If you are considering chemistry as a subject you might pursue further, it helps to spend time working with it outside regular classes. Programs give you that opportunity in a more focused setting!
Chemistry programs usually include a mix of lectures, lab work, and guided exercises. You might explore areas like biochemistry, analytical chemistry, or chemical engineering concepts, depending on the program. Some also allow you to work on small research projects.
Why should you choose a program in Michigan?
Michigan is home to several universities that support chemistry programs for high school students, offering access to labs, instructors, and structured academic environments. This makes it easier to find programs that match your level and interests. These programs also help strengthen your profile by showing that you have explored chemistry beyond school.
We’ve reviewed the options and compiled a list of 15 chemistry programs for high school students in Michigan!
15 Chemistry Programs for High School Students in Michigan
1. BioMed Focus
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: None. A stipend of $4,000 is provided
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: Opens October 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in Michigan; more details here
BioMed Focus is a full-time summer research placement where you are assigned to a biomedical lab at the University of Michigan and work under a research mentor. The work is structured around a defined project, so you spend most of your time following lab protocols, assisting with experiments, and understanding how data is collected and recorded. The chemistry component depends on the lab you are placed in, but often connects to molecular or biochemical work. Alongside the lab experience, you attend sessions on scientific writing and research communication. The program ends with a written report and a research presentation, which reflects how work is shared in academic settings.
2. University of Michigan’s Aspirnaut Program
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: None. A stipend is paid
Dates: June 14 – July 24
Application deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising seniors who are at least 16 years old. Preference is given to students from socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
The Aspirnaut Program is a residential research internship where you are placed in a life sciences lab and work alongside researchers on ongoing projects. Your role usually involves assisting with experiments, maintaining lab notes, and learning how results are documented and interpreted. The work is structured and supervised, so you are introduced to how lab environments function rather than working independently. Chemistry appears mainly through biochemistry or lab-based experimental work, depending on the placement. The program also includes professional development sessions and ends with a presentation of your work.
3. D-RISE (Detroit Research Internship Summer Experience)
Location: University of Michigan Department of Chemistry, Ann Arbor; Run in partnership with Cass Technical High School, Detroit
Cost: None. Pays a stipend
Dates: 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Detroit Cass Technical High School rising seniors
D-RISE places you in a university research lab where you contribute to an existing project under faculty or graduate student supervision. You follow lab schedules, assist with experiments, and observe how research problems are approached over time. The chemistry component varies by lab but can include work related to materials, environmental systems, or applied chemical processes. The focus is on exposure to research practices, including data collection and documentation, rather than completing an independent project.
4. Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) – Organic Chemistry 101: Orgo Boot Camp
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Cost: Tuition is $1,400 per session + $1,100 for residential housing if needed + $100 application fee
Dates: 3 sessions available from June 21 to July 31
Application Deadline: Opens mid-January; Rolling
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school; Must have completed at least one year of high school and cannot have graduated before the program starts.
Organic Chemistry 101 introduces high school students to topics typically covered in the first term of college organic chemistry. You study concepts such as molecular structure, stereochemistry, acid-base chemistry, substitution, elimination, and electrophilic addition reactions. The course emphasizes problem solving, with students spending substantial time working through reaction mechanisms and related exercises. Instruction combines lectures, small-group learning, and independent practice designed to build familiarity with college-level chemistry expectations. You will also explore introductory applications of spectroscopy, including infrared and NMR methods.
5. MMSS – Surface Chemistry
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Cost: Tuition is $1,400 per session + $1,100 for residential housing if needed + $100 application fee
Dates: July 5 – 17
Application Deadline: Opens mid-January; Rolling
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school; Must have completed at least one year of high school and cannot have graduated before the program starts.
Surface Chemistry focuses on how chemical properties influence interactions at material surfaces. The course covers topics such as adhesion, wetting, and material behavior at interfaces, with examples drawn from real-world applications. You learn how these interactions are studied and measured, and how they affect material performance. The program is structured around lectures and discussions, with an emphasis on applying chemical concepts to practical systems.
6. Eastern Michigan University – High School Summer Science Program
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti
Cost: None
Dates: June 22 – July 13
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: All area high school students who have completed at least one science class
Eastern Michigan University’s High School Summer Science Program places students into small research teams working with faculty mentors and undergraduate researchers. If you join a chemistry project, you spend the program learning how scientific research is carried out through experimentation, data collection, and analysis. You will be introduced to lab safety, research ethics, and the process of recording and interpreting findings in a structured setting. The collaborative format allows you to divide responsibilities with a partner while learning how research teams function. The program concludes with a presentation in which you share your research with others.
7. Molecular Minds: Chemistry and Biochemistry High School Summer Day Camp
Location: Grand Valley State University, Richard M. DeVos Center (DEV), Grand Rapids
Cost: None
Dates: June 15 – 19
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade for the Fall
Molecular Minds is a week-long day camp that introduces high school students to hands-on work in chemistry and biochemistry. You participate in experiments and activities involving topics such as chromatography, pipetting, intermolecular forces, molecular separations, synthesis, enzymes, and drug discovery. The camp is led by university faculty and is designed to give students exposure to laboratory work beyond the level of a typical school science class. You will also use advanced research instrumentation, which helps connect core concepts to modern scientific practice. The camp concludes with a poster session where students present their work.
8. Wayne State University – Summer High School Research Program
Location: Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit
Cost: None
Dates: 4 days per week in July
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students interested in STEM
Wayne State University’s Summer High School Research Program introduces students to applied STEM research through project tracks such as emerging energy technology and fuel cells. This program connects you with research projects that may involve chemistry in areas such as energy systems or materials science. You work under supervision, assisting with experiments and data analysis related to the assigned project. The chemistry component depends on the specific research area, but often involves understanding how materials behave or how chemical processes contribute to larger systems. The program includes a final presentation where you share your work.
9. St. Andrews Summer Research Experience
Location: Michigan State University, St. Andrews, Midland
Cost: Not specified
Dates: Late June through mid-August
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: Great Lakes Bay area high school juniors and seniors
The St. Andrews Summer Research Experience introduces high school students to applied chemistry and materials science through mentored research projects. You work with researchers on investigations that may involve chemical characterization, materials testing, or the use of specialized laboratory equipment. The program is designed to help students understand how research questions are developed and explored in professional settings. Along the way, you gain experience working in teams and using technical methods that support real-world scientific applications. The experience culminates in a poster presentation, giving you the chance to share your work in a research-oriented format.
10. American Chemical Society Project SEED Program
Location: Varies based on lab choice, including at the University of Michigan and Wayne State
Cost: Free. A stipend of $4000 is paid
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June–August
Application deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates, with one completed high school chemistry course; Students whose family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are preferred
The ACS Project SEED Program places high school students in academic or industrial laboratories for summer research experiences in chemistry-related fields. Depending on the site, you may work on projects involving organic chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, environmental chemistry, or related areas. Students conduct research under the guidance of professional scientists and gain exposure to laboratory work. The program also covers virtual enrichment focused on professional development, college readiness, and lab preparedness. You learn how scientists approach experiments, maintain laboratory standards, and communicate findings within research settings.
11. Lawrence Technological University High School Outreach – Chemistry Programs
Location: Lawrence Technological University, Southfield
Cost: None
Dates: Flexible; Scheduled directly with the outreach coordinator
Application Deadline: Teacher-arranged scheduling
Eligibility: High school students participating through their class visit
Lawrence Technological University’s chemistry outreach options bring high school students to campus for hands-on activities tied to applied chemical concepts. Depending on the selected session, you may explore topics such as medicinal chemistry, cyanotype reactions, emulsions in skincare products, water filtration, or metal casting. Each program is built around a guided activity that shows how chemistry is used in real materials, products, or processes. You also tour campus and research spaces, which helps connect the activity to broader academic study in STEM fields. The programs are class-based visits, so they are designed to fit within a school group experience rather than an individual summer course model.
12. miRcore Research Camp – Computational Biology Hybrid Camp
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, or online
Cost: $875 (in person) | $610 (virtual) + $75 nonrefundable application fee
Dates: Session 1: June 15–19 | Session 2: July 6–10
Application Deadline: Reviewed within 7–10 business days
Eligibility: Academically motivated current high school and incoming 9th-grade students interested in computers, math, science, and medicine
miRcore’s Computational Biology Hybrid Camp introduces students to computational research centered on molecular biology and disease. You work with patient RNA expression data to investigate biomarkers and explore how genome- and transcriptome-level information can be used in medical research. The camp is organized around small-group inquiry, with students selecting a disease focus and using research tools to study possible diagnostics or treatment directions. Although the program is computational, the subject matter is closely tied to biochemistry, molecular biology, and biomedical science. You will learn how to interpret biological data, form logical research questions, and evaluate findings in the absence of predetermined answers.
13. Johns Hopkins University – Applications of Chemistry in Medicine
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,950 + $85 application fee (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 17
Application deadline: Rolling; starts November 20
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade before the start of the program and have a minimum 3.0 out of 4 GPA
Applications of Chemistry in Medicine is an online pre-college course that examines how chemistry supports healthcare, medicine, and pharmaceutical development. You study topics such as compound synthesis, molecular interactions, reaction pathways, and diagnostic technologies in a medical context. The course also explores how chemistry contributes to industries involving polymers, pigments, cosmetics, and other consumer or industrial products. Lessons focus on how core chemical principles translate into practical systems used in research and professional settings. Optional live sessions provide opportunities to discuss concepts with instructors and peers.
14. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote
Cost: $25 application fee + $1299 for 3 credits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18-August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18 for the remote internships and for the in-person/hybrid internships with computer labs; Wet-lab in-person/hybrid internships require you to be at least 16 years old by June 18
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program places high school students into faculty-led research teams investigating current scientific questions. You work alongside mentors and research staff on projects that may involve analytical chemistry, materials science, environmental chemistry, or molecular medicine. Typical tasks include assisting with experiments, interpreting research data, and reviewing scientific papers connected to your project. The program also includes workshops that introduce participants to scientific writing, data analysis, and research communication. You also develop a research summary based on your project and prepare a presentation explaining your findings.
15. UCLA Summer Online – Chemistry
Location: Remote
Cost: Fees vary based on unit enrollment, plus additional registration, international/ extracurricular, and documentation fees
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Varies depending on the course; program typically runs for 3 – 10 weeks from June to September
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines depending on the course; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students ages 15 and above
UCLA Summer Online allows high school students to enroll in university-level chemistry courses through a virtual format. Depending on your academic preparation, you can select classes covering topics such as general chemistry, organic chemistry, spectroscopy, or biochemistry. Coursework usually includes lectures, assignments, exams, and varied activities designed to mirror UCLA’s academic expectations. Many courses incorporate virtual laboratory components that connect theoretical ideas with experimental analysis. Topics explored may include reaction mechanisms, molecular structure, thermodynamics, and analytical chemistry methods. Completing the course successfully results in official UCLA credit.
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 – UCLA