Geology research offers high school students an opportunity to delve into the processes that shape the Earth, outside of the classroom. Engaging in geology research will help you build an advanced skillset in data analysis, critical thinking, and fieldwork techniques, which are invaluable for both academic growth and future careers in the sciences.
By participating in hands-on projects and collaborating with experienced professionals, you can gain in-depth knowledge of the field and develop a strong foundation for higher education and beyond. These opportunities provide a stepping stone for those interested in pursuing Earth sciences at a collegiate level or in related professions.
Here are 16 geology research opportunities for high school students that ensure academic rigour and will provide you with a competitive edge:
1. Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE)
Stipend/Cost: Stipend of $8,000
Program Dates: May 27 – August 1
Deadlines: January 30
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: High school students or graduates who have been accepted at an undergraduate institution but who have not yet started their undergraduate study are also eligible to participate.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History offers the Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) internship for high schoolers aged 16 and above. This 10-week summer program, based in Washington, D.C., provides a stipend and allows you to engage in geology projects like fossil preparation and mineral analysis.
You’ll work with the museum’s collections and advanced research facilities, gaining hands-on experience and enhancing your research skills. The program also includes public outreach, culminating in a final presentation where you share your findings, boosting your scientific communication and presentation abilities.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, and math! Horizon is one of the 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, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a 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. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Deadlines: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Stipend/Cost: Starting at $2,990
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Deadlines: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Location: Remote
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a hands-on research opportunity for high school students. It pairs you with a Ph.D. mentor to work on an independent research project over 12 weeks. You can choose topics from areas like psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. By the end of the program, you’ll have created your own research paper. For more details on how to apply, visit the application page.
4. USGS Pathways Internship Program
Stipend/Cost: Paid (amount not specified)
Program Dates: Depends on position and center
Deadlines: Rolling basis
Location: Varies based on position and center
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old with U.S. citizenship and a minimum 2.0 GPA
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a government agency focused on research in areas like natural hazards, natural resources, ecosystems, and astrogeology, among others. Its Pathways Internship Program is an opportunity for high school students to assist with research in these geological sub-disciplines while also gaining invaluable experience working at a Federal agency, helping them explore federal careers.
While the internship duration may differ, you will most likely be appointed to work on a temporary basis that will last less than a year. You may be assigned to work on short-term projects, and you can contact the program for more details about the available opportunities and the nature of work.
5. Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s Secondary School Field Research Program (SSFRP)
Stipend/Cost: Paid
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Deadlines: March 1
Location: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY, and Piermont Marsh, Rockland County, NY
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 16 years old
Columbia University’s SSFRP is a research internship where selected high school students work with Lamont researchers on a scientific project focused on the Piermont Marsh. Interns will be part of teams that include other students, undergraduate mentors, a teacher, and a Lamont researcher. You will collect samples, conduct lab experiments, analyze data, and present your findings at the end-of-summer symposium.
6. UNC Geoscience and Environmental Health Internships
Stipend/Cost: Stipend of $1,500
Program Dates: June – July
Deadlines: Typically close in May
Location: Robeson Early College High School, Lumberton, NC, and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students who are 18 years old.
The Geo-Health Interns program is a free initiative resulting from a collaboration between the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment and UNC-Pembroke. You will have the chance to learn from scientists based in North Carolina and connect with other high school students passionate about geoscience and STEM. The program includes field trips and hands-on activities, allowing you to explore the natural world.
Additionally, the program can help you prepare for a future career, job, or college degree in STEM, providing valuable experience and insights into the field.
7. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station (BFS) Internship
Stipend/Cost: $3,000 stipend
Program Dates: 9 weeks, typically running from late May through August
Deadlines: March 26
Location: SUNY Oneonta campus in Oneonta, NY, and the Biological Field Station in Cooperstown, NY
Eligibility: High school students living in New York State who are at least 16 years old with an academic background in environmental or natural sciences
The SUNY Oneonta BFS Internship is a competitive program that accepts 1-3 high school students. Interns will assist faculty while working on their own projects.
The program includes morning meetings, followed by activities like fieldwork (fisheries and plant surveys, water sampling), lab work (water chemistry, zooplankton identification, fish dissection), data analysis, and writing. Weekly seminars are also part of the program, and interns can earn course credit.
While there is no housing for non-graduating high school students, daily shuttles will be provided to and from the SUNY Oneonta Main Campus. Interns will also prepare a technical report for the BFS Annual Report.
8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Stipend/Cost: Paid opportunity for $3,000
Program Dates: 8 weeks during the summer, but exact start and end dates are flexible and arranged between the student and their mentor
Deadlines: January 19
Location: Placement is determined by your location to assign students to sites within a 45-minute commute from their homes
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 and live and are residents of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS), focuses on fisheries and aquatic science. It aims to spark interest in the field, especially among underrepresented groups. Although not strictly a geology program, it gives students hands-on experience in environmental science and aquatic ecosystems, providing valuable exposure to research methods, conservation practices, and ecological data collection.
Selected students are paired with mentors in their local area who guide them through internship activities. Depending on their location and mentor, students may work on a boat, in an office, lab, or out in the field. Activities include electrofishing, snorkeling, fish population surveys, planting aquatic vegetation, testing water quality, and processing data.
9. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Stipend/Cost: Free (with a $25 application fee)
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Deadlines: February 2
Location: In-person and hybrid at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (with virtual options available)
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University offers high school and undergraduate students hands-on research experience in STEM fields like genomics, neuroscience, and environmental science. Since 2007, interns have worked closely with faculty on real-world projects using advanced technology. The program offers in-person, hybrid, and remote options, with research taking place across various GMU campuses. By the end, students complete their own research paper.
10. Joint Science Education Project (JSEP)
Stipend/Cost: Fully funded; $1,500 stipend provided
Program Dates: 3 weeks in the summer
Deadlines: Typically in January
Location: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and Summit Camp on the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Eligibility: High school juniors (11th grade) at the time of application, U.S. citizens
The Joint Science Education Project (JSEP) is a fully funded summer program where high school students from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark explore polar science in Greenland. Over three weeks, they conduct hands-on research, spend time at two Arctic sites, and learn from expert scientists. Students must be in good health due to the challenging environment, and are encouraged to share their experiences to raise awareness about climate change.
11. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Student Internships
Stipend/Cost: Varies; some internships are unpaid or self-funded.
Program Dates: Varies by program
Deadlines: Varies
Location: Various international locations
Eligibility: High school and university students with a background in earth sciences or related fields.
The Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group (VMSG) offers internships for high school and university students to explore volcanic and magmatic processes through hands-on research. Interns participate in fieldwork, lab work, and data analysis, working on projects like volcano monitoring and geophysical surveys. These internships occur in different countries and can last from one week to several months. Students can gain practical experience, learn from expert mentors, and build valuable skills in earth sciences while contributing to real research projects.
12. UConn Pre-College Summer – Earth and Environmental Science
Stipend/Cost: $2,150 program fee
Program Dates: Session 1: June 22 – June 28
Deadlines: June 1
Location: University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT
Eligibility: High School students
In the Earth and Environmental Science course, you will explore the subject through camp-style learning and college-level study. Led by UConn faculty Dr. Ouimet and Dr. Hren, you’ll work closely with field researchers and experts. You will learn how Earth Scientists study the planet’s systems — its rocks, soils, rivers, oceans, and atmosphere — and how their work helps us understand natural resources, hazards, and climate change. The course highlights the importance of environmental science in creating a more sustainable future. Activities include lectures, hands-on field and lab demos, sample collection and analysis, and guest talks from UConn Earth Sciences faculty.
13. GeoFORCE Texas Summer Academies
Stipend/Cost: Free
Program Dates: Week-long academies held during the summer months; specific dates vary by grade level and region
Deadlines: Typically in February
Location: Houston and Austin, Texas, with field trips across various U.S. locations
Eligibility: Students entering 9th grade from select schools in Southwest Texas and Houston. Once accepted, students can continue through the program until 12th grade.
In the GeoFORCE Texas Summer Academies, you will learn about Earth’s history and the processes that shape it through fieldwork and group projects. Led by geology professors and research scientists from top universities, including the Jackson School of Geosciences, the program is supported by high school teachers, professionals in the field, and college students who once attended the academy.
You will study real geological sites, practice scientific observation and analysis, and explore topics that go beyond what’s taught in the classroom. Each summer, you’ll gain new knowledge, build your skills, and connect with others who share your interest in science.
14. Stanford Young Investigators
Stipend/Cost: Free
Program Dates: June – August
Deadlines: March 15
Location: San Francisco, Bay Area
Eligibility:
- Must have completed at least one year of high school
- Must live and attend school in the San Francisco Bay Area
At the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, you will spend the summer working in research groups and laboratories on the main Stanford campus. Since 2004, over 300 high school students have gained hands-on experience in research, learning about the scientific process firsthand. In the Oceans, Environment, & Earth Systems focus area, you will work one-on-one with a scientist to study human and natural environmental changes and explore solutions to critical climate and sustainability challenges.
In the Earth & Planetary Sciences track, you will work closely with a scientist to investigate Earth’s and other planets’ history, structure, and geological processes. In the Energy program, you will collaborate with scientists or engineers in energy resource groups, gaining insight into energy systems and their role in addressing global energy challenges. There are other programs as well that revolve around social science, amongst other things.
15. Brown Environmental Leadership Lab: Rhode Island
Stipend/Cost: $6,002
Program Dates: June 22 – July 3
Deadlines: May 9
Location: Providence, RI
Eligibility: For rising and recently graduated high school seniors
This two-week program at Brown University offers students the chance to choose one course focused on environmental science or sustainability. These courses have a strong link to geology. You will attend lectures, engage in group discussions, and visit relevant sites across Rhode Island based on your chosen course. The course offerings change each year to showcase Rhode Island’s diverse ecosystems, allowing you to develop the skills needed to become an environmental leader in your community and probe into geological aspects of the area. You will learn alongside peers from around the world.
16. Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute
Stipend/Cost: $3,900
Program Dates: July 13 – 26
Deadlines: Rolling admissions until full
Location: Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior and senior years
SSYI stands out among environmental studies programs for its interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues and their solutions. One course offered is Forest and Soil Ecology, which explores the strong connections between ecology and geology. This course equips students with the knowledge to tackle complex environmental problems and can be a valuable first step towards building a sustainable future.
Image source – Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute