If you’re in high school and want to start exploring neuroscience in a hands-on way, summer research programs can give you that chance without interrupting your school year. Research opportunities in neuroscience, such as the ones below, introduce you to how the brain works by letting you study neurons, memory, brain development, and mental health conditions.
Most of these programs mix lab work with lectures, workshops, and one-on-one mentorship. You might take part in simulations, read and discuss scientific papers, or help run real experiments. Some programs also include patient interaction or clinical case discussions, giving you a closer look at how neuroscience connects to medicine.
To help you choose the right fit, here are 16 summer neuroscience research opportunities for high school students!
16 Summer Neuroscience Research Opportunities for High School Students
1. Van Andel Institute (VAI) Summer Internship Program
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Cost: Free
Dates: June 10 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+
At the Van Andel Institute, you’ll spend your time in labs, working on projects that look at brain diseases and how genes work. You’ll learn hands-on skills like how to pull out DNA, run gel electrophoresis, and test proteins. You’ll get paired with a mentor who helps you through your project.
Every day, you’ll write down what you did and saw in a lab journal. Each week, there’s a seminar where you’ll learn about what’s new in science, and you’ll get better at explaining your work. At the end, you’ll give a short talk about your project.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – Neuroscience Track
Location: Remote
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 a GPA of 3.67+
Horizon Academic offers a trimester-long research program for high school students interested in fields like neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and neurodegenerative diseases.
In the computational neuroscience track, you’ll study the nervous system and progress to more advanced topics such as neuron neurophysiology, electrophysiological techniques, and neuron network simulations.
Throughout the program, you’ll be paired with a professor or PhD researcher from a university who will mentor you in developing a 20-page research paper. You’ll also receive a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback on your project. Apply here!
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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 neuroscience, biology, psychology, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Internship
Location: Jupiter, FL
Cost: Free with a stipend of $13 per hour
Dates: June 17–July 26
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in Palm Beach or Martin County, FL
At the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), you’ll spend your summer working with scientists who study how brain cells talk to each other and how those signals shape behavior. You’ll be part of research teams and learn lab techniques like live-cell imaging, electrophysiology, and genetic analysis.
The internship includes lab rotations, so you’ll get hands-on experience with different tools and methods. You’ll join regular lab meetings where researchers go over real problems and discuss how to solve them.
5. Ohio State University Explorations in Neuroscience Internship
Location: Columbus, OH
Cost: Free with a stipend
Dates: June 23–August 8
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors
In the Explorations in Neuroscience program at Ohio State, you’ll work in research labs focused on topics like brain inflammation, head injuries, and how the brain recovers after a stroke. You’ll spend most of your time in the lab, helping with ongoing experiments under the guidance of a research mentor.
You’ll also take part in journal clubs where you discuss recent scientific papers, attend faculty lectures, and join workshops that teach you how to write about science. The program includes tours of medical labs and research facilities on campus, so you can see how different parts of the neuroscience field connect. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your project to an audience.
6. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Location: Durham, NC
Cost: Free with a stipend
Dates: June 16–August 8
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors from public/charter schools in Durham, NC
In the DUNE program (Duke University Neuroscience Experience), you’ll join a small group of local high school students and work with researchers studying how the brain affects behavior. Projects focus on topics like how we learn, pay attention, and process what we see or hear.
You’ll use lab tools and take part in cognitive testing tasks to help collect and understand data. Along with lab work, you’ll join workshops on preparing for college, choosing STEM majors, and building good study habits.
7. Columbia University BRAINYAC Program
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July–August
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students from underrepresented backgrounds
In the BRAINYAC program, you’ll spend part of your school year working in a neuroscience lab at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute. You’ll help with experiments on how the brain works: things like memory, decision-making, and development.
Before you start in the lab, you’ll be trained in lab safety, research ethics, and how to design experiments. At the end, you’ll present what you did at a final symposium.
8. Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 30–August 8
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school juniors or recent grads
In the Mass General Brigham Youth Neurology Education and Research Program, you’ll explore neuroscience through both clinical work and lab research. You’ll shadow neurologists during patient visits, sit in on case discussions, and work in a lab that studies brain disorders like epilepsy or Parkinson’s.
You’ll also meet regularly with mentors who guide you through what it takes to enter neurology or medical research. Alumni panels help you see different career options. Throughout the program, you’ll work on a capstone project that ties together what you’ve learned in the clinic and the lab.
9. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford, CA
Cost: $40 application fee. A stipend of at least $500 is provided.
Dates: June 9–July 31
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Juniors/seniors, 16+, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In the Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR), you’ll spend eight weeks working in a Stanford research lab. If you’re placed in the neuroscience track, you might study how brain activity is measured with fMRI, how CRISPR is used in brain research, or how the brain develops in early life.
You’ll be trained in lab techniques and work alongside scientists on real experiments. You’ll keep a lab notebook, build a scientific poster, and get feedback through workshops with other students. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research to Stanford faculty and other interns.
10. UCLA Brain Research Institute NeuroCamp
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students (preference for LA residents)
The UCLA Brain Research Institute NeuroCamp is designed for students new to neuroscience. You’ll learn about brain structure, neuroanatomy, and brain chemistry through hands-on activities, dissections, and lectures from faculty.
You’ll work on lab tasks and group projects that help you understand important science concepts. The program includes talks about topics like mental health, addiction, and how the brain changes during adolescence. You’ll explore subjects like memory, sensory systems, and brain disorders while working with a team.
11. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Baltimore, MD or Online
Cost: Free with a stipend
Dates: 8 weeks in-person; 5 weeks virtual.
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: Juniors or seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
At JHIBS, you’ll work in neuroscience labs focused on topics like brain diseases and brain imaging. You’ll carry out research under supervision and learn how to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate your findings.
The program also includes career workshops and chances to meet doctors and scientists at Johns Hopkins. You’ll explore how brain science connects with issues like health equity, neurodiversity, and social justice. The program runs both in-person and online and offers mentorship with personalized feedback.
12. Stanford Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Stanford, CA or Online
Cost: $1,495 virtual | $2,795 in-person (scholarships available)
Dates: June 17–June 28 (virtual); July 8–August 2 (in-person)
Application Deadline: Until seats are filled (Apply early)
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, or seniors
In the CNI-X program, you’ll study neuroscience from a clinical perspective. You’ll review brain-related illnesses through case studies and take part in simulations that show how doctors diagnose and treat these conditions. You’ll join live sessions with Stanford doctors and researchers.
The program covers psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. You’ll learn about the brain processes behind these conditions, how doctors use diagnostic tools, and what treatment looks like. You’ll also participate in small-group discussions and panels with neurologists and psychologists.
13. UCI Brain Camp
Location: Irvine, CA
Cost: $2,195
Dates: July 14 to July 25
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
At UCI Brain Camp, you’ll spend two weeks in workshops focused on neuroscience. You’ll work with EEG machines to record brain activity, run experiments on sensory responses, and study memory through lab exercises. You’ll attend talks from faculty and learn how scientists study thinking and behavior in real time.
The program connects biology, psychology, and computer science to show how they work together in neuroscience. You’ll explore topics like decision-making and mental health and get hands-on experience. The camp also covers neuroscience careers and what college life looks like.
14. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free with $1,200 stipend
Dates: June 23–August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Juniors living near MSKCC
At the Rockefeller SSRP, you’ll work closely with a postdoctoral scientist on neuroscience projects in professional labs. You might study neurogenetics, stem cells, or how the brain develops.
You’ll attend scientific lectures and training on experiment design, research communication, lab safety, and ethics. You’ll keep detailed lab notes and a research log. Each week, you’ll join seminars and, at the end, present your work in a poster session.
15. Boston University RISE Internship Program
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: $6,500 (financial aid available)
Dates: July 1–August 9
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
At BU’s RISE Program, you’ll spend six weeks in a research lab working with faculty on neuroscience or related STEM projects. Your daily tasks include helping with experiments, analyzing data, and reading scientific papers.
You’ll also join weekly seminars focused on college prep, covering topics like choosing a major, building your application, and managing your time. At the end, you’ll create a research poster and present it to peers and mentors.
16. University of Miami High School Summer Scholars Program
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Dates: July 1–July 19
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: $6,445 (includes housing and meals)
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors
The Summer Scholars Program gives you a three-week introduction to neuroscience through college-level coursework. You’ll study neuroanatomy, explore brain disorders, and use lab tools in a university setting.
Daily activities include lectures, dissections, and labs focused on topics like brain trauma, sleep, and cognition. You’ll live in residence halls and join campus activities, getting a firsthand look at college life.
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