Interested in robotics but don’t know where to start? Consider a research program in the field!
Robotics research programs for high school students offer the chance to work on advanced projects that go far beyond classroom robotics clubs or standard science courses. They allow you to experiment with real hardware and software, practice coding, and test ideas in structured lab environments. These experiences also build skills that matter in both research and industry, like technical writing, project documentation, and problem-solving under deadlines.
What makes robotics research programs for high school students stand out is the direct access they provide to professional research settings. Many are hosted by universities, tech institutes, or labs where faculty and graduate students guide you through projects in automation, machine learning, or mechanical design. You can expect to work with coding frameworks like Python and ROS, hardware such as Arduino or microcontrollers, and tools like CAD and simulation platforms.
To help you find the right fit, here’s a curated list of 15 robotics research programs for high school students.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Robotics Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type | Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort: Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring | Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
In this program, you work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor to design and carry out an independent robotics research project. Topics may include autonomous navigation, robotic arm kinematics, swarm robotics, or AI-driven control systems. You use tools such as Python, MATLAB, or ROS depending on your project, and you also learn how to write a formal technical paper. The final deliverable is a university-level research paper that applies robotics concepts to a specific problem. This structure gives you both academic guidance and the freedom to pursue your own research questions. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Veritas AI – Robotics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program | Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
At Veritas AI, you explore how artificial intelligence methods are applied to robotics. Projects may cover reinforcement learning, computer vision for robotic control, or motion-planning algorithms. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program, where they are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase, where students work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) – Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June – August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Early to Mid–December
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who meet the required test scores | Open to U.S. as well as international students
RSI begins with advanced coursework in mathematics, computer science, and physics before you transition into independent research. If you focus on robotics, you might study mechanical design, control theory, or AI-based robotics. Technical work often involves coding in MATLAB or Python, CAD modelling, or using simulation platforms such as Gazebo. You conclude the program by writing a formal research paper and presenting your findings at the RSI symposium. The pace and expectations are comparable to graduate-level research.
4. University of Maryland – Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) Pathways Program
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free | Paid hourly wage
Dates: Multiple cohorts aligned with academic terms | Check here for more details
Application Deadline: Two weeks before the start of the term
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students with faculty mentor endorsement
At MRC, you join a faculty lab and spend up to 10 hours per week, contributing to active robotics projects. Areas of research include motion planning, robotic perception, human-robot collaboration, and sensor integration. You gain experience with coding in C++ and Python, simulation environments, and prototyping tools. As part of the program, you produce technical documentation or reports based on your lab work. Faculty and graduate mentors provide structured guidance while you work independently on defined tasks.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students (GPA 3.67+)
HARP lets you pursue independent robotics research under the supervision of a PhD mentor. Depending on your focus, you might explore machine learning for robotics, mechatronics, or autonomous systems. Projects usually involve coding in Python or MATLAB, simulations, and literature review. Your final output is a 20-page academic paper that demonstrates your ability to structure and defend a research argument. You also receive a certificate, detailed feedback and recommendation letters based on your performance upon completion.
6. University of Wisconsin – Madison Engineering Summer Program (ESP)
Location: UWisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
Cost: Free
Dates: June 24–28 (Virtual) | July 12–August 1 (Residential)
Application Deadline: May
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors with a GPA of 3.0 or more | Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
ESP introduces you to engineering problem-solving through coursework in math, physics, and chemistry, alongside practical labs. In the robotics track, you design and test prototypes while applying control theory and engineering design principles. You use CAD software, basic circuit design tools, and coding platforms to build functioning systems. Team-based labs give you practice in engineering workflows such as design iteration and prototype testing, while industry site visits show how robotics applies to healthcare and manufacturing.
7. New York University (NYU) – Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York
Stipend: $1,000
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th graders attending NYC schools | NYC residency required
ARISE begins with training in lab safety, scientific ethics, and technical writing before moving into lab work. If placed in robotics, you might focus on perception systems, biomedical robotics, or automation research. You log around 120 hours of lab experience, coding in Python or MATLAB, and working with simulation platforms or experimental setups. You finish the program with a formal presentation at NYU and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
8. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Location: Virtual or in-person at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (<$150k income) | $2,350 otherwise
Dates: July 7 – August 3 (after online prerequisites)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 9–11
BWSI requires you to complete online courses in Python, ROS, and Linux before starting the in-person session. On campus, you join a team project such as the RACECAR Grand Prix, where you design autonomous vehicles using ROS, embedded systems, and computer vision algorithms. You integrate sensors, implement SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and test under competition settings. Each project ends with a technical demonstration and presentation to faculty and industry mentors.
9. George Mason University – Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (Remote, Hybrid, or In-person)
Cost: $25 application fee (waivers available)
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are 15 years or older (16+ for wet labs)
ASSIP gives you a research placement in fields like multirobot coordination, human-robot interaction, or bioinspired robotics. You might program in Python or C++, design and test robotic systems, and document your work in lab notebooks. CAD design and machine learning methods may be part of specific projects. The program emphasizes skills in scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving, while also offering opportunities to contribute to publications or present at conferences. It ends with a research symposium where you can share your findings with peers and other researchers.
10. U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) – High School Internships
Location: Various labs across the U.S., including the U.S. Army Research Laboratories
Cost: Free | Stipends may be paid (varies by location and project duration)
Dates: Varies by location
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: U.S. high school students | Must be a U.S. citizen
Through AEOP, you work in a research lab under the supervision of scientists and engineers. Robotics-focused projects may involve autonomous vehicles, perception algorithms, or machine-human interface systems. Depending on the lab, you might use tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or hardware testbeds for robotic systems. You are expected to deliver a research report or presentation summarising your project outcomes.
11. Evodyne Robotics Internship Program
Location: Evodyne Robotics Academy, Mountain View, CA and Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+) who completed Evodyne’s Emergence Track | Strong proficiency in at least one of the following: CAD modeling, Advanced Python programming, Soldering and electronics, Web development, or AI/Deep learning toolkits
At Evodyne, you contribute to projects on quadruped robots, robotic arms, or educational robotics platforms. You can also get an opportunity to work with existing designs like EvoDog and EvoArm. You will be involved in CAD design, 3D printing, the Ubuntu system, coding in Python or C++, and using ROS for robotic control. Technical tasks can include balance control, gear design, or computer vision module integration. Some interns also assist as teaching assistants for robotics camps, supporting younger students.
12. Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) – Summer Internship
Location: Danville, VA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June – Early August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: High school graduates entering college
The IALR internship places you on robotics and automation projects connected to agriculture, sensing, or manufacturing. You might build plant imaging systems with computer vision, automate workflows using robotics arms, or integrate IoT devices for smart sensing. Professional development workshops also train you in teamwork, documentation, and project management.
13. University of Texas at Austin – Academy for Robotics
Location: UT Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100 | Scholarships available
Dates: June 15–20 | June 22–27
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
This one-week residential program immerses you in building and programming Bot’n Roll One robots. You learn C++, Arduino, and Linux fundamentals while integrating sensors and motors into your robot. PID control methods are applied to improve performance, and final testing is done through a competitive robotics challenge. Documentation and technical evaluation form part of the program requirements.
14. Tufts University – Engineering Design Lab
Location: Tufts University, MA
Cost: $4,225 (commuter) | $5,750 (residential) | Additional $200 Materials Fee
Dates: July 8–18 or July 20–Aug 1
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
The Engineering Design Lab focuses on robotics as part of open-ended engineering challenges. You use Tufts’ Nolop Makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronic prototyping equipment and hardware platforms such as Raspberry Pi and GoPiGo3 robots. Teams work with modelling and coding platforms to design robotic systems that address specific problems. At the end, each project is presented with prototypes and reports evaluated by faculty and peers.
15. NYU Tandon – Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC)
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $2,500 + additional fees
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 17–28 | July 8–19 | July 29–August 9
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
SPARC introduces you to robotics through Arduino-based projects combined with sensor integration. You work on electronics, coding logic (loops, conditionals, functions), and mechanical design basics. Projects culminate in a robotics competition where you test your systems against specific tasks. The program provides structured entry-level training in mechatronics and coding.
Image source – Tufts University