13 Best STEM Summer Research Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, STEM summer research programs are one of the more practical ways to build skills outside the classroom. As a participant, you may spend a few weeks running experiments in a lab, analyzing large datasets, writing and testing code, building computational models, and/or contributing to ongoing studies in fields like biology, computer science, environmental science, or engineering. In the process, you will also learn about research methodologies, scientific communication, data analysis, and collaborative problem-solving that most high school coursework doesn't cover.
What are the benefits of a STEM research program?
Strong STEM research programs hosted by reputable universities and federal agencies offer access and exposure that's genuinely hard to find elsewhere. You will work directly with researchers, faculty, and professionals who are active in their fields and make real contributions to scientific research. You may also get to present your findings at a research symposium, attend professional development workshops, collaborate with a cohort of equally motivated peers, and see how a research lab actually operates. These experiences help you figure out which areas of STEM you're genuinely interested in, which is useful information before you choose a college major. Beyond the exposure itself, these programs carry real weight in college applications. Completing a selective research program gives you specific, verifiable experience to draw on in your essays, a project or paper you can highlight, and even connections with mentors who can write you a strong recommendation letter.
To make your search easier, we have narrowed down the 13 best STEM summer research programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. Research Science Institute (RSI) @ MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free apart from a non-refundable $75 application fee (waivers available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~2.5% acceptance rate; 80 – 100 students/year
Program dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Early to mid-December
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are at least 16 years of age by July 1 of the program year; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students from participating countries can apply.
The Research Science Institute is a selective, six-week summer program hosted at MIT and run by the Center for Excellence in Education for motivated high school students. RSI combines on-campus STEM coursework with individual off-campus research, offering you exposure to the full arc of what research actually looks like. You will start with a week of intensive STEM classes taught by professors, and then move on to a five-week research internship where you will directly work with an assigned scientist or researcher as your mentor. You will conclude the program with a completed research paper and a conference-style oral presentation on your findings. Throughout the program, you will read current literature in your field, develop and execute a research plan, and engage with a cohort of peers from around the world.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; deadlines vary by cohort: Summer (May), Fall (September), Spring (January), and Winter (November). You can check details and apply to the program here.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
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. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and graduating seniors, ages 17 and up, with demonstrated academic ability
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a highly selective opportunity that brings together 12 students to the Texas Tech University campus for seven weeks of rigorous research work. You’ll work one-on-one with a Texas Tech faculty member on an individual research project in an area of your choice. Research areas span fields like biology, cancer biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics. Beyond the research itself, the program includes weekly seminars, discussions, and field visits. At the end of seven weeks, you will submit a research report.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, winter, fall, and spring. Options range from 12 weeks to a year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Students in high school who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a wide range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as physics, computer science, data science, psychology, engineering, chemistry, international relations, economics, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook, New York
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; optional residential fee: $2,450 | A stipend is offered.
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; a school nomination is required.
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University pairs you with faculty mentors across a wide range of STEM disciplines to engage in research. You will join a faculty-led research team, contribute to active research going on in the lab, and spend at least four hours a day on research-focused work. You will also attend weekly faculty research talks, workshops, and special events that give you a broader view of what research life at a major university looks like. At the end of the program, you will submit a research abstract and a research poster and present your work at a closing symposium.
6. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None; some labs may offer a stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective; 1–2 students/lab selected out of ~3,500 applications
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16, enrolled in a high school, U.S. citizens, and able to provide proof of local housing and transportation in New Jersey
LLP is a full-time, in-person summer research experience, where you will work with Princeton University faculty and research staff on projects in STEM. The project focus and tasks vary by placement, but typically involve data analysis, laboratory activities, modeling, documentation, and scientific writing. You will follow the assigned lab's schedule, complete safety training before starting work, and adhere to university policies. At the end of LLP, you will write and submit a two-page research summary describing your research work.
7. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee (waivers available) + limited number of need-based stipends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50 students/year
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; preference is given to Bay Area students.
SIMR is an eight-week research internship that places you in Stanford labs to work on medically-oriented projects alongside faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and researchers. You will work under the direct, day-to-day guidance of a Stanford graduate student or postdoc within a faculty-led lab. At the end of the program, you will present your research at a poster session attended by Stanford faculty, students, and family members. You can choose to explore one of eight research areas: immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, or genetics and genomics.
8. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various labs across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~300 students/year
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; term can be extended to 10 weeks.
Application deadline: November 1; applications open on August 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are 16 or older; labs may have additional requirements
SEAP is a research-based summer program that places high school students in Department of the Navy labs. During the program, you will gain firsthand exposure to ongoing naval science and engineering research while connecting with scientists in an advanced lab setting. You will contribute to research projects and learn about pathways in naval research and tech. The program also offers professional development opportunities, like seminars, meetings, and presentations. You will also have the opportunity to shadow researchers and other professionals during the program.
9. Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically, ~60 – 80 students/year
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors, ages 16 and up by the program start date, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM are encouraged.
SAMS is Carnegie Mellon's selective academic exploration program that allows rising high school seniors to engage in STEM coursework modeled after the university’s freshman academic load. You will spend six weeks engaging in advanced math and science classes, exploring the CMU campus, and working on a guided STEM research project. You will connect with CMU faculty, attend quantitative and computational skill seminars, and participate in writing workshops focused on college applications. You will also enroll in a credit-bearing course called “Student to Scholar,” which can prepare you for college life. At the end of SAMS, you will showcase your project to an audience of peers and faculty.
10. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program (JAX SSP)
Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free; $7,500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~24 – 28 positions/year
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors, ages 18 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This selective 10-week internship at The Jackson Laboratory places you in biomedical research labs to work on projects in biology or biomedicine. You will join an ongoing lab research program to work under the guidance of an experienced scientific mentor, taking on a project aligned with the lab's ongoing work and gaining increasing independence as the weeks progress. As a participant, you will explore research in genetics and genomics, focusing on how these systems shape biological processes and disease. You will develop skills in genetic testing, data visualization, science communication, and peer review through structured weekly professional development sessions. Every Friday, Journal Club meetings will let you connect directly with JAX scientists and professionals, from grant writers and attorneys to veterinarians and external relations specialists, offering a look at the many career paths that intersect with scientific research. At the end of the summer, you will present your work to JAX researchers, fellow participants, and family members.
11. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES Summer Intern Program
Location: Virtual and University of Texas Center for Space Research, Austin, TX
Cost: Free for virtual participants | $2,000 for on-site participants; full scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~10.75 acceptance rate in the past
Dates: Distance learning: May 15 – July 1; On-site internship: July 5 – 18; Virtual project: June – July 21; Virtual Science Symposium: July 20 – 21
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11, ages 16 and up
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern Program is a research internship hosted by the University of Texas at Austin in partnership with NASA. During the program, you will work closely with NASA scientists, engineers, and researchers on projects that use real mission data. Research areas may span planetary science, astronomy, aerospace engineering, remote sensing, geodetic techniques, and microgravity research. You will start with online modules that cover concepts in Earth and space science and, if necessary for your project, offer technical training in Python programming. After this distance-learning phase, you will work with mentors on research projects, gaining experience in scientific data analysis and learning about the tools and methods researchers use to study Earth and space systems. The program wraps up with a virtual symposium, where you will present your project to peers and NASA researchers.
12. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who live and attend school in NYC
ARISE is a 10-week summer research program that offers high schoolers lab training and the opportunity to work on research projects in NYU labs. The first four weeks are dedicated to training sessions designed to help you learn about lab safety, college-level writing, and research fundamentals. Over the next six weeks, you will work in an NYU research lab, contributing to research in STEM fields. You will spend the summer gaining 150 hours of lab experience, attending seminars, and working on your research presentation, which you will deliver at the end of the program. ARISE also offers college application guidance.
13. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; need-based stipends may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 32 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up
SSRP at Rockefeller University places a small cohort of high school students directly within active research environments. You will join a structured research team modeled after a real lab, led by scientific trainees from Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell Medicine. The seven-week program offers structured exposure to research workflows. In the first week, you will learn about your team's research topic and lab norms, and in the second week, you will select a specific research question to explore. Weeks three through five involve active investigation guided by your team leads and mentors. The final two weeks are dedicated to analyzing your data and building a research poster for the end-of-program symposium. The experience is rounded out by elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, and networking events throughout the summer.