12 Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
Science research is a powerful way to explore your interests while building valuable skills for the future. For high school students passionate about biology, physics, environmental studies, or related fields, these programs provide hands-on experience with real-world applications, helping you deepen your understanding of complex topics.
Participating in a research opportunity is also an excellent way to stand out on college applications. These programs allow you to showcase your initiative, intellectual curiosity, and ability to engage with advanced academic concepts — all qualities that admissions committees value. Beyond academics, research opportunities connect you with mentors and peers, broadening your perspective and expanding your network.
Many of these programs are supported by prestigious organizations and offer free or low-cost options, making them accessible to students ready to take the next step in their scientific journey. To help you get started, we’ve compiled this list of 12 science research programs for high school students!
1. OMRF: Fleming Scholar Program
Location: OMRF, Oklahoma City, OK
Cost: No cost; scholars are paid $5,000 for the full program
Dates: June 3 – July 26, 2025
Application Deadline: Applications open in January and close in February 2025
Eligibility:
Oklahoma residents
At least 16 years of age.
Classified as a high school senior (graduating May 2024) or college freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time of application submission.
The Fleming Scholar Program, hosted by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), provides an extraordinary opportunity for high school seniors and college undergraduates to gain hands-on experience in biomedical research.
Participants work in state-of-the-art labs on individual research projects under the mentorship of senior OMRF scientists.
During the 8-week summer program, scholars contribute to innovative projects aimed at combating human diseases, gaining insights into real-world scientific challenges. Weekly seminars and social activities enhance the experience, culminating in a formal scientific seminar where scholars present their findings. Scholars also write a scientific paper summarizing their research, making this program a blend of academic and practical learning.
On the final day of the program, scholars give formal scientific seminars outlining the findings of their projects followed by a luncheon with lab and family members.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program |
$5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase |
$6,900 for both.
Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to 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. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP)
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: No cost; this is a paid internship however housing and transportation are not provided
Application deadline: January 15, 2025
Dates: June 23 – August 15, 2025
Eligibility: High school students from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ.
The MSAP is an intensive 8-week paid summer internship designed to immerse high school and undergraduate students in biomedical research. Hosted by the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, PA, the program emphasizes hands-on research experience, particularly for groups underrepresented in the sciences, including women, ethnic and racial minorities, and economically disadvantaged students.
MSAP apprentices work full-time (35 hours per week) with Monell scientists on independent research projects. Projects can cover topics like cloning olfactory receptors, developing non-lethal repellents, or studying air quality chemistry. The program includes lectures on scientific topics, public speaking, written communication, and ethical principles guiding human and animal research. Apprentices also learn about various careers in medicine and science.
MSAP is highly competitive, with approximately 200 applications received each year and only about 20 students selected.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Location: Virtual and in-person options
Stipend: $500 for virtual interns
Dates: The virtual program goes on for 5 weeks from July to August.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Eligibility: Applications for the virtual program are open to high school juniors or seniors in the U.S. with a strong academic record in STEM subjects
The John Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) program seeks to reduce gaps in the field by seeking students from underrepresented backgrounds and improving access to resources by offering an in-person internship as well as a completely virtual one. The program aims to expose students to a career in neurological sciences by providing hands-on research experiences and mentorship to high school students across the U.S.
As a JHIBS intern, you’ll engage in activities that simulate the real-world work of researchers and clinician scientists. You will get to participate in activities like professional development training, networking activities, educational workshops, mentorship training, learning basic lab experiments and techniques, and more. You’ll also get to partake in collaborative projects, discussions, and final presentations and discover a passion for a career in the neurological sciences.
You can check out the program’s past projects here.
5. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications are on a rolling basis and are open all year round.
Dates:
Half-time internships: 2 to 8 weeks, requiring 20 hours per week.
Quarter-time internships: 1 to 9 months, requiring 8 hours per week.
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, can apply.
The EnergyMag Research Internship offers a limited number of virtual research internships to high school or college students looking to gain experience in the renewable energy sector. As a participant, you will gain research and analytical skills from researching companies, analyzing technologies, and conducting market research.
The program is flexible to fit a student’s schedule. You can choose a part-time option lasting 2 to 8 weeks, requiring 20 hours per week. During the program, you will be assigned a mentor who will guide you and supervise your work. Your work will involve conducting research, studying energy markets and trends, analyzing government policies, and more. You will also have to produce a draft analysis report, which will reference your name and be published on the EnergyMag site.
6. The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Program - Summer Only
Location: Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost; weekly stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 3, 2025
Dates: June 18 – August 8, 2025
Eligibility: US citizen who is a high school sophomore, junior, or senior and resides in Massachusetts.
The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) is a full-time, paid summer research internship designed for high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented populations interested in pursuing careers in scientific research. Participants engage in mentored cancer research projects, receive scientific and professional skills training, and participate in networking and social events.
Students are paired with research mentors to conduct authentic cancer research, with the program offering comprehensive orientation, scientific seminars, journal clubs, and workshops to enhance professional skills. Participants also engage in career networking roundtables, informational interviews, and social events to build connections within the scientific community.
At the end of their summer, participants are required to prepare and present an abstract and a poster or an oral presentation of their research project.
7. Boston University's RISE Internship
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,700; $60 non-refundable application fee
Application Deadline: February 14, 2025
Dates: June 29 - August 8, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens
The Boston University Summer Term Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Internship provides a six-week immersive research experience. In this program, you’ll work closely with BU faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or graduate students on a dedicated research project, committing 40 hours a week to practical investigation in disciplines such as biomedical engineering, computer science, and medical laboratory research.
Beyond research, the program includes weekly workshops that delve into critical topics such as research ethics, scientific communication, and networking. The program also incorporates college admissions guidance and resources for pre-professional health tracks, equipping you with tools to navigate the next steps in your education.
8. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Starts at $2,990
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
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 psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Dates: June 16 - 27, 2025
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. high school student over 14 years old and have strong math or computer programming skills.
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in artificial intelligence’s impact on healthcare. Through lectures, group projects, and mentoring by Stanford researchers, participants gain insights into both technical and clinical aspects of AI applications in medicine.
Key topics covered in the program include foundational concepts and principles of Machine Learning as applied to healthcare, as well as methods for evaluating and assessing ML models in this field. It includes introductory and technical lectures on AI in healthcare, mentoring activities with researchers and students, social activities, hands-on group sessions for research projects, and virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers from academia, non-profits, industries, and the government.
10. MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science (MITES) Summer
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Dates: Exact program start dates vary. But the program starts in mid-June and runs for 6 weeks.
Eligibility: High School juniors who are US citizens
MIT’s MITES Summer Program is a prestigious, 6-week residential program that introduces high school juniors to STEM fields through immersive coursework and hands-on projects. Participants enroll in advanced subjects often unavailable in high school, such as engineering design, biotechnology, and physics. These courses are designed to deepen students’ scientific knowledge and cultivate their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
In addition to academics, students engage in workshops, lab tours, and interactive sessions with MIT faculty and researchers, offering exposure to the cutting-edge science conducted at the institute. The program encourages the exploration of research opportunities, inspiring participants to contribute to advancements in fields like engineering, physics, and environmental science.
11. Drexel University's BIOMED Summer Academy
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost:
Early Bird Tuition: $1,500 (Deadline: May 31, 2025)
Late Registration: $2,000 (After May 31, 2025)
Limited need-based scholarships are available.
Application deadline: Rolling basis; early application is encouraged due to limited spots.
Dates:
Session I: July 7 – 11, 2025
Session II: July 14 – 18, 2025
Session III: July 21 – 25, 2025
Session IV: July 28 – August 1, 2025
.Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in the Philadelphia area and beyond who have completed at least 1 year of biology.
The Biomedical Engineering (BIOMED) Summer Academy at Drexel University is a one-week STEM program designed to provide high school students with an immersive experience in biomedical engineering. Participants engage in interactive, hands-on learning activities, including laboratory and core research skills such as nanoparticle fabrication and brain wave measurement. The program also features seminars, site visits, and presentations from industry experts, offering insights into both the academic and professional aspects of the biomedical field.
This program offers a comprehensive introduction to biomedical engineering, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application. Students gain valuable laboratory experience, interact with industry professionals, and explore potential career paths in a dynamic and rapidly evolving field.
12. MathILy at Bryn Mawr College
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
Cost: $5,300; financial aid is available.
Application deadline: April 29, 2025
Dates: June 22 – July 26, 2025
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-17
MathILy is an intensive 5-week residential summer program for mathematically talented high school students. MathILy focuses on advanced discrete mathematics through interactive classes, individualized instruction, and collaborative problem-solving activities. The program also includes a “Week of Chaos” featuring numerous short classes to explore diverse mathematical topics. This experience aims to maximize mathematical learning in an inquiry-based supportive environment.
While MathILy does not include formal research projects, its emphasis on inquiry-based learning mirrors the collaborative problem-solving and independent thinking essential in mathematical research. The advanced topics and skills taught in the program prepare students to engage in mathematical research during college or in other research-focused programs.
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