14 Tech Research Programs for High School Students
Technology research programs give high school students the opportunity to explore advanced topics that go far beyond standard computer science classes. In these programs, you often study subjects such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, and computational research while working with mentors from universities or research labs. You may also learn to read academic papers, write technical reports, analyze datasets, and build computational models, all key skills used in many areas of modern technology research.
What are the benefits of a tech research program?
A tech research program allows you to explore specialized areas of computing while developing analytical, programming, and research skills. You may work on projects involving machine learning models, algorithm design, data analysis, or computational simulations, under the guidance of experienced mentors. Many programs also include opportunities to present your work through research papers, technical presentations, or symposiums, helping you strengthen both your technical knowledge and communication skills.
To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed down our list to 14 tech research programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6–17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12, who are at least 14 years old by the start of the program and live in the U.S.
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a virtual program that focuses on the intersection of machine learning and healthcare. During the internship, you will attend technical lectures, join interactive career talks, and collaborate in small teams on mini-projects using real clinical datasets. You will actively analyze medical data and apply image recognition techniques to build models that solve real-world medical problems. Through these hands-on tasks, you develop highly practical skills in applied machine learning, statistical data analysis, Python coding, and medical data ethics. The program's standout feature is the direct, individualized mentorship you receive from Stanford researchers, providing a rare look into advanced academic research.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1:1 cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students with prior experience with AI/ML or who have completed a Veritas AI program
Veritas AI’s fellowship pairs high school students with mentors from leading universities and research labs to pursue project-based work at the intersection of AI and technology. You work in small groups or one-on-one with mentors on a defined research project, such as building and evaluating ML models, NLP systems, or computational simulations tied to real-world data. The program emphasizes research methodologies, coding skills (often Python), rigorous experimentation, and structured project documentation. Weekly mentorship sessions and peer discussions support progress and problem-solving. At the end of the fellowship, you present research findings and may receive guidance on publication or competition submissions.
3. Carnegie Mellon University’s AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; project teams of 4–5 students
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors, 16+, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or registered with DACA
As an AI Scholar at Carnegie Mellon, you will explore the core concepts of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computing. During this fully funded program, you will take college-level courses and participate in weekly seminars focused on college readiness and social-emotional well-being. You will also collaborate with peers on hands-on group research projects tackling real-world challenges, which you will then present at a final symposium. A standout feature of this experience is the direct mentorship you receive from leading CMU faculty, coupled with its mission to provide elite tech access to under-resourced students.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual (individual mentorship)
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically, 1:1 mentor-student ratio
Dates: Multiple 8–12 week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November). You can apply here.
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with demonstrated high academic achievement (accepted students typically maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs students with PhD-level mentors to conduct independent research projects across various fields, including tech. You define research questions, review literature, implement computational or experimental methods, and analyze results. Mentorship meetings occur regularly to guide research progress and provide critical feedback on methodology and communication. You complete a structured research paper and may prepare presentations suitable for science fairs or academic forums. The experience emphasizes self-directed inquiry, analytical writing, and technical rigor, supporting long-term research skill building. You also become eligible for a UCSD Extended Studies credit at the end.
5. DSI Summer Lab
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $5,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20–50 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students only; international students eligible with U.S. work authorization; familiarity with at least one programming language required
The DSI Summer Lab is an eight-week, cohort-based research program focused on applied and interdisciplinary data science. You are paired with faculty or research mentors across domains such as computer science, public policy, climate and energy, materials science, biomedical research, and social science. You contribute to ongoing research projects while developing skills in programming, data analysis, research methodology, and collaborative problem-solving. The program includes structured professional development, a weekly speaker series featuring data science researchers, and regular cohort activities. Students practice communicating their work throughout the summer and present final video projects at an end-of-program symposium organized in a conference-style format.
6. NSF AI4OPT High School Internship
Location: Atlanta, Georgia (On-campus)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohorts
Dates: July 14 – August 15’
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 with mandatory Python experience
The NSF AI4OPT High School Internship engages you in an academic environment where you explore topics like mathematical optimization, machine learning frameworks, and artificial intelligence systems. During the program, you will actively build components for large language models, scrape complex datasets to refine model outputs, and formally present your technical findings to university experts. The program gives you a rare opportunity to contribute directly to active, NSF-funded research inside Georgia Tech’s state-of-the-art CODA facility. Through this intensive work, you will develop advanced Python programming, critical research methodologies, and essential principles of AI ethics.
7. NYU ARISE Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 80 students
Dates: June 2 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students living in New York City
The NYU ARISE program is a 10 -week summer experience that combines four weeks of remote, after-school workshops with six weeks of full-time, in-person lab research. During this time, you explore diverse STEM fields, including bioengineering, chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, and machine learning. You will actively work alongside experienced mentors on real-world lab projects, write formal scientific papers, and ultimately present your findings at a professional colloquium. Through these hands-on activities, you develop highly practical skills in college-level research methodologies, expository writing, scientific ethics, and public speaking.
8. MIT PRIMES (CS Track)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts (Local) or Virtual (PRIMES-USA)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohorts
Dates: January 1 – December 31
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in the U.S.
MIT PRIMES is an intensive, year-long research program where you work on original, unsolved problems in theoretical computer science, which is now housed under the applied mathematics section. During the year, you will complete an advanced reading period, conduct active independent research, and write a comprehensive final paper. You will also deliver a formal presentation on your findings at the annual Fall-Term PRIMES conference. The program's most unique feature is its year-round format, which allows you to dive much deeper than a standard summer camp while being guided directly by MIT researchers. Ultimately, you develop academic writing, advanced mathematical proof techniques, algorithmic problem-solving, and professional presentation skills.
9. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute – Tech Research & Applied AI
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: $2,400 for families with income > $200,001; no tuition cost for qualifying families (< $200,000 income; verification required after acceptance); housing not provided
Dates: July 6 – August 2
Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: U.S. residents attending high school in the United States; Entering 9th–11th grade (not open to current seniors or college students); Must reside in the U.S. during the program
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is a four-week STEM program for high school students that emphasizes project-based learning in advanced technical fields. You complete the required online prerequisite courses before the summer and then engage in workshop-style classes focused on topics such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics, radar, and satellite technologies. Coursework centers on collaborative, hands-on projects where students work in teams to design, test, and refine technical solutions. Instructors and mentors guide students through structured milestones, modeling research and engineering practices used in industry and academia. The experience is designed to build applied technical skills, problem-solving ability, and teamwork within a rigorous academic environment.
10. Princeton University AI4ALL
Location: Princeton, New Jersey (On-campus)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~30–40 students
Dates: July 9–30
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: High school students who live in the U.S. and meet one of the socioeconomic conditions: Combined household income does not exceed $60,000; qualify for reduced-price lunch at school; receive a SAT and ACT fee waiver in school
The Princeton University AI4ALL program teaches you artificial intelligence through the critical lens of public policy, ethics, and social impact. Throughout the three-week residential camp, you explore core AI concepts, machine learning fundamentals, and responsible technology regulation. You will actively attend lectures led by Princeton researchers, collaborate on small-group research projects addressing real-world societal challenges, and embark on a field trip to Washington, D.C., to observe tech policy in action. A standout feature of this program is its exclusive dedication to supporting low-income students and fostering diversity in tech.
11. Harvard University – Secondary School Program (Computer Science & Tech Research)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: $4,180–$15,735, depending on format and credits + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; typically 12–18 students per section
Dates: 7-Week: June 20–August 8; 4-Week: July 12–August 8
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students graduating from high school in the program year or two years after that; at least 16 years old by June 20 and not yet 19 by July 31
The Secondary School Program at Harvard Summer School allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses for credit over four or seven weeks. You select from a broad range of subjects across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, with classes taught by Harvard faculty or visiting instructors. Depending on the option chosen, you may live on campus, commute, or participate online, balancing coursework with structured extracurricular activities and campus events. Courses are intensive and typically small, emphasizing discussion, analytical writing, and independent work similar to a college classroom. The program concludes with the completion of graded coursework that earns official Harvard transcript credit.
12. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Santa Cruz, California (On-campus)
Cost/Stipend: $68 + $750 non-refundable deposit + $4,250 tuition | Housing option: Full-week: $7,350; Weekly Commuter: $5,250; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 1-3 students per research mentor
Dates: June 15 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-17 with strong academic records
In this program, you engage in active, cutting-edge computational and STEM research labs alongside university scientists. You will focus heavily on computer science, data analytics, and computational research applied to real-world problems. You will actively write code for scientific computing, read professional journal articles, analyze complex datasets, and prepare an academic presentation. A truly unique feature of this program is that you are not doing simulated lab work; you are contributing directly to an ongoing university research project. Ultimately, you will master advanced programming, data analysis, and academic communication skills.
13. UT Dallas CS K-12 Summer Research Program
Location: In-Person (UT Dallas Campus) & Virtual options
Cost: $900 – $1,500 (depending on lab or workshop track)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size very limited (varies by specific lab capacity)
Dates: Early June to early August (typically 8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Advanced high school students (ideally finishing 10th/11th grade); age 15+ for in-person
The UT Dallas Computer Science Summer Research Program immerses you in the world of advanced collegiate-level computing and artificial intelligence. You will cover rigorous topics like machine learning, neural networks, exploratory data analysis, and algorithm development. Throughout the summer, you will actively read academic research papers, build and train predictive models, conduct advanced simulations, and develop functional applications for specific research needs. The program allows you to contribute to real, ongoing university research alongside faculty. By the end of your session, you will have gained practical skills in Python programming, model evaluation, data processing, and responsible AI ethics.
14. North Carolina State University Online Research Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,295; $50 early bird discount for registering before April 15; partial scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small research groups
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: Mid-June
Eligibility: Enrolled high school students (rising 10th grade or higher by Summer)
In this program, you take advanced, college-level technical projects from your own home. Throughout the virtual session, you explore specialized computing topics like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous robot navigation. You actively review professional scientific literature, apply predictive modeling to real datasets, and design functional algorithms alongside university faculty. The program features a highly interdisciplinary approach, allowing you to bridge computer science with fields like finance and healthcare. The program culminates in a final research presentation that proves your readiness for university academics.
Image source - NYU Tandon