15 Academic Research Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student, an academic research program can allow you to blend university‑level lab work with mentorship. They help you develop practical skills, provide exposure to fields of your interest, and make valuable connections with experts and peers in the field. Many programs are offered by prestigious institutions and organizations, and are also accessible through scholarships or tuition waivers. By participating in these academic research programs, you can develop the skills necessary to formulate hypotheses, analyze data, and effectively communicate your findings, which are applicable across various disciplines.
To get you started, we’ve curated 15 academic research programs for high school students.
15 Academic Research Programs for High School Students
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None (tuition, housing, and meals covered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 80 students selected worldwide
Dates: June 22 - August 2
Application Deadline: Early-mid December
Eligibility: High‑school juniors (11th graders); strong standardized test scores recommended
The Research Science Institute is a six-week intensive residential program co-sponsored by MIT and the Center for Excellence in Education. You will spend one week in advanced STEM coursework, followed by five weeks conducting original research under the supervision of MIT faculty. As a participant, you will work full‑time in research labs and attend seminars on topics such as experimental design and scientific communication. Throughout the program, you will engage in the full research cycle as you review literature, design experiments, conduct investigations, and present your findings in both written and oral formats while also attending evening lectures from Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs, and science leaders and participating in cultural and academic excursions in and around Boston.
2. Veritas AI – AI Scholars
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Veritas AI’s AI Scholars program teaches high school students Python coding and machine learning fundamentals through live online lectures and collaborative projects. You will explore regression, neural networks, natural language processing, and healthcare applications. The program emphasizes teamwork; you will work in groups of 3–5 under a supportive 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. At the end of the program, you’ll get the opportunity to present your work at a final showcase and receive a certificate upon completion.
3. Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Vary by project; 5-6 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 15 - March 15
Eligibility: High school students 16+ by June 15th, enrolled in a U.S. high school; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only
Princeton’s LLP matches high‑school students with ongoing research projects in natural sciences and engineering. You will work full‑time in university labs, attend training sessions on safety and lab protocols, and may participate in fieldwork or computational modeling depending on the project. LLP provides a realistic glimpse of academic research life at an Ivy League institution by involving you with a research team led by a faculty member, and it can also give you an opportunity for further collaboration with the university.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Cohorts throughout the year; each program lasts 12–20 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High‑school students; 3.3+ GPA recommended
Lumiere pairs ambitious high‑schoolers with Ph.D. mentors to produce an independent research project. Over the course of 12–20 weeks, you will get to design experiments, analyze data, and write a research paper. The program offers both an individual track and a premium track, the latter including editorial support for publication. Projects span disciplines from biology and neuroscience to economics and computer science. You will receive guidance on literature reviews, methodology, and research ethics, and you can submit your work to journals or competitions.
5. Simons Summer Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: None. You can choose to live on campus or commute. The cost of room and board is detailed on the website; a stipend is provided upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 40 students
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high‑school juniors (11th grade), U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 16+
The Simons Program lets you work alongside Stony Brook faculty and graduate students in science, math, or engineering. You will join active research groups, learn lab techniques, and contribute to ongoing projects. At the end, you need to present your findings at a poster symposium and submit a research paper. With a competitive selection process and strong mentorship, SSRP is a solid option among academic research programs for high school students.
6. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Biotech Summer Experience
Location: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 14 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12, aged 16+, U.S. citizens, with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher
LLNL’s Biotech Summer Experience is a 10‑day immersive program that introduces students to molecular biology and bioinformatics, where you will clone and sequence DNA, perform computational analyses, and attend seminars led by LLNL scientists. The program is based on Rutgers University’s Waksman Student Scholars Program and is offered at no cost. You will gain hands‑on experience at a national laboratory and present your findings at a final symposium. Among academic research programs for high school students, the LLNL program is a brief but focused experience that provides direct exposure to work in a federal laboratory.
7. UCI Cancer Research Institute Youth Science Fellowship Program (YSFP)
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High‑school juniors and seniors attending schools in Orange County
The Youth Science Fellowship Program immerses students in cancer research laboratories at UCI. Fellows work 30 hours per week on projects related to cancer biology, immunology, and bioinformatics, guided by faculty and graduate mentors. Your weekly lectures will cover topics such as experimental design, ethics, and career pathways. Throughout the program, you will also engage in cohort reflections and social activities, fostering a collaborative learning environment. The fellowship culminates in a symposium where participants present their research.
8. City of Hope Science & Nutrition Summer Research Program
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Four one‑week sessions: July 8–10, July 15–17, July 22–24, and July 29–31
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: High‑school students in grades 9–12 who can attend classes on campus
City of Hope’s STEP program provides students with an introduction to nutrition science and human health. Over the course of four weeks, you will take classes on macronutrients, genetic influences on diet, and the impact of social determinants on health. You will collaborate in teams to design a research project grounded in peer-reviewed literature and share your findings at a final symposium. The program also features site visits to research gardens and hands-on cooking demonstrations. In addition, you will learn directly from faculty experts and gain insight into real-world applications of nutrition science.
9. NIH Summer Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: National Institutes of Health (multiple campuses across the U.S.)
Cost/Stipend: No program fee; Stipend varies by education level and location
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Eight weeks (June – August)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be 18+ by program start; includes high‑school seniors
SHIP places high‑school students in NIH laboratories to conduct biomedical research under the guidance of scientists. As an intern, you will assist with experiments, data analysis, and lab meetings, gaining exposure to careers in health sciences. Weekly workshops cover topics like scientific writing, college admissions, and career planning. Stipends help offset living costs, and housing is sometimes available at select campuses.
10. UC Davis Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: University of California, Davis, CA (residential)
Cost: $7,500, financial aid available, $45 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 40 students
Dates: June 21 – August 1 (upcoming dates)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high‑school juniors and seniors, 16+; U.S residents
UC Davis’s Young Scholars Program immerses students in laboratory research in biological and natural sciences. You will be living on the campus for six weeks, working alongside faculty mentors and graduate students, and you will also earn university credit. Weekly seminars cover topics such as scientific writing, data analysis, and ethics. A final symposium allows you to present your research to peers and faculty. YSP is one of the longest‑running academic research programs for high school Students, providing a comprehensive introduction to university‑level science.
11. UC Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies (SRA)
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA (commuter or residential)
Cost: Commuter: $2,775; Residential: $8,774, including housing and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 25 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–11; minimum 3.60 GPA
UCSB’s Summer Research Academies offer project‑based courses in areas like marine biology, neuroscience, and climate science. The program involves you enrolling in a 4‑unit university class, attending lectures and lab sessions, and collaborating on a directed research project. Through the GRIT Talks lecture series, you also hear from leading members of the UC Santa Barbara research community as they share their work and innovative technology. The program culminates with a poster session where you present your findings in a capstone seminar.
12. Lawrence Hall of Science – Biotech Engineering & Innovations in Genetics
Location: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $1,465 for the week‑long non‑residential session; optional residential add‑on $1,255
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 23–27; Session 2: July 7–11; Session 4: July 21–25
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
This week‑long program will introduce you to genetic engineering techniques and the ethics of biotechnology. You will use CRISPR to edit bacterial DNA, design diagnostic tools, and explore synthetic biology innovations. Each day includes labs, group projects, and discussions, where you practice sterile techniques, carry out restriction enzyme mapping, run gel electrophoresis, perform bacterial transformation, and work with polymerase chain reactions. You also dive into debates on the ethics of gene editing, meet scientists from the Innovative Genomics Institute, connect with STEM professionals, mingle with students from other STEM tracks, and wrap up the week with project presentations and certificates.
13. Boston University Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: Tuition $5,700 plus service fees and room/board options. Check here for additional information
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 29 - August 8 (Residential), June 30 - August 8 (Commuter)
Application Deadline: February 14 for financial aid consideration; applications open December 15
Eligibility: Rising high‑school seniors (students completing 11th grade)
BU’s RISE program offers two tracks: a research internship and a practicum. In the internship track, you will work 40 hours per week alongside Boston University researchers in fields such as biomedical engineering, astronomy, and psychology. As an intern, you attend weekly seminars on research ethics and professional development. The practicum track combines research coursework with group projects supervised by BU faculty. A $1,000 deposit is required to secure a spot, and limited financial aid is available to students who demonstrate financial need.
14. University of Chicago Research in Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $14,490 (includes tuition, housing, meals, and activities), need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 14 – July 12 (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 5. Check here for priority and rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors (must have completed a high‑school biology course)
RIBS is a four‑week intensive training program in molecular and cellular biology, where you’ll learn techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, and CRISPR editing through lab modules. In the second half of the program, you’ll get to design and conduct an independent research project, culminating in a research forum where you present your results. Weekly writing assignments and journal clubs develop scientific communication skills, and faculty seminars expose you to careers in biomedical research. For those seeking an immersive, university‑level experience, RIBS is a rigorous academic research program for high school students.
15. UC San Diego Life Sciences Research Scholars – Fundamentals of Bioinformatics & Biostatistics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September 29 – December 5
Application Deadline: September 5
Eligibility: High school students with AP Biology and Pre‑Calculus coursework
This 10‑week course introduces high‑school students to sequencing technologies, R programming, and statistical analysis. Lectures are delivered online, while an optional in-person session at UCSD provides a hands-on lab experience. You will learn to use databases such as NCBI and perform differential gene-expression analysis. The course culminates in a capstone project using publicly available datasets, and you will earn a digital badge and certificate.