If you are in high school and want to explore medicine, a summer medical research program can give you early (and advanced) exposure to the field. Summer medical research programs, such as the ones below, let you learn and work through lessons and hands-on work, such as suturing or running clinical tests.
Medical research programs also teach you how to conduct research in a structured manner. You will learn to review scientific papers, write reports, and analyze experimental data, all without it interfering with your school year. Some of the research programs below cover areas where medicine connects with other fields, like AI or engineering, giving you a broader view of research.
Without further ado, here are 20 summer medical research programs for high school students!
20 Summer Medical Research Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) – Medical Sociology Track
Location: Online
Cost: $5950. However, financial aid is available
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The next upcoming deadline is May 21 for the summer cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic standing (GPA > 3.67/4.0) are eligible to apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program is a trimester-long opportunity where you work closely with a professor or PhD mentor from a top university. The program ends with a 20-page research paper based on a topic you choose within your selected subject track.
If you are interested in medicine or healthcare, you can explore several subject areas. One option is the Medical Sociology track, where you study psychotherapy through a sociological lens. You examine the themes that patients often bring to therapy and compare them with how these issues are addressed in broader social discussions.
You will learn about various psychotherapy practices and analyze the topics that patients generally bring to therapy, while comparing them to how these topics are discussed in society. Other options under medicine and healthcare include Gene Editing and CRISPR, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Computational Neuroscience, and Psychology and Emotional Regulation.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: 100% financial aid is available
Program dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The upcoming Summer Cohort I application deadline is June 23
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an advanced research program where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to develop an independent research project on a topic you choose. Your mentor supports you through each stage of the research process, from understanding advanced concepts to writing your final paper.
Medicine is one of the available research areas. Previous students have explored topics such as early indicators of brain tumors, vaccine development for breast cancer, and how gene editing might be used to treat HIV. Some participants have also had their work published through the program. Apply here.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee. There are no tuition fees. Students receive a stipend of at least $500
Program dates: June 9 – July 31
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age. Students must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents as well as living and attending school in the U.S.
The Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program offers a full-time, hands-on research experience in Stanford University’s laboratories. Each year, 50 high school students are selected to join one of eight institutes: immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, genetics, bioengineering, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, or bioinformatics.
You will be paired with a mentor and take part in lab-based research throughout the program. Your work will end in a research poster that you present during a final session attended by faculty and peers. The program is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 3 percent.
4. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Program dates: June 30-August 22
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors, at least 14 years old, living in NY, NJ, or CT within 25 miles of the main campus, with a 3.5 GPA in science subjects
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Summer Student Program is an 8-week research internship for high school students. You will be placed in one of the center’s research labs and take part in either a biomedical or computational project.
Under the supervision of a mentor, you will work on a self-directed project that aligns with the lab’s broader research goals. Research areas include cancer biology, chemical biology, genomics, immunology, pharmacology, and related fields. Along with lab work, you will attend sessions focused on both professional and personal development.
5. City Of Hope Cancer Center’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
Stipend: $4,000
Program dates: June 3 – August 9
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years of age and have completed high school courses in chemistry and biology
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope Cancer Center offers a full-time biomedical research experience for high school students. As a participant, you will work as part of an active research team while also developing your project based on your interests.
The program places a strong emphasis on hands-on lab work. In addition to your research, you will attend seminars on topics such as DNA repair, plant signaling pathways, and neural stem cells. By the end of the program, you will submit a written report and present your findings through a research poster at a final session. Some past students have also gone on to publish their work.
6. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who meet the required test scores. International students can apply as well.
MIT’s Research Science Institute is a five-week summer research program for high school students that offers a full introduction to the research process. The program selects 80 students each year. During the first week, you attend advanced STEM lectures taught by researchers and professors. For the next four weeks, you will work on an independent research project in a lab setting.
You will learn how to build a research plan, review scientific literature, and apply mathematical or computational models. Your work will end with both an oral and written report. Research areas vary, and past projects in medicine have included studies on steroid effects, cell activation in liver fibrogenesis, and gene encoding.
7. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: None. Students will get $15/hour and transportation funds
Program dates: Generally begins towards the end of June and goes on for 8 weeks
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a strong academic record in STEM who live in Baltimore City, Maryland. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science is an 8-week paid internship for high school students interested in neuroscience and clinical research. You will be paired with a mentor and work on a guided, hypothesis-driven project in either a lab or clinical setting. Previous student projects have included research on the causes of stroke, the impact of HIV on bone structure, and electrical activity in juvenile epilepsy.
The program ends with either an oral or poster presentation of your work. You will also attend seminars and sessions focused on professional development throughout the internship. The program is highly selective and admits only 8 students each year.
8. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free; however, if you choose the residential track, you will need to pay $2,360.25 as residential fees
Program dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are US citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years of age
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program offers high school students the chance to take part in a full-time research experience. You will be matched with a research team and take responsibility for a specific project within your assigned lab.
Research areas include biomedical research, immunology, neurobiology and behavior, orthopaedics, pharmacological sciences, cell biology, and biomedical informatics. During the program, you will learn lab techniques, research methods, and how to prepare a research abstract and poster. You will also attend faculty lectures, workshops, and lab tours as part of the experience.
9. Summer Science Program
Location: Multiple locations available, including New Mexico State University, Purdue University, Indiana University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and more
Cost: $9,800. However, the fee is scaled to what each family can afford, and 100% need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: Multiple five-week sessions are available to choose from
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are between the ages of 15 and 19 and have completed the required courses
The Summer Science Program offers high school students a research opportunity at a participating university, working with scientists and using advanced lab equipment. If interested in medicine, you can choose from tracks like cell biology or bacterial genomics.
In the cell biology track, you will work with yeast and use gene editing to study genes involved in the cell cycle. In the bacterial genomics track, you will study microbes and analyze how antibiotic resistance evolves. Both tracks include training in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics.
10. The Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program
Location: The Jackson Laboratory in two locations — Bar Harbor, ME, and Farmington, CT
Stipend: $6,500
Program dates: May 31 – August 8
Application deadline: January 27
Eligibility: Open to juniors and seniors, at least 18 by program start
The Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program is a medical research opportunity for high school and undergraduate students focused on genetics and genomics. You will work under the guidance of a faculty scientist and contribute to ongoing research projects. You will also develop your independent project by creating a research plan, analyzing data, and reporting your findings.
Research areas include bioinformatics and computational biology, cancer, genomics, developmental biology and aging, immunology and infectious disease, neurobiology and sensory deficits, and metabolic diseases. Each one offers experience with different lab techniques and tools, and you can go through them in detail here.
11. Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: $25 application fee. On completion of the program, you will receive a $750 stipend.
Program dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents and are at least 17 years of age
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is a competitive research program that accepts 12 high school students each year. Participants gain hands-on research experience in labs under the supervision of faculty experts. You can choose from research areas such as Biology/Cellular & Microbiology or Cancer Biology to focus on medicine-related topics.
Past students have studied genes, microbiomes, and membrane repair in cells. Interdisciplinary projects are possible as well. For example, one student developed a computer science project that detected heart irregularities in ECG signals using PQRST amplification.
12. UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,175 for the commuter track, $12,474 for the residential track. Limited need-based scholarships are available.
Program dates: June 16 – August 1
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: 10th and 11th grade students who have a minimum GPA of 3.8
UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program offers high school students the chance to engage in university-level interdisciplinary research. You will be paired with a mentor and expected to spend 35 to 50 hours per week conducting research, which includes using library resources, fieldwork, and data collection.
Research areas related to medicine include biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. Your work will conclude with a technical research paper that you will present at a symposium. In addition to the research, you will attend a lecture course on scientific writing and a course on presentation techniques.
13. Stanford AIMI’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Online
Cost: $850. Need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years of age and have a strong foundation in coding and math
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week virtual program focused on AI applications in healthcare. The program is project-based and includes advanced lectures to build technical skills in AI.
You will work in groups on projects related to real-world uses of AI in medicine. Previous students developed a machine learning algorithm to detect tubes in X-ray images. The program also provides an opportunity to practice and improve coding, math, and statistics skills.
14. Yale University’s DTC High School Internship
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Program dates: Not specified. The program generally takes place between June and August.
Application deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school seniors who are at least 16 years old
Yale University’s Discovery to Cure High School Internship offers a six-week full-time research experience in biomedical laboratories. You will be matched with a Principal Investigator who will guide your work on a research project. Topics include pregnancy complications, genetic abnormalities, and bone formation.
You will receive mentorship, attend training sessions, and present your research findings at the end of the program. Past participants have presented their work at science fairs and published it in scientific journals. The program is highly competitive with an acceptance rate below 12 percent.
15. University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Summer Research Training Fellowship
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Stipend: $2,500
Program dates: Eight weeks between June 3 – August 2, depending on the assigned lab
Application deadline: April 6
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have taken advanced classes in both Biology and Chemistry
The University of Kentucky’s Summer Research Training Fellowship is a paid program for high school students to conduct research in STEM fields. You will be assigned to a lab and receive guidance from a graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, or scientist.
The program focuses on applying theoretical concepts in practical research and engaging with current research questions. You will learn experimental techniques and work on an independent research project. At the end, you will present your findings orally.
16. The Ragon Institute Summer Experience
Location: Ragon Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free. Students are paid $17/hour
Program dates: June 23 – August 8
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preference is given to students with demonstrated economic need
The Ragon Institute Summer Experience is a paid internship focused on medical research and immunology. You will be paired with a faculty mentor and work on a research project in their lab for 25 hours per week.
Topics include vaccine development, HIV, global infectious diseases, and applied immunology. The program includes a one-week bootcamp on how a research institute functions and an immunology course taught by graduate students. At the end, you will present your research.
17. Harvard University’s MEDscienceLAB
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800. Limited scholarships are available to Boston area students
Program dates: Multiple sessions available from June 23-27, July 7-11, August 4-8, August 11-15
Application deadline: March 25
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
Harvard University’s MEDscienceLAB is a one-week medical summer program for high school students. It combines medical research and clinical experiences. You will learn through medical simulations and research lab work.
The simulation lab will let you experience emergency room care and treat a life-like patient. In the research lab, you will perform experiments with real patient samples and work in teams to diagnose and treat diseases. You will also learn clinical skills such as DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and ELISA.
18. UPenn’s Summer Academies
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,949. Philadelphia residents who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school are eligible for a scholarship
Program dates: July 5 – July 26
Application deadline: April 27. However, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and it’s best to apply as early as possible
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 who have a minimum GPA of 3.5. International students can apply as well!
The University of Pennsylvania’s Summer Academies are three-week intensive programs that allow you to explore a specific field in-depth, using a combination of lectures, discussions, field trips, projects, and hands-on lab work. There are a few options for students interested in medicine. The Biomedical Research Academy looks at the cellular, molecular, and genetic aspects of biology, through which you will learn techniques like PCR, gel electrophoresis, and restriction analysis.
The Microbiology and Infectious Diseases track explores the pathogen life cycle and diseases like malaria, HIV, COVID-19, and smallpox. This track culminates in a final project where you will review a particular pathogen. The third option is the Neuroscience Research Academy, during which you will learn the biological foundations of the brain, studying everything from the neuron to cognitive functions like memory and emotion.
19. The DNA Learning Center’s Urban Barcode Research Program
Location: DNALC NYC, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $500
Program dates: Training session from August 25-29, followed by 55 hours of research in the academic year, culminating in a symposium on May 20 of the following year
Application deadline: May 27
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 13 years old and reside in as well as attend a public or private school in New York City
The Urban Barcode Research Program offers a mentored research experience focused on DNA research. It begins with a course on biodiversity, conservation biology, and science research. You will develop a hypothesis, plan, and conduct a research project using DNA barcoding, supported by one-on-one mentorship.
The project requires 55 hours of work, including DNA extractions, amplification of DNA barcoding regions, and DNA sequence analysis. You will learn the full research cycle, from writing a proposal to conducting fieldwork and presenting your research at the closing symposium. You can go through the program’s past projects here.
20. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at NYU
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Program dates: June 2 – August 18
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York and attend an NYC school
NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering program is a research opportunity for high school students interested in STEM. The first four weeks focus on building research skills and safety training. After that, you will join one of NYU’s research labs for six weeks, assisting researchers on real projects.
Medical and healthcare-related research is available in labs like Biomolecular Engineering, Chromatin Genomics, and Chromosome Inheritance. The program concludes with a colloquium and symposium where you present your work.
Image source – NYU
