If you’re a high school student in Texas considering a career in the medical field, enrolling in a summer research program in the state can be a great starting point. These programs provide work experience in a mentored environment so you can gain practical skills and knowledge in the field.
Most of the research projects in the list are led by seasoned researchers and medical professionals, so you can expect to receive professional guidance and mentorship to further your knowledge on the subject. Moreover, participating in a Texas-based medical research program can help you build early professional networks (locally) and gain exposure to ongoing healthcare challenges specific to the region.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,950 (financial aid is available!)
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June–September)
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
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
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students interested in fields like neuroscience, public health, and psychology. These programs allow you to work one-on-one with seasoned researchers to explore medical topics in depth and build a strong foundation in scientific inquiry and healthcare research. Horizon also offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,990
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4). No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
You will be paired with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose from a range of medical research topics, such as neuroscience, molecular biology, and psychology. You can find more details about the application here.
3. Welch Summer Scholar Program (WSSP)
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Houston, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 8 – July 11
Application deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors attending school in Texas
The Welch Summer Scholar Program is sponsored by the esteemed Robert A. Welch Foundation. It’s a five-week scientific research program that takes place in six Texas University sites across the U.S. The main aim of the initiative is to help high school students gain experience in medical research and college life. It mainly involves conducting real, university-level research in a state-of-the-art Texas University lab.
As a participant, you will be engaged in hands-on research activities under the guidance of an advanced graduate student or post-doctoral associate while interacting with faculty members. Apart from this, various lectures, workshops, facility tours, group meetings, site visits, excursions, etc., take place throughout the program. The program concludes with you creating a research paper and a final presentation on the topic.
4. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: $25 application fee
Stipend: $750
Program dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Should be at least 17 years old by the start of the program. Should be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an intensive, seven-week summer research opportunity for high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in medicine and healthcare. This highly selective program admits only 12 students each year, offering a rare chance to engage in hands-on research guided by experienced faculty mentors. As a participant, you’ll dive into practical research in fields such as biology, microbiology, cancer biology, and chemistry.
In addition to your lab work, you’ll join weekly seminars, skill-building workshops, industry discussions, and educational field trips—all designed to deepen your understanding of the medical and health sciences landscape. Aside from a nominal $25 application fee, the program is completely free, and you receive a $750 stipend for your work.
5. UT High School Research Academy (UT HSRA)
Location: University of Texas at Austin Campus, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000. Need-based scholarships available
Stipend: Available (Details on the exact amount are not available)
Program dates: June 9 – July 16
Application deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Texas residents who are 15 years or older by June 1. Rising sophomore, junior, or senior for the upcoming academic year
UT’s High School Research Academy (UT HSRA) is a five-week immersive research program that helps high school students learn cutting-edge research skills and gain insights into the life of a researcher. If selected, you will be matched with a research group and engage in research projects in active College of Natural Sciences (CNS) labs across various disciplines like biochemistry, biology, genetics, neuroscience, and genome engineering.
Apart from this, you will be attending various informative seminars hosted by seasoned guest speakers and scientists. At the end of the program, you will present a poster of your research findings at the closing HSRA Research Symposium. If eligible, you will also earn an NSC309 UT extension course credit, which you can include in your SOPs and college applications.
6. MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Stipend: $6,800
Program dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who are 18 years or older by June 2
The MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program is a 10-week paid internship for high school students interested in biomedical and allied health careers. The internship provides practical exposure to biomedical research and helps you understand day-to-day responsibilities in the field.
Each year, up to 12 students are selected to participate. As an intern, you will work on a research project in a biomedical field under the guidance of MD Anderson faculty. The program also includes seminars, academic activities, and competitions to support learning and skill development. At the end of the program, you present your research findings and receive a stipend of $6,800 for participation.
7. Houston Methodist High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Cost: There is no information available
Stipend: No stipend is provided to high school students
Program dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school students currently in their junior/senior year. At least 16 years of age by June 9
The Houston Methodist High School Emerging Researcher Experience is an eight-week translation research program that gives high schoolers, a chance to work alongside undergraduate research interns and gain knowledge of the research process. If selected, you will be assigned a mentor, likely a Houston Methodist faculty member, who will align you with a summer project. They will also guide you through the project and provide instructions on the lab techniques necessary to complete it.
Along with research, the program also includes a career and professional development curriculum to help you with college admission. You will also be engaging in seminars, sporting events, and didactic lectures. The program concludes with a poster symposium.
8. University of Houston MohanLab High School Summer Internship
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Stipend: No stipend is provided
Program dates: June 2 – July 25
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The MohanLab High School Summer Internship program is designed for rising high school seniors with strong academic performance and an interest in medicine or health-related fields. The program offers hands-on experience in biomedical research. It begins with a 1–2 week orientation covering basic lab techniques, followed by an 8-week research project under the supervision of a scientist or graduate researcher.
As a participant, you will present your findings at the MohanLab joint lab meeting and may have the opportunity to contribute to a publication. After the program ends, you may even choose to continue with data analysis or manuscript writing.
9. Greehey CCRI Undergraduate & High School Summer Research Program
Location: Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Cost: There is no information available
Stipend: Available (Details on the exact amount are not available)
Program dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: There is no information available
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older by June 2
If you’re passionate about contributing to childhood cancer research, you can check out the Greehey CCRI Undergraduate & High School Summer Research Program. Spanning 10 weeks, it’s a highly selective opportunity that lets high school students engage in a hypothesis-driven childhood cancer research experience. The main aim of Greehey CCRI is to expose high schoolers to a broad range of techniques and model systems in both basic and translational research.
As a participant, you will get a chance to work in a specialized children’s cancer research environment and use state-of-the-art facilities to gain hands-on experience with methods in genomics, classical genetics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and structural biology. The program culminates with a research symposium.
10. Dell Medical School Health Sciences Summer Camps
Location: Dell Medical School, Austin, TX
Cost: $500 (for the June Camp) {scholarship is available}; $0 (for the GEAR UP Residential Camp)
Stipend: There is no information available
Program dates: June 16 – June 20 (for the June Camp); July 7 – July 11 (for the GEAR UP Residential Camp)
Application deadline: There is no information available
Eligibility: For the June Camp: High school students between grades 9 – 11; For the GEAR UP Residential Camp: High school students who attend one of the listed school districts
If you’re a high schooler who wants a comprehensive experience of professions in the healthcare field, you can explore the Dell Medical School Health Sciences Summer Camps. With a small cohort size of approximately 60 students, this program introduces you to health sciences and clinical skills in an immersive manner. If selected, you will get the chance to conduct hands-on experiments and exercises, such as administering IVs and performing intubations, in advanced simulation labs under the guidance of health professionals.
The curriculum is interdisciplinary, meaning you will also learn about health tech and understand how it can improve modern medicine. Apart from this, the program also includes recreation activities at UT Austin and Gregory Gym. After successful completion of the camp, you will receive certifications in first aid and/or CPR/automated external defibrillator. If interested, you may also extend your association with Dell Med through the Health Sciences Yearlong Academy.
11. Texas Medical Center (TMC) Summer Research Internship Program
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Stipend: Available (Details on the exact amount are not available)
Program dates: There is no information available
Application deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school students completing their junior year at Augustana
The Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program is a rigorous, 10-week program meant for students interested in different aspects of healthcare. As an intern, you will be placed at a prestigious healthcare institution, like UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, or Baylor College of Medicine, to conduct research under the mentorship of the TMC faculty. Internships are available across tracks like art, biology, chemistry, psychology, pre-vet, pre-med, etc.
Apart from this, you will also receive one-on-one mentoring in clinical/research medicine, psychology, neuroscience, as well as healthcare economics, medical illustration, healthcare policy, etc. The program selects students based on skills and interests and focuses on honing areas like community building, vocational reflection, and ethics.
12. Baylor College of Medicine Premedical Summer Institute (PSI)
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Stipend: There is no information available
Program dates: There is no information available
Application deadline: There is no information available
Eligibility: High school students
The Baylor College of Medicine Premedical Summer Institute (PSI) is designed for talented, underrepresented students in medicine. This program aims to equip you with the appropriate experience to enhance your prospects of getting into a reputed medical school. Besides this, it enables you to gain a deeper understanding of medicine through clinical and other experiences. In this four-week program, you gather to conduct rigorous coursework in science and communication.
Topics include human structure and function, preceptorship in health sciences, etc. Other than this, the PSI program also hosts several recreational activities, including seminars, dinners, student meets, and weekend outings to top Houston area attractions, to ensure all-around skill development.
13. UT Health San Antonio Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy (VBRA)
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free
Stipend: Available (Details on the exact amount are not available)
Program dates: 7 weeks during the summer for 3 years
Application deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores who are nominated by a committee at their respective schools. Should have scored 90% or above in Math, Science, and English (85% if in Pre-AP, AP, or Dual credit courses) and should be at least 15 years old by June 15
If you’re looking for an opportunity that provides a thorough experience of biomedical research to high school students, UT Health San Antonio’s VBRA should interest you. Each year, VBRA gathers 20 ambitious high school students from San Antonio and surrounding areas to engage in an immersive biomedical research experience. The program takes place for 7 weeks every summer for 3 years.
In year 1, you engage in a hands-on summer research program along with various enrichment and research-based activities. In years 2 and 3, you participate in faculty-mentored research projects. Apart from this, VBRA also offers mentorship and college prep support. The program culminates with you summarizing your work either as a poster presentation, a written abstract, or an oral presentation.
14. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Summer Enrichment Program
Location: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free
Stipend: There is no information available
Program dates: June 23 – June 28
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors interested in medicine
If you’re a high school student curious about careers in medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) offers a focused introduction. This one-week residential program trains you in hands-on clinical training, simulated patient care, and career exploration.
You’ll learn basic procedures like suturing and administering injections, engage in team-based diagnosis exercises, and attend sessions on ethics, communication, and healthcare policy. Practicing physicians from various specialties also lead discussions to help you explore different medical paths.
15. Pathways SUPERNet Summer Medical Scholars Academy
Location: University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Tyler, TX
Cost: $400
Stipend: No stipend is provided
Program dates: June 1 – June 5
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. Homeschooled students can also apply
The Pathways SUPERNet Summer Medical Scholars Academy is a five-day residential program for high school students interested in healthcare and public service. It’s a practical introduction to medical careers and the academic steps you require.
As a participant, you’ll stay in campus housing and engage in simulation labs, clinical skills training, and job shadowing. The program also includes hospital tours, medical campus visits, field trips to local healthcare facilities, and workshops on public health and medical procedures.
Image source – The University of Texas at Tyler