If you’re a high school student interested in exploring a subject more deeply, fall can be a good time to begin. Fall research programs give you the chance to study advanced topics, strengthen your academic habits, and gain experience working on longer-term projects , often with support from mentors in the field. Whether you’re drawn to biology, economics, computer science, or a more specialized area, these programs help you move beyond standard classroom learning and start approaching problems with a research mindset.
Why consider a fall research mentorship program? How is it different from summer?
These programs take place during the school year, teaching you to manage your coursework alongside your research. Fall programs tend to move at a steadier pace, with an emphasis on sustained work over several weeks or months. This structure allows you to spend more time developing your project and receiving ongoing feedback from mentors. If you want consistent guidance, thoughtful critique, or an opportunity to build a substantial project while keeping up with your regular responsibilities, a fall research program may be a good option.
Here’s a list of 15 fall research programs for high school students. You can also check out our blog on online research mentorship opportunities here.
1. Jackson Lab Academic Year Fellowships
Location: In-person (Maine and Connecticut campuses) | Hybrid | Fully remote
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates: Depend on the project. Opportunities are available from fall to spring.
Eligibility: High school students enrolled as a junior or senior in good standing at a high school, at least 16 years old
The Jackson Laboratory’s Academic Year Fellowships give high school students a chance to work directly in a biomedical research setting. As a fellow, you join a JAX research group, learn core laboratory methods, and contribute to ongoing projects. With support from mentors, such as faculty members, postdocs, and graduate students , you also design and complete an independent project connected to the lab’s work. During the program, you take part in tasks like planning experiments, analyzing data, sharing results, and participating in group discussions. By the end of the fellowship, you will have practiced problem-solving, scientific communication, time management, and collaboration.
2. Burke Neurological Institute’s Introduction to Neuroscience
Location: Virtual
Cost: $500; a full scholarship is offered
Application Deadline: To be announced for winter
Dates: Offers fall and winter options, winter dates to be announced
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the NYS Regents Living Environment or equivalent Biology class
The Burke Neurological Institute offers Introduction to Neuroscience, an online course designed for high school students who want to learn about the mammalian nervous system. The class meets twice a week and covers topics such as motor control, sensory pathways, memory, and learning. You’ll examine the organization of the nervous system, look at how it responds to events like stroke, and discuss how conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease influence brain function. Although the program doesn’t formally outline a mentorship component, faculty involvement , including instructors like Dr. Dianna E. Willis and Dr. Vibhu Sahni, indicates that you may have opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback. The course also introduces research-related concepts that can help you prepare for future laboratory or project-based experiences.
3. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship Program
Location: Remote or in-person (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Cost/Stipend: None (10 paid stipends available for Summer based on financial need)
Application Deadline: Spring: Typically November | Summer: March 1 | Fall: Typically July
Dates: Spring: February – May | Summer: June – August | Fall: September – December
Eligibility: Open to high school students with an interest in international relations or research
The FPRI Internship Program offers high school students an opportunity to study foreign policy through guided research. You’re paired with a scholar or fellow and assist with projects related to areas such as diplomacy, security, or regional studies. As an intern, you also participate in weekly seminars led by practitioners and researchers, which helps you connect academic concepts with current policy issues. As part of the program, you write a research paper and may have the option to contribute to FPRI’s blog or Intern Corner. This program is one of the few virtual research experiences available to high school students interested in international relations and think tank work.
4. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA
Cost: $0 – $1,070 (For students who meet financial need eligibility criteria, there is no cost to attending ASDRP)
Application Deadline: May 1 – July 15 (priority), August 15 (final)
Dates: September 1 – January 15 (Autumn term)
Eligibility: High school students in 9th-12th grade; No prior research experience required
ASDRP is a Bay Area–based research program where you design and complete your own project with support from mentors. Rather than following set experiments, you work on original studies in fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, or engineering. You’ll use laboratory facilities to run experiments, read and analyze scientific literature, and prepare research papers that meet academic conventions. The program also helps you build skills in technical writing and presentations, including sharing your work at a research expo. In some cases, you may be able to publish your project in the ASDRP journal or submit it to outside conferences.
5. UC San Diego Research Scholars — Marine Science Track
Location: Both virtual and in-person opportunities are available
Cost: Varies by program and format; Scholarships available for some programs
Application Deadline: Applications closed for Fall, check here for more information
Dates: Applications closed for Fall, to be announced
Eligibility: High school students (15+) in grades 9–12 with a minimum GPA of 3.0
UC San Diego’s Research Scholars – Marine Science track introduces high school students to ocean sciences through a structured sequence of courses that build from foundational concepts to advanced research experiences. As you move through the tiers, you explore marine biology, engage in hands-on projects guided by Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate students and professionals, and strengthen your analytical and scientific communication skills. The program emphasizes collaborative learning, environmental awareness, and the development of key research abilities, with opportunities to present or publish your findings as you progress.
6. Field Biology Internship (FBI) — Alley Pond Environmental Center
Location: Alley Pond Park and other sites in Queens, NY
Cost: $150 (financial aid available upon request)
Application Deadline: August 1
Dates: Saturdays, September 27 – November 1
Eligibility: High school students, age 14 and up
This weekend internship gives you practical experience in the ecological fieldwork by focusing on urban ecosystems in Queens. You’ll study habitats in Alley Pond Park and surrounding areas while learning methods such as species identification, water and soil sampling, data collection, and field observations. The sessions introduce you to experimental design, documentation practices, and communicating environmental findings. You’ll also meet local scientists who work in ecology and conservation, providing a look into related career paths. This program can be a useful introduction if you want to explore ecology or learn basic research techniques.
7. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions — apply any time, including Fall
Dates: Flexible. Half-time: 2–8 weeks, ~20 hours/week. Quarter-time: 1 – 9 months, ~8 hours/week
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who’ve completed at least one honors-level science or English class
EnergyMag’s virtual research internship gives you the chance to study renewable energy technologies and developments in the clean energy sector. You’ll research companies, track current trends, and examine emerging innovations while strengthening your analytical and writing skills. The internship is self-paced, allowing you to work according to your own schedule. You’ll also be matched with a mentor who supports you through each step of the research process, from gathering information to preparing written reports. At the end of the program, you receive documentation summarizing your work.
8. Internship Program — Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Location: Hybrid, with at least one day of in-person work at GLI’s Midtown office weekly
Cost: Free/ $16.50 stipend per hour
Application Deadlines: TBA for academic year internships
Program Dates: September through May for academic year internships
Eligibility: Some opportunities are open to high school students
The Gilder Lehrman History School is a free virtual program for high school students interested in studying U.S. history at a more advanced level. You take part in live, discussion-based classes led by historians and educators, exploring topics that may include the Constitution, immigration, the Cold War, or the experiences of Black Americans in earlier periods of U.S. history. Although the program doesn’t outline a formal mentorship model, the small-group format and regular interaction with instructors offer space for questions and individualized feedback. You work closely with primary sources, write evidence-based essays, and practice developing clear historical arguments. Throughout the course, you focus on reading sources carefully, examining multiple perspectives, and discussing how interpretations of the past are formed.
9. Internships at Dolphin Research Center
Location: Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key, FL
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: June 1 for the fall term (tentative)
Dates: September – December; duration is 16–18 weeks
Eligibility: All high school students who have English language proficiency and are physically fit (due to the nature of the work)
The Dolphin Research Center offers a structured internship for high school students interested in marine biology and the daily work of a marine mammal facility. Internships are organized by department and typically last 16 to 18 weeks. You’ll work full-time hours, spending most of your week in your assigned area and one day supporting general facility operations. Departments include Animal Care and Training, Education, Research, Medical, Information Technology, and Visual Communications. You may also take on additional responsibilities based on the center’s needs and your skills or interests. The internship allows you to gain practical experience in a functioning marine setting while exploring whether this type of work aligns with your future goals.
10. Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology)
Location: Bronx Zoo and Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: Not specified (likely free or sponsored by Pinkerton Foundation)
Application Deadline: Not specified (apply early, program runs in the fall semester)
Dates: Fall program meets Saturdays, September – December
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in the Bronx, who are comfortable with indoor/outdoor settings
Project TRUE is a youth program that combines urban ecology research with hands-on learning for Bronx high school sophomores and juniors. You’ll study local wildlife and ecosystems, focusing on topics such as mammal populations, bird communities, water quality, and the management of invasive species. The program emphasizes applying scientific methods to collect and analyze data while developing your skills in communicating findings. You work in small teams guided by mentors from Fordham University and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The program fosters a collaborative environment and provides connections to local science mentoring networks for continued involvement after completion. The fall session takes place on Saturdays, extending the research and skill-building started during the summer program.
11. Foundations of Data Science & Machine Learning for High School Students: Coding School
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $995, with financial aid available
Application Deadline: Currently closed
Dates: September – December (tentatively)
Eligibility: This program is open to high school students (18 years & under)
In this program, you’ll engage with areas like robotics, machine learning, and data science through hands-on projects. You’ll work on developing your coding abilities and applying them to tasks in data analysis, algorithms, and engineering. The program offers structured lab sessions and guidance from mentors with technical experience. You’ll also have chances to learn about technology careers and industry practices from professionals working in the field.
12. Harvard-MIT Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: Harvard or MIT campuses
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Funded by the City of Cambridge; exact amount not disclosed
Application Deadline: May
Dates: September — May
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (U.S. and international students)
The SRMP program is a year-long research experience where you work on independent projects in astrophysics or climate science under the guidance of researchers from Harvard and MIT. You join a small group of 5–6 students and are paired with a mentor, with access to necessary tools, including a dedicated laptop. Weekly meetings include research check-ins, seminars, and discussions with scientists. Over the course of the program, you develop skills in scientific research methods and data analysis. The program concludes with a formal presentation at a symposium hosted by Harvard. Admission is competitive, with fewer than 15 students selected each year.
13. Los Alamos National Laboratory Internship
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Cost/Stipend: None/paid
Application Deadline: September 30 (for Fall cohort)
Dates: Varies as per the project mentor’s timeline post-approval by HR
Eligibility: Junior in an accredited New Mexico high school when applying, senior at internship start, 16 years old, GPA of 2.75+, pass pre-employment drug test, computer programming skills desirable
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) offers paid internships for New Mexico high school seniors, allowing you to work on STEM projects connected to national security under the guidance of experienced mentors. You’ll collaborate with a multidisciplinary R&D team and gain experience using advanced equipment to address scientific and engineering challenges. Internship placements are available in areas such as Engineering Technology & Design, Bioscience, Physics, Chemistry, Intelligence, and Space Research. Through this experience, you’ll develop technical skills, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and contribute to real-world research and engineering projects.
14. Textron Aviation Internships
Location: Varies, primarily in the HQs at Wichita, KS
Cost/Stipend: None/Paid
Application Deadline: Fall applications open in June, deadline unspecified
Dates: Part-time internships available from September to November, Monday to Friday. Check here
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old who are U.S. citizens
Textron Aviation offers paid, part-time internships for high school students aged 16 and older, providing experience in STEM areas such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and supply chain. You’ll gain practical skills, develop analytical abilities, and contribute to ongoing aviation projects. The program pairs you with mentors who guide your learning and offer insights into potential career paths. You’ll receive hands-on training across different areas of the aviation industry, including aeronautical engineering, maintenance, and information technology. The internship also includes opportunities to visit various facilities and observe professionals in roles aligned with your interests.
15. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: None/Paid
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Dates: Varies by internship; Part-time year-round internships are offered during the fall and winter months
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years of age with a GPA of 2.5+; Specific eligibility criteria vary by position
Sandia National Laboratories offers paid internships for high school students, providing experience on active research projects in science and engineering. Depending on your placement, you might work on coding, data analysis, experimental design, or hardware testing in areas such as cybersecurity, energy systems, software development, or physics. You’ll work alongside professional scientists and engineers, who guide your work and integrate you into the team with defined responsibilities. The internship gives you access to technical tools and software commonly used in research, such as CAD programs, MATLAB, and Python. You’ll also participate in mentorship, professional development activities, and opportunities to connect with other interns and staff.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: Los Alamos Logo