If you’re a high school student looking to spend your summer building skills in STEM, joining a summer research program can be a great choice. These programs offer you hands-on experience with projects in fields like biology, engineering, computer science, and more.
Working alongside researchers, you’ll learn practical techniques, data analysis, and how to solve problems in ways that textbooks don’t cover. Being part of a research program can help you explore new areas of science and technology, giving you a clearer idea of what careers might interest you.
When we say “best”, we’ve tried to shortlist only the most prestigious and rigorous STEM programs for high school students!
Here’s a list of the 15 best STEM summer research programs for high school students!
15 Best STEM Summer Research Programs for High School Students
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a free, six-week STEM research program for high school students hosted at MIT. It begins with one week of intensive STEM coursework in areas like mathematics, physics, and computer science. For the next five weeks, you’ll work on an individual research project under a mentor in a university lab or academic setting.
You’ll learn how to design experiments, analyze data, and write a formal research paper. The program ends with you giving a presentation and submitting your research in a professional format. RSI accepts fewer than 100 students each year, making it one of the most selective STEM opportunities for high schoolers.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free of cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: January for US citizens and March for international students (tentative, based on previous years).
Program Dates: June and August (tentative, based on previous years).
Eligibility: High school juniors, including international students, are eligible to apply. Recommended scores include 740+ for PSAT Math, 700+ for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 33 for ACT Math, and 34 for ACT Verbal.
2. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a free, 7-week research program for high school students across the U.S. Only about 12 students are selected each year. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and spend the summer working on an individual research project.
Fields include computer science, mechanical engineering, biology, physics, and humanities. You’ll learn how to conduct academic research, write reports, and present your findings. The program also includes seminars, field trips, and social events. A stipend is provided to all participants.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No application cost, stipend of $750 provided.
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 22 — August 7
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years of age.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program
Horizon offers a trimester-long remote research experience where you choose a subject area such as data science, neuroscience, psychology, biology, chemistry, political theory, or machine learning. After selecting a research track, you’re paired with a mentor who holds a PhD or is a university professor. With their guidance, you work independently on a 20-page research paper.
The program is designed to build your skills in academic writing, reading research papers, and managing long-term projects. You also receive feedback on your drafts and a recommendation letter at the end.
Some students choose to submit their final paper to journals or academic competitions. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid available.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The summer II cohort application deadline is June 22.
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.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a remote research opportunity for high school students interested in exploring a subject through independent study. You can choose a topic from fields like economics, computer science, psychology, data science, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Over 12 weeks, you’ll meet regularly with your mentor to build a research question, design your project, review sources, and write a full research paper. You’ll work independently between sessions and get detailed feedback at every step.
The final paper can be submitted to research competitions or journals and may support your college applications. Apply now!
Location: Virtual
Cost: Individual Research Program: $2,990; Premium Research and Publication Program: $5,900; Research Fellowship: $8,900; Professor Premium Publication Program: $8,900. Need-based scholarships are available.
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: All high school students can apply!
5. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) lets you spend eight weeks doing research in a Stanford lab. You’ll join a team working on topics like cancer, genetics, stem cells, neurobiology, or bioengineering.
You’ll learn how labs actually work, help with experiments, and pick up skills used in medical research. You’ll also attend talks, learn lab safety, and share your work at the end in a poster session. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend, but all applicants must pay an application fee. Participants receive a minimum stipend of $500; needs-based stipends start at $2500 on a need-based system. Neither meals nor housing is provided.
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9- July 31
Eligibility: Must be juniors or seniors in the graduating class of this or next year, at least 16 years old by the program’s start date (June 9), and currently living in the U.S. while attending high school as U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card.
6. NYU’s ARISE Program
The ARISE program at NYU is a ten-week summer research experience for 10th and 11th graders attending high schools in New York City. The first four weeks happen online with workshops on research methods, data analysis, and scientific writing, plus seminars on current topics in computer science and engineering.
After that, you spend six weeks in person working in a lab. You’ll join a research team with faculty and graduate students in areas like computer vision, robotics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. You’ll learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and present your findings.
Location: New York University Campus, NY (Specific Area depends on subject area/ lab choice.
Cost/Stipend: None, stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 — August 8
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade in June can apply.
7. The Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program
The Summer Student Program at the Jackson Laboratory welcomes high school and undergraduate students interested in genetics and related areas. About 40 students are chosen each year. You’ll work with a mentor to develop and carry out your own research project.
Possible topics include bioinformatics, cancer biology, genomics, immunology, and metabolic disorders. During the program, you’ll learn how to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate your results.
Location: Two labs — Bar Harbor, Maine, and Farmington, Connecticut.
Cost/Stipend: None; a $6,500 stipend is provided
Application Deadline: January 27
Program Dates: May 31 — August 8
Eligibility: Seniors who have completed 12th grade and are at least 18 years old can apply!
8. UC Irvine’s Math ExpLR Summer Research Program
The UC Irvine Math ExpLR Summer Research Program is a six-week project focused on computational biology. You’ll work alongside undergraduate students on a research project supervised by a faculty member.
The program develops skills in coding for data analysis, statistical modeling, and mathematical problem-solving. You’ll also attend workshops on research methods, data visualization, and scientific writing.
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 14
Program Dates: June 17 — July 25
Eligibility: Applicants must currently be high school students and not be graduating in spring this year.
9. Simons Summer Research Program
The Simons Summer Research Program lets high school students conduct research at Stony Brook University in fields like biochemistry, computer science, geoscience, pharmacology, and astronomy. You’ll join a research group and work closely with a mentor on a specific project.
The program focuses on hands-on learning, helping you build skills in lab techniques, data analysis, and scientific methods. Admission is competitive, with only a small number of students accepted each year.
Location: Stony Brook University, NY, featuring commuter and residential options.
Cost: Free, although students are responsible for transportation and residential costs. At the program’s closing symposium, students receive a stipend award
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 — August 8
Eligibility: Applicants must be in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of application, must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program.
10. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
The JHIBS virtual research program is a five-week experience for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in neurological sciences. You’ll work with researchers on scientific projects and attend seminars focused on personal growth.
The program gives you chances to connect with neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University and learn about the field. It ends with you presenting your research through an oral talk or a poster.
Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, East Baltimore campus, Baltimore, Maryland or virtual
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded. Interns are paid an hourly wage and receive transportation funds. Virtual interns receive a stipend of $500.
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June – August
Eligibility: The in-person program is open to students living in the Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan area and enrolled full-time in a Baltimore City Public or Independent School, while the virtual program is open to students living anywhere in the U.S. and enrolled full-time toward a high school diploma.
11. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
The Laboratory Learning Program is for high school students in New Jersey. You work with Princeton University faculty and research staff on ongoing projects. The Engineering track includes projects like using large language models to study environmental sustainability.
The Natural Sciences track involves analyzing a fossil size database to see how animal sizes changed with climate over time. You’ll learn research methods, data analysis, and how to use computational tools.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (commuter program for statewide residents).
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 15.
Program dates: 5–6 weeks over the summer, depending on the project
Eligibility: Students must be 16 or older by June 15, enrolled in high school (or graduated but not yet 18 by June 15), and must be U.S. citizens, Legal Permanent Residents, or international students attending a U.S. high school, with some research opportunities having additional eligibility criteria.
12. The Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program
The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) lets high school students work on scientific research in small teams. Teams usually have about eight students. Each team is led by an experienced trainee and supported by scientist-mentors.
In the RockEDU lab, you’ll focus on projects related to your team’s area. You can also explore your own interests within that framework. The program includes elective courses and guest lectures. There are chances to join social events and connect with other students.
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory at The Rockefeller University, NY
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: January 3
Program Dates: June 23 — August 7
Eligibility: Must be current high school juniors or seniors, at least 16 years old by the program start, and commit to attending the entire program.
13. Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) Pre-College Program
SAMS is a pre-college STEM program led by university faculty. It has two parts. First, a virtual session covers skills development and an overview of the program. Then, a six-week in-person session follows at the university.
You take courses and work on group projects in areas like computer science, engineering, mathematics, and natural sciences. Faculty members or graduate students guide your projects. The program ends with a symposium where you present your research and project results.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free; this is a fully-funded program.
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 21 — August 2
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and in their junior year at the time of application submission are eligible.
14. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
SPINWIP is a three-week online summer program for high school girls who want to learn about physics. You’ll study topics like quantum physics and astrophysics. You’ll also learn Python programming.
The program has online classes, group projects, and sessions about getting ready for college and careers. You’ll get to talk with Stanford students and teachers who will guide you.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: Currently closed. Check here for details.
Program Dates: July 7— 25
Eligibility: Female and gender minority students in 9th to 11th grade are encouraged to apply, regardless of their country of residence. Preference will be given to first-generation students, those from underrepresented backgrounds in physics, and rising seniors.
15. Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (BAIR) High School Summer Program
The Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) High School Summer Program is for students entering grades 10 to 12. You’ll learn about AI topics like computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, planning, and control.
You’ll work with researchers from the BAIR Lab and take part in guest lectures, lab tours, and hands-on activities. The program also covers ethics and real-world uses of AI. You’ll spend time on campus, including meals in dining halls and a guided UC Berkeley tour.
Location: BAIR lab, University of California, Berkeley, CA.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 30 (tentatively based on the previous year’s dates; please check the official site for updated deadlines).
Program Dates: July 8–12 (tentatively, based on the previous year’s dates; please check the official site for updates).
Eligibility: Bay Area high school youth entering grades 10–12 can apply
Image source – University of California, Berkeley, CA.
