If you’re a high school student looking to explore scientific research this summer, free research programs will allow you to dive into hands-on projects, get mentorship, and explore topics you care about, without the financial pressure of a paid one. You might spend your time doing lab work, collecting and analyzing data, reviewing scientific literature, or learning how to write and present research clearly.
Many universities and research centers run fully funded programs for high schoolers that go beyond what you learn in school. They offer technical training, guidance from researchers, and early exposure to advanced topics. These programs are often competitive, so being accepted can help your academic profile stand out. Some even come with stipends you can save or put toward college.
Here are 18 free summer science research programs for high school students for you to consider.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: The summer cohort typically runs for 12 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale are encouraged to apply
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows high school students to work with a PhD mentor on an independent research project. You can pick from subjects in STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and you’ll get help shaping your topic through research method workshops and writing support. A writing coach will guide you through drafting a complete academic paper. Topics can include biology, psychology, math, computer science, data science, chemistry, and physics. If you’re interested in science-based research, options include environmental engineering, machine learning, biotech, astrophysics, and climate science. If you don’t see your interest listed, you can create a custom topic with your mentor. You can find application information here.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts are offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on the cohort; you can apply here
Eligibility: All high school students can apply to AI Scholars. Students who have either completed the AI Scholars program or have prior experience with Python can participate in the AI Fellowship program.
Veritas AI provides opportunities for students interested in learning about artificial intelligence. Started by Harvard researchers, the programs are led by instructors from top schools like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton. The AI Scholars program is a beginner-friendly, 10-session course that covers AI, machine learning, and data science through hands-on projects using real-world examples. If you’ve got some programming experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase is a more advanced option that you can consider. You’ll receive one-on-one mentorship from a university mentor to create a research project and get help preparing it for publication. You can see past student projects here.
3. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, Rockefeller University, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free, with an OMNY card or MetroCard for NYC transit. Need-based travel stipends are also available.
Cohort Size: 32 students
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older by the program’s start
The Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) at Rockefeller University offers an opportunity to collaborate on team-based research projects across various fields, including neuroscience, cancer biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, and computational biology. You’ll join a research team led by trainees from MSK, Rockefeller, and WCMC, working in RockEDU labs with dedicated space and resources. Each team mirrors a real lab setup, with one to three lead mentors supported by other scientists. Students will be split into four teams of 8–10 students, and each team will be matched with mentors based on shared research interests. You’ll participate in workshops, guest talks, lab work, elective classes, social events, and networking opportunities. You’ll also get to learn lab techniques, develop a research question, analyze your data, and present your project at a final symposium.
4. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free, but on-campus housing and meals cost $2,360.25, plus $500 for extra food | Stipend is provided (amount is unspecified)
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 or older and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program provides an opportunity to engage in STEM research. Participants can select up to three research areas or mentors that interest them. The options include biomedical informatics, biochemistry, civil engineering, astronomy, computer science, neurobiology, math, and additional fields. Once selected, you’ll join a research group, work with a faculty mentor, and get experience with lab techniques, experimental design, and research methods. Depending on your project, you might analyze bioinformatics data, work on machine learning algorithms, or build statistical models for health research. You’ll get to write a research abstract and present a poster at a final symposium. The program also allows you to participate in lab tours, faculty lectures, workshops, and events.
5. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program
Location: Remote workshops and in-person lab research at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Participants earn a $1,000 stipend
Cohort Size: Around 70 students participated in the program last year
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: NYC residents who are rising high school juniors or seniors
NYU’s ARISE is a 10-week summer program that provides hands-on STEM research experience. During the first four weeks, you’ll participate in virtual workshops covering research skills, safety, and college writing. Following this, you’ll dedicate six weeks to working in one of over 80 NYU research labs, with a focus on fields such as bioengineering, computer science, AI, chemical engineering, molecular engineering, robotics, or machine learning. You’ll assist with ongoing research, complete approximately 120 hours of lab work, and develop your public speaking and communication skills. You’ll also present your work at the NYU Colloquium and the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium. The program also offers assistance with college applications, mentorship, and access to a network of internship, job, and research opportunities.
6. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Cohort Size: 24 students
Dates: June 23 – July 25; in-person orientation takes place on June 20
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Low-income, first-generation college-bound high school juniors living in Northern California
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) offers an opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. You’ll attend workshops, lectures, and networking events at Stanford Medicine, and work on a group research project about public health disparities, sharing your findings through a paper, presentation, and poster. Past topics have looked at low birth weights among African American mothers, issues like racial differences in COVID-19 outcomes, and language access in hospitals. You’ll also shadow healthcare professionals, intern at Stanford Hospital, and learn about different careers in medicine. The program includes weekly sessions on public health and research methods, along with tours and demonstrations from various departments, including Anesthesiology, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Life Flight, and Ophthalmology.
7. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Location: Multiple sites across the San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free | High school students earn a $3,000 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors from underrepresented backgrounds in science who have completed at least one year of math and biology, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and will be at least 16 by June 1
The UCSF Summer Student Research Program provides hands-on experience in biomedical research through a 9-week placement at a local lab, clinic, or community health site. You will be matched with a mentor who will guide your project, based on your interests and their expertise. You can request to participate in lab research, clinical research, or community and health research. The program, affiliated with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, offers seminars, training sessions, workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities for students interested in STEM or health sciences. You’ll also join journal clubs, attend weekly talks by UCSF PhDs and MDs, and take part in social activities. It all culminates in a research symposium in early August.
8. Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; need-based scholarships are available for students who require extra financial support | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Each year, over 400 students apply, but fewer than 20 are accepted
Dates: June 16 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Local high school students who have at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA, are 16 or older, live in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Santa Clara, or San Mateo counties, and have some background in biology, programming, or chemistry
Stanford’s Genomics Research Internship Program (GRIPS) is an 8-week summer program for local school students interested in computational genetics and genomics. During the program, you will spend about 20 hours a week working in a research lab on a genomics project, with support from a mentor. Prior coding experience, especially in Python, R, or Java, can help you get more out of the program and will factor into your lab placement. Along with participating in lab work, you’ll join weekly sessions with cohort members, attend seminars and career panels on biomedical research, and meet regularly with your research mentor.
9. UCSF SEP’s High School Intern Program (HIP)
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $3,200 for part-time or $4,500 for full-time work
Cohort Size: 25 students
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending a San Francisco charter school or an SFUSD high school
The SEP High School Intern Program offers an eight-week summer opportunity to gain hands-on experience in biomedical research at UCSF laboratories. You’ll be paired with a scientist who’ll guide you through a research project based on your interests. When matching you with a lab, the program coordinators consider your preferences, availability, and location. You’ll work with your mentor on a project in fields like immunology, developmental biology, molecular biology, cancer, neuroscience, stem cells, or infectious diseases. Along the way, you can strengthen your science communication skills, meet researchers, and get help with college preparation, including help with personal statements, transcripts, financial aid, resumes, and campus tours.
10. Environmentor (RISE) Science Research Mentorship Program
Location: RISE, Far Rockaway, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn up to $1,200 for their participation and research work
Cohort Size: 12–15 students
Dates: June 5 – August 15
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 who live on or go to school near the Rockaway Peninsula can apply; priority is given to past fall or spring Shore Corps participants
Environmentor is a science research mentorship program for students interested in environmental work. You’ll be paired with a scientist from a local university or research institution and work on a project in areas like conservation biology, environmental science, marine biology, wetland restoration, or animal physiology. The program begins with orientations and workshops in June, followed by six weeks in July and August. You’ll meet four days a week to work on your project with your mentor. Most projects take place around Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway shoreline and might involve monitoring air quality, tracking dolphin biodiversity, restoring salt marshes, or studying sea turtle strandings. You’ll also receive water safety and CPR training, community service hours, and hands-on experience through activities such as surfing, biking, and kayaking.
11. YES in THE HEIGHTS Program
Location: Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Participants are paid for eight weeks
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive; last year, only 1% of high school applicants and 20% of college applicants were accepted
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: December 13
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and part of groups underrepresented in biomedical fields, as defined by NIH Guidelines
The YES in THE HEIGHTS program is an 8-week internship designed to boost STEM engagement among underrepresented high school and college students. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, it provides practical research experience focusing on cancer and health disparities. Participants are paired with a faculty mentor aligned with their interests and will engage in cancer research projects. The internship spans two summers and includes an orientation, training in scientific and professional skills, and support in creating an Individual Development Plan. You will work full-time, approximately 35 hours per week. You’ll also write a scientific abstract, and if you return for a second summer, you’ll get to present your work.
12. Stanford Young Investigators
Location: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Each year, only 6 to 30 scholars are selected from a pool of 175 to over 300 applicants
Dates: Internships begin on the third Tuesday in June and end with a final presentation on the first Thursday in August
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who’ve completed at least one year of high school and live and attend school within 25 miles of campus in the San Francisco Bay Area
Stanford Young Investigators offers an opportunity to engage in hands-on research in labs on Stanford’s main campus, with a focus on sustainability, Earth, and environmental sciences. You’ll work closely with grad students, postdocs, and lab managers, and experience real research while building a connection to Stanford and preparing for college. Each week includes lab tours, field trips, and group discussions around sustainability topics. Research areas cover Oceans, Environment & Earth Systems (climate challenges), Earth & Planetary Sciences (planetary history), Energy (energy resources), Social Sciences (how human behavior affects sustainability), Agriculture (sustainable practices at the Stanford Educational Farm), and History of Life & Biodiversity (mass extinctions and environmental change).
13. Stanford University’s Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Local rising high school juniors and seniors who will be 16 or older by the program’s start date
The Stanford IFSS Program offers an opportunity to explore advanced chemical research through hands-on lab experience, especially helpful if you haven’t had much access to opportunities like this before. Over two weeks, you’ll shadow multiple graduate students in Stanford’s chemistry department and get to study and explore various research projects. Instead of focusing on one individual project, you’ll rotate between different labs. This setup provides a broader view of the field and offers an opportunity to learn about different scientific topics and techniques. You’ll get to work with lab equipment, build new skills, try out experimental methods, and understand the science behind the experiments. You’ll also get to connect with graduate students and explore a variety of chemistry topics.
14. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free, with a $25 application fee | Students earn a $750 stipend after completing their research project report
Cohort Size: 12 students
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, graduating this year or next, and who will be at least 17 years old when the program begins
Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program offers a seven-week research opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor, conduct hands-on research, and take part in weekly seminars, discussions, field trips, and social events. You will have the opportunity to explore a subject and develop insights into college-level research. The research areas encompass Biology, Cancer Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, History, Mechanical Engineering (focusing on Cancer Bioimaging), and Physics. Some past projects have involved building 3D brain visualization tools, studying microbes in concrete, using passive radar for secure sensing, exploring violin gesture recognition with radar, and managing storage in decentralized IoT systems. You can explore examples of past research projects here.
15. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME (high school students)
Cost/Stipend: Free | Participants earn a $6,500 stipend
Cohort Size: Around 40 students
Dates: May 31 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school seniors who are at least 18 years old, have finished 12th grade by the time the program begins, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Summer Student Program offers practical experience in genetics and genomics research, emphasizing lab work, scientific communication, and professional growth. Participants will contribute to an ongoing research project under the guidance of a scientific mentor. They will also have the opportunity to design and execute their own independent project, including data collection, analysis, and documentation of results. The program culminates in a final symposium where students present their work to an audience of researchers, peers, and family members. The program also offers training in research ethics, science communication, and professional development. When you’re not in the lab, you’ll have the chance to visit local spots like New York, Boston, or Acadia National Park, depending on where you’re based.
16. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: Free, with a $25 application fee (waivable based on financial need); housing and transportation are not covered | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate: Around 10%
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: For computer lab internships (remote, in-person, or hybrid), students must be at least 15 years old by the program start date. For in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships, students must be at least 16 years old
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) offers an 8-week research opportunity to work with George Mason University faculty researchers. You will build skills in scientific writing, communication, research tools, and problem-solving while exploring various STEM careers. Internships can be in-person, remote, or hybrid, depending on your project and mentor. Research areas include Math, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Game Design, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Digital Innovation, Data Science, and more. For example, if you’re interested in math or science, you could work on topics such as scientific computing, protein design, mathematical modeling, biochemistry, aquatic invertebrate ecology, biophysics, or other related fields. You can review past projects from different departments here.
17. Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (ICLEM) by JBEI
Location: Virtual and in person at Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free, but students must arrange their own transportation | Students earn a $3,000 stipend
Cohort Size: 8–10 students
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Economically disadvantaged high school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 years old by June 16, have passed Algebra 1 and Biology, live in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County, and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher
JBEI’s iCLEM provides a paid opportunity for high school sophomores and juniors from low-income backgrounds. Before beginning the 6-week in-person program at the Emeryville labs, participants will attend a virtual prep week for required training and orientation. Students will gain practical experience by collaborating on a microbiology research project with JBEI scientists. Along the way, you’ll explore topics like microbiology, molecular biology, synthetic biology, biochemistry, and biofuels. You will have the opportunity to attend workshops on science communication, college preparation, and career exploration. You’ll connect with UC science majors, high school teachers, and research mentors, and take field trips to pharmaceutical and biotech companies to see real-world applications of your work.
18. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Several lab locations across the country
Cost/Stipend: Free | New participants get a $4,000 stipend, and returning participants receive $4,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: < 10%; 265 high school students participated last year
Dates: 8-week summer internship, with optional 2-week extension
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older, U.S. citizens, and have completed at least 9th grade, including graduating seniors, can apply. Your selected lab may have extra requirements.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) offers an 8-week opportunity to work on real research projects with Navy scientists and engineers at the Department of Navy labs. Each year, approximately 300 students are chosen to join one of over 38 labs nationwide. You may list up to three labs on your application, and you’ll be matched with a project aligned with your interests. Selection criteria include your grades, research interests, recommendation letters, and personal statement. Projects span a range of fields, including engineering, computer science, meteorology, mathematics, chemistry, oceanography, physics, biology, astronomy, and more. For example, at FRCSE in Florida, you could explore how aircraft maintenance and repairs happen in an industrial setting, while at the CNMOC in Mississippi, you might get to study the ocean floor and space.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
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 – Rockefeller University