10 Chemistry Programs for High School Students in Boston

If you are a high school student interested in chemistry, participating in a structured program can help you explore the subject in-depth outside the classroom. These programs often include mentorship, laboratory research, guest lectures, and skill-building workshops that help students prepare for advanced study and future careers in STEM fields. Offered by universities and research organizations, these programs allow you to observe professional environments while learning from experienced researchers and engaging with peers who share similar academic interests.

Why should you attend a program in Boston?

Universities and research organizations in Boston, such as Harvard and MIT, offer rigorous chemistry programs that cross into fields such as biotechnology, chemical biology, and green chemistry. As a participant, your work may include conducting lab experiments, analyzing chemical or biological data, reading and discussing scientific papers, and preparing written or oral research summaries. Whether you live in the Boston area or are coming from outside the city, these programs provide structured opportunities to learn in academic and research-focused settings.

To help you navigate the many options, we have narrowed this list to 10 chemistry programs for high school students in Boston.

If you are looking for summer programs in Boston, check out our blog here.

1. Young Scholars Program - Northeastern University

Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Cost: None
Dates: June 22 – July 30

Application Deadline: March 2

Eligibility: Rising seniors who are Massachusetts residents, live within commuting distance, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program is a free, full-time summer research experience for rising seniors interested in science and engineering, with strong opportunities in chemistry and applied laboratory research. You work directly in Northeastern research labs across engineering, science, and health sciences, contributing to ongoing faculty-led projects that may involve areas such as battery chemistry, chemical analysis, materials science, biotechnology, or drug delivery. Alongside lab work, you attend seminars introducing different engineering and scientific disciplines, engage in college and career advising, and gain exposure to how academic research connects to industry and real-world problem-solving.

2. Veritas AI

Location: Online

Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available

Dates: Multiple cohorts available year-round, including Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; Spring: January; Summer: May; Fall: September; Winter: November. You can apply to the program here.

Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students; AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python

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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here. 

3. YES for CURE (Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center)

Location: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School (Longwood Medical Area), Boston, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified

Dates: Year 1 Summer: Intensive orientation followed by full-time research (approximately 8–10 weeks); Academic Year: Bi-monthly Wednesday evening workshops

Application Deadline: December 1

Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors; 16+ by the program start; reside or attend school in MA; U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

In the YES for CURE program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, you immerse yourself in the molecular foundations of cancer research, where chemistry serves as a critical lens for understanding disease mechanisms. Over this two-and-a-half-year journey, you will explore topics like biochemistry, molecular biology techniques, and the chemical basis of genetics and drug interactions. You will engage in hands-on activities such as performing laboratory assays, conducting bioinformatics analysis, and participating in weekly journal clubs to dissect complex scientific literature. A standout feature is the program’s long-term structure, which includes mentorship from elite Harvard faculty and a requirement for you to design and teach a science curriculum to middle school students.

4. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway

Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston

Cost: Varies; financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: 2 weeks in the summer 

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including biology, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.

5. Harvard Medical School – Project Success 

Location: Harvard Medical School 

Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend varies by placement, amount not specified

Dates: June 29 –  August 14 

Application Deadline: February 4 

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; 16+ years of age by June 30; reside in Boston; GPA of 2.7+; completed courses in biology, algebra, and chemistry by the program start

Project Success offers you a paid, six-week internship at Harvard Medical School to apply chemical principles to real biomedical challenges. You will explore topics like biochemistry, drug interactions, and molecular disease mechanisms while working full-time in a professional lab under faculty mentorship. Your routine will include hands-on experimentation, site visits to biotech firms, and seminars that reveal how chemistry drives medical innovation. Beyond technical lab proficiency, you will develop critical science communication skills by writing a research paper and delivering a final oral presentation. This program provides a stipend and specifically empowers underrepresented students with direct access to Harvard’s research network.

6. Boston Area Health Education Center  (BAHEC) – Summer Enrichment Program

Location: Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, MA

Cost: None

Dates: Early July – Mid-August

Application Deadline: Typically March 15 – April 1

Eligibility: Rising 9–12 grade high school students who are Boston residents

In the BAHEC Summer Enrichment Program, you see how chemistry directly impacts public health and medical diagnostics in your own community. You will explore applied topics such as environmental toxicology, the biochemistry of blood disorders (such as Sickle Cell Disease), and dental chemistry (analyzing pH levels and oral health). Your routine includes hands-on activities like testing the safety of chemicals in personal care products, performing hemoglobin analysis, and conducting water quality or environmental justice research projects. The program focuses on health disparities, allowing you to connect scientific data to real-world social issues in Boston while earning a stipend for your work.

7. Harvard Medical School – MedScienceLAB

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Cost: 5-day program: $2,800; 4-day program: $2,250; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students

Dates: June 15–18; June 29 – July 2; August 3–7; August 10–14; August 17–21

Application Deadline: March 15

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 at the time of application and 16+ at the session’s start

In the MEDscienceLAB program, you step into a professional research lab to understand the biochemistry behind medical diagnoses. You will focus on molecular biology and chemical pathology, learning how scientists identify disease markers at the microscopic level. Through hands-on activities like running ELISA assays, performing PCR, and conducting gel electrophoresis, you will directly apply chemical principles to solve realistic patient cases. This program bridges the gap between clinical symptoms and wet-lab investigation, forcing you to think like both a doctor and a researcher.

8. Wentworth Institute of Technology – ImpactLab: Biotechnology & Bioengineering

Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA (Residential program)

Cost: One two-week session: $3,995; Both two-week sessions: $6,990; limited partial tuition assistance scholarships are available

Dates: Session One: July 5–17; Session Two: July 19–31; Both Sessions: July 5–31

Application Deadline: May 15

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors

In the Biotechnology & Bioengineering track at Wentworth’s ImpactLab, you apply chemical principles to engineer real-world medical solutions, moving beyond theory into the design-build-test process. You will explore topics like biochemistry, genetic modification, and the synthesis of biomaterials for drug delivery. In the lab, you will perform activities such as gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA, PCR for genetic amplification, and cell staining to visualize biological structures. A unique feature of this program is its engineering focus, where you don't just study cells but actively manipulate them to create new technologies. By the end, you will master technical skills like micropipetting, solution preparation, and sterile technique.

9. Applications of Chemistry in Medicine – Johns Hopkins University

Location: Online

Cost: $1,950 per 1-credit course; limited financial aid is available

Dates: July 6–17

Application Deadline: March 11

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA

This online course explores how core principles of chemistry are applied in medicine and pharmaceutical sciences, from drug development and chemical synthesis to materials used in healthcare and diagnostics. Designed for academically advanced high school students, the program connects chemistry to real-world medical and industrial contexts, helping you understand how chemical analysis underpins modern treatments, consumer products, and biomedical innovation. The course is primarily asynchronous, allowing flexibility while maintaining academic expectations through structured application deadlines and optional live interactions with instructors.

10. Chemistry – The American Academy

Location: Online

Cost: $238 for 0.5 credits

Dates: Self-paced, year-round enrollment

Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; rolling enrollment

Eligibility: All high school students

This online high school chemistry course offers a comprehensive introduction to foundational and advanced chemical concepts through a flexible, self-paced format. You study core topics such as atomic theory, chemical bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, and the periodic table before progressing to thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, polymers, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Designed for students who need schedule flexibility, the course is taught by state-licensed instructors and can be taken as a standalone credit or as part of a full diploma pathway.

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