16 Research Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
Engaging in a research program provides students with invaluable hands-on experience, allowing them to delve into specific subjects, contribute to groundbreaking work, and cultivate essential skills for future academic and professional pursuits. Massachusetts boasts some top-notch research programs for high school students in the United States, complemented by a robust K-12 education system. The state offers numerous opportunities for immersive learning experiences in various research fields, both free and paid.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 15 research programs in Massachusetts for high school students!
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Established by researchers with backgrounds from Harvard and Oxford, Lumiere Research Scholar Programs offer high school students a range of program durations. From 12-week to 12-month research opportunities, students can immerse themselves in various subjects for individualized research.
Collaborating one-on-one with accomplished Ph.D. mentors, each student has the opportunity to produce university-level research papers. These programs are conducted entirely online, providing flexibility in research depth to accommodate individual preferences.
Check out our review of Lumiere Education here!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2800- Individual Research Program (12 weeks ), $5400- Premium Research & Publication Program (16–20 weeks), $8900- Research Fellowship (6–12 months). All programs come with need-based financial aid.
Program Dates: Four cohorts run throughout the year, namely the spring, summer, winter, and fall cohorts.
Application Deadlines: Applications are open throughout the year for the four cohorts — they are due in February, May, September, and December. Apply here!
Eligibility: High school students.
2. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) annually hosts 100 exceptionally talented high school students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). What distinguishes RSI is its status as the pioneering, fully-funded summer science and engineering program that seamlessly blends on-campus theoretical coursework with off-campus immersion in science and technology research.
The program commences with an intensive week of STEM classes led by accomplished professors followed by a five-week research internship phase. Students independently pursue projects under the guidance of seasoned scientists and researchers and devote the final week to preparing their written and oral presentations.
If you’re interested in applying to RSI, check out this in-depth guide!
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided, $40 application fee with a need-based refund.
Application deadline: Closed for 2024. To be announced for 2025.
Program dates: 6 weeks, specific dates to be announced for 2025
Eligibility: High School Juniors only (U.S. and International)
3. Veritas AI Fellowship Program
Veritas AI is dedicated to offering a conducive environment for high school students passionate about AI to explore their interests. The AI Fellowship program allows students to pursue independent AI research projects for 12–15 weeks and they can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. These programs, crafted and led by Harvard graduate students and alumni, promise a rewarding and enriching educational experience. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the fields of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,900 for the 12–15 week AI Fellowship
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. The upcoming summer cohort deadline is March 24, 2024 (early admission). You can apply here.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort. Check out all the summer 2024 dates here.
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.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program
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.
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 research!
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 on college applications. Apply here!
5. Northeastern University’s Young Scholar Program (YSP)
YSP presents Massachusetts high school juniors (soon-to-be seniors) with a hands-on research opportunity embedded within Northeastern University's Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences departments. This six-week program, offered at no cost, facilitates lab research experiences and exposes participants to a range of faculty projects.
Students gain practical insights and contribute to ongoing research by exploring areas such as agent-based modeling, model compression algorithms, battery chemistry, and cancer therapies. The program enables direct collaboration with professors, participation in seminars covering diverse engineering disciplines, and involvement in career counseling sessions. Apply Here!
Location: Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: Mar 15th.
Program Dates: 6 weeks, Jun — Aug
Eligibility:
High school juniors who are based in Massachusetts are eligible.
Strong academic credentials and a well-rounded balance of extra-curricular activities.
6. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
RISE, a six-week summer program hosted at Boston University (BU), is designed for scientifically inclined high school juniors nationwide. The program offers two distinct tracks: internship and practicum. In the internship track, students engage in hands-on research projects, working closely with esteemed faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students.
Meanwhile, the practicum track focuses on computational biology, featuring a structured syllabus tailored for students who prefer a more organized study approach, allowing them to delve into the intricacies of this specialized field.
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: Feb 14, 2024
Program dates: Jun 30 — Aug 9, 2024
Selectivity: High
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.
7. National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
The NIH’s HS-SIP presents a distinctive opportunity for students to immerse themselves in hands-on biomedical research, collaborating alongside esteemed scientists and mentors. Within the HS-SIP framework, there are two programs, namely the High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) and HiSTEP 2.0.
Both programs offer an introduction to essential scientific, professional, and personal skills, leadership training, wellness initiatives, and an in-depth exploration of STEM-M (science, technology, engineering, math, and medically related) careers.
Location: An NIH laboratory, one of which is The Framingham Heart Study of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Framingham, MA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend is between $2,300–2,530 for students currently in high school and $2,570–2,840 for students who have graduated high school.
Application deadline: Feb 1, every year.
Program dates: Minimum 8 weeks in summer; specific dates are not available.
Eligibility: Students who are high school juniors or seniors at the time of application (or have recently graduated), and are 17 years or older on June 15, 2023, may apply. Please review all eligibility requirements before applying. Additional criteria apply for HiSTEP and HiSTEP 2.0.
8. University of Massachusetts Research Intensives
The competitive six-week summer Research Intensives Program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, positions high-achieving high school students in professional working labs alongside distinguished faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students.
Placements are available in biology, biochemistry, environmental conservation, psychology, and food science. Applicants are required to specify their top three lab preferences and articulate the reasons for their interest in the personal statement section of the application. The Research Intensives are integral components of the Residential Pre-College Programs, taking place on the UMass Amherst campus.
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Cost: $11,350 for residential, $6,767 for commuter + $35 application fee (non-refundable)
Application Deadline:
Session 1: May 1st, 2024
Session 2: May 15th, 2024
Session 3: May 31st, 2024
Program Dates:
Session 1: Jun 30 — Aug 10, 2024
Session 2: Jul 14 — Aug 25, 2024
Session 3: Jul 28 — Sep 8, 2024
Eligibility:
Rising high school sophomores — seniors are eligible.
Should have grades of B (GPA 3.0) or above in mathematics and science courses.
9. Broad Institute Summer Scholars Program
The Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) extends an invitation to highly motivated high school students with a strong inclination toward science to embark on a six-week journey at the Broad Institute. Participants are paired with Broad scientists, engaging in original, cutting-edge research projects spanning areas such as cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, infectious disease, and more.
Beyond the research component, students have the opportunity to explore scientific career paths, attend scientific talks, present their research through a scientific poster session to the Broad community, join a college fair, and partake in enjoyable social events.
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost to apply or attend, $3,600 stipend is provided as well as partial reimbursement for transportation costs.
Application Deadline: Closed for 2024. Application for 2025 will be announced in mid-November of 2024.
Program Dates: TBD
Eligibility:
Must be a rising senior in high school, eligible to apply during their junior year.
Attend a high school in Massachusetts within commuting distance of the Broad Institute.
Achieved a grade of B (GPA 3.0) or better in science and math classes.
Must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or a non-US citizen with employment authorization (i.e., DACA).
Availability for the entire 6-week duration of the program is required.
10. MIT Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (PRIMES)
MIT PRIMES stands as a tuition-free, year-long initiative where high school students engage in both individual and collaborative research projects and contribute to reading groups under the mentorship of academic guides, typically graduate students or postdoctoral scholars. The program comprises three distinct sections: Mathematics, Computer Science, and Computational and Physical Biology. PRIMES works in 4 phases:
Phase I (Feb 1 — Pi Day): Reading period, admission decisions, mentor assignment, and preparation for potential projects through recommended readings. Successful completion requires a 5-page reading report by early March.
Phase II (Pi+0.01 Day — May 31): Active research period with mentor guidance, occasional consultations, and submission of an interim report on research progress by the end of May.
Phase III (June 1 — Aug 31): Independent study period, allowing students to continue project work with flexible scheduling and email contact with mentors.
Phase IV (Sept 1 — Dec 31): Students write a final paper for publication on the PRIMES website and potential submission to science competitions or research journals.
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Admissions for 2025 open on October 1, 2024.
Program Dates: TBD
Eligibility:
Must be a high school student (or a home-schooled student of high school age) living in the Greater Boston area.
11. Tufts University Summer Research Experience
High school juniors and seniors with prior research experience are invited to embark on a semester at Tufts University in its Summer Research Experience. Under the guidance of Tufts’ world-class faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students, participants will engage in hands-on laboratory techniques or develop data processing skills.
Each student, selected through a competitive process, will be paired with a Principal Investigator and mentor within Tufts’ exceptional research groups. This immersive program ensures students’ full integration into the research team, including participation in meetings and presentations, providing an unparalleled opportunity to interact with world-class researchers.
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA or virtual
Cost: $8,000 for commuters, $11,250 for residential, $7,500 for virtual, and $200 for materials. Limited need-based scholarship funding is available.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Program Dates: Jul 1 — Aug 9, 2024
Eligibility:
Must be entering grades 11–12 or be a Spring 2024 high school graduate.
Must be at least 16 by the program start date.
12. Wolfram High School Summer Research Program
The Wolfram High School Summer Research Program offers a rigorous two-week experience aimed at advancing high school students’ programming and problem-solving proficiency. Guided by expert mentors, students undertake research and implement solutions to cutting-edge problems, collaboratively selected with Stephen Wolfram.
Each participant produces a computational essay and an interactive research paper, publishing their work by the program’s conclusion. Successful projects may be submitted to STEM competitions, converted into academic papers, or presented at the Wolfram Technology Conference.
Location: Virtual + Bentley University, Boston, MA
Cost: $4200 covering room and board, including a $500 non-refundable deposit
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Applications are currently open — apply here!
Program Dates: Jun 25 — Jul 13, 2024
Eligibility:
Academically advanced high school students with a passion for STEM are encouraged to apply.
Applicants can be between 14–17 years old, but cannot be 18 or above.
13. Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
The Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program actively engages young individuals from underrepresented communities in neurology, specifically focusing on providing educational and research opportunities for high school and undergraduate students in Massachusetts.
The program aims to inspire participants by exposing them to leading neurologists and neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds. It offers paid summer internships with a commitment of 40 hours per week, lasting 6 to 8 weeks for high school and undergraduate students, respectively.
Location: MGH Main Campus, Charlestown Navy Yard, Assembly Row in Somerville, MA, or another lab location within Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville.
Cost: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: Mar 1, 2024
Program Dates: Jul 1 — Aug 9, 2024
Eligibility:
At the time of the program, the applicant must be a rising high school senior or high school graduate.
Be living or studying in Massachusetts at the time of the program.
Have an interest in learning more about neurology-related career fields and topics.
Be available to work full-time for the duration of the program.
Be willing to comply with Mass General Brigham’s occupational health requirements including vaccinations.
The CURE program introduces high school and college students from underrepresented populations in Massachusetts to the realm of cancer research. This 8–12 week initiative places students in authentic research settings within local cancer research institutions. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue future careers in the biosciences, specifically in cancer research, providing practical application to academic coursework and fostering a broader interest in basic, clinical, and/or population science research. Students benefit from learning under the guidance of experts committed to preventing, treating, and curing cancer.
Location: Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost, weekly stipend provided
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Eligibility:
Must be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior, OR a college freshman, sophomore, or junior permanently residing in the US.
Must be over 16 at the start of the program.
Must live in Massachusetts or attend a Massachusetts school.
Qualify as one of the following: From a racial/ethnic group underrepresented in the sciences, a first-generation college student, and/or, economically disadvantaged.
Demonstrate strong interest and proficiency in science.
Able to commit to a full-time experience.
15. Forsyth Student Scholars Summer Program
The Forsyth Student Scholars program is an immersive eight-week internship designed for high school students in Massachusetts. Renowned scientists at Forsyth act as mentors, guiding and supporting the students throughout the summer.
Participants gain hands-on experience in fundamental laboratory techniques while actively contributing to their mentors’ research endeavors in a stimulating and enriching scientific setting. The culmination of the program involves students showcasing the outcomes of their individual research projects.
Location: The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Program Dates: Jul 8 — Aug 16, 2024
Eligibility:
Must be a sophomore or junior high school student enrolled in a school participating in MLSC’s Apprenticeship Challenge Program or a BPS School.
Must apply through MLSC or PIC.
Must be available weekdays over 6 weeks during program dates
16. SEA Summer High School Programs
SEA extends unique summer programs designed for both current high school students and graduating seniors. Participants can opt for either a shore-based field program situated on the campus in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, or an at-sea expedition aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer, focusing on oceanographic research conducted under sail. Students get to explore the marine environment through hands-on, experiential, and community-based learning.
Location: Woods Hole, MA
Cost:
$5,950- Sea Expedition
$5,550- Ocean Studies on Cape Cod
$5,750- Pre-College: Ocean Sciences
$1000- Sea Quest
Application Deadline: Mar 1
Program Dates: From June to August, variable sessions
Eligibility:
Current high school students, including graduating seniors, who have completed at least one high school-level science and one high school-level mathematics course.
Should demonstrate an interest in comprehending the ocean and environmental issues from diverse perspectives.
Rising high school freshmen are eligible for virtual programs.
If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!
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