If you’re interested in research but can’t commit to or attend an in-person program, there are multiple online research opportunities that you can consider! These research opportunities let you work from home while learning how research is done in fields like science, math, social science, and the humanities.
As a participant in these research opportunities, you may analyze health data to spot trends, design quantum algorithms, or study human behavior through virtual experiments! Many of the research opportunities below run in the summer and are built to fit around your usual school schedule. They’re also a good way to build experience if you’re thinking about college or want to try out a subject before choosing a major.
To kick things off, we’ve put together a list of 16 online research opportunities for high school students!
16 Best Online Research Opportunities for High School Students
1. MIT PRIMES-USA
Cost: None
Program Dates: Year-long (September–May)
Application Deadline: November 18
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and sophomores
MIT PRIMES-USA is a year-long remote research program where you work on original problems in math, theoretical computer science, or computational biology. You’re paired with a mentor from MIT and meet online throughout the year.
You’ll write on formal proofs via LaTeX, develop Python simulations for computational experiments, and learn best practices for version control in Git. At the end of the year, you submit your work that may be published in an online journal or presented at a virtual conference.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $5,950; Full financial aid is available.
Application Deadlines: Vary by cohort. Summer Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The summer cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 with strong academics
Horizon is a virtual research program where you work one-on-one with a professor or PhD researcher for 12 weeks. You choose your subject from areas like data science, machine learning, psychology, economics, or political theory.
Each trimester, you write a 20-page research paper that you can submit to journals or use in your college applications. You’ll meet weekly with your mentor, get detailed feedback, and build skills in academic writing and research. After the program ends, you receive a final evaluation and a letter of recommendation based on your work.
3. Stanford AI4ALL
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Program Dates: July 8–July 26
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Rising 10th-grade students with coding experience
At Stanford AI4ALL, you spend three weeks learning how artificial intelligence works and how it’s used in real-world problems. You’ll build neural networks using TensorFlow, clean and analyze data with pandas, and test models using scikit-learn.
You also learn how to present your work clearly by creating a slide deck, technical report, and code repository for your final project. Labs focus on practical skills like model evaluation and deploying simple apps with Flask. The program also includes discussions about ethics in AI and mentorship from Stanford researchers.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: $4,000 program fee + $40 application fee; Full financial aid is available.
Program Dates: Flexible 10–12 week sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Lumiere is a selective online research program where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top university. You choose a research topic in fields like economics, neuroscience, business, computer science, international relations, or sustainability.
Over 12 weeks, you’ll design a research question, review academic sources, and write a full-length research paper. You meet weekly with your mentor and receive detailed feedback at each stage.
The program ends with a final paper you can submit to competitions or journals. You also get a written evaluation and the option to request a recommendation letter.
5. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute – Online Courses
Cost: None
Program Dates: Self-paced courses open February 3; each runs 4–12 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling (self-register by March 31 for summer-program consideration)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students
MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute offers free online STEM courses in topics like medical data science, embedded security, and remote sensing. You’ll work through structured modules over five months, starting in January.
Each course includes hands-on projects where you might build algorithms, analyze data, or assess cybersecurity systems. You’ll join discussion forums, submit assignments, and complete a final project. If you meet all course requirements, you receive a certificate of completion.
6. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual
Cost: None
Program Dates: Five weeks in summer (May/June/July)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S. & Canada
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week virtual neuroscience program where you learn how brain research is done in academic labs. You’ll analyze EEG data, take virtual lab tours, and study real clinical cases. You also learn to design experiments, run statistical tests using SPSS or R, and write parts of a research paper.
The program ends with a virtual poster session, where you present your project through a narrated slide deck and submit an abstract that can be used for science fairs or research competitions.
7. UC San Diego Academic Connections Research Scholars
Cost: $3,995
Program Dates: July 7–August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors
UC San Diego’s Academic Connections Research Scholars program is a five-week online research experience in fields like bioengineering, marine science, and life sciences. You work on research projects using virtual lab simulations and learn to build data pipelines in MATLAB or R.
You also run statistical significance tests and visualize your results using professional-grade software. At the end of the program, you present your findings at a digital symposium, where you receive peer feedback and network with UCSD graduate students.
8. Student Research Institute (Harvard OpenBio Laboratory)
Cost: $20 application fee; waivers available
Program Dates: Summer (weekly sessions throughout summer)
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Grades 9–12, global applicants welcome
Harvard is one of the top research universities in the world, and this program gives you a chance to learn how research works under guidance from its PhD students. Through the Student Research Institute, you’ll join a virtual lab and complete a research project or literature review in the natural or physical sciences.
You meet weekly with your mentor, attend office hours and seminars, and submit a 5 to 6 page paper at the end. Some of the best student papers are published in an undergraduate journal.
9. University of Maryland MathQuantum Fellowships
Cost: None
Program Dates: July 25–August 6
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Students with strong math background
The MathQuantum Fellowship is a free two-week online program focused on quantum information science. You’ll learn how quantum circuits work by building them in Qiskit, explore qubit theory, and work through interactive problem sets.
During the program, you join a small virtual team to solve problems in quantum algorithms and present a mini research project at a live online seminar. This program gives you both theoretical and hands-on experience in quantum computing.
10. APA Internal Internship Program (IIP)
Cost: None. Pays a stipend.
Program Dates: Year-round, rolling
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Under-18 in approved states with D.C. permit
The APA Internal Internship Program gives you paid, remote experience in psychology policy research. You’ll work on topics like mental health laws, care funding, and public policy analysis.
As an intern, you design surveys, analyze data using mixed methods like qualitative coding and SPSS, and write policy briefs. You also attend weekly virtual workshops on skills such as grant writing, networking, and how to present research to stakeholder groups.
11. The Junior Academy (NY Academy of Sciences)
Cost: None
Program Dates: September–February
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Ages 13–17, STEM passion
The Junior Academy is a fully online program where you join international teams to solve research problems in areas like sustainable textiles, clean energy, urban tech, and public health. You work on a shared platform called Launchpad to analyze real-world data, design experiments, and build solutions.
You learn skills like data visualization, proposal writing, and scientific communication, while working under the guidance of STEM researchers. By the end, you submit a multimedia presentation of your findings and get feedback from mentors and peers.
12. Medicine Encompassed
Cost: None
Program Dates: Flexible, rolling
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; global
In the Medicine Encompassed program, you’ll work with virtual medical research committees to create educational resources on topics like global health equity. You’ll gain experience in medical writing, learning the standards for drafting reports and articles. You’ll also analyze public health datasets to identify trends, and present your findings and recommendations in formal policy reports.
13. Green Scholars Program – Seaside Sustainability
Cost: None
Program Dates: July–November
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. graduating seniors
In the Green Scholars Program, you’ll work on projects related to sustainability, environmental conservation, and community outreach. You’ll develop skills in geographic information systems (GIS) for mapping environmental data, perform data analysis using Excel, and design interactive dashboards to visualize conservation efforts. You’ll also improve your research and writing skills by drafting grant proposals and educational materials.
14. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Female and gender minority students in grades 9 to 11; Preference for first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds in physics
The three-week SPINWIP program, hosted virtually by Stanford’s Physics Department and the Kavli Institute, introduces you to cutting-edge research areas, from quantum computing and astrophysics to physics education research, through daily online lectures.
You’ll learn to code in Python and apply those skills to physics-based projects, working in small teams led by Stanford undergraduates and researchers. The program also features career planning workshops and mentorship sessions, culminating in a virtual symposium where you present your findings and build connections with Stanford faculty and peers.
15. STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES)
Cost: None
Program Dates: On-site: July 6-19; Virtual components vary
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students (grades 10–12), minimum 3.0 GPA
STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) is a free research program where you work with NASA scientists and university researchers on Earth and space science projects. You’ll analyze satellite data, learn about climate science and planetary geology, and work in teams on real-world research questions. The program ends with a final presentation where you share your findings with scientists and peers.
16. Global Training Initiative (NC State) Online Research Program
Cost: $1275 per student, with scholarships available.
Application Deadline:
Program Dates: June 26 – July 31
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school (rising grade 10 or higher); international students must meet English proficiency requirements.
The Global Training Initiative (GTI) Online Research Program at NC State is a 4-week remote program where you work with university faculty on a research project. You’ll learn how to collect and analyze data, write a research paper, and present your findings.
Each week, you join virtual workshops and get feedback from mentors. The program is open to high school students anywhere in the world and runs in the summer. You need to apply with a statement of interest and a teacher recommendation.
Image source – North Carolina State University