Are you curious about how machines work, how designs come to life, or what it takes to turn theory into innovation? Mechanical engineering summer research opportunities for high school students are a great way to dive deep into these questions through practical experience, guided mentorship, and real-world problem-solving.
Mechanical engineering summer research opportunities for high school students allow you to explore everything from robotics, fluid mechanics, structural analysis, and thermodynamics to materials science and design thinking, often in university labs or through industry-aligned projects. You will learn to use tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, ANSYS, Abacus, COSMOL, CFD, and more.
You will gain exposure to industrial automation, mechatronics, sensor integration, and control systems such as PLC programming. Participating in such programs not only builds technical and analytical skills but also helps clarify academic interests and career goals.
Here are 17 mechanical engineering summer research opportunities for high school students.
17 Mechanical Engineering Summer Research Opportunities for High School Students
1. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation
Location: Virtual | Hybrid | JHU Homewood campus in Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on chosen format, find more details here; need-based scholarships available | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 7-8% | Vary as per type of program
Dates: In-person: June 30–July 25 | Online: June 30–August 1 | Hybrid Session 1: June 16–July 11; Hybrid Session 2: July 7–August 1
Application Deadline: May 28
Eligibility: Current high school students | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, eligible non-citizens, or DACA recipients | Click here for more eligibility details.
At Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation, you’ll engage in a rigorous curriculum that introduces key concepts from mechanical engineering as well as other major fields like civil, chemical, electrical, and materials science. As part of this three-credit course, you’ll apply real-world problem-solving by designing and testing functional projects such as constructing a spaghetti bridge capable of bearing significant weight or creating a device aimed at improving user well-being. Whether you attend in person or online, you’ll complete the same core lab experiments using provided kits, while working collaboratively with peers and receiving instruction modeled after college-level engineering courses. This program emphasizes experimentation and design and a low student-to-teacher ratio.
2. MIT Women’s Technology Program: Mechanical Engineering (WTP-ME)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free for students with family income less than $120,000. Know the detailed cost of the program here | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 6-7% | 20 students
Dates: June 28–July 26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Female high school juniors with a permanent family home address in the U.S. | Demonstrated the ability to excel in math and science
WTP-ME is a four-week residential summer course that introduces you to core mechanical engineering principles through an intensive mix of lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative projects. Led by graduate students from MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the curriculum covers topics such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, statics, materials science, and engineering design. You’ll engage in practical work involving physical prototyping, numerical modeling, and computer-aided design, alongside evening assignments that reinforce and preview daily material. This competitive mechanical engineering summer research opportunity for high school students emphasizes learning in a collaborative and rigorous academic environment and engages deeply with engineering principles through practical activities.
3. Horizon’s Academic Research Program – Engineering Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 26%
Dates: July 14 for the summer cohort
Application Deadline: June 22 (summer cohort 2)
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) | Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders | Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Horizon Academic’s Engineering Research Track gives you the opportunity to conduct an in-depth research project in a specialized engineering field of your choice, under the guidance of a PhD-level mentor. As part of this selective virtual program, you’ll explore advanced topics like robotics, engineering, materials science, or environmental systems while developing a structured research paper. You’ll gain experience in forming research questions, analyzing academic sources, and presenting your findings in a clear, scholarly format. The program allows you to focus on the exact area that interests you most. You can find the application link here!
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12.5%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school | Must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholars Program is a unique program that pairs high school students with PhD mentors for a 1:1 experience over 12 weeks. You will work closely with your mentor to design and complete an independent research project in a subject area of your choice—psychology, physics, economics, computer science, and more. You’ll learn research methodologies, literature review practices, and academic writing techniques which will help you develop a research paper at the end of the program. You will also get to work with a publication specialist to refine your work for submissions to high-school or college-level journals if you opt for the Premium Research and Publication Programs. You can find the application form here.
5. SMU Lyle School of Engineering’s Engineering Design Experience
Location: Southern Methodist University campus, Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: $1,400 | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | 30 students
Dates: Female Camp: June 2–6 or June 16–20 | Male Camp: June 9–13 or June 23–27
Application Deadline: Applications open on 17 February, no deadline specified
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
The SMU Lyle School of Engineering’s week-long Engineering Design Experience is a residential program focused on hands-on learning in STEM fields including mechanical engineering. You’ll work on a real-world design challenge using the resources of the Deason Innovation Gym, a makerspace equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and machining tools, to prototype and test your ideas. Guided by SMU undergraduates and faculty, you’ll participate in workshops that build your understanding of core engineering concepts, from analytical problem-solving to collaborative design thinking. Throughout the five days, you’ll live in dorms, explore SMU’s engineering campus, and experience a structured preview of college-level academic and social life.
6. Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (tuition and fees) + $100 materials fee + $100 events fee (housing and meal plans are optional at $308 and $192 respectively) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | small, but unspecified
Dates: Session 1: June 17–June 28 | Session 2: July 8–19 | Session 3: July 29–August 9
Application Deadline: May 1 or until full
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 | Completed Algebra 2 (or its equivalent) | Have some experience in any programming language | Minimum 3.0 GPA (or equivalent)
SPARC at NYU Tandon is a two-week program where participants dive into the fundamentals of robotics and mechatronics through guided, hands-on learning. You’ll work closely with NYU faculty and graduate mentors to build two functioning robots, learning how to integrate electrical circuits, microcontrollers, and programming logic into real-world applications. The program’s curriculum covers design thinking and problem-solving as you progress through workshops and daily assignments that prepare you for a final challenge: designing a mobile manipulator to complete specific tasks. Alongside technical skills, you’ll have opportunities to collaborate with peers, troubleshoot mechanical systems, and develop basic coding skills in a structured lab setting.
7. Boston University – RISE Internship
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $5,700 tuition + $485 service fees + $60 application fee; room & board additional ($3,276–$3,600 depending on meals per week); limited financial aid available | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 7% | 130 students
Dates: Residential: June 29 – August 8 | Commuter: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering 12th grade in fall; must be rising seniors
This internship allows you to spend six weeks in full-time research alongside faculty and graduate mentors in several fields including mechanical engineering. You’ll commit to 40 hours each week working on a specific project designed by your mentor that involves prototyping, data analysis, testing mechanical systems, or using software tools common in engineering research. You’ll learn how to navigate the scientific process from within a real university lab, gaining technical experience while also building skills in research ethics, collaboration, and academic communication. One day each week, you’ll join workshops focused on professional development, such as reading scientific literature and presenting your own work.
8. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free, but a $25 application fee applies | $750 upon submitting research report
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <3% | 12 students
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | At least 17 by the start date | U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Graduating this year or next
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University offers a highly selective, seven-week program where you can work one-on-one with faculty mentors in a variety of disciplines including the Mechanical Engineering: Cancer Bioimaging program. If selected, you’ll engage in a hands-on research project designed around your interests, depending on faculty availability and your academic background. Alongside your lab work, you’ll participate in weekly seminars and discussions that explore research methodologies, ethics, and broader career pathways in STEM. The program also incorporates field trips and structured social activities, creating opportunities to connect with like-minded peers. At the end of the program, you’ll submit a formal research report.
9. Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) at Santa Clara University
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | Small
Dates: Session 1: July 13–17 | Session 2: July 20–24 | Advanced Session 3: July 27–31
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Open to students who will have completed their sophomore or junior year of high school by July 1
The Summer Engineering Seminar at Santa Clara University is a five-day residential experience where you’ll study core areas of engineering, including mechanical engineering, through faculty-led workshops that combine lectures with lab activities. Designed for current high school sophomores and juniors, this program introduces you to topics such as mechanical systems, sustainable design, and engineering problem-solving, along with exposure to civil, bio, computer, and electrical engineering. You’ll complete guided projects in each workshop, giving you a chance to apply engineering principles across multiple disciplines while gaining insight into potential college majors and career paths. You’ll also engage with faculty, current students, and peers, getting a realistic sense of university life.
10. Milwaukee School of Engineering – Women in Technology Program
Location: Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI
Cost/Stipend: $1,100 | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive | Not specified
Dates: July 6–11
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school girls entering 10th through 12th grades | GPA 3.5 or higher
If you’re a female high school student wanting to explore engineering and its subfields, the Women in Technology Program at Milwaukee School of Engineering is a week-long residential option for practical learning across several disciplines. You’ll take part in labs and workshops led by MSOE faculty, with support from current female engineering students, as you explore areas like mechanical, biomedical, electrical, chemical, and civil engineering. Projects are designed to introduce you to core engineering principles while helping you see how they apply in practical, real-world settings, often learned through industry site visits. You’ll also learn collaborative problem-solving, engineering design, and technical communication.
11. Michigan Tech University’s Women in Engineering (WIE)
Location: Michigan Technological University campus, MI
Cost/Stipend: $425 | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Not specified
Dates: June 15–20
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11
Focused on advancing young women in engineering careers, Michigan Tech’s WIE program is a week-long summer experience where you’ll study two engineering fields of your choice through hands-on, project-based learning. You might dive into mechanical engineering by designing systems or testing materials, or explore robotics, environmental, or aerospace engineering through interactive labs and collaborative challenges. Throughout the program, you’ll work in teams on real-world problems, guided by faculty and professionals who offer insight into both technical content and career pathways. In addition to lab sessions, you’ll attend talks from engineers in the field and take part in group competitions that help you develop problem-solving and communication skills.
12. Michigan Tech University’s Engineering Scholars Program (ESP)
Location: Michigan Technological University campus, MI
Cost/Stipend: $425 | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective | Not specified
Program dates: June 22–27
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11
Another option offered by Michigan Tech is the Engineering Scholars Program, a summer experience where participants dive into two engineering fields of their choice through hands-on, project-based activities. You’ll work with peers from across the country in labs and group challenges that introduce core engineering concepts in areas like mechanical, civil, robotics, and materials science. With faculty guidance and input from professionals in the field, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how engineering problems are approached and solved. The program includes team-based projects and presentations, as well as participation in outdoor activities that help students build connections with students who share their interest in engineering.
13. NYU Precollege
Location: NYU’s Washington Square campus, NY
Cost/Stipend: $700–$14,000 for 0–8 credits | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective | Not specified
Dates: July 2–August 13
Application Deadline: June 16
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th grade high school students in summer | Current 11th or 12th grade students in the fall or spring semesters | Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
NYU’s Precollege program offers credit-bearing courses such as Introduction to Engineering and Design, which deep dives into foundational concepts in engineering with a focus on problem-solving, prototyping, and the design process. As a rising high school junior or senior, you’ll attend regular college classes taught by NYU faculty and complete assignments, labs, and projects alongside your undergraduate peers. You’ll also have access to NYU’s academic resources, from libraries and tutoring to lab spaces and faculty office hours, allowing you to experience what it’s like to be a college student in a rigorous STEM environment. Living on campus or commuting, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a broader academic community.
14. ARISE Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | Around 80 students
Dates: June 2–August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York residents
The ARISE Program at NYU is a 10-week summer experience that introduces you to academic research through a combination of academic training and lab-based work. The initial four weeks are dedicated to building essential skills such as lab safety, research methods, and college-level writing, through workshops and small group sessions. Once you’ve completed these foundational activities, you’ll spend the next six weeks working alongside researchers in an NYU lab, contributing to ongoing studies in areas that could include mechanical engineering, robotics, or related fields. You’ll complete approximately 120 hours of lab work, present your research to the NYU community, and participate in a final poster session at the American Museum of Natural History.
15. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <5% | About 80 students
Dates: June 22–August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors about to enter their last high school year, i.e., grade 11
Hosted by one of the nation’s leading research institutions, MIT’s Research Science Institute is a highly competitive summer program where students take part in advanced scientific and engineering research over six weeks. The program begins with a week of intensive seminars on topics such as engineering, physics, and mathematics, followed by a five-week research internship where you’ll work under the guidance of a mentor on an original project. You will read recent scientific literature, develop a research plan, carry out experiments or simulations, and produce both a written paper and a conference-style presentation. In addition to academic work, you’ll attend evening lectures from leaders in science and technology.
16. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Virtual | In-person at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | 370+ students
Dates: Online prerequisite: February 3–June 25 | In-person Summer Program: July 7–Early August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students currently in 11th grade | U.S. citizens or living in the country for the duration of BWSI | Attending a U.S. based school physically
Held at MIT in collaboration with Lincoln Laboratory, BWSI is an intensive program where you’ll dive into advanced topics like robotics, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, and microelectronics. Before arriving on campus, you will have to complete an online prerequisite course aligned with your selected track such as building UAVs, debugging code using advanced robotics software and simulation, and leveraging onboard sensors to process visual cues from the world around our drones. Once onsite, your days are structured around lab-based learning, collaborative engineering challenges, and capstone projects designed to mirror real-world applications of cutting-edge technology. You will be part of projects like Autonomous RACECAR or Underwater Vehicles that will give you exposure to system design, control theory, embedded programming, and sensor integration.
17. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University campus, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 4% | 40 students
Dates: June 30–August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the program’s start date | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
A paid opportunity for high school students interested in engineering and scientific research, the Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University places you in a lab for seven weeks under the guidance of a faculty mentor. You’ll become part of an active research team, where your responsibilities may include running simulations, analyzing data, designing experiments, or learning techniques relevant to mechanical engineering or related disciplines. The program focuses on practical learning and culminates in the creation of a research abstract and a formal poster presentation, allowing you to communicate your findings in a professional setting. In addition to lab work, you’ll attend seminars, skill-building workshops, and campus events that allow you to gain insight into academic research and potential career paths.
Image source – Stony Brook University