If you are a high school student in Minnesota looking to build research experience, summer programs in the state can offer a great way to develop your skills and explore potential careers. Many universities and institutes across Minnesota offer research-focused opportunities in fields like biomedical engineering, neuroscience, aviation, environmental science, and more.
These programs can help you gain practical experience with tools and techniques used in college-level research. You may learn skills like data collection, statistical analysis, scientific writing, lab safety, and how to present your findings. Doing research early on can help you understand if a certain field is right for you. It can also give you a serious edge in your college applications, essays, and even your resume.
To get started, here is a list of 15 summer research opportunities for high school students in Minnesota!
15 Summer Research Opportunities for High School Students in Minnesota
1. University of Minnesota’s Discover STEM Summer Program
Location: University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus), Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: Three cohorts during summer: July 28 – August 1; August 4 – August 8; August 11 – August 15
Application deadline: April 25
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11 or 12. Priority will be given to those who haven’t previously participated in the program
This is a week-long, in-person summer program for high school students interested in STEM fields such as biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, and data science. Hosted by the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering, the program runs in three small cohorts during the summer.
You will take part in lab tours, hands-on experiments, technical demonstrations, and presentations. Sessions are led by faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and professionals from the STEM industry. The program introduces you to current research topics and career paths in science and engineering.
The program is selective, with limited seats, and gives priority to students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
2. 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 deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The summer II cohort application deadline is June 22.
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 a trimester-long research program for high school students. It offers subject tracks across fields like data science, machine learning, political theory, and others. You can choose between quantitative and qualitative research depending on your interests.
Once you select a subject, Horizon pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar who mentors you through the research process. You will work on a 20-page research paper, which you can submit to academic journals.
The program also provides detailed project feedback and a letter of recommendation at the end.
3. Minnesota Youth Institute (MNYI)
Location: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (St. Paul Campus), St. Paul, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: May 14
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
If you’re a high school student interested in global and local food issues, the Minnesota Youth Institute gives you a chance to explore how agriculture, science, health, economics, and policy all connect. It’s a half-day event where you’ll write and present a short research paper about a real-world food security problem in a specific country and suggest possible solutions.
You’ll meet scientists, professors, and industry professionals, and get to talk about your ideas with them. If you complete the program, you’ll receive a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).
You could also become eligible for internships like the Borlaug-Ruan or George Washington Carver, and you might be selected to represent Minnesota at the Global Youth Institute.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: $2,990
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research opportunity where you work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor on a topic you choose. It’s designed for high school students who want to explore a subject in depth and produce an independent research paper by the end of the program.
You can pick from a wide range of fields like psychology, economics, data science, computer science, physics, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and others. Your mentor will guide you through the research process, help you build your topic, and support your writing.
You can learn more about the application process here.
5. LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program
Location: Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 2 – July 25
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens who are 16 or older and currently in 11th or 12th grade
The LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program is an 8-week opportunity hosted by the Lillehei Heart Institute for high school students interested in cardiovascular medicine. You’ll explore how cardiovascular diseases are studied and treated through lab work, field trips, and seminars.
You’ll also learn about different paths in medicine, from clinical practice to industry and academic research. Faculty and professionals in the field lead sessions on careers in cardiovascular science and medicine. The program is highly selective, with only 2 spots offered each year to high school students. If selected, you’ll be paid an hourly wage for your work during the program.
6. UMN CSE Rooted in STEM
Location: University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus), Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: This is a two-year-long program, with four Saturday sessions per fall/spring semester and additional enrichment opportunities over each summer
Application deadline: First week of December
Eligibility: Open to current 10th-grade students with STEM interest and aptitude, planning to attend a four-year college, and able to commit to the full program duration.
CSE Rooted in STEM is a two-year program run by the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering. It’s designed for high school students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who want to explore STEM fields. While the program doesn’t include hands-on research, it gives you a chance to learn about current research topics, connect with mentors, and explore career options.
You’ll attend lab tours, presentations, and science and tech demonstrations led by CSE faculty, graduate researchers, student groups, and industry professionals. You’ll also get to meet other students in STEM and build a strong academic and professional network. The program is selective and takes only a small group of students each year. If accepted, you’ll receive a $40,000 scholarship to support your education.
7. Biomedical Engineering (BME) High School Internship Program
Location: Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 24 – August 1
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors who are 16 or older and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
This six-week internship at the University of Minnesota gives you hands-on research experience in biomedical engineering. You’ll work one-on-one with faculty or graduate mentors on projects in areas like cardiovascular engineering, biomechanics, and immunoengineering.
The program includes lab tours, career exploration sessions, and networking opportunities. It helps you develop research skills, scientific writing, and communication. The internship ends with a poster session where you present your work.
8. Hamline University High School Microscope Adventure Camp
Location: Hamline University’s Saint Paul Campus, Saint Paul, MN
Cost: $598 if applied before April 30 and $698 if applied after April 30 (Scholarships are available!)
Program dates: July 21 – July 25
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
This week-long summer day camp lets you explore microscopic organisms through hands-on experiments. You’ll use light microscopes, photomicrography, and Hamline’s scanning electron microscope to study tiny life forms. You’ll work with experts to learn how these tools work and how they’re used in fields like life science and forensic science.
You’ll also work with a team to create, edit, and present images and findings, building your skills in microscopy and microanalysis. The camp selects 20 high school students each summer.
9. University of Minnesota’s M-ASCEND: Advancing Science, Enhancing Diversity Program
Location: University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus), Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 9 – August 8
Application deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school students from Twin Cities public schools who are underrepresented in science fields
If you attend a Twin Cities public high school and want to work on cancer research and health disparities, M-ASCEND offers a paid, full-time summer internship. Over nine weeks, you’ll do hands-on research, get mentorship from university faculty, and join professional development sessions. The program supports students underrepresented in science, helping you build skills and confidence for careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences.
10. Mayo Clinic’s Undergraduate Plummer Scholars Plus (UPS+) Program
Location: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 15 – June 21
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Open to current high school sophomores interested in medical school, physician careers, and taking the MCAT within 12 months, who can stand for 3 hours and walk 2 miles daily.
Mayo Clinic’s UPS+ Program is a weeklong opportunity for high school students who want to explore the physician profession and prepare for medical school. You will participate in clinical shadowing guided by faculty and staff, along with skill-building workshops on MCAT strategies, mock interviews, personal statement writing, and clinical simulations. You’ll also build mentorship connections with Mayo’s medical students to support your medical school journey.
11. Minnesota Aviation Career Education Camp (MN ACE Camp)
Location: Various locations in Minneapolis-St. Paul area, MN
Cost: $1,650 (Financial aid is available!)
Program dates: June A Summer Camp: June 15 – June 20; June B Summer Camp: June 22 – June 27
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students or recent graduates aged 14 to 18, including incoming 9th graders if camp space allows, who are U.S. citizens.
MN ACE Camp is a weeklong program for high school students from the Twin Cities area interested in aviation careers. The camp selects 30 students to take part in hands-on projects, tours, static displays, and classroom lessons on aerodynamics, aircraft systems, and airport operations.
You will get to pilot a single-engine aircraft, a glider, a helicopter, and use a full-motion airline simulator with an FAA-certified flight instructor. You may also ride along with the Air Force Reserve in a C-10 Hercules and do a splash-and-go on the Mississippi River in a Cessna Caravan.
The camp includes over 40 tours from aviation professionals and opportunities to shadow employees during a working flight.
12. Breck School’s Advanced Science Research (ASR) Program
Location: Breck School, Golden Valley, MN
Cost: Not specified
Program dates: Late May – Early June (Exact dates aren’t mentioned)
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Breck School students with a strong interest in science and engineering
Breck School’s ASR Program gives you real research experience in science and engineering. You’ll be matched with a university research lab or work on an advanced individual project, committing at least 320 hours over the summer.
After the summer, you’ll take the ASR class to analyze your results, write research papers, and present at science fairs and symposiums. This program helps you build research skills and deepen your understanding of scientific studies.
13. Go4Brains High School Neuroscience Summer Program
Location: Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 21 – July 25
Application deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 (priority will be given to those from low socioeconomic backgrounds or underserved communities)
Go4Brains is a weeklong summer program that introduces you to neuroscience research and clinical care, especially if you haven’t had access to similar opportunities before. If selected, you’ll join a small group of 10 students to learn scientific methods through direct experimentation and demonstrations.
You’ll also take part in lab tours, research sessions, and team activities designed to help you build connections with neuroscience students and professionals. The program includes workshops on career skills and ends with a poster symposium where you present your work. All selected students receive a $400 stipend.
14. MITY’s Expand Your Mind (EYM) Summer Program
Location: Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
Cost: Commuter Tuition: $855/session; Residential Tuition: $2,150/session (Financial aid is available!)
Program dates: Session A: June 16 – June 27; Session B: July 7 – July 18
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall
MITY’s Exploring Your Mind (EYM) Summer Program is a two-week residential experience at Macalester College for students entering grades 9 through 12. You can choose from over 30 hands-on courses across STEM, humanities, and the arts—many of which aren’t offered in traditional school settings.
Each day, you’ll dive into one intensive course while also having free time to socialize, take part in group activities, and build lasting connections. With small class sizes capped at 24 students, you’ll get personal attention and a chance to collaborate with peers who share your curiosity and interests.
15. Stanford University’s SHTEM
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 17 – August 9
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors or seniors aged 14 or older, and full-time community college students aged 17 to 21 by the program start.
Stanford’s SHTEM (Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program is an 8-week summer research opportunity for high school students who want to explore computer science and interdisciplinary topics.
If selected, you’ll join a small team of about 60 students working on research projects that can range from neuroscience and biology to philosophy, the arts, and beyond.
You’ll work with Stanford faculty, students, and affiliated organizations throughout the program. There’s no tuition, but you’ll need to pay a $50 application fee. If that’s a barrier, stipends are available for students with financial need.
Image source – University of Minnesota
