Participating in a high school research mentorship program can offer high school students a solid opportunity to work on building advanced skills and gain early experience in a field of their choice (outside the classroom and traditional academics!). Apart from a prominent mentorship component, these programs help you get started with academic research, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and analyze data under the guidance of experienced mentors.
These skills are extremely important for anyone looking to build a college career in academic research or engage in advanced coursework to build their skill set. Additionally, admissions officers love students who go the extra mile to work on their skills in a field through research, especially through research mentorship programs.
Not only can you receive a stellar recommendation from your mentor through these programs, but you’ll also work on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills.
Here are 15 research mentorship programs for high school students!
1. Horizon’s Research Program
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative rresearch!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort.
Program Dates:
- Summer seminar — June 24, 2024 — September 2, 2024
- Fall seminar — October 23, 2024 — February 19, 2025
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
2. Veritas AI — AI Fellowship
Veritas AI is a tailored platform designed for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. Their programs emphasize collaborative learning, hands-on project development, and personalized 1-on-1 mentorship led by Harvard graduate students and alumni. At the core of Veritas AI's offerings is the AI Fellowship program, offering a 12–15-week journey for students to pursue independent AI research projects.
Proficiency in Python is preferred, with an alternative route through the AI Scholars program. This fellowship encourages interdisciplinary exploration, enabling students to integrate AI with various fields. Participants historically engage in groundbreaking AI research across domains like medicine, finance, environmental science, and education. Find examples of previous projects here.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Science
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $4,900 for the 12–15-week AI Fellowship | $4,700 for both. Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit prior experience with AI concepts or Python.
Founded by PhDs from Harvard and Oxford, Lumiere offers a highly selective research program tailored for high school students. As a research scholar, you will collaborate closely with a PhD mentor to craft an independent research paper. The program grants students the flexibility to delve into diverse disciplines, spanning social sciences, STEM, and humanities.
Its personalized, one-on-one approach ensures students not only stay informed about cutting-edge research developments but also enhance their technical skills, regardless of their current proficiency level. For those keen on interdisciplinary exploration, Lumiere presents an ideal opportunity to immerse oneself deeply in research.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences
Cost: Lumiere Individual Research Program — $2,800 | Lumiere Premium Research and Publication Program — $4,800 | Lumiere Research Fellowship— $8,400.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling, Cohort based. Applications for the summer fall are open till September 8, 2024. You can apply here!
Program Dates: The start date for the fall cohort is September 2024.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply!
With an acceptance rate below 5%, this competitive program offers high school students a rare opportunity to undertake a year-long astrophysics project alongside scientists from Harvard or the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (Cfa). Each year, a cohort of 10–16 students is grouped into 5–8 teams, receiving mentorship from Cfa Astrophysicists they dive deep into their research pursuits.
This research mentorship program in astrophysics has both virtual and in-person components, both of which include workshops, lectures, and a final research symposium. The symposium will require you to present your research project through a poster presentation - an outcome of the program that you can add to your resume and college applications!
Subject Areas: Astrophysics
Location: Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA. Can be virtual as well.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend is provided courtesy of the City of Cambridge.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2024 SRMP Cohort are closed but expected to open in May 2024 for the 2025 SRMP Cohort.
Program Dates: September — May
Eligibility: Must be a Cambridge Rindge and Latin School student, but they are looking to broaden the scope of their program.
The Laboratory Learning Program offers New Jersey high school students a full-time research immersion in sciences or engineering, actively participating in ongoing research programs. Under the close supervision of Princeton faculty and research staff, students engage in customized research opportunities tailored to fit the schedules of their mentors. It’s important to note that this program does not provide housing; accepted students are responsible for arranging their transport and accommodations.
For the Engineering track, 2024 research topics included “Large Language Model Applications in Environmental Sustainability,” leveraging advanced computational models to address environmental challenges. Meanwhile, the Natural Sciences track covered “Fossil Size Database: Analyzing the Animal Size Response to Past and Ongoing Climate Variability,” offering a deep dive into historical and current climate impacts on animal sizes. These projects promise immersive experiences at the forefront of scientific inquiry, driving impactful discoveries in their respective fields.
Subject areas: Engineering & Natural Sciences
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (commuter program for statewide residents).
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: The deadline for the 2024 program was March 15, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: 5–6 weeks over the summer. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students between the ages of 16–18 and be New Jersey residents.
The Research Science Institute stands as a solid program for high school students, celebrated for its global reach, rigorous curriculum, and affiliation with MIT. Its rigor and quality of mentorshipdraws a competitive applicant pool, with an acceptance rate as low as 5%. Participants are immersed in a comprehensive research experience, delving into projects of their choice under expert mentorship.
Following an intensive week of classes, you will engage in five weeks of guided research and laboratory work, culminating in a final presentation of your findings. This hands-on journey not only fosters deep scientific understanding but also underscores dedication and commitment, bolstering applications for college admissions.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free of cost, stipend provided
Application deadline: January for US citizens and March for international students (tentative, based on previous years)
Program Dates: 2 months between June and August (tentative, based on previous years).
Eligibility: High school juniors, including international students, are eligible to apply. Recommended scores are 740+ for PSAT Math, 700+ for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 33 for ACT Math, and 34 for ACT Verbal. If your scores are lower, you must provide other indicators of academic excellence.
The highly selective research program at Texas Tech University admits just 12 high school students each year, reflecting its rigorous standards with an acceptance rate of less than 3%. This program offers participants the opportunity to conduct in-depth research under the mentorship of esteemed faculty across a wide spectrum of disciplines. From nutritional science and computer science to mechanical engineering and history, students delve into real-world research projects that deepen their understanding and skills.
Engaging in this immersive experience not only provides invaluable hands-on learning but also positions participants as competitive candidates for college admissions. By actively contributing to meaningful research endeavors, students gain unique insights into academic inquiry and make a substantial impact on their academic and professional trajectories.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No application cost, stipend of $750 provided.
Application deadline: TBD for 2025
Program Dates: 7 weeks, typically from mid-June to August.
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years of age.
SIMR stands as a competitive and prestigious program where 50 high school students engage in a six-week research stint within Stanford labs alongside faculty, postdocs, and researchers. Participants delve into medically-oriented projects spanning bioengineering, stem cell research, genetics, neurobiology, immunology, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and cancer biology.
The program equips students with foundational skills in laboratory safety, techniques, and the intricacies of conducting rigorous research. Mentored by experts in state-of-the-art laboratories, participants embark on an immersive journey of experiential learning in medical research. Culminating in a poster presentation, students showcase their scientific findings, demonstrating their growth and contributions to the field.
Subject Areas: Medicine, biotechnology, diseases, and genomics.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend but all applicants must pay an application fee. Participants receive a minimum stipend of $500 for the program with students receiving a minimum of $1,500. Neither meals nor housing is provided.
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: 8 weeks, typically from June to August.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged at least 16 with U.S. citizenship or permanent residency are eligible to apply!
The High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) at the NIH presents a distinctive opportunity for 11th and 12th graders to immerse themselves in full-time research and data analysis alongside seasoned mentors. Students can explore a wide array of disciplines, spanning biomedical, social, and behavioral sciences.
The program is structured into two cohorts: HiSTEP, tailored for rising 12th graders, and HiSTEP 2.0, aimed at current high school seniors. With a competitive acceptance rate of just 15%, securing a spot in HS-SIP underscores its prestige and the invaluable hands-on research skills it offers students at the NIH.
Subject Areas: Social sciences, Behavioral sciences, Biomedical sciences
Location: NIH campuses across the country.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, $2,300 stipend per month
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025, typically in Feb
Program Dates: 8 weeks, typically from June to August
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors of high school who are at least 16 years old can apply.
The JHIBS 5-week virtual research program offers a specialized opportunity for talented high school students from underrepresented communities to delve into neurological sciences. Designed to promote inclusivity, participants engage in guided research under prominent researchers, gaining hands-on experience through projects, scientific seminars, and personal development sessions. Interactions with leading neuroscientists at JHU enrich the program, culminating in students presenting their research findings via oral or poster presentations, spotlighting their contributions to the field.
Subject Areas: Neuroscience
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Virtual interns receive a stipend of $500.
Application Deadline: March 1, every year.
Program Dates: 5 weeks, July 2024 — August 2024 (virtual)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from around the country are eligible to apply to the 5-week, virtual program.
RISE, a six-week summer program hosted at Boston University (BU), caters to scientifically inclined high school juniors across the nation. The program presents two distinct tracks: internship and practicum. In the internship track, students participate in hands-on research projects, collaborating closely with esteemed faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students.
Conversely, the practicum track emphasizes computational biology, offering a structured syllabus tailored for students who prefer a systematic approach to study. This track enables participants to explore the complexities of this specialized field in depth.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,100, room and board options range from $2,988 to $3,288. Attending students are required to pay a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit to secure a place in the program.
Application deadline: The application deadline for 2024 was Feb 14, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program dates: Jun 30 — Aug 9, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility:
- Applicants need to be entering their senior year of high school in the fall of 2024.
- Must be US citizens and legal permanent residents.
ARISE at NYU presents an opportunity for 10th and 11th graders from New York City. This seven-week summer program is completely free of charge. Throughout the program, participants immerse themselves in hands-on research alongside NYU’s esteemed faculty members, exploring dynamic fields such as computer science, machine learning, and robotics.
The program unfolds in two distinct phases: the initial two weeks feature immersive workshops, after which you’ll work closely with mentors in lab settings for 5 weeks. ARISE offers a unique chance to engage in college-level research, foster professional development, participate in colloquiums, and make substantial contributions to cutting-edge laboratories.
Subject Areas: Computer science, Machine learning, Robotics. You can view all subject areas over here!
Location: New York University Campus, NY (Specific Area depends on subject area/ lab choice.
Cost: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025, typically in March.
Program Dates: 7 weeks from June to August, tentatively based on the previous year’s schedule.
Eligibility: Rising juniors and rising seniors based in New York City are eligible to apply.
The Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program provides fellowships to bright high schoolstudents eager to pursue independent, mentored research projects in genetics and genomics. Each year, forty high school and undergraduate students are chosen to develop projects, conduct experiments, analyze data, and present their discoveries. Research focuses span bioinformatics, cancer, genomics, immunology, metabolic diseases, and other specialized areas.
Tailored to attract both high school and undergraduate students, the program offers a challenging academic environment and a rigorous application process. With a generous stipend and esteemed reputation, participating in the SSP offers a prestigious opportunity that can significantly bolster college applications.
Subject Areas: Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Cancer, Immunology, Metabolic Diseases
Location: The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine
Cost/Stipend: No cost, a $6,500 stipend is provided
Application deadline: TBD for 2025
Program Dates: 9 weeks, typically from June to August
Eligibility: Seniors who have completed 12th grade and are at least 18 years old can apply!
YSP offers Massachusetts high school juniors (soon-to-be seniors) a hands-on research opportunity within Northeastern University’s Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences departments. This six-week program, provided at no cost, immerses participants in laboratory research experiences and exposes them to various faculty projects.
Students acquire practical insights and contribute to ongoing research across diverse fields such as agent-based modeling, model compression algorithms, battery chemistry, and cancer therapies. The program facilitates direct collaboration with professors, participation in seminars spanning multiple engineering disciplines, and engagement in career counseling sessions.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: The deadline for the 2024 program was Mar 15th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: Typically 6 weeks from Jun — Aug, dates for 2025 TBD.
Eligibility:
- High school juniors who are based in Massachusetts are eligible.
- Strong academic credentials and a well-rounded balance of extra-curricular activities.
SPINWIP is an exciting 3-week virtual summer outreach program designed to ignite the passion of high school girls for physics. Exploring cutting-edge research areas such as quantum physics and astrophysics, the program also introduces participants to Python coding with no prior experience required in either field. Engaging in online lectures, collaborative group projects, and workshops on college planning and career development, students gain invaluable insights.
Mentorship opportunities with Stanford students and professors enrich the learning experience, providing guidance and support throughout the program. SPINWIP aims to inspire young women to delve into the frontiers of physics, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for their future academic and professional endeavors.
Subject Areas: Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: Application for the 2024 program has closed. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: July 8 to July 26, 2024. TBD for 2025
Eligibility: Female and gender minority students in 9th to 11th grade are encouraged to apply, regardless of their country of residence. Preference will be given to first-generation students, those from underrepresented backgrounds in physics, and rising seniors.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.