If you’re a high school student in Georgia with an interest in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM), you’re in luck. Georgia is home to several top-tier research programs that can help you get hands-on experience and start thinking like a real-world researcher. These programs go beyond textbook learning, giving you the chance to design experiments, analyze data, and build prototypes.
Whether you’re drawn to environmental science, biomedical research, robotics, or data analytics, these STEM research programs will equip you with the skills you need to succeed. You’ll not only learn laboratory techniques, computational modeling, and fieldwork but also develop critical skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication.
To help you explore your options, here are 15 STEM research programs for high school students in Georgia!
15 STEM Research Programs for High School Students in Georgia
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,950. Need based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. May 18 for the upcoming summer cohort
Program Dates: The summer cohort starts on June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students in grade 10 – 11 with good academic standing ((>3.67/4.0 GPA). Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites; details can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more.
Once you select your subject, Horizon pairs you with a professor or PhD mentor, who will guide you throughout your research journey. You will conduct original research and develop a 20-page research paper, which you can submit to academic journals for publication.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
2. Georgia Tech Dual Enrollment Program
Location: Online (with live feeds from Georgia Tech)
Cost: Tuition, fees, and textbooks are covered by Georgia Tech and the state of Georgia
Dates: Semester-based. May 15–June 16 for fall semester. Check other dates here!
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Georgia Tech’s Dual Enrollment Program gives high school students the chance to take real college classes in math and computer science. You can study topics like multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, and learn how they apply in engineering and physics.
In computer science, you’ll write code in Python and Java through classes like Introduction to Computing Principles and Object-Oriented Programming. You’ll earn college credit while still in high school and get experience with the kind of advanced STEM coursework that prepares you for majors in tech, math, or engineering.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
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.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students 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 research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Winship Cancer Institute’s Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Emory University campus, Atlanta, GA
Cost: None. A stipend of $2,400 is provided to all students who complete the six week program.
Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 10 (tentative, based on previous year deadlines)
Eligibility: Students must be 16 years old by the start of the program, and be rising or graduating high school seniors to be eligible for the program.
The Winship Summer Scholars Research Program at Emory University is a six-week internship where you get hands-on experience in cancer research. You’ll work one-on-one with a doctor or lab researcher at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute, doing real experiments in labs or clinics. You’ll also go on field trips to places like the CDC’s David J. Sencer Museum and Georgia Tech.
Each week, you’ll join lectures by oncologists and research faculty to learn more about careers in cancer research and medicine. You’ll work on a research project with help from your mentor and other students, using techniques like cell culture, data analysis, and experimental design.
5. GTAE’s Science, Technology, and Engineering Pipeline (STEP) Summer Internship Program
Location: Georgia Tech main campus, Atlanta, GA
Cost: None
Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 9.
Eligibility: Participants must be Georgia residents at least 16 years old by the start of the program to apply.
The STEP Summer Internship Program at Georgia Tech is a free, two-week experience for high school students interested in engineering. You’ll dive into hands-on research, work in real labs, and learn to use tools like CAD and MATLAB.
You’ll be placed on a team with other students and a faculty mentor. Together, you’ll tackle a challenge based on current Georgia Tech research. Each day includes technical training, design reviews, and talks from engineers working in the field. You’ll learn how to define a problem, build a prototype, and analyze your results.
6. MSM S.T.E.A.M. Academy: Authentic Research Academy
Location: MSM S.T.E.A.M. Academy, Atlanta, GA
Cost: 3 week program: $600; 6 week program: $1,000
Dates: 3 week program: June 2 – June 20; 6 week program: June 3 – July 11
Application Deadline: March 21.
Eligibility: 3-week for rising 9th–12th with STEAM or healthcare interest, 6-week for rising 10th–12th with biomedical interest, 3.0 GPA for both.
The Morehouse School of Medicine offers two summer programs that give you real experience in science and medicine. The Summer Research Program is a six-week internship where you design and carry out your own biomedical research project. You’ll work with a faculty mentor and team up with postdocs, grad students, and lab staff at the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences.
The S.T.E.A.M. Academy is a three-week program that focuses on healthcare app development, anatomy, and exploring careers in medicine. You’ll build a prototype for a mobile health app, study virtual anatomical models, and join workshops about different medical paths.
7. Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft office at either Redmond, Washington or Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: None. Interns receive a competitive salary that varies depending on the location.
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1.
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: High school seniors living within 50 miles of Redmond, WA, or around Atlanta, GA, and have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course.
Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program is a paid internship that lets you work on the design side of Microsoft product development. You’ll join a small team where you’ll gather customer needs, create user stories, and design prototypes using tools like Figma and Visual Studio.
During the internship, you’ll learn and apply software engineering and UX design principles, such as wireframing, usability testing, and agile sprint planning. You’ll work closely with Microsoft engineers, take part in code reviews, attend technical workshops, and refine your designs based on feedback from mentors.
8. University of Georgia Young Scholars Program
Location: University of Georgia campus (Athens, Georgia)
Cost: None
Program Dates: May 28 – July 8: Internship Program; July 9 – July 11: Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Applicants must have completed their sophomore year, be 16 by the program start, have interest in agricultural, food, environmental science, math, and tech, and completed one science course and one semester of algebra.
The University of Georgia’s Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a paid, five to six-week summer internship where you’ll dive into agricultural, food, and environmental sciences. You’ll spend 30 hours a week working on a research project with the guidance of a UGA faculty mentor at one of the university’s campuses in Athens, Griffin, or Tifton.
Throughout the program, you’ll get hands-on experience, learning how to design experiments, analyze data, and present your findings. You’ll also attend workshops and visit agricultural sites, which will help you explore career paths in these fields. At the end, you’ll showcase your research at the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference.
9. University of North Georgia Summer Honors Program
Location: University of North Georgia campuses (Dahlonega, Gainesville, Cumming, and Oconee, Georgia)
Cost:$1,750. (Scholarships are available)
Program Dates: June 1 – June 13
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students between their junior and senior year of high school with a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
The University of North Georgia Summer Honors Program STEM track is a twelve-day residential program for rising high school seniors who want to take on real college-level research. You’ll be paired with faculty mentors in areas like molecular biology, robotics, environmental science, or mathematical modeling.
Each day, you’ll work in labs or field sites to explore a specific research question through experiments, data analysis, and peer feedback. You’ll also attend sessions on research ethics and scientific communication. These help you write a clear research report and present your findings at a final symposium.
10. Georgia Tech Research Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) campus, Atlanta, GA
Cost: None. A stipend of $4,000 for new participants, and $4,500 for returning participants.
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer. Dates vary each year.
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: To apply for SEAP, you must be a current high school student who has completed at least 9th grade, though some labs may have different eligibility requirements.
The Georgia Tech Research Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week summer opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You’ll work in Department of Navy labs, gaining real-world experience in Naval research while being mentored by top scientists and engineers.
This program is all about giving you hands-on STEM experience while learning about Naval science and technology. Each year, around 300 students are placed in labs across the country. To be selected, you’ll need to demonstrate strong academics, provide recommendations, and share your career goals and personal statement.
11. Morehouse College Project IMHOTEP
Location: Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Cost: None. Accepted students will receive a stipend to cover most living expenses.
Program Dates: May 19 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current junior, senior, or recent graduate (within one year), GPA 2.7+, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and no prior participation in the Lewis Scholars or Ferguson Fellowship Program.
The Lewis Scholars’ Imhotep Project is an 11-week summer internship designed for students interested in public health. The program kicks off with two weeks of academic training, covering topics like epidemiology, biostatistics, and scientific writing.
After that, you’ll spend the next nine weeks working one-on-one with a mentor on a public health research project at places like the CDC or local agencies. At the end, you’ll present your findings and write a manuscript ready for publication.
12. Auburn University’s Summer Science Institute
Location: Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Cost: None
Program Dates: June 1 – 7
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: This program is for outstanding rising 11th – 12th grade students interested in science and mathematics and is only open to students residing in Alabama or Georgia.
The Summer Science Institute at Auburn University is a hands-on program for high school students passionate about science and math. Hosted by the STEM Outreach Center in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, the program pairs you with Auburn research faculty to explore advanced topics beyond the high school level. You’ll participate in lab instruction and interactive learning across five departments within COSAM.
13. Project ENGAGES: Georgia Tech
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: None. A stipend is provided.
Program Dates: June 2 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who attend one of the 7 partner Georgia high schools, are at least 16 years old by the program start date, have a 3.0 or above overall GPA, and have a 3.0 or above in science courses
Project ENGAGES at Georgia Tech is a year-long, paid research program for underrepresented high school students interested in STEM. You’ll join a research lab in fields like biology, physics, or engineering, working closely with Georgia Tech faculty.
Before starting research, you’ll complete a 4-week boot camp to learn essential lab skills. During the summer, you’ll spend at least 35 hours a week working on real projects and attend enrichment sessions that explore different STEM careers.
14. Georgia Ready Summer Institute
Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Cost: None
Dates: July 9 – July 14 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: Underrepresented high school students in Georgia going into their senior year.
The Georgia Ready Summer Institute is a one-week, residential program for rising high school seniors across Georgia. Focused on research and innovation, you’ll learn how researchers identify problems, analyze data, and explore entrepreneurship.
As part of a cohort, you’ll engage in activities that boost your critical thinking and public speaking skills while reflecting on how societal issues connect to your work. You’ll also experience life at the University of Georgia, staying in a campus dorm, eating at dining halls, and touring the Athens campus and research facilities.
15. GTRI High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Georgia Tech Research Institute labs, Atlanta, GA, or GTRI Warner Robins field office, Warner Robins, GA
Stipend: Paid internship, stipend amount varies by project.
Program Dates: June 9 – July 18 (6 weeks, including a 5-week internship period)
Application Deadline: January 19 (pre-application deadline)
Eligibility: Georgia high school students (including homeschoolers) at least 16 years old by January 19, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The GTRI High School Summer Internship Program is a five-week paid research experience for Georgia high school students. You’ll work in GTRI labs on projects like robotics, radar systems, drones, and educational tools for NASA, guided by research scientists and Georgia Tech graduate students.
The work helps you build technical skills in areas like electronics, systems engineering, and applied physics. You’ll also receive training in soldering, circuit board design, and research documentation. The program includes lab tours, working with peers, and a final presentation where you explain your project outcomes to researchers and mentors.
Image source – Georgia Institute of Technology