15 Free STEM Research Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student with an interest in STEM, consider participating in a STEM research program, as they offer a solid introduction to the field and the chance to gain practical experience. Whether you’re interested in engineering, computer science, or medicine, STEM research programs will extend learning beyond the classroom, placing you in labs or professional environments, where you will develop essential workplace skills and technical expertise relevant to your chosen field. To improve accessibility, many STEM research programs are offered free of charge or fully funded, creating valuable opportunities for everyone.
What are the benefits of a STEM research program?
Participating in a STEM research program provides the opportunity to contribute to projects and gain practical research experience. The work may include studying brain structures and functions, supporting naval research initiatives, and exploring research across diverse fields within STEM.
With that, here are 15 free STEM research programs for high school students to check out.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (except for a non-refundable application fee of $75); Application fee waivers available Acceptance Rate: Less than 2.5%
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Early to mid-December
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+); More info here
MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI) is a highly selective and prestigious program that offers the opportunity to engage in hands-on research across science and STEM disciplines, including chemistry, engineering, physics, and more. As a participant, you will divide your time between on-campus coursework that’s focused on scientific theory and off-campus research projects in science and technology. The program begins with a week of intensive STEM classes, followed by five weeks of mentored research internships. You will be encouraged to review relevant literature, develop comprehensive research plans, and prepare both written and oral reports on your work. Additionally, the program includes opportunities for field trips to local cultural sites and science and technology facilities.
2. Veritas AI: AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students with coding experience or those who have completed the AI Scholars program
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students passionate about AI with a supportive environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI Scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free (residential costs may apply); Stipend offered
Acceptance Rate: <5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Simons Summer Research Program provides an opportunity to join a research team and collaborate with faculty mentors at Stony Brook University, contributing to ongoing projects across various fields, including STEM. As a participant, you will also have the chance to attend weekly faculty research presentations, workshops, tours, and other events. At the conclusion of the program, you will be required to develop and present a research abstract and poster of your work at the final poster session. When applying, you should select your top three research areas, and placements with research groups and mentors will be based on these preferences. You can view the available mentors and research areas here.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a comprehensive research initiative for high school students. The program provides extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a wide range of subject areas, including physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and more. As a participant, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor, who will collaboratively work with you on an independent research project and offer their support and guidance. Upon completion of the 12-week program, you will have produced an original research paper. For additional information about the application process, please visit here; to read student reviews of the program, please see here and here.
5. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free (except for a $25 application fee); $750 stipend
Cohort Size: 12 students per year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or recent high school graduates (17+)
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a highly competitive, rigorous summer research initiative that offers the opportunity to collaborate with prominent faculty. As a participant, you can choose from a range of research areas within STEM fields, including computer science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and others. The program also features weekly seminars, discussions, and educational field trips. It culminates in the submission of a research project report.
6. Johns Hopkins’ ASPIRE Program
Location: Johns Hopkins University – Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: <10%
Dates: June 23 – August 21 (applicants may continue the program into the academic year)
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors or seniors (15+) with a minimum 2.8 GPA and permanent residence in select Maryland or Virginia counties or the District of Columbia; More info here
The ASPIRE program provides an opportunity to explore a variety of STEM careers before selecting a college major. As an intern, you will be paired with an APL staff mentor, allowing you to engage in problem-solving, work on projects, and develop both technical and interpersonal skills essential for a professional environment. When applying, you may select from several placement areas, including engineering, AI and machine learning, mathematics, physical sciences, computer science, STEM communications and education, among others. The projects you will work on are determined based on mentor availability. You may choose up to three project areas, such as research and development, coding and software development, design, technology, and more.
7. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: At least 8 weeks (varies by project and site)
Application Deadline: October 10 – January 10
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+); GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale highly recommended; More info available here
The AFRL Scholars Program allows you to participate in hands-on research alongside full-time AFRL scientists and engineers. As a participant, you will have the chance to contribute to select research and technology projects. The specific areas of work may vary by site and may include STEM fields such as aerodynamics, robotics, fuze technology, materials science, bioscience, and more. By the end of the program, you will be expected to prepare a technical report and present your research to your respective branch. Additionally, there may be opportunities to showcase your work at the AFRL Scholars Poster Session.
8. MIT PRIMES
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (hybrid)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Year-long program
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores in Greater Boston
MIT PRIMES allows you to participate in research projects involving unresolved mathematical problems, under the supervision of an academic mentor — typically an MIT graduate student or postdoctoral scholar. This is a year-long program divided into four phases. During the first phase, you will receive advanced reading recommendations from your assigned mentor. By the end of the phase, you will be expected to submit a five-page reading report for your mentor's approval. Only once your report has been approved will you move on to phase two, which is the active research period. During this phase, you will work on your research project, receive guidance from your mentor, and submit a report detailing your research project’s progress. In phase three, you will continue to work on your research project independently. You will then move on to phase four, during which you will wrap up your project and get ready to present it at the Fall-Term PRIMES conference. You will also be required to write a final paper summarizing your results, which can be submitted to national science competitions or professional research journals.
9. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various DoN labs across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000 for new students; $4,500 for returning students
Acceptance Rate: Varies by placement
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: U.S. 10th-12th graders (16+), as well as graduating 12th graders
During SEAP, you will be assigned to a Department of the Navy (DON) laboratory, where you will spend approximately eight weeks engaging in meaningful Naval research. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from leading scientists and engineers while gaining insight into Naval research and technological advancements. The program offers a selection of research disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, robotics, computer science, and more. This internship provides a valuable opportunity to explore potential careers in DON science and engineering, as well as in related fields of science, technology, research, and development.
10. MPFI Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend of $14/hour
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: December 16 – February 8
Eligibility: High school rising juniors or seniors (16+) in Palm Beach or Martin County
The MPFI Summer Research Internship provides an immersive laboratory experience, allowing you to work alongside MPFI researchers and explore brain structure, function, and development, as well as the advanced imaging technologies utilized in neuroscience. The program offers four specialized tracks: Mechanical Engineering, Scientific Programming, Neuroscience, and Programming/Coding for Public Engagement. If you are interested in a more medicine-oriented experience, the Neuroscience track involves conducting laboratory research in neuroscience. However, you will also have the chance to explore computer programming and data analysis in the Scientific Programming track or CAD programs like SolidWorks in the Mechanical Engineering track. By the end of it, you will be expected to develop a written scientific abstract based on your research project and deliver a presentation summarizing your experience and findings.
11. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: January 15 – February 20 (early), February 27 (late)
Eligibility: NYC rising high school juniors and seniors
The ARISE program provides the opportunity to spend ten weeks gaining practical experience, conducting research, and collaborating with faculty and mentors in one of 50 laboratories. During the first four weeks, you will attend safety training sessions and workshops focused on college-level writing while beginning to develop your research skills. The remaining six weeks are dedicated to engaging with real-world projects, working alongside faculty and researchers, and providing technical assistance. The program offers over 120 hours of valuable laboratory experience, along with opportunities to improve public speaking and other professional skills, all while contributing to innovative research. By the conclusion of the program, you will present your research at the Colloquium to the NYU community and showcase your work at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Poster Symposium.
12. Science Mentorship Institute (sci-MI)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Late June – early August
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Science Mentorship Institute (sci-MI) program offers research mentorship to high school students to bridge the gap in science engagement. As a participant, you can choose from several summer research programs in STEM, including the Neuroscience Mentorship Program, Computer Science Mentorship Program, Biology Mentorship Program, Electrical Engineering Mentorship Program, and Chemistry Mentorship Program. You will be partnered with a mentor who will offer guidance as you work on your research project. By the end of the program, you will have a fully developed research paper that you can submit to student journals for publication.
13. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipends may be offered to applicants experiencing financial hardship
Cohort Size: 32 students per year
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: October 13 – January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+)
The Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) offers the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in a professional laboratory setting. As a participant, you will be matched with research groups aligned with your scientific interests. Each group is mentored by a scientific trainee from the Tri-Institutional collaboration among Rockefeller University, MSK, and WCMC, providing a realistic research environment. The program begins with an introduction to your team's research focus and training in essential laboratory techniques and skills. Following this, you'll select a specific research question related to the broader topic and conduct your investigation. Throughout the summer, you will also have the opportunity to attend workshops, lectures, optional courses, and other educational activities. The program concludes with a poster symposium, where you will present your research findings.
14. STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES)
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX (virtual options available)
Cost: $2,000 (in-person); Free (virtual); Full scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: May 15 – July 21 (see specified here)
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: U.S. current high school sophomores or juniors (16+) with a strong interest in STEM
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) program gives you the chance to collaborate with NASA, academic institutions, and industry experts, while gaining hands-on experience in various STEM disciplines such as engineering, data analysis, and systems modeling. As a participant, you can explore fields like aerospace, astronomy, remote sensing, space geodetic techniques, and more. The program also emphasizes developing skills in collaboration, design thinking, and communication, alongside the technical expertise required for advanced research and engineering. A comprehensive list of projects and their details can be found here.
15. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $1,299 + $25 application fee; Up to 100% financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 or older (remote) or 16 or older (in-person or hybrid)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program offers you the opportunity to gain research experience and collaborate with researchers from George Mason University and other institutions. For those interested in STEM, the program offers opportunities to explore relevant research areas, including bioengineering, neuroscience, STEM-related business, machine learning, software engineering, and more. As a participant, you will work with advanced technology and develop essential STEM skills. The program also emphasizes scientific writing and communication, and includes discussion forums and meetings that highlight various STEM career paths. By the end of it, you will have completed a research project and earned three college credits from George Mason University.
Image source - MIT Logo