If you’re a high schooler in Idaho interested in science, technology, and engineering, consider a research program! For students in Idaho, research programs provide hands-on learning experiences, mentorship from experts, and the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges in fields like environmental science, nuclear engineering, and data analysis.
Participating in a research program is a great way to work on your understanding of a subject, gain practical experience, and explore potential academic and career paths. These programs also help you strengthen your college applications by demonstrating initiative, critical thinking, and a passion for learning.
This article highlights 10 research programs for high school students in Idaho.
1. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internships
Subject Areas: Nuclear energy, cybersecurity, environmental science
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are at least 16 years old, enrolled as rising juniors or seniors, or recently graduated; minimum 3.0 GPA required
Application Deadline: Early 2025 (specific dates to be announced)
Program Dates: Six-week program beginning mid-June 2025
Cost: No cost; paid internship with stipend
INL’s High School Internship Program is an opportunity for students eager to explore cutting-edge research in fields like nuclear energy, cybersecurity, and environmental science. You can work on real-world challenges alongside leading scientists and researchers, learning to apply STEM principles to tackle project-specific goals. This program emphasizes skill-building in technical problem-solving, project management, and collaborative innovation within a professional research environment. You’ll also gain valuable mentorship and insight into potential academic and career pathways.
2. Idaho State University Ignite Their Future
Subject Areas: STEM (robotics, AI, ethical hacking, emergency medical services, disaster response, drones, and more)
Location: ESTEC Building, ISU Campus, Pocatello, ID
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall; 8th-grade students eligible for some courses
Application Deadline: Registration for 2025 camps to open soon (specific dates pending)
Program Dates: TBA
Cost: Varies by camp ($75-$125); discounts available for eligible students on reduced lunch programs
The Ignite Their Future Summer Camps at Idaho State University provide a week of hands-on STEM. You can dive into topics such as AI applications, cybersecurity, 3D printing, and emergency medical services while working on practical projects under expert guidance. With options for morning and afternoon tracks, you can explore fields like drone flight and mission planning or ethical hacking. Camps emphasize real-world problem-solving and teamwork, giving students the chance to learn skills such as coding, robotics, and technical design. High school juniors and seniors are also eligible for a scholarship drawing to support further STEM education.
3. Duke’s Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program
Subject Areas: Biomedical research, clinical medicine, pharmacology, statistics, and scientific writing
Location: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, college students, teachers; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; strong academic performance and interest in science
Application Deadline: January 3
Program Dates: June 23 – July 25
Cost: No cost; participants receive a stipend (high school students: $2,600)
The STAR Program at Duke University is a unique program that is suited for high school students interested in science and medicine. You may collaborate in teams, guided by Duke faculty mentors, to develop hypothesis-driven projects that culminate in a scientific manuscript with potential for peer-reviewed publication. The program integrates lectures on research methodologies, applied statistics, and clinical medicine with hands-on experiences like hospital rounds for eligible students.
While Idaho offers some local STEM and research programs, opportunities like the STAR Program provide a broader scope of biomedical and clinical research experience that might not be as accessible regionally. Weekly mentorship meetings ensure rigorous scientific progress, while a medical ethics seminar explores responsible research practices.
4. Project SEED In-Person Research Program
Subject Areas: Chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, materials science, and related fields
Location: Various research labs nationwide
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; must have completed at least one chemistry course, demonstrate financial need, and show interest in science
Application Deadline: March – April (site coordinators select students during this period)
Program Dates: June – August (8-10 weeks, Monday through Friday)
Cost: No cost; students receive a $4,000 stipend
The Project SEED In-Person Research Program offers an 8–10-week fellowship for high school students to engage in meaningful laboratory research under the guidance of scientist-mentors. You’ll get to work on real scientific projects, develop technical skills, and complete a report or poster presentation at the end of the program. In addition to the lab work, interns are involved in field trips, career panels, and campus tours, offering a well-rounded experience.
Students completing Summer I can advance to Summer II, focusing on new or continued research, with opportunities to present at the American Chemical Society National Meeting.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology, behavioral economics
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
- Summer: June 16 – July 25
- Fall: March 3 – June 16
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Deadline: May 21, 2024 (Summer), September 25, 2024 (Fall)
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade, with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, public health and safety, social psychology, and medicine. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research! In the business track, you can explore topics such as behavioral economics and market trends. Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program includes a letter of recommendation for every student, plus comprehensive feedback on projects that can assist with future work and college applications. Apply here!
6. Treasure Valley Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Summer Anatomy Program
Subject Areas: Human anatomy, dissection, histology, embryology
Location: Treasure Valley Anatomy and Physiology Laboratories, Skaggs Health Science Center, ISU-Meridian, ID
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, minimum age 16; must have completed at least two relevant courses (e.g., biology, medical terminology); cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Program Dates: Typically 7 weeks from June – July
Cost: No cost
The Summer Anatomy Program offers an intensive, hands-on learning experience in human anatomy, including cadaveric dissection and laboratory techniques. You’ll commit to 10 hours of lab work and 10 hours of preparation each week, immersing yourself in a professional, graduate-level environment. Through hands-on dissections, interactive teaching opportunities, and detailed anatomical studies, you’ll develop a strong foundation in structural patterns, medical terminology, and laboratory precision. Collaboration and professionalism are key aspects of the program, as you’ll work alongside peers and mentors to analyze real human specimens and refine your lab techniques. Each week, you’ll also participate in structured presentations and discussions, helping you build communication skills essential for medical and bioscience careers.
Note: The next few programs on the list aren’t held in-person in Idaho, but allow students from Idaho to apply!
7. Veritas AI’s AI + Finance Deep Dive
Subject Areas: Finance, risk management, AI applications
Cost: $2,290 (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Program Dates: The Spring Program starts March 3, and the Summer Programs begin June 2.
Application Deadline: Spring – January 19
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience.
Run by Harvard graduates, Veritas AI is a program designed to teach ambitious high school students about artificial intelligence. Through the AI + Finance program, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. They get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more.
The program emphasizes collaboration and hands-on learning, providing students with guidance from experienced mentors. Students will complete the course with an AI project that reflects their skills and interests. Here is the application form.
8. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Subject Areas: STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: The Spring Cohort application deadline is February 9. Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. If selected, you’ll work closely with mentors to create a college-level research paper based on your project, with additional support from writing coaches.
During this period, you’ll engage in thorough research, participate in workshops, and gradually refine your work. By the end of the program, you will have completed your research paper and gained experience in research methods, critical thinking, and academic writing. More details about the application are here! You can choose your subject track in the application form, such as business, as well as a specific area of focus, such as entrepreneurship, throughout your research experience!
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Horizon Academic logo
