12 Research Opportunities in Aerospace Engineering for High School Students
Research programs and initiatives offer the ideal platform for students to explore a subject of interest, engage with new ideas beyond the classroom, and even figure out if that discipline is a good fit for them. If you’re interested in the wide and dynamic field of aerospace engineering, this blog is for you.
Aerospace engineering covers a range of disciplines, such as aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, materials science, avionics, and control systems. Conducting research in this field would mean gaining hands-on experience, working with scientists and engineers, learning how to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios.
A research program will let you develop new skills in your subject, build a strong network of peers and professionals, and the opportunity to learn from experts in the field. Conducting independent research while in high school also indicates to college admissions officers that you’re passionate about your interests, and are driven enough to pursue advanced academic experiences.
Here are 12 research opportunities in aerospace engineering you can consider as a high school student.
1. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars Program
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers paid internship opportunities for both upper-level high school students and university students pursuing STEM degrees. As an intern, you will work with AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research in the field of aerospace engineering. The program will ensure you get hands-on experiences and learn from real-world mentors. The scientists and engineers that you will work with will serve as trusted experts both during and after your internship: you can reach out to them for future career advice, job opportunities, or recommendation letters. You can find a list of the mentors here. Interns can focus on a range of topics within the realm of aerospace engineering, including aerospace design, aircraft technology, electromagnetic structuring, and more. Applicants are allowed to apply for up to three topics per location.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend provided ($468.80/week)
Location: Multiple locations across the country.
Application deadline: January 10, 2024
Program dates: Varies from internship to internship, but should be in one of these three cohorts
- Fall - from late August/early September to mid-December (16 weeks)
- Spring - from mid-January to early May (16 weeks)
- Summer - from late May/early June to August (10 weeks)
Eligibility:
- Upper High School Student (over 16 years old)
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
- Must be available full-time (40 hours a week) and work in their physical offices over the summer.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagements offer internships in their locations all around America. You can choose an internship in a research facility near you, or take advantage of their virtual internships. While each internship offers a different experience and is in different domains, you will have the opportunity to explore the real-world applications of aerospace engineering. As an intern, you will work directly with NASA researchers, scientists and engineers. The program provides training, mentoring, and career development opportunities alongside the chance to work with the best science, engineering, financial, information technology and business minds in the world.
During this internship, you may be involved in designing experiments, analyzing data from space missions, or developing new technologies – engaging in real-world experiences, gaining valuable experience and insight into NASA's work.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Students may select roles based in cities they are in.
Application deadline: February 2, 2024 (for summer internships). Spring and fall internships are also available.
Program dates: May-August (10 weeks)
Eligibility: Internships are available for full-time high school students who meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. Students applying must be at least 16 years old and be US citizens.
3. NSLC - High School Summer Aerospace Program
The Aerospace Program at the NSLC offers high schoolers a chance to design and build an unmanned aerial vehicle with a team, and go behind the scenes to discover how state-of-the-art aircraft and spacecraft are being constructed.
During the program, you will construct a rocket with your team; construct a glider and build a launch system; build a light and secure payload delivery system; build a wind turbine; and gain knowledge essential for a career in aerospace, including soldering, CAD, types of propulsion, and the various forces present during flight.
Cost: $3,895 (Residential Program)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Application deadline: NSLC will continue to accept applications if space is available in a program or on a program’s waitlist. The online enrollment application will display all current availability.
Program dates: Multiple sessions are offered in Baltimore, MD, and Blacksburg, VA. You can check the exact dates here.
Eligibility: Students must be between the ages of 14-18 and have completed at least one year of high school (students may attend NSLC through the summer following high school graduation).
4. Summer High School Intensive in Next-Generation Engineering (SHINE)
The Summer High School Intensive in Next-Generation Engineering (SHINE) allows high school students to join a research team at USC Viterbi for seven weeks. Students will work closely with their team, discovering how engineering addresses real world problems in fields like biomedicine, robotics, aerospace, and more. Students can select three choices in engineering fields, and will be assigned a professor and mentor who will guide them through experimental lab work and computational research in their field of interest. You will learn through hands-on experiences, while working with cutting-edge tech. Additionally, SHINE offers a strong opportunity for networking, college prep and skill development.
Some examples of previous aerospace engineering projects include “Classification of Hydrodynamic Wakes,” “Visualizing Flow Data in Unity Virtual Reality,” “Investigation of Wing Design on Small Aircrafts,” and more. You can find a list of past projects here.
Cost: $6,330
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Application deadline: February 16, 2024
Program dates: June 10, 2024 - July 26, 2024
Eligibility: The program is designed for freshman, sophomores, and juniors. The program looks for a GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale
5. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
This is a highly prestigious and competitive program for high school students, with an acceptance rate of 3-4% – only about 6-7 students make it to each cohort. The SEES is hosted by UT Austin in collaboration with NASA. This is a national-level internship program, where you will get to work alongside NASA subject matter experts. The program is focused on Earth and space research and relies on interns to assist with analyzing and visualizing data - key aspects of moving a project faster and foundational knowledge for aerospace engineering. All project teams will present their research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium.
There is a virtual, learning component to the program and then an onsite experience on campus at the University of Texas, Austin. You are also expected to present your research at the program's concluding symposium.
Cost/Stipend: None. Housing, meals, and local transportation will be provided. A limited number of travel scholarships to Texas are available.
Location: Hybrid (on-site experience at the University of Austin, Texas campus)
Application Deadline: February 24, 2024
Program Dates: July 1, 2024 - July 6, 2024 (online work with mentors) | July 7, 2024 - July 20, 2024 (on-site for 11th graders) | July 27, 2024 - August 4, 2024 (on-site for 10th graders)
Eligibility: High school juniors who hold U.S. citizenship can apply.
6. UIUC Illinois Aerospace Institute
The UIUC Illinois Aerospace Institute provides an opportunity for students entering grades 9-12 to learn about various topics in the field of aerospace engineering on the UIUC campus. Topics covered include aerospace materials, flight mechanics, aerodynamics, orbits, navigation, rocket propulsion, astronautics design, and more. Though many campers have some sort of experience with the aerospace field, you don’t need experience to apply. This year, the program plans to hold two one-week on-campus sessions and one one-week virtual session.
Cost:$1,000 (In-person) | $140 (Virtual)
Location: Champaign, IL
Application deadline: March 24, 2024
Program dates:
On-campus session 1: June 9-15, 2024
On-campus session 2: July 14-20, 2024
Virtual session: July 21-27, 2024
Eligibility: Open to all students from grades 9-12.
7. Lockheed Martin Space High School Internship Program
The Lockheed Martin Space High School Internship program offers students the opportunity to work with aerospace scientists and engineers. Interns will get to work on actual Lockheed Martin Space projects while receiving an hourly wage.
These projects will allow you to work on solving and deploying processes, procedures, and systems that support Lockheed Martin’s mission statement in seven different states across the nation. Additionally, you’ll get to work in different technical and non-technical career fields at Lockheed Martin Space to fortify or develop an interest in the aerospace industry. You’ll also participate in summer programming activities such as networking, career development, and executive engagements.
Location: Multiple in-person locations available. Virtual options are available as well.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be 16 years of age.
Live within a commutable distance of a participating Lockheed Martin Facility.
Be currently enrolled in high school.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Dates: 9-10 weeks from June to August.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; An hourly wage is paid to the interns (the exact amount is not specified).
8. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is a program that brings together talented high school students, MIT researchers, and industry professionals to explore cutting-edge topics in engineering, science, and technology. This year, the BWSI program consists of online courses and in-person courses, covering a wide range of topics. Some courses related to aerospace engineering include “Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing” and “Unmanned Air System-Synthetic Aperture Radar.” Students will be given access to MIT’s world-class robotics software, simulation, and other resources to develop their own research project.
Cost: $1,750. For families with an income below $150,000, the program will be free.
Location: Cambridge, MA. Virtual options are also offered.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: July 8 - August 4, 2024
Eligibility: You must be a student attending high school in the United States as a current junior by the time of application.
9. AI Fellowship with Publication Program (AI + Aerospace Engineering Track) by Veritas AI
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI the opportunity to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni.
Of all the programs offered by Veritas AI, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program is a 1-on-1 mentorship program where students create unique AI projects under the guidance of PhD mentors. Over 12-15 weeks, you can pick a field of interest at the intersection of AI, ML, or data science and aerospace engineering to produce an individualized research paper, software/model, app, or presentation. Veritas AI has a publication team available to help students publish their papers in journals. Here are some past projects you can look at!
Cost: $4,900. Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: The program runs in cohorts throughout the year. Applications for the n summer cohort close on April 21, 2024. You can apply here!
Program dates: Multiple sessions from July to September. The program runs for 12-15 weeks.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
10. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Aerospace Engineering Track
Founded by Harvard and Oxford graduates, Lumiere offers selective research programs for high school students, where students get to work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to develop an independent research paper. The program offers an array of disciplines, and you can opt for a research topic in artificial intelligence or one that’s at the intersection of AI and other disciplines. You can expect to learn the most recent developments in the field and expand your skill sets by working directly with experts.
An added bonus is the opportunity you get to interact with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, CMU and more. This program is a particularly solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
Check out our review of Lumiere Education!
Cost: Individual Research Program - $2,800 | Premium Research & Publication Program - $5,400 | Research Fellowship - $8,900. Need-based financial aid is available. Also check out the Lumiere Research Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Location: Virtual.
Application Deadline: For the summer cohort, the final application deadline is in May. The program runs in winter, fall, and spring as well.
Program dates: The summer cohort typically begins in June. The program length depends on which one you choose to attend!
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
11. Embry-Riddle Aerospace Engineering Camp
Embry-Riddle’s Aerospace Engineering Camp offers classes on a range of topics including aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and aircraft design, along with an introduction to structures and materials, and computer-aided design. Students will work with Embry-Riddle faculty, applying what they learn in their classes on real-world projects and experiments. The program focuses on mentorship and learning, with faculty acting as advisors and mentors for the students during the camp. Students are encouraged to form a community by participating in various activities and competitions together—for example, aerodynamic flight testing of balsa wood gliders!
Cost: $1,700
Location: Prescott, AZ
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: June 2-7, 2024
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14-18.
12. NASA Student Launch Initiative
NASA Student Launch is a 9-month program that challenges student teams across the U.S. to design, build, and launch their own high-powered rockets. This is a hands-on, research-based engineering opportunity, culminating with a rocket fair and the final launch day competition right at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. NASA will provide various opportunities for students to learn aerospace design and conduct scientific experiments under the guidance of their faculty. Participating in and winning this intensive competition could be a huge boost to one’s resume!
Cost: None
Location: Students work on their projects from where they’re located. The final launch day takes place at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
Application deadline: This information is not available at the moment.
Program dates: April 10-14, 2024 (Launch Day)
Eligibility: Open to US students in grades 6-12.
Image Source - NASA Logo