If you are trying to take your interest in chemistry more seriously, working through real experiments can make a solid difference. High school programs give you a way to do that by placing you in structured environments where learning is more practical.
You might spend time understanding lab techniques, observing reactions, or working through small experiments step by step. These programs focus on how chemistry is actually practiced, not just how it is explained.
Why should you choose a program in California?
California provides a strong setting for chemistry because of its research institutions and science-driven industries. Programs here often reflect real academic and applied work, giving you a clearer understanding of the subject.
They also help you build a stronger academic profile. You gain experiences that you can describe clearly in applications and interviews. Many of these programs are also easier to attend locally, which makes them more accessible.
With that, here are 15 chemistry programs for high school students in California! If you want to explore further, you can check our chemistry internship blog here and our online chemistry programs here.
15 Chemistry Programs for High School Students in California
1. Chemistry Summer Camp
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1–June 11 or June 16–June 26
Application Deadline: May 24
Eligibility: Participants must be entering grades 9 to 12.
In this pre-college program at the University of the Pacific, you’ll explore how chemists design and create drugs used to treat cancer. The program focuses on the chemistry behind anticancer drug development, combining computational modeling with hands-on laboratory research. You’ll study how cancer develops and examine how different chemotherapy strategies target cancer cells by reviewing scientific literature and learning core biochemical concepts. After creating these compounds, you’ll purify and analyze them using advanced analytical chemistry equipment to understand how they interact with cancer cells.
2. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,675 commuter option; $13,274 residential option; $75 application fee; limited need-based scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15–July 31
Application Deadline: December 15–March 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11
RMP pairs students with graduate students, postdocs, or faculty to work on a defined research project in fields such as chemistry, biology, materials science, or environmental science. You will learn core research workflows, including literature review, hypothesis formulation, experimental design, and quantitative data analysis. Depending on the project, you may use laboratory instrumentation, statistical analysis tools, or programming environments to process experimental data. The program also includes technical research talks through the GRIT lecture series, exposing students to current methods and technologies used in university research labs.
3. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA
Cost: $1,070; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3%–31% depending on application round and term
Dates: June 1–August 30
Application Deadline: April 15 (priority deadlines February 1 and March 1)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
ASDRP is a long-term research program where you join a faculty-led or graduate-led research group and contribute to ongoing scientific projects. Research areas commonly include computational biology, machine learning, bioinformatics, chemistry, neuroscience, and applied engineering. You will learn core research skills such as literature review, experimental design, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. Many projects involve programming tools like Python or R, along with discipline-specific lab techniques depending on the research group. Work typically happens during evenings and weekends, and students collaborate with peers while producing research outputs such as technical reports, presentations, or potential publications.
4. Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15–June 26
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ entering grades 11–12 who live and attend school in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, or San Mateo counties
IFSS is a two-week shadowing program where you observe graduate students conducting chemistry research in Stanford labs. Instead of completing a single research project, you will rotate across different researchers and topics, gaining exposure to areas such as chemical synthesis, materials chemistry, spectroscopy, and molecular analysis. You’ll learn how lab experiments are designed, how instrumentation like spectrometers or chromatography systems is used, and how graduate researchers analyze data and interpret results.
5. UCLA Summer Sessions – General and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: A stipend is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 160 students
Dates: June 22–July 31
Application Deadline: Opens February 18; deadline open till June 22
Eligibility: High school students may enroll through UCLA Summer Sessions if they select courses from the approved list
This UCLA Summer Sessions course focuses on laboratory techniques used in general and organic chemistry. You’ll conduct experiments involving reaction mechanisms, purification methods, and compound characterization. Typical lab work includes techniques such as titration, distillation, chromatography, and spectroscopic analysis, along with quantitative data analysis and formal lab report writing. The course emphasizes experimental design, measurement accuracy, and chemical safety protocols. Students gain experience interpreting reaction outcomes and linking laboratory results to underlying chemical theory.
6. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: No cost; $50 application fee; limited need-based stipends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students per year
Dates: June 8–July 30
Application Deadline: December 19–February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; must be 16+; U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending high school in the U.S.
SIMR places students in biomedical research labs at Stanford to work on medically oriented projects. Research areas include cancer biology, immunology, neurobiology, bioengineering, and genetics. You’ll assist with tasks such as literature review, experimental setup, data collection, and analysis of biological datasets. Depending on the lab, you may work with techniques like PCR, microscopy, cell culture, or computational analysis using tools such as Python or MATLAB.
7. UCLA Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE)
Location: Online
Cost: Free (scholarship program; includes UCLA course enrollment)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: June 22–July 31
Application Deadline: February 18–April 15
Eligibility: California high school students in grades 10–11; minimum 3.5 GPA; must meet household income eligibility criteria
BASE is a six-week online program where students enroll in one UCLA summer course and earn official college credit. You’ll learn how to manage college-level coursework, including reading scientific literature, completing graded assignments, and preparing analytical or research-based writing, depending on the course. You will also meet weekly with UCLA undergraduate mentors to discuss academic planning and study strategies. Workshops cover topics such as college admissions strategy, financial aid analysis (FAFSA and scholarship search), and time-management systems used in university coursework. The program requires about 7–10 hours per week of coursework, mentorship meetings, and academic preparation activities.
8. Summer Science Program (SSP) — Biochemistry
Location: Multiple campuses, including CA
Cost/Stipend: $11,800 program fee; financial aid available (up to full funding); optional $3,000 stipend for lost wages
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 8–August 1 (varies by campus)
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: High school juniors aged 15–18 who have completed or are completing biology and chemistry coursework
In SSP Biochemistry, you’ll work in small research teams to characterize enzymes involved in fungal crop pathogens and design potential enzyme inhibitors. Lab work includes techniques such as affinity chromatography, gel electrophoresis, enzyme kinetics assays, and inhibitor screening. You will also perform computational analysis using molecular modeling tools for homology modeling, ligand docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Projects involve bioinformatics methods such as sequence alignment, motif prediction, and structure analysis. You’ll analyze enzyme reaction data using rate equations, curve fitting, and statistical analysis, and present results through a research poster and written report.
9. ACS Project SEED
Location: Multiple host institutions across the United States
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend for participation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 350+ students supported each year across sites
Dates: June–August (8–10 weeks depending on site)
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in the U.S.
Project SEED places students in chemistry research labs with mentors from academia or industry. You’ll assist with laboratory experiments such as chemical synthesis, materials characterization, and analytical measurements. You learn basic research workflows, including maintaining lab notebooks, preparing reagents, collecting experimental data, and interpreting results. Projects may involve techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, or computational analysis of chemical data. The program also includes workshops on laboratory safety, scientific communication, and STEM career pathways.
10. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
Location: University of California campuses (UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, UC Merced)
Cost: $5,518 program cost; $46 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 5–July 31 (UCI, UCSD); July 5–August 1 (UCD, UCLA, UCM, UCSC)
Application Deadline: January 7–February 6
Eligibility: California high school students; rising 9th–12th graders
COSMOS is a four-week residential STEM program where you enroll in a subject-specific “cluster” led by university faculty. Clusters typically focus on areas like chemistry, computational biology, machine learning, robotics, materials science, or applied mathematics. You’ll work through lab experiments, coding exercises, and research-style projects while learning tools such as Python, MATLAB, or discipline-specific lab techniques, depending on the cluster. The program emphasizes data analysis, experimental design, and collaborative problem-solving rather than traditional classroom instruction. You will also attend lectures, present project findings, and engage with peers working on different STEM problems across clusters.
11. UC Davis Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: University of California, Davis, CA
Cost: $7,750 program fee; $45 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~40 students per year
Dates: June 21–August 1
Application Deadline: January 1–March 1
Eligibility: High school students who are rising juniors or rising seniors; must be 16–17 years old during the program; must be permanent U.S. residents attending school in the U.S.
YSP is a six-week residential research program focused on biological, agricultural, environmental, and natural sciences. You’ll work one-on-one with UC Davis researchers to design and execute an individual research project. You will also maintain research notebooks, analyze experimental results, and produce a journal-style research paper describing your methodology and findings. You will present their work at a research symposium and complete a formal scientific presentation for their home school.
12. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute — Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Location: Online
Cost: $3,200; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6–July 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11; prerequisite knowledge of algebra and basic chemistry concepts (atoms, atomic mass, molecular mass)
This course introduces chemical engineering principles used in industrial processes such as cement production, steel manufacturing, ammonia synthesis, and transportation fuel processing. You analyze material and energy flows within chemical systems and evaluate environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions. Coursework involves modeling reaction processes using concepts like chemical equilibrium, thermodynamics, and material balances. Students also explore decarbonization strategies and sustainable engineering design through simulations and group problem-solving projects. Assignments require systems-level analysis of industrial processes and environmental mitigation approaches.
13. UCSF CURE Research Internship Program
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: October 12 – February 8
Eligibility: High school juniors or City College of San Francisco students; minimum 2.5 GPA; must have completed biology or chemistry with a grade of B or higher; must be 16+
CURE is an 8-week biomedical research internship where students assist UCSF researchers on projects spanning basic science, clinical research, behavioral science, and population health. You’ll learn core research workflows such as literature review, experimental planning, data collection, and interpretation of experimental results. You may work with laboratory methods used in molecular biology, microbiology, or clinical data analysis. Interns present their work at a research symposium and develop scientific communication skills through research presentations and project reporting. The program also includes college advising and career development sessions focused on biomedical and health research pathways.
14. Project SEED Summer Program by American Chemical Society
Location: Virtual
Cost: There is no cost to participate, and interns receive a stipend of $4,000.
Dates: The program usually lasts 8 to 10 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who have completed at least one high school chemistry course can apply. Preference is given to students whose family income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, adjusted for family size.
Project SEED runs as a paid summer fellowship where you spend 8 to 10 weeks working full-time in a chemistry lab. You are placed with a mentor and take on a research project, which can be individual or shared with a small group. Most of your day is spent in the lab, where you follow procedures, record results, and adjust your approach as experiments develop. You also spend time reading background material so you understand what you are working on. Toward the end, you prepare a report or poster that explains your process and findings. The program also includes activities like field trips, panels, and sessions that introduce different paths in chemistry.
15. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Free, except for a $25 application fee, which may be waived depending on financial need.
Application Deadline: Typically early February
Dates: Typically June to August
Eligibility: You must be at least 15 for remote and computer lab internships, and at least 16 for wet-lab internships by the program start date.
This program places you in a faculty-led research lab at George Mason University, where you work on an active project over eight weeks. You spend your time assisting with experiments, handling data, and learning how lab equipment is used in real research settings. The work can vary depending on the project, with past topics including antibiotic research, protein analysis, and chemical sensing systems. You also develop your writing by documenting your work and explaining your results clearly. Alongside lab work, you attend sessions and discussions that introduce different STEM career paths. Over time, you begin to understand how research questions are approached and worked through step by step. You can view past research projects from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry here. Here.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. 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!
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. 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 – George Mason University