If you’re a high school student curious about research, joining an online program can be one of the most practical and beneficial ways to see how research works outside the classroom. You get to contribute to real projects, explore different methods, and understand how researchers collect, analyze, and interpret information in fields like science, social studies, or engineering.
Online programs let you work from home, which makes them accessible and flexible. You can connect with mentors and other students from different places, see how teams handle real research problems, and practice skills that matter in academics and future careers. This kind of experience also strengthens your CV, showing colleges or future programs that you’ve actively explored research before even stepping into higher education.
In this blog, we’ve included some of the most competitive online research programs for high school students, such as ones hosted by national organizations and universities, and/or research programs offering a stipend!
15 Competitive Online Research Programs for High School Students
1. Stanford Summer Research Internship AIMI
Cost: $40 application fee; $850 participation fee; financial aid available
Dates: June 16–27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12; must be 14+ at program start; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or valid visa holders
Stanford AIMI runs a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in artificial intelligence and healthcare. You attend daily lectures on AI fundamentals, participate in hands-on group research, and receive mentorship from Stanford researchers. The program covers applied coding, working with healthcare datasets, and collaborative research methods. You also join “Career Lunch and Learns” with guest speakers from academia, industry, and government. Students who complete the program earn a Certificate of Completion, and some may be invited to continue with extended research under AIMI mentorship.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
3. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Cost: $25 application fee (waivers available)
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ (virtual/in-person computer lab); 16+ for wet-lab research
ASSIP provides an 8-week research internship across fields like electrical engineering, cognitive science, and cybersecurity. You’ll work with faculty on projects that may involve agent-based modeling, applied statistics, or computational simulations. Depending on your placement, you’ll gain technical training in tools such as MATLAB, NetLogo, or R while also learning about experimental design and data interpretation. The program emphasizes scientific communication, culminating in a symposium where you present your findings to peers and mentors.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual
Cost: $500 stipend for virtual participants
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
JHIBS is a neuroscience research program that gives you the chance to collaborate with Johns Hopkins neuroscientists on research projects. Over five weeks, you’ll develop skills in experimental design, data collection, and analysis while attending faculty-led seminars and group discussions. The virtual format ensures access to mentorship and scientific training from anywhere, with a strong emphasis on scientific communication. The program concludes with an oral or poster presentation, where you’ll present your findings to peers and faculty, building both technical and presentation skills.
5. Veritas AI
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers two research programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp where you learn machine learning fundamentals, Python programming, and applied AI techniques. You work in small groups to complete a collaborative project, and no prior coding experience is required. The AI Fellowship is a 12–15 week one-on-one mentorship for students with programming experience. You design and run an independent AI research project using tools like TensorFlow or PyTorch, receive guidance from PhD-level mentors, and get support to prepare your work for submission to high school research journals.
6. Spark Summer Mentorship Program
Cost: No cost; some projects offer stipends
Dates: May – August (8–12 weeks, depending on project)
Application Deadline: Opens March/April
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Spark Summer Mentorship Program is a selective research internship focusing on AI, machine learning, and data science. Over 8–12 weeks, you’ll be matched with mentors from universities or the tech industry and work on one or more projects aligned with your interests. Past projects have included predictive analytics, disease detection, extreme weather modeling, and quantum computing. The program focuses on technical training in algorithm design, statistical modeling, and applied data analysis, while also giving you exposure to collaborative research and professional mentorship.
7. GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS)
Cost: Free; participants receive a stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 16+ by Dec 31) with ≥3.0 and at least one biology course completed
GL4HS is a four-week virtual bioinformatics internship centered on space biology and omics data analysis. Using the GeneLab Data System, you’ll examine transcriptomic and proteomic changes in microgravity and apply machine learning techniques to NASA datasets. The curriculum includes modules such as Molecular Biology and the Omics Revolution and incorporates collaborative research projects that conclude in a competitive evaluation. Top teams are selected to present at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research annual meeting. Expert lectures and virtual site visits reinforce your coursework and provide context for real-world applications in space biology.
8. CS@Mines Internship Program
Cost: $100
Dates: June 1 – August 6
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students interested in computer science and mathematics
The CS@Mines High School/Community College Interns Program provides two tracks for students to gain applied experience in computer science. In the Research Track, you’ll join a small team working with CS@Mines faculty on active research projects, practicing research design and computational methods. The Computing for Good (C4G) Track emphasizes social impact, where you’ll collaborate with peers and undergraduate mentors to design computing solutions for real-world challenges. Across six weeks, you’ll commit 5–20 hours per week to project development, team meetings, and mentorship sessions, building technical and collaborative problem-solving skills.
9. EDIT ML Summer Internship Program
Cost: Free
Dates: April 15 – June 15
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students with a background in computer science
The EDIT ML Summer Internship Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center focuses on applying machine learning to healthcare. Over two months, you’ll work on projects that involve developing and testing models to support clinical decision-making and patient care. Research areas include medical imaging, natural language processing (NLP), and healthcare data analysis. You’ll use programming tools such as Python and R, collaborate with healthcare professionals, and present your findings at the program’s conclusion.
10. Johns Hopkins University Online Engineering Programs
Cost: $3,800 (EEI, BMEI) + lab kit ($269–$320); $1,265 (Intro to Python); application fees: $50 (EEI/BMEI), $25 (Python)
Dates: Engineering Innovation (EEI): June 30 – August 1, Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI): June 23 – August 1, Intro to Python: May 19 – June 30 or June 30 – August 11
Application Deadline: May 17
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong math/science backgrounds (Algebra II, Trigonometry, and at least one lab science required)
Johns Hopkins offers multiple online engineering courses for high school students seeking structured exposure to engineering and computing. Engineering Innovation (EEI) introduces you to civil, chemical, mechanical, and materials science through applied projects such as bridge design, electronics, and chemical process modeling. Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI) focuses on applying engineering principles to physiology and medicine, with projects such as biosensor design, circulatory system modeling, and independent research development. Intro to Python is a six-week asynchronous course covering programming fundamentals, including syntax, logic, and debugging, with regular assignments and optional live support.
11. NASA Office of STEM Engagement OSTEM Internships
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies by project; most summer roles run June – August
Application Deadlines: February 28 (Summer) | May 16 (Fall)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; high school students with ≥3.0 GPA
NASA’s OSTEM program places high school interns in research roles alongside NASA scientists and engineers. Depending on the project, you may contribute to areas like space systems engineering, robotics, computer vision, or machine learning applied to Earth and planetary sciences. You will gain mentorship, training in technical tools, and exposure to active mission operations. Opportunities are available both virtually and at NASA centers across the U.S., with projects matched to your skills and interests through the OSTEM portal.
12. Project SEED Summer Program
Cost: Free; up to $4,000 stipend provided
Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: April 12
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates; must have completed a chemistry course and meet income eligibility (≤300% Federal Poverty Guidelines)
Project SEED is a chemistry-focused research program that pairs you with mentors to complete lab-based or computational projects. Depending on your placement, you may work with spectroscopy, chromatography, molecular modeling, or related techniques. Alongside research, you’ll participate in virtual workshops on college preparation and careers in chemistry. The program concludes with a paper or poster presentation, and standout students may present at the American Chemical Society National Meeting.
13. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory – ASPIRE
Cost: Free
Dates: June 24 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 15+), GPA ≥ 2.8, must reside in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area
ASPIRE connects high school students with researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory to work on technical projects in computer science, data science, and systems engineering. Depending on your assignment, you may code in Python or Java, contribute to algorithmic modeling, or support cybersecurity and IT infrastructure projects. The program includes onboarding, virtual research activities, and occasional in-person sessions. You’ll receive mentorship from APL engineers throughout the program and present a final project summary at the conclusion.
14. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Cost: Free. A stipend of $13/hour is paid
Dates: June 17 – July 26
Application Deadline: Mid-January
Eligibility: High school students (14+), U.S. residents; student leads must be California residents; CS undergrads may apply for lead roles
The MPFI Summer Research Internship provides a six-week, full-time introduction to neuroscience research. You can choose from three focus areas: neuroscience, scientific programming, or mechanical engineering, while working 40 hours per week alongside institute researchers. The program emphasizes technical skill-building in brain science and computational methods, depending on your track. You’ll conclude your internship by submitting a scientific abstract and delivering a formal presentation of your findings. You will be compensated at $13 per hour, making this both an academic and paid research opportunity.
15. Student Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Dates: September – May
Application Deadline: May 1 – May 10
Eligibility: High school students from Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS) only
SRMP connects Cambridge high school students with astrophysicists at the Center for Astrophysics to conduct original research in fields such as stellar dynamics, exoplanets, and cosmology. Working in small teams, you’ll meet weekly with a mentor to analyze data, code in Python, and develop scientific communication skills. The program also includes monthly advisory sessions focused on project management and presentation techniques. It concludes with a formal symposium where students present their research to the CfA community. Both in-person and virtual mentorship options are available.
Image source – Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI)