If you're a high school student interested in chemistry, joining a research program is a great way to gain hands-on experience in the field! These programs offer the opportunity to work with industry professionals, develop new skills, and learn about current trends in the field.
A career in chemistry offers various paths, including biochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, and environmental chemistry. Research programs can help you explore these areas and discover where your interests lie.
Participating in a research program also demonstrates your commitment to the subject and shows admission officers that you can apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings. Additionally, it allows you to build connections with experienced researchers, which may lead to job opportunities or letters of recommendation in the future.
Here’s our curated list of 15 chemistry research programs for high school students for you to explore!
Subject Areas: Chemistry research, materials science, organic and coordination chemistry, nanoscale materials, and chemical protein modification.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (Residential program).
Cost: Students who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be eligible to participate in the Penn Summer Academy free of charge with a Penn Summer Scholarship.
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for 2024. The applications for summer 2025 will open in late fall 2024.
Dates: July 6–July 27, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Current 10th-11th grade students can apply.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Chemistry Research Academy offers high school students a foundation in understanding advanced research, with opportunities to learn directly from research professors and students. The specific topics covered in the Academy are aligned with the department's research goals. The program provides hands-on laboratory experience, which makes up about 50% of class time. You will learn analytical techniques such as spectroscopy and gas chromatography, optimize synthetic methods through experimentation, and engage in open-ended lab challenges.
You will attend research lectures on topics like nanoscale materials, chemical protein modification for disease study, the chemistry of rare earth metals, and the coordination of complex applications. The curriculum also covers principles of chemical bonding in organic and coordination chemistry, the workings of analytical techniques, and the fundamentals of materials science. You will take part in tours of the Science History Institute, the Singh Center for Nanomaterials, and university research labs. Additionally, you will develop independent research skills, learn to work with research articles and complete a capstone project to kickstart your research.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) — Chemistry Track
Subject Areas: Chemistry, network science, biophysics, psychology, international relations, neuroscience, political theory, sociology, machine learning, history, philosophy, environmental health and engineering, behavioral economics, data science, and others.
Location: Virtual
Cost: A fee is required for participation. You can obtain the exact cost by submitting an interest form here.
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
- The dates for Horizon Labs are flexible, but applications must be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.67 or higher are eligible to apply. The majority of admitted students are in 10th or 11th grade. Some tracks have specific prerequisites, which can be found in more detail here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in various fields, including data science, machine learning, political theory, biomedical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. It is one of the few programs that allows students to engage in both quantitative and qualitative research. For those interested in chemistry-related projects, the Formulation Chemistry course provides opportunities to work on projects such as applying machine learning to predict chemical reactions or material properties or conducting in-depth literature reviews on challenges at the intersection of formulation chemistry and materials science.
After selecting a subject track and research type, you will be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a leading university, who will mentor you through the research process. You will work toward producing a 20-page university-level research paper, which can be submitted to academic journals for publication. This program offers the chance to conduct specialized research under expert guidance. Additionally, participants receive a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback on their work, which can be useful for future research projects and college applications. You can apply here!
Subject Areas: Chemistry, research, lab work, and career preparation.
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Check here.
Eligibility:
- High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who have completed at least one high school chemistry course are eligible to apply.
- Preference is given to students whose family income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, adjusted for family size.
- Project SEED offers several ways to document eligibility, which you can find here!
Application Deadline: April 12, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: 8–10 weeks between June and August; TBA for 2025
Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend of $4000 is provided to the interns.
Project SEED is a paid summer fellowship program for high school students that offers hands-on laboratory experience in chemistry research. If accepted, you will spend 8-10 weeks, Monday through Friday, working 8 hours a day at a research lab located at a university, government lab, or other site. This program is particularly focused on supporting students from underrepresented communities, with over 350 internships and summer camps available to help with college applications.
As an intern, you'll work on a self-selected project under the guidance of a qualified mentor in academia or industry. Additional benefits may include field trips, campus tours, career panels, and professional development opportunities. The program aims to prepare you for college and a career in chemistry, and may also provide the chance to present your research at the American Chemical Society National Meeting.
Subject Areas: Chemical research, experimental techniques, instrumentation, and lab work.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: June 17–June 28, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Local high school students at least 16 years old by the start of the program can apply.
Stanford University’s Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program allows high school students to explore advanced chemical research. The two-week program emphasizes the experience of shadowing professionals and gaining insight into various research activities. You will observe and interact with several graduate students from the chemistry department and shadow different researchers to learn about various scientific topics and techniques.
Unlike programs focusing on individual research projects, IFSS will allow you to shadow multiple researchers, offering a broader understanding of the field and a well-rounded scientific perspective. Throughout the program, you will gain hands-on experience with experimental techniques and chemical phenomena, develop essential skills, become familiar with various types of instrumentation, and understand the chemistry behind experiments, going beyond basic procedural labs.
Subject Areas: Bioanalytical chemistry, computational chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, and materials chemistry.
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology (Mies Campus), Chicago, IL
Cost: Information about this is not available, but can be found out by emailing precollege@iit.edu.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: July 8–August 2, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders and community college students can apply. To participate in the residential experience, students must be 15–17 years old.
Illinois Tech’s Chemistry Scholars is designed for high school students interested in gaining hands-on experience in chemistry research. If selected, you will be paired with a faculty adviser and work in their research lab for four weeks. An early start or extension may be possible based on student and adviser availability and project progress. Students can earn three college credits (CHEM 450) for this course. The program runs on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Under the guidance of a faculty adviser, you will collaborate with graduate and undergraduate researchers on projects related to areas such as green energy, biological sensors, biocomposite materials for tissue engineering, sustainability, batteries, photocatalysts, porous materials for gas separation, luminescent nanomaterials for fingerprint detection, chemical, and therapeutic antibody-drug conjugates for cancer therapy and imaging, and computational chemistry in drug discovery. Additionally, you will have the chance to deepen your understanding of chemical science through evening sessions held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Subject Areas: STEM fields including chemistry, humanities, and research.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students 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 offering high school students the chance to conduct scientific research at MIT. Organized by the Center for Excellence in Education, the program features hands-on research projects under the guidance of MIT professors and scientists, along with college-level classes taught by faculty members. The program starts with a week of seminars on current research topics in chemistry, other STEM fields, and the humanities. Research assignments are given at the end of this week, followed by five weeks dedicated to working on these projects. In the final week, you present your findings.
An example of a chemistry project from previous participants is "The Monoreduction of Diketones and its Application towards the Total Synthesis of Kalmanol" (2006) by Kenneth I. Brewer. You can check out more such projects here. You will develop key research skills, including data collection, analysis, presentation, and review of recent literature in chemistry. The program also includes lectures and field trips. RSI is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 3%, selecting 70–100 students annually from around 3,000 applicants.
Subject Areas: Chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, machine learning, bio- and molecular engineering, anthropology, biology, aerospace engineering, and artificial intelligence.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will receive a stipend of at least $750.
Application Deadline: March 6, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: June 3–August 9, 2024 (10 weeks); TBA for 2025
Eligibility: NYC students who will have completed 10th or 11th grade by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
NYU's ARISE program provides learning opportunities for students interested in engineering and related fields. Interdisciplinary research areas include chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, bio- and molecular engineering, machine learning, anthropology, biology, aerospace engineering, and artificial intelligence. The program consists of remote after-school workshops for 4 weeks, followed by in-person labs for the next six weeks, starting in the first week of July.
You will engage in hands-on laboratory experiments, attend classroom sessions, and take part in workshops covering ethics, lab safety, data collection, and college admissions preparation. A key feature of the program is mentorship from NYU's research faculty, which supports teamwork, provides guidance, and fosters creative inquiry within chosen STEM fields. The program concludes with a presentation of research findings at a colloquium. ARISE typically accepts 76 to 80 students each year. For more information on research opportunities in chemical engineering, click here.
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 are eligible to apply. Applicants must also be permanent residents of the Washington-Baltimore Metro area.
The ASPIRE program, run by Johns Hopkins' Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), is designed for high school students interested in exploring STEM careers before selecting a college major. Applicants can choose from eight placement areas, including chemistry. 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 options, with virtual internships conducted entirely online except for onboarding, equipment returns, and IT support.
During the program, you will focus on developing both technical and interpersonal skills relevant to a professional environment and will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to ASPIRE tasks. The program concludes with the submission of digital project posters. For those interested in continuing their internship during the academic year, additional guidelines are provided. The program is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 15–20%.
Subject Areas: Biology, health or medicine, environmental science, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics.
Location: Varies depending on the internship.
Cost/Stipend: There is a $40 application fee. Interns receive a learning stipend of $1,100, or $650 for part-time positions.
Application Deadline: March 8, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates:
- Typically 8–10 weeks between June and August.
- Most start dates were during the week of June 17.
- All internship hours were completed by August 23, 2024.
- Dates TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders are eligible to apply. Applicants for the VA Healthcare System must be at least 16 years old.
The Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering (ASE) Internships typically offer around 75 positions for high schoolers each year. Mentor partners come from various disciplines, including Biology, Health or Medicine, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics. As an intern, you will contribute to projects at your mentor’s organization over the summer. Your specific role will depend on the organization. Some examples of roles this summer include:
- Conducting experiments to improve water quality and contamination clean-up efforts.
- Learning about synthetic chemistry and using fluorescent chemical compounds for medical imaging.
- Assisting with the operations of a nuclear research reactor, among other tasks.
Your main responsibilities may include working with leading scientists on research projects, receiving training and mentorship, and potentially conducting your experiments.
Subject Areas: Chemistry, applied mathematics, astronomy, biology, computer science, earth science, engineering, environmental science, government, marine biology, meteorology oceanography, physical science, physics, statistics and probability, and more.
Location: Several lab locations are available across the country.
Stipend: New participant: $4,000 | Returning participant: $4,500
Application Deadline: Summer internship applications open on August 1 and close on November 1 each year.
Dates: The internship runs for eight weeks during the summer, with the option to extend for up to two additional weeks.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 9th grade, are at least 16 years old, and are U.S. citizens can apply. Graduating seniors are also eligible.
(Students are advised to verify if their preferred lab has any specific requirements or exceptions).
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) provides high school students interested in STEM with the opportunity to learn about naval research and technology while receiving mentorship from experienced scientists and engineers. Participants work on real naval research projects in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories for eight weeks during the summer, gaining hands-on research experience.
SEAP is a competitive program, offering around 300 placements in over 38 labs across the country. Due to its association with the U.S. government, it is considered highly prestigious. Interns are selected based on academic performance, personal statements, recommendations, and research interests. Lab placements are determined by the intern's field of interest. For those interested in chemistry, for example, the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) in Jacksonville offers opportunities to work in the Materials Engineering Laboratory, focusing on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) technologies for Navy aircraft.
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), a 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 work alongside scientists and engineers on a research project, gaining insight into NIST's advanced work. NIST comprises six laboratories: Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), and Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML). You can review the websites of these labs, choose one that aligns with your interests, and indicate your preference in the application.
If you’re interested in chemistry-related research, you can apply to the Material Measurement Laboratory. Research focuses may include developing new vaccines and biological drugs, evaluating alternative fuels and refrigerants with lower greenhouse gas emissions, assessing pollutants such as ocean plastics, and contributing to the creation of new materials for lightweight, fuel-efficient transportation, among other topics. This internship provides the opportunity to engage in active research at NIST and work on real-world projects with its scientists and engineers.
Subject Areas: Chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, data sciences, computer science, environmental science, finance, business, forensic science, geography, mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and health.
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. Remote, in-person, and hybrid internships are available.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate in the program except a $25 application fee (transport and housing are not covered); Unpaid.
Application Deadline: The 2025 ASSIP applications will open on December 2, 2024, and close on February 2, 2025.
Dates: June 18–August 8, 2025
Eligibility:
- Interns for remote internships must be at least 15 years old by the program start date.
- Interns for in-person or hybrid internships in computer labs must also be at least 15 years old by the program start date.
- For in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships, interns must be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to work directly with faculty researchers at George Mason University to develop their research projects. During this 8-week internship, you will gain hands-on experience with advanced equipment and technologies, enhance your scientific writing and communication skills, explore STEM career options through discussions and meetings with professionals, and apply creative thinking—an essential part of innovative research.
Past chemistry-based projects include research on antibiotic development, measuring Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and developing atomically layered heterostructures as electrochemical dopamine sensors. You can review previous research projects from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry here.
Subject Areas: Plasma physics, chemistry, 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, giving participants hands-on experience in research and laboratory work, which can be beneficial for pursuing a career in chemistry.
If selected, you will work on an experimental or computational plasma physics project, exploring areas such as plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields. For those interested in chemistry, there is an option to focus on applied materials and sustainability sciences. 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, and familiarity with coding, computer-aided design (CAD), and related software tools.
Subject Areas: Chemistry, computer science, engineering, astronomy, physics, biology, 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: Applications typically close in February. 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 provides a six-week opportunity for students interested in hands-on research to experience university laboratory work across various fields. In this program, you will conduct research for 40 hours per week under the mentorship of a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate student. As a RISE participant, you'll work on a research project, develop technical and analytical skills, and present your findings at the Poster Symposium. There is also the possibility of submitting your work to national science competitions, such as the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Profiles of departments and mentors are available to help you find research projects that match your interests.
The program also includes weekly workshops covering the scientific process, research ethics, reading scientific papers, creating posters, and networking in the scientific community. Additionally, sessions on college admissions and preprofessional health programs are offered. In 2024, about 130 students participated in the RISE program.
Subject Areas: Chemistry, neurobiology, medicine, ecology, engineering, math, astronomy, physics, geosciences, atmospheric and marine sciences, biomedical informatics, computer science, and pharmacological sciences.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: The program does not have a tuition fee, but participants choosing on-campus housing are required to pay $2,781.50, which includes accommodation and meals. A stipend may be provided at the end of the program, though the exact amount is not specified on the website.
Application Deadline: February 7, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: July 1–August 9, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 years old are eligible to apply.
The Simons Summer Research Program provides high school juniors with the chance to participate in a STEM-focused research project. Applicants can select from various STEM fields, including physics, and rank their top three preferences for mentors or research areas. If accepted, you will be placed with a mentor and research group, where you'll gain experience in research techniques while working on your assigned project. The program also features weekly faculty research presentations, workshops, lab tours, and special events.
As part of the program, you will write a research abstract and create a poster, which you will present at the final poster symposium. There is also the possibility of receiving a stipend upon completion. With a 5% acceptance rate, the program is highly competitive. For those interested in chemistry, research opportunities include areas such as medicinal chemistry, computer-aided drug design, drug discovery, cancer research, infectious diseases, chronic pain, and developing circular solutions for food, water, and environmental challenges.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.