13 Biology Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you are a high school student interested in exploring how biological research shapes different fields, participating in a research program can be a good option. Biology research programs let you work with real data, learn scientific lab techniques, test hypotheses, analyze results, and understand how research is conducted in universities, hospitals, and national labs. Many of these opportunities are run by well-known institutions, which means the experience goes beyond skill-building and into meaningful exposure to how science careers actually work.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas stands out for hosting research universities, medical centers, and science organizations that actively involve high school students in ongoing research. Programs across the state span cancer biology, neuroscience, and environmental and computational biology, often providing access to large-scale facilities and expert mentors. These programs are open to both local and out-of-state students seeking exposure to a large and diverse research ecosystem.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down 14 biology research programs for high school students in Texas.
If you are looking for internships in Texas, check out our blog here.
1. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center – Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 for 10 weeks; $6,480 for nine weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Current Texas public, private, or charter high school seniors | At least 18 years old by the program start | U.S. citizen or permanent resident
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program is a full-time, 10-week biomedical research experience hosted by MD Anderson Cancer Center. During the program, you work in a research laboratory under the supervision of MD Anderson faculty, contributing to ongoing cancer-related studies. Your daily schedule combines hands-on lab work with faculty-led seminars covering current topics in biomedical science and medicine. The program also includes activities such as abstract writing, poster preparation, and elevator pitch competitions. By the end of the biology research program for high school students in Texas, you present your research at a formal event attended by faculty and peers.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
The Veritas AI Fellowship is a 12–15 week online research program that guides you through the process of developing an independent artificial intelligence project with one-on-one mentorship. Early in the program, you focus on building foundational skills in AI concepts and research design before refining a feasible research question. You can apply AI techniques to biology-related areas such as medical imaging, genomics, or public health data, depending on your interests. Throughout the fellowship, you work largely independently while meeting regularly with your mentor for technical feedback and troubleshooting. Toward the end of the program, you present your completed project to peers and even prepare your work for submission to conferences or journals. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. MD Anderson Cancer Center UPWARDS Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $7,200 for the 10-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 10 students
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer (July – September)
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Under-represented incoming high school seniors | 18 or older by the start of the program
The UPWARDS Summer Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center is a 10-week, full-time research experience designed for high school students from underserved communities. During the program, you work in a biomedical research lab under faculty mentorship, contributing to studies focused on cancer biology and related life sciences. Your schedule includes hands-on laboratory research, scientific lectures, and professional development sessions. The program also incorporates mentoring and outreach components that emphasize long-term academic and STEM career planning. It concludes with participation in the CATALYST poster symposium, where you formally present your work.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research experience where you work individually with a PhD mentor to complete a full academic research paper. You begin by conducting a structured literature review and refining a research question, with many students choosing topics in biology or biomedical science. Weekly mentor meetings focus on research design, data interpretation, and academic writing. As the project progresses, you learn how to apply appropriate methodologies and clearly present results in a formal scholarly format. Optional college credit through UC San Diego may be available upon completion. Many participants submit their final papers to research competitions or academic journals.
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of the Navy
Location: Various lab locations across the country
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) | $4,500 (returning participants)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 300 placements
Dates: June – August (8 weeks)
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week summer research placement hosted in Department of the Navy laboratories across the United States. If accepted, you will work alongside professional scientists and engineers on active research projects aligned with naval priorities. Each participant is paired with a mentor who provides day-to-day guidance and oversight, and placements are matched based on your stated interests and background. Research areas may include ocean science, environmental monitoring, materials science, or applied systems research, some of which connect directly to biological and ecological studies.
6. MD Anderson – Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 for the 10-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, by nomination only
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Current high school seniors who are at least 18 years old by the program start date (applicants must be nominated by their school) | U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
The PCCSM Summer Program introduces high school students to cancer research through a structured, mentored experience at MD Anderson Cancer Center. After orientation, you complete the HotStart training, which covers lab safety, research ethics, and foundational laboratory techniques. You then begin a research project in areas such as introductory biology, translational research, epidemiology, or computational science. Most of your time is spent conducting hands-on research in a lab setting under faculty supervision. Weekly seminars and workshops focus on scientific communication, poster preparation, and career exploration. The program concludes with a formal research poster presentation at the MD Anderson Summer Experience Final Event. Faculty mentors also provide guidance on academic pathways in science and medicine.
7. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free ($25 application fee) | $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 12 students
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 17 years of age by the start of the program and are graduating this year or the next year
During the Anson L. Clark Scholars program, you are matched one-on-one with a faculty mentor and spend the summer working on an original research project, including options within biology and related life sciences. Your work takes place in a research-intensive environment across Texas Tech’s main campus or Health Sciences Center. Alongside lab research, you participate in weekly seminars, research ethics discussions, and field trips to broaden your understanding of academic inquiry. The program emphasizes critical thinking, independent problem-solving, and professional research communication. Admission is highly competitive and based on academic performance, recommendations, and stated research interests.
8. MD Anderson – DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $3,600 (pre-tax)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: All high school students | 18 years or older by the program start date
The DACCPM Summer Research Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center is a 10-week summer experience focused on clinical and basic science research. Before beginning lab work, you complete a Cancer Biology boot camp based on The Biology of Cancer by Robert Weinberg, which provides foundational knowledge in cancer biology. You are then matched with a faculty mentor and assigned a research project aligned with ongoing institutional studies. Projects may involve laboratory experiments, clinical data analysis, or literature-based investigations related to cancer and pain medicine. Throughout this biology research program for high school students in Texas, you attend academic lectures and professional development sessions on scientific careers and graduate education. You conclude the program with a poster presentation and abstract submission.
9. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Intern Program
Location: Virtual or hybrid at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~23%
Dates: Virtual: June – July 3 | In-person: July 5 – 18 | Virtual Symposium: July 20 – 21
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: U.S. high school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 years old by July 5
The SEES Intern Program is a NASA-supported research experience that begins with a virtual learning phase and concludes with an in-person session at UT Austin. During the residential portion, you collaborate in teams to conduct research using real NASA mission and satellite data. Project areas include Earth systems science, climate research, and remote sensing, many of which intersect with environmental biology and ecosystem studies. You work under the guidance of NASA scientists and subject-matter experts who provide technical instruction and feedback. You also develop teamwork and scientific communication skills throughout the program. The experience concludes with a formal virtual symposium where you present your research findings.
10. UT Health San Antonio Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy (VBRA)
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: 7 weeks during the summer for 3 years
Application deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores who are at least 15 years of age by June 15 and meet the grade criteria (90% or above in Math, Science, and English; 85% if in Pre-AP, AP, or Dual Credit courses)
The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy is a three-year program that provides sustained exposure to biomedical research for high school students. In the first summer, you participate in a seven-week intensive session focused on laboratory skills, data analysis, and scientific writing. Research projects are grounded in biology and biomedical science, with faculty mentorship throughout the experience. During the academic year and subsequent summers, you continue working on related research projects, allowing for deeper investigation over time. You gain experience presenting research through posters and short talks.
11. Houston Methodist’s High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | Minimum 3.5 GPA | At least 16 years old by the start of the program
The High School Emerging Researcher Experience at Houston Methodist introduces juniors and seniors to translational medical research through a structured summer internship. You work alongside faculty mentors and undergraduate interns on a research project selected based on the mentor’s area of expertise. The program includes seminars and professional development sessions focused on scientific communication and research careers. You also gain exposure to a collaborative academic research environment by working with college-level interns. Throughout the summer, mentors provide guidance on experimental design and methodology. The experience concludes with a research symposium where you present your findings as a poster.
12. TCU – Research Apprentices Program
Location: Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible
Application deadline: None
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
TCU’s Research Apprentices Program allows high school students to work directly with university faculty on active research projects. You can choose to focus on biology or related natural sciences, depending on faculty availability and your interests. In this research program, you join an existing team that may include graduate students and undergraduate researchers. Your responsibilities can include preparing experimental materials, using laboratory equipment, collecting data, and assisting with analysis. Some students contribute to conference presentations or research papers based on project outcomes.
13. UT Austin’s High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000 (Need-based scholarships are available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: June 8 – July 15
Application deadline: Opens in late January
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors during the academic year and 15 years or older by the program start date
The High School Research Academy at UT Austin is a five-week, non-residential summer program that places you in an active College of Natural Sciences laboratory. You work on ongoing research projects in biology, genetics, neuroscience, ecology, or biochemistry. You collaborate with faculty mentors, undergraduate researchers, and fellow high school students throughout your research experience. You learn laboratory techniques commonly used in university research settings while contributing to real data collection or analysis. Regular seminars introduce current research topics and academic pathways in science. Throughout the program, you prepare a formal research poster summarizing your work. Participants earn UT Extension course credit and present at a closing research symposium.
Image source - Veritas AI