If you’re a high schooler in California looking for experience in STEM outside the classroom, consider joining a STEM research program!
These programs give you the time, tools, and guidance to work on real projects. That could mean testing a science idea in a lab, writing code, or analyzing data. Most STEM research programs are in-person, lab opportunities, and make for super rigorous experiences under expert mentorship. California is home to multiple universities and organizations known for some of the best STEM labs in the country, and working on research in these labs is a great experience to mention on your resume.
Note: Many of the research programs below are hosted by universities like Stanford, UCLA, and UC Berkeley, as well as research centers across California, and are fully-funded/low-cost.
15 STEM Research Programs for High School Students in California
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students, covering a wide range of subjects, such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. You also decide whether you want to do quantitative or qualitative research, depending on how you want to approach your topic.
After selecting a subject track and research type, you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. mentor from a leading university who will guide you through your research project. Throughout the program, you’ll work on creating a 20-page research paper designed to meet university-level standards, which can be submitted to prestigious journals for potential publication.
By the end, you’ll have a complete project that reflects your interests and the work you put into it. Some students choose to submit their papers to journals for review, but that step is up to you. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Deadlines: Vary as per cohorts. The summer cohort regular admission deadline is April 20!
Program Dates: The summer cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week opportunity where you work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor on a research project of your choice. You’ll select a subject you’re interested in—options include psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Once you choose your topic, your mentor helps guide you through the research process. You’ll spend the program building your understanding, asking questions, and developing a full research paper based on your work. By the end of the program, you’ll have a complete piece of original research that reflects the time and effort you put in. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote — You can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I application deadline is April 13!
Program Dates: Summer: June — August, fall: September — December, winter: December — February, spring: March — June.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
3. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
COSMOS, the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science, is a summer program hosted by UCSD where you can explore different areas of STEM through hands-on courses and research. You can choose from subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, depending on what you’re most interested in.
During the program, you work on an independent research project that matches your interests. You’ll use university resources like teaching labs, research tools, and libraries to support your work. If you join COSMOS, you also live on campus for the duration of the program.
Location: University of California, San Diego (residential)
Cost: $44 application fee + $5,256 for the residential program. Includes housing, meals, trips, and support. Financial aid is available for California residents.
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: July 6 — August 1 (UCI, UCSD) | July 6 — August 2 (UCD, UCLA, UCSC)
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 who excel in mathematics/science and are attending a California high school are eligible to apply.
4. Stanford’s Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an 8-week residential internship where you can work on biomedical research as a high school junior or senior. During the program, you’ll get hands-on experience with lab techniques like PCR, cell culture, microscopy, and data analysis.
You’ll be matched with a mentor from Stanford’s Institutes of Medicine or a related department who will guide you through your project. As you work, you’ll learn how to design experiments, make sense of scientific data, and explain your findings clearly.
Location: Stanford University campus (Stanford, CA)
Cost: $40 application fee with a need-based refund, stipend of $500 provided ($1500 for need-based students).
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9- July 31
Eligibility: High School Juniors and Seniors. At least 16 years old when the program begins. Living in the U.S. and U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card.
5. UC Irvine’s Math ExpLR Summer Research Program
The UC Irvine Math ExpLR Summer Research Program is a 6-week experience where you work with undergraduates on a computational biology research project. You’ll be guided by a principal investigator and learn skills like coding for data analysis, statistical modeling, and mathematical problem-solving.
Throughout the program, you’ll also work on improving your scientific writing and presentation skills. There are workshops on research methods, data visualization, and writing research papers to help you build practical tools for doing and sharing research.
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.
6. Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (BAIR) High School Summer Program
The Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) High School Summer Program is a free opportunity for students entering grades 10–12 to explore AI with researchers at UC Berkeley. You’ll learn about topics like computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, planning, and control while working with scientists from the BAIR Lab.
As part of the program, you’ll take part in guest lectures, lab visits, and hands-on activities led by researchers. You’ll also learn about the ethical questions surrounding AI and how the technology is applied in real-world settings. In addition to the research experience, you’ll spend time on campus, having lunch in the dining halls and joining a guided tour of UC Berkeley.
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.
7. Research Mentorship Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara
The UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program is a summer opportunity where you can take part in hands-on interdisciplinary research alongside university mentors. You choose a project in a STEM field that interests you and spend the program working closely with researchers to explore it in depth.
As you move through the program, you learn how research is done by building your understanding of methods, tools, and ways to approach complex questions. You also get to see how STEM connects with other areas, depending on the focus of your project.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.
Cost: $5,175 (commuter option) | $12,474 (residential option)
Application Deadline: March 17
Program Dates: June 16 — August 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 (outstanding 9th graders may be accepted on a case-by-case basis) with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA can apply.
8. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
If you’re thinking about a career in medicine and want to understand what the work involves, the Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program gives you a place to start. This 6 to 8-week program, run by the Los Angeles Pediatric Society, lets you explore fields like pediatrics, nursing, pharmacy, radiology, and therapy.
During the program, you take part in sessions led by medical professionals and learn about different roles in healthcare. In some cases, you may also get the chance to shadow doctors and nurses as they work. At the end of the program, you give a final presentation that sums up what you’ve learned and experienced.
Location: Los Angeles Pediatric Society, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Fully funded. Participants receive a $500 scholarship and a certificate of completion at the end of the program.
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: 2 and 4-week sessions available between June and August; dates vary for different sessions. 2-week virtual sessions are also available.
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th-grade students can apply.
9. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
The Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is a summer program for rising juniors and seniors who want to explore advanced math topics. During the program, you study areas like abstract algebra, number theory, combinatorics, and graph theory through a mix of lectures, problem sets, and research work.
You spend time building your skills in proof-writing, logical reasoning, and mathematical modeling. You also work with other students to solve problems, run coding simulations, and write mathematical proofs. By the end of the program, you’ll have experience thinking through complex math ideas and working on challenging problems that go beyond what’s usually covered in high school.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, or virtual
Cost: Fully funded!
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: June 16 — July 4 | July 7 — July 25
Eligibility: Students who are in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application and who demonstrate genuine interest in mathematics are encouraged to apply.
10. Sally Ride Science Academy at the University of California
The Sally Ride Science Academy at UC San Diego offers workshops where you can explore a range of STEM subjects like astronomy, biology, engineering, computer science, and robotics. You can also choose topics such as coding, data science, digital design, and psychology, depending on what interests you most.
In each workshop, you work with scientists and instructors who guide you through hands-on activities. You build skills in problem-solving, data analysis, and creative thinking by working on projects, running experiments, and using real scientific tools. Most of the workshops take place in person at UC San Diego, but there are online options if you prefer to join remotely.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: Each course’s fees differ, ranging from $175 to $450. Scholarships are available.
Application deadline: May 31
Program dates: July 7 — July 25
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
11. Mary S. Easton Center at UCLA — Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program is a six-week summer session for high school juniors and seniors where you learn about Alzheimer’s Disease and related conditions. You can attend the program in person or join virtually, depending on what works best for you.
During the program, you take part in seminars that cover brain function, neurodegenerative diseases, and how research in this area is done. You also get guidance on how to start an Alzheimer’s Awareness Club at your school if you’re interested in continuing the work beyond the program.
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA or virtual
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 3
Program Dates: June 16 — July 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, especially from underrepresented communities, with an interest in neuroscience.
12. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week virtual internship where you can explore how AI is used in healthcare. You take part in lectures, mentoring sessions, and collaborative research projects.
During the internship, you will build a better understanding of how AI tools are applied in medicine and what research in this area looks like. The program also includes Career Lunch and Learn sessions where you hear from guest speakers working in the field. Each year, around 50 high school students are selected for the program, including freshmen..
Location: Virtual
Cost: None.
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 — 27
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over 14 years old with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project.
13. UCLA Pre-Med Summer Scholar Program
The UCLA Pre-Med Summer Scholar Program gives you hands-on training in different areas of medicine. You’ll learn and practice skills like suturing, CPR, and hemorrhage control, and you can earn a “Stop the Bleed” certification during the program.
You also receive training in surgical techniques, medical imaging, and pathology, along with guided lab tours that help you see how medical tools and systems are used in real settings. The program includes guest lectures from healthcare professionals and a provider panel where you can ask questions and learn about different roles in the field.
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $1450
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: June 23–27 | July 7–11
Eligibility: Open to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending high school in the United States who are at least 16 years old at the time of participation, as required by hospital policy.
14. UCSC Science Internship Program
The University of California, Santa Cruz, offers a computer science internship where you get hands-on experience with real research and tech projects. You’ll work on things like software development, computational modeling, data analysis, and algorithm design.
You’re paired with a mentor who guides you through a project based on your interests and skill level. Along the way, you learn how research works, how to solve problems using different methods, and how to apply technical skills in real situations.
Location: University of California, Santa Cruz
Cost: $6650 (residential) | $4725 (commuter). More information here.
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16— August 8
Eligibility: Students who are at least 14 years of age on the program start date can apply.
15. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), run by the Department of the Navy, gives you a chance to work on real science and engineering projects during the summer. You might work on tasks related to cybersecurity, software development, algorithm design, or data analysis, depending on your placement.
The program lasts about eight weeks and places you in a professional research setting where you apply what you’ve learned in school to real-world work. You’re paired with mentors who guide you through your projects and help you understand how research and development work in technical fields.
Location: Many lab locations to choose from across the country, with several in California.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend of $4,000 (new participant) and $4,500 (returning participant)
Application Deadline: November 1
Program Dates: Eight weeks in the summer. The exact dates vary depending on the lab you choose.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9 and are at least 16 years old when the internship begins can apply.
Image source – University of California, Los Angeles