11 Robotics Research Programs for High School Students
Are you a high school student passionate about robotics and eager to gain hands-on research experience? Research programs provide unparalleled opportunities to collaborate with experienced researchers and mentors while exploring advanced technologies in university laboratories and government research facilities.
Whether your interests lie in artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, or computer vision, these 11 programs present pathways to nurture your enthusiasm for robotics. Each program offers unique benefits, from direct access to cutting-edge equipment to mentorship by leading experts in the field.
1. Yale University - Social Robotics Lab
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Cost: There is currently no information available on the website.
Application Deadline: Applications will open mid-February 2025.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for 6 weeks between June and August.
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior and senior years who are at least 16 years of age at the start of the internship are eligible to apply.
The Yale Social Robotics Lab offers a competitive summer research internship program for high school students passionate about robotics and social interaction. This intensive six-week program allows selected participants to work within a professional laboratory environment, aligned with ongoing research initiatives.
The program emphasizes a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, enabling you to develop essential research methodologies while contributing to current projects. You will collaborate closely with researchers and laboratory staff, gaining valuable exposure to the field of social robotics. This immersive research experience fosters technical expertise and scientific inquiry skills in a professional setting.
2. Evodyne Academy - Summer Advanced AI Robotics Program
Location: Virtual or in-person at Evodyne Robotics Academy, Mountain View, CA.
Cost: There is currently no information available on the website.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: The program runs multiple sessions throughout June and July.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
The Evodyne Advanced Robotics Program is a four-week summer research experience for high school students focused on advancing robotics expertise. You will engage in professional-grade robotics development, combining theoretical foundations with practical applications to design and build sophisticated quadruped robots. The Genesis Track integrates mechanical engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence, guiding you through the construction of complex robotic systems. You will work with advanced technologies such as Robot Operating System (ROS), OpenCV, and transformer-based AI architectures, mastering professional tools and methodologies.
The program offers both in-person sessions at the Mountain View facility and remote participation via synchronized online classes. Students collaborate with expert roboticists, gaining hands-on experience in mechatronics, advanced programming, and 3D design, culminating in tangible robotic projects.
3. UT Austin - Academy for Robotics
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Cost: $2,100. Limited need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Registration for the 2025 program opens in February 2025.
Program Dates: Session 1: June 15 - 20, 2025 | Session 2: June 22 - 27, 2025.
Eligibility: High school students entering 10th-12th grade are eligible to apply.
The University of Texas Computer Science Summer Academies offer an engaging program for high school students to explore robotics fundamentals. You will be introduced to core concepts such as programming, hardware integration, and sensor technology through interactive lessons and practical projects. You will also build and code robots, participate in friendly competitions, and experience campus life while connecting with university students. This program, with a 10:1 student to mentor ratio, provides a dynamic introduction to robotics engineering in an academic environment.
4. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: June 22 - August 2, 2025.
Eligibility: High school juniors are eligible to apply.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides a research opportunity through their partnership with the Research Science Institute. This selective six-week summer initiative combines intensive scientific coursework with guided research experience, allowing students to develop their investigative capabilities.
By working directly with distinguished faculty members, you will learn to navigate the complete research cycle, beginning with theoretical frameworks and progressing through experimental design and implementation. Each student also undertakes an independent investigation, with a final presentation of their findings within MIT's community. Many of these projects, including robotics, advance to publication, helping students establish early contributions within their chosen fields of study.
5. University of Maryland - MRC Pathways Program
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Application deadline: The 2nd Monday of the Fall, Spring, or Summer I Terms.
Program Dates: TBA for 2025 Pathways Program.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
The Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) Pathways Program offers paid research internships for high school students eager to explore robotics engineering. Under the guidance of MRC faculty, you will gain practical experience while contributing to current research projects. Students develop a broad skill set that includes programming, robotics fundamentals, and professional competencies. The program also features visits to robotics facilities and industry sites, providing you with insights into various applications of robotics and potential career pathways.
6. New York University - Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost: $2,500.
Application Deadline: May 1.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for two weeks.
Session 1: June 17 - June 28.
Session 2: July 8 - July 19.
Session 3: July 29 - August 9.
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th high school students who have successfully completed Algebra 2 (or equivalent) and have had some computer programming experience are eligible to apply.
The New York University Tandon School of Engineering provides an immersive introduction to robotics engineering through their residential summer initiative. During the program, you will develop foundational engineering competencies through structured laboratory sessions and practical workshops, emphasizing creative problem-solving approaches to technical challenges.
You will also undertake the construction of two autonomous robotic systems, gaining practical experience with professional engineering tools and development platforms. This hands-on approach allows students to apply theoretical concepts while developing technical proficiency in a supportive academic environment. The program ends with an integrative engineering challenge, where you will have the chance to demonstrate their robots' capabilities in a sophisticated mobility and manipulation demonstration.
7. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: July 8 – August 4 (tentative, based on previous years).
Eligibility: High school juniors are eligible to apply.
The Beaver Works Summer Institute offers an intensive four-week STEM program featuring specialized courses in robotics and advanced technology. Each course emphasizes hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and real-world applications. The program is particularly distinguished by its rigorous technical curriculum and diverse student community, fostering collaboration and providing invaluable learning experiences. Among the highlighted programs are:
Remote Sensing for Disaster Response: You will apply programming skills to analyze geospatial data and imagery for emergency management scenarios.
Serious Games Development with Artificial Intelligence (SGAI): This course explores game design principles and ethical AI decision-making through collaborative team projects.
Unmanned Air System-Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAS-SAR): You will learn to build complete radar imaging systems, from hardware assembly to data processing.
8. Northeastern University - Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025.
Program Dates: June 23 – July 31, 2025.
Eligibility: High school students entering 12th grade in the fall who live and study at a Massachusetts high school are eligible to apply.
Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program (YSP) offers high school seniors from Massachusetts the opportunity to engage in university-level research projects. Students work in research laboratories under faculty supervision, contributing to innovative initiatives in fields including robotics. The program blends hands-on laboratory experience with broader STEM career exploration. You will visit leading technology companies and research facilities, gaining insight into the practical applications of their work. Through collaboration with university researchers and graduate students, you will refine your technical skills and gain a comprehensive understanding of academic and professional pathways in science and engineering.
9. National Institute of Standards and Technology - SHIP Research
Location: NIST Campuses in Boulder, CO and Gaithersburg, MD.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025.
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8, 2025.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers its eight-week Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP), providing students with research opportunities across six specialized laboratories. These include the Communications Technology, Engineering, Information Technology, Material Measurement, Neutron Research, and Physical Measurement labs. Students interested in robotics often collaborate within the Engineering or Information Technology divisions, contributing to projects in artificial intelligence, computer security, and human-computer interaction. Internship tasks include cutting-edge research on network modeling, cryptography, machine learning, and data analysis.
10. Department of Navy - Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: There are multiple lab locations to choose from across the country.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. New participants receive a stipend of $4,000, while returning participants receive $4,500.
Application Deadline: November 1 (tentative, based on previous years).
Program Dates: The internship typically runs for eight weeks in the summer months, with a possible extension of up to two additional weeks.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old are eligible to apply.
The Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) offers select high school students an eight-week summer research experience at naval laboratories nationwide. Working alongside leading scientists and engineers, you will gain practical experience in fields such as robotics, physics, aerodynamics, materials science, and more. This prestigious program annually accepts approximately 300 students across 38 laboratory locations, providing specialized technical training and mentorship. Many SEAP alumni pursue careers within the Department of Navy, benefiting from the program’s focus on professional development and technical expertise.
11. Army Educational Outreach Program - High School Research Internship
Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state. Students may select their preferred location.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Application deadline: TBA for the summer 2025 program.
Program Dates: The program typically runs in the summer.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
The U.S. Army Research Laboratories Summer Program enables students to engage in cutting-edge research at university laboratories or Department of Defense facilities. You will work closely with experienced scientists on innovative projects utilizing advanced laboratory equipment and methodologies. Students are paired with professional mentors who guide them through meaningful research initiatives addressing national challenges. For those interested in robotics, the program offers specialized opportunities in programming, automation, and related fields, with placements at institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania.
Bonus Programs
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program — Robotics track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Starting $2,990. Financial aid is offered.
Program Dates: 12-week to 1-year-long programs are offered throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4 are eligible to apply.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as robotics, physics, data science, computer science, engineering, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Varies! Check the FAQs page for more info.
Program Dates:
Winter seminar: December 2, 2024 onwards.
Spring seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards.
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Date: Varies depending on the cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) are eligible to apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as robotics, data science, machine learning, chemistry, neuroscience, 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 and the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university 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.
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 and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Veritas AI - Robotics Track
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
$2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program.
$5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase.
$6,900 for both.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the cohort.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, established and managed by Harvard graduate students, offers specialized programs for high school students who are interested in artificial intelligence and its applications. The AI Scholars program is a great fit if you're just starting with AI, robotics, machine learning, or data science. This 10-session boot camp introduces you to key AI and data science concepts while allowing you to work on practical projects that can involve robotics applications.
For students seeking a more in-depth and advanced experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase is a strong option. In this program, you'll work one-on-one with expert mentors from leading universities on personalized research projects. If robotics is your area of interest, you'll have the flexibility to pursue high-level research in this field, developing solutions that integrate AI and robotics. The program also supports your work through access to a publication team that helps you get your research published in high school journals. The fellowship encourages interdisciplinary exploration, so whether you're interested in robotics, finance, medicine, or other fields, you can merge AI with your chosen area of study.
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