If you’re a high school student in the Bay Area looking to get involved in research, a summer program in the region can give you direct and accessible experience in the field. As a researcher at one of the programs in the list below, you might spend your days helping with lab work, writing code, collecting field data, or working through problems in science or social science. It is a solid way to see how research happens and to be a part of it early on!
These programs also help you build skills that go beyond the classroom. You will learn how to use lab equipment, analyze data with Python or R, or follow the steps of the research process from start to finish. Some programs include workshops on college planning or offer stipends, giving you extra support as you think about what comes next.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer research programs for high school students in the Bay Area!
15 Summer Research Programs for High School Students in the Bay Area
1. Internships at Sandia National Laboratories
Location: Livermore, CA | Albuquerque, NM | other Sandia sites.
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend based on their earned credit hours, classification, and degree level.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline, internship openings are continuously updated.
Program dates: The summer program typically runs from May to the last Thursday in August. Summer interns work 40 hours per week.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, full-time students in high school or college, age 16+, with a minimum 3.0 GPA for R&D, technical, or business roles.
Sandia National Laboratories offers summer and year-round internships where you can build skills in fields like cybersecurity, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. Depending on your role, you might write Python or Java code, test circuits, build prototypes using CAD tools, or work on simulations using MATLAB or COMSOL.
You’ll be assigned a mentor who will help you understand your project and teach you how to use lab tools and software. Some interns work on energy storage systems or study how to protect networks from cyber attacks. Others analyze sensor data, run system diagnostics, or design engineering models.
2. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA.
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend, but information on the exact amount is not available.
Application Deadline: April 1
Program dates: After school and on weekends, year-round participation for 2-3 years till graduation.
Eligibility: 9th–10th graders with 2.5+ GPA, C or higher in math/science, valid work permit, 2–3 year commitment, and ability to commute for in-person sessions.
The Careers in Science program at the California Academy of Sciences is a multi-year paid internship for high school students from underrepresented communities in STEM. As a participant, you will work with scientists, educators, and researchers on real science and public engagement projects.
You might help with collecting field data, assisting in labs, or supporting research in areas like ecology, biodiversity, and environmental science. You will also take part in training sessions and fieldwork while developing a science or environmental action project based on your interests.
3. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Location: San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA.
Cost: None; Summer stipends range from $3000–$4300, varying by student status and granting agency.
Application Deadline: February 14
Program dates: June 2 – August 1
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, age 16+ by June 1, with at least one year of completed math and biology.
The UCSF Summer Student Research Program gives high school students a chance to do real research in health and biomedical sciences. You’ll be matched with a UCSF faculty mentor and take part in ongoing research projects in areas like molecular biology, clinical medicine, neuroscience, or public health.
You’ll spend time in labs learning techniques like pipetting, PCR, gel electrophoresis, or data collection from clinical studies. Depending on your project, you might help analyze patient data, observe lab experiments, or assist with writing up research findings.
4. B-BAY
Location: Berkeley (CA)
Cost: California Resident $6,292 | Out of State Resident $7,332
Application Deadline: March 1
Program dates: Session I: Saturday, July 5 – Saturday, July 19; Session II: Saturday, July 19- Saturday, August 2.
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is a two-week summer program at UC Berkeley that introduces high school students to core areas of business. You’ll be part of a group of students from different countries, attending sessions led by professors from the Haas School of Business and guest speakers from the industry.
Throughout the program, you’ll explore topics like marketing, finance, accounting, operations, and strategy. You’ll take part in team-based assignments, use business software for data analysis or budgeting tasks, and get a sense of how businesses make decisions. One of the key parts of the program is doing business research and building a business plan with your team, which you’ll present at the end.
5. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford Campus.
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 17
Program dates: June 23 – July 25
Eligibility: Open to low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California.
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a five-week summer program for high school juniors who are first-generation or from low-income backgrounds. It’s built around giving you early exposure to healthcare, public health, and medical research.
You’ll attend lectures from Stanford faculty, join workshops that focus on professional development, and take part in networking events with people working in medicine. A big part of the program is the research project on public health disparities. In that, you’ll collect and analyze data, use basic statistical tools, and learn how to present your findings.
6. Experiences in Research
Location: Berkeley Lab
Cost: None; pays a stipend of $500 per week.
Application Deadline: March 17
Program dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: This program is for current 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students enrolled in Northern California with experience in independent work.
Experiences in Research (EinR) is a six-week summer internship at Berkeley Lab for high school students who want to explore STEM and related fields. You’ll work alongside researchers and professionals on projects in areas like science communication, data science, coding-heavy research, experimental design, and lab operations.
You’ll also learn how to approach problems using scientific methods, write code for data analysis, assist in lab experiments, and even help develop outreach content that explains science to the public.
7. Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Internship
Location: Oakland, CA and across KP’s Northern California market.
Cost: Pays a stipend!
Application Deadline: Usually in the spring (March-April).
Program Dates: Summer internship program, from June to August.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible.
The Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Internship is a research-focused healthcare program for high school students. You’ll take part in job shadowing, mentorship, and workshops that introduce you to the research and clinical improvement side of healthcare.
As a participant, you’ll work with professionals on projects that involve collecting and analyzing data, mapping workflows, identifying issues in clinical processes, and suggesting improvements. You will also explore tools used in healthcare systems and learn how research supports better patient outcomes.
8. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA
Cost: $0 – $1070 (For students who meet financial need eligibility criteria, there is no cost to attending ASDRP. )
Application Deadline: April 15.
Program Dates: June 1 – August 24
Eligibility: All high school students (9th-12th)
The Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) gives high school students a chance to work on real research projects in STEM fields like chemistry, biology, physics, computer science, and computational modeling. You’ll join a research team led by a mentor—usually a scientist, engineer, or graduate student—based in one of the program’s three main departments: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, or Computer Science & Engineering.
During the program, you’ll design experiments, write code, analyze data, and present your work. Some students go on to publish papers or present at research conferences. You’ll also spend time learning how to read academic papers and communicate your findings.
9. GRIPS Program
Location: Hybrid
Cost: No cost. (Need-based scholarship available)
Application Deadline: February 28.
Program Dates: June 16 – August 7
Eligibility: Age 16+ by start date, 3.0+ GPA, basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, or programming, and residence in select Bay Area counties.
GRIPS Summer is an eight-week computational genetics and genomics internship hosted at Stanford for high school students in the Bay Area. You’ll be placed in a Stanford lab and work closely with a mentor on research that involves analyzing genomic data, using computational tools, and exploring how genetics contributes to health and disease.
Along with lab work, you’ll join weekly sessions where you’ll hear from scientists, attend career panels, and take part in workshops on research skills and science communication. You’ll also check in regularly with your mentor to get feedback and support as you build your project. Through this internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience with genomic analysis, data processing, and bioinformatics tools like R or Python.
10. BlueStamp Engineering
Location: San Jose, CA
Cost: $4900
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats are filled.
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: Incoming 9th- 12th-grade students. Apply here.
BlueStamp Engineering is a six-week, hands-on tech program where high school students design and build engineering projects from scratch. The experience is led by mentors with backgrounds in engineering and AI, including experts from Stanford. You’ll choose two projects: a starter to build basic skills and a main project that aligns with your interests, such as robotics, AI applications, or electronics.
Throughout the program, you’ll work independently with mentor support. You’ll learn how to troubleshoot hardware and software issues, use tools like Arduino or Raspberry Pi, write and test code, and understand the full process of engineering design.
11. Stanford STaRS Internship
Location: Stanford University Campus
Cost: Free.
Application Deadline: Please check here for future deadlines, as the exact date is not available.
Program dates: June 23 – August 8
Eligibility: High school or community college students, age 16+, interested in biomedical, biological sciences, or healthcare careers.
The Stanford Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery Internship Program gives you research experience in reconstructive surgery and biotechnology. You will work with surgeons and researchers, learning about tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and medical device development.
Through hands-on lab work, you will practice cell culturing, biomaterial testing, and 3D printing for medical applications. You will also analyze surgical case studies, learn imaging techniques like MRI and CT scans, and assist in designing prototypes for reconstructive procedures.
12. UCSC Science Internship Program
Location: University of California Santa Cruz
Cost: Tuition: $4,250; Full week housing: $6,650; Weekly commuter: $4,725
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 23 – August 9
Eligibility: Students who are at least 14 years of age on the program start date can apply.
Hosted by the University of California, Santa Cruz, this program gives you experience in computer science research and technology development. You will work on projects involving software development, computational modeling, data analysis, or algorithm design, contributing to ongoing UCSC research.
A mentor will guide you through a project that matches your skills and interests. You will write code, test algorithms, analyze large datasets, and collaborate with researchers to solve real-world problems. The program also includes lab meetings where you discuss progress and challenges, and it wraps up with a symposium where you present your findings.
13. Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Stipend: All students receive a minimum of $500 as a stipend, and this can go upto $2,500.
Application Deadline: February 24 (tentative, based on the previous year’s dates)
Program dates: June 10 – August 1 (tentative, based on the previous year’s dates)
Eligibility: Juniors or seniors, 16+ by program start, U.S. residents attending school, and U.S. citizens or green card holders.
The Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an 8-week internship that gives you hands-on experience in medical research under the guidance of a Stanford University mentor. You can choose from eight specialized research areas: Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics, and Genetics and Genomics.
Based on your interests, you will be placed in a research lab within one of these fields. Beyond traditional lab work, SIMR offers a bioengineering boot camp where you will gain practical skills in experimental design, statistical analysis, data visualization, and the use of advanced research techniques.
14. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote.
Cost: Starting at $2,990.
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I application deadline is April 13!
Eligibility: Must be a high school student with a 3.3+ unweighted GPA.
Lumiere Education, founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford, offers ambitious high school students a chance to do research in a range of subjects through their program. In this program, talented high school students will be paired with top Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project.
At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll learn about the cutting edge of your field and develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
15. Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs
Location: Remote.
Cost: $5,950. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: The Summer Cohort deadline is March 23.
Program dates: Varies from cohort to cohort.
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 across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! This is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track as well as the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed universities who acts as your 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.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in a highly specialized field under the guidance of a top scholar. 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. Apply here!
Image source – Sandia National Laboratories
