If you’re a high school student thinking seriously about medicine or biomedical research, summer is a great time to go beyond the classroom. Medical research programs let you explore real-world science through lab work, clinical exposure, and mentorship. If you do a summer medical research program, you have plenty of time to devote to building a strong research skillset. Not everyone chooses to do research during the school year, and a summer program is a good way to understand the field better without having to juggle academics/schoolwork with it.
Whether you’re interested in public health, neuroscience, genetics, or biochemistry, these programs offer the chance to build technical skills and better understand how research connects to patient care.
In this blog, we’ll look at 13 summer medical research programs for high school students!
13 Summer Medical Research Programs for High School Students
1. Summer Student Program – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 14 years or older by June, have a 3.5 grade point average in science subjects, are legally authorized to work in the U.S., and live within 25 miles of the main campus
Through the Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, you spend eight weeks in a lab environment working on a cancer-related research project. Depending on your placement, you may study areas such as immunology, pharmacology, structural biology, or computational biology, while being guided by a mentor, such as a graduate student or research technician. You take part in enrichment sessions, including journal clubs, talks, and lab meetings that expose you to the larger scientific community. At the end of the summer, you present your findings at a poster session to peers and faculty. The program has a competitive acceptance rate, with about 20 high school students selected each year, and provides a stipend for your participation.
2. Broad Scholars Summer Program
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $3,600
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors who are US citizens, Permanent Residents, or non-US citizens with employment authorization (i.e. DACA), attend a high school in MA within commuting distance to the Broad, and have earned a B or higher in science and math classes
The Broad Summer Scholars Program places you in a Broad Institute lab for six weeks, where you carry out original research in areas such as infectious diseases, cancer biology, chemical biology, or psychiatric disorders. You are matched with a scientist who guides your project, while also attending skill-building workshops, career talks, and professional development sessions. To support your learning, tutoring is available to help you work through challenging scientific concepts tied to your research. The program includes community-building activities, social events, and a stipend of $3,600, along with transportation support if needed.
3. UChicago Medicine – ResearcHStart
Location: Various colleges in Chicago
Stipend: Taxable stipend of $3,000
Dates: Second week of June – first week of August
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+) residing in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
ResearcHStart is a summer program that brings high school students from Chicago and Urbana-Champaign into research labs to study cancer from multiple perspectives. Over the course of the summer, you work full-time on a lab project in fields like immunology, pharmacology, bioengineering, or health disparities. The program combines practical lab training with lectures from faculty and workshops that build professional and technical skills. You also explore the social impact of cancer research, learning how scientific discoveries affect both communities and individuals. To conclude, you present your findings at a symposium to peers, mentors, and researchers.
4. Houston Methodist – High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
At Houston Methodist, the High School Emerging Researcher Experience introduces you to translational research by placing you in a hospital-based lab under the guidance of faculty mentors. During the summer, you participate in designing experiments, applying laboratory techniques, and analyzing data, while also developing skills in scientific writing and communication. The program includes career development workshops, team events, and opportunities to attend seminars alongside college-level interns. Each student completes a mentored project, culminating in a final symposium where they present their findings.
5. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) Program
Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, NJ
Cost: Free
Dates: June 25 – August 27
Application deadline: March 8 (rolling)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as graduated seniors who are rising freshman undergraduates
If you are interested in a longer-term commitment to cancer research, the Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science program spans two summers, with about 10 weeks of lab work each year under the guidance of faculty mentors. You’ll take on tasks such as reviewing scientific literature, designing experiments, and interpreting data, while also learning how cancer affects communities through discussions on health disparities. During the school year, you attend monthly meetings focused on professional skills and health equity topics, ensuring your engagement continues beyond the lab. A key feature of RUYES is its emphasis on community involvement, where students are referred to as “community scientists” and encouraged to connect their research to broader public health issues. Each cycle concludes with an annual symposium.
6. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 1 – August 15
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years of age by the start of the program and reside in one of the following cities or towns in MA: Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, and Quincy
Through Tufts University’s TUBERS program, you spend six weeks in a biomedical engineering lab, contributing to ongoing research on topics such as cellular systems, tissues, or organ-level studies. With guidance from faculty and graduate mentors, you practice experimental methods, design and test hypotheses, and work through data analysis. Daily lab involvement introduces you to the full research process, from planning experiments to interpreting results, giving you a close look at how engineering and medicine overlap. You’ll also share your findings in a formal presentation, with some students choosing to use their projects in science fairs or competitions.
7. Laboratory Learning Program – Princeton University
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer (exact dates vary)
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents enrolled in a US high school who are 16 years old by June 15. Specific research opportunities may have additional eligibility criteria
Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program gives you the chance to spend 5–6 weeks working full-time in a research lab, where you are matched with a project in science or engineering that aligns with the lab’s current focus. Past projects have included genetic studies, renewable energy modeling, and biomedical research, but the specific area varies depending on availability each summer. You work alongside faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, gaining exposure to the methods and tools used in professional labs. By participating, you contribute directly to active investigations while following the structure of a standard research project. At the end of the program, you submit a two-page summary outlining the goals, approach, and outcomes of your work.
8. Zuckerman Institute – Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Winter/Spring training + 7–10 weeks summer research
Application deadline: Applications typically open in October
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in New York City and enrolled in a partner school (preference is given to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx)
The BRAINYAC program at Columbia University connects you with neuroscientists who guide you through a summer research project in a Columbia laboratory. Over the course of several weeks, you conduct experiments, analyze findings, and build an understanding of how questions in brain science are addressed through lab work. Beyond research, you take part in workshops that build technical skills and sessions that connect you with peers who share an interest in neuroscience. At the conclusion, you have a research experience that mirrors the process followed by professional scientists, with opportunities for alumni to continue their work through fellowships or future internships.
9. Harvard Medical School – Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Boston/Cambridge high school juniors and seniors who will be over 16 years of age by June 30, are from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, have a GPA of 2.7+, and have completed courses in biology, algebra, and chemistry
Project Success at Harvard Medical School is a seven-week program that places you as a paid research intern in a Harvard-affiliated laboratory, where you work on biomedical projects under the supervision of scientists and clinicians. The experience emphasizes practical lab training while also exposing you to research ethics, data analysis, and the day-to-day process of scientific investigation. Weekly seminars introduce you to topics like public health and career development, while site visits to biotech companies and hospitals show you how medical research translates into practice. At the end of the summer, you present your research experience and also receive a stipend.
10. High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences – MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, TX
Cost: Free; $6,800 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who will be over 18 years of age by the program’s start and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders
This highly competitive program at MD Anderson Cancer Center admits only about 12 students each year for a 10-week, full-time summer research experience in Houston. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and placed in a biomedical laboratory, where you contribute to projects while gaining familiarity with lab methods and scientific reasoning. Throughout the program, you attend seminars led by MD Anderson researchers and take part in structured activities like abstract writing, poster presentations, and elevator pitch competitions. You’ll also get to present your work to faculty and peers, and a stipend of $6,800 will be awarded for your summer participation.
11. Massachusetts General Hospital – Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates living or studying in Massachusetts during the program who have work authorization in the U.S.
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital combines training in research with focused mentorship in neuroscience and clinical neurology. It begins with a multi-day boot camp to prepare you for work in a professional lab, covering safety, ethics, and expectations. You then join a lab with a peer, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, to participate in an active research project. Regular seminars led by neurologists and neuroscientists deepen your knowledge of the field while also introducing you to diverse role models. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your research to the hospital community, and support continues afterward through career advising and networking opportunities for alumni.
12. The Rockefeller University Hospital – Summer Science Research Program
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: No cost
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are age 16+ at program start
Through Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program, you spend seven weeks as part of a small cohort of 32 students working closely with PhD-level mentors and trainees. After an introductory week of training in laboratory skills, you join a research team that focuses on areas such as neuroscience, immunology, or genetics. Each group selects a research question, collects and analyzes data, and prepares findings for presentation. The program also includes electives and workshops that broaden your understanding of biomedical science and its connection to medical progress.
13. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Dates: June 3 – December 2
Application deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns counties in Florida with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
The SPARK Research Mentorship Program at Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus gives you the opportunity to work directly in biomedical research labs for at least 25 hours per week over the summer, with some projects extending into the school year. Under the guidance of a Mayo Clinic mentor, you can explore topics ranging from immunology and drug development to neuroscience and cancer biology. The program covers lab techniques, research ethics, and scientific reasoning, while also helping you see the clinical applications of biomedical discoveries. Many students use their projects to enter science fairs, with some earning recognition at regional or state levels.
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 – The Rockefeller University