a six-week paid summer internship for Illinois high school sophomores and juniors. This program is designed for students with a strong interest and aptitude in physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering, to encourage them to pursue college studies and careers in STEM fields.
TARGET provides an opportunity to explore physics while working alongside scientists and engineers at Fermilab. Each year, 10 to 15 interns are selected for the program, which aims to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities and women in STEM. The program integrates work experience with hands-on learning and includes STEM and leadership workshops to help students prepare for college and future careers in STEM.
Subject Areas: Space science, astrophysics, engineering, aeronautics, astronomy, technology, space microbiology, robotics, ecology, and outreach and communications.
Location: These internships are available at various NASA facilities. Depending on the project, interns may work remotely or on-site at one of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate; interns may receive a stipend depending on their academic level and the duration of the session.
Application Deadline:
- Spring 2025: August 23, 2024
- Summer 2025: Early Decision - October 25, 2024 | Final Deadline - February 28, 2025
- Fall 2025: May 16, 2025
Dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions but the exact dates vary depending on the opportunity:
- Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December)
- Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May)
- Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides paid internships for high school and college students at various locations across the U.S. These internships offer training, mentorship, and career development, with opportunities to work alongside experts in fields such as science, engineering, finance, IT, and business. Internships are available in a range of disciplines, including space science, astrophysics, aeronautics, technology, robotics, space microbiology, ecology, and outreach and communications. You may design experiments, analyze mission data, and develop new technologies.
You will work either one-on-one with a researcher or in small teams on current NASA projects. Activities may include recording and analyzing data, tracking celestial objects using advanced telescopes, and assisting with mission preparation. The program also includes lectures from astronauts and professionals in astrophysics and related fields. The skills gained through this internship are valuable for both undergraduate studies and future careers in STEM fields.
To explore available internships, you can use the 'Filter' option to view those open to high school students. For more information on other NASA programs and tips for applying, check out this blog post.
Subject Areas: STEMM fields include quantum mechanics, bioengineering, electrical engineering, cancer immunology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, and others.
Location: The Grainger College of Engineering campus, Urbana, IL
Cost: There is no cost to participate in this program other than transportation to and from campus. Housing, meals, and a monetary award are provided.
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in March; TBA for 2025
Dates: June 11–August 2, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders from Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, or Wisconsin are eligible to apply.
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program is a six-week program for high school students to participate in advanced research in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine. You will engage in research across various STEMM fields, such as cancer immunology, neuroscience, and bioengineering, gaining practical experience in an academic setting. If accepted, you will be assigned to a research group based on your application details, including your statement and recent coursework. The program also includes weekly seminars to help develop professional and academic skills and provide information on college admissions. You will also work on scientific communication skills and prepare a research poster.
You will collaborate on a STEMM project with university faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate and undergraduate students. The program concludes with a research poster presentation and symposium. It is highly selective, with 30 students accepted from 600 applicants in the past two years. Accepted students will be assigned to one of three research groups—POETS, SpHERES, or GEnYus—based on their coursework and interests. The GEnYus group focuses on research in specific fields such as nuclear or quantum physics.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.