12 Chemistry Winter Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in chemistry, a winter program can be a great option to explore. Chemistry programs offer you the opportunity to study in areas such as biochemistry, chemical engineering, or pharmaceuticals, working with professionals in the field and developing research, analytical, and problem-solving skills. From understanding the chemical makeup of everyday materials to tackling global challenges like clean energy and sustainable food production, these programs show you how chemistry connects to various fields and the way the field is developing. Winter programs, unlike longer summer programs, often run during school breaks, making them shorter, more accessible, and less costly while still offering you a valuable experience. They also give you the chance to explore your interests in a focused setting without disrupting your regular academic schedule.
To help you explore, we’ve compiled a list of 12 chemistry winter programs for high school students that highlight both academic and career-focused pathways.
1. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide, including Cambridge and Boston, MA
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by placement
Dates: Varies by location
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify
The AEOP High School Apprenticeship places you in paid, full-time summer research positions at U.S. Army labs or affiliated universities, where you can explore STEM topics under the guidance of professional mentors. Depending on your placement, your work might focus on chemistry-related areas such as food chemistry, forensic science, or pharmaceutical research, or on broader disciplines like biology, materials science, or cybersecurity. Daily tasks include assisting with experiments, learning how to operate specialized equipment, and contributing to the analysis of data. Beyond lab work, the program includes career workshops and webinars that connect you with scientists across the country and help you explore future pathways in research.
2. Veritas AI Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple 12- to 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants must have either completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with AI concepts/Python
Through Veritas AI’s online programs, you can study artificial intelligence under the guidance of mentors from institutions like Harvard, while also exploring how AI tools intersect with chemistry and related sciences. If you are new to the subject, the AI Scholars track introduces you to concepts such as machine learning and neural networks, which you then apply in a small group project. For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship provides one-on-one mentorship as you design and complete an independent project, sometimes leading to opportunities for publication. Students interested in chemistry might choose to explore how AI is used in areas like drug discovery, molecular modeling, or materials science. Small group sizes mean you receive individualized attention and feedback throughout the process. You can apply to the program here.
3. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by placement
Dates: Varies by internship; part-time year-round internships are offered
Application deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years of age; specific eligibility criteria vary by position
At Sandia National Laboratories, high school internships allow you to join professional research teams working on projects that often involve chemistry, physics, and engineering. Your responsibilities might include assisting with experimental design, data collection, or computational analysis, depending on the lab you are placed in. Because the projects are tied to real government research, the tasks assigned to you contribute directly to ongoing studies, making your work part of a larger scientific mission. Many of the labs at Sandia deal with materials science, chemical analysis, and energy research, giving you direct exposure to how chemistry is applied in high-stakes national projects.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on the program. Need-based financial aid available.
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 remote, mentor-based experience where you carry out independent research in an area of your choice, including chemistry. Over the span of 12 weeks, you design a project with the support of a PhD mentor, moving from defining a question to producing a full academic-style research paper. For chemistry-focused students, topics might include renewable energy systems, nanomaterials, environmental chemistry, or reaction mechanisms, depending on your interests. You meet regularly with your mentor, who provides direct feedback on your methods, analysis, and writing. The program also gives you the option to earn college credit through UC San Diego, and many participants submit their finished work to journals or competitions.
5. Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Immersion Science Program
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 students
Dates: 11 weeks starting early January
Application deadline: Registrations typically run for 3.5 weeks from early to mid-October into early November
Eligibility: Students from the Philadelphia- Tri-State area who are at least 16 years of age and have completed high school chemistry and biology
In the Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Immersion Science Program, you work on projects that explore how nutrients influence development at the molecular level. Much of this research is carried out in fruit flies, where you test how different dietary components affect genetic pathways such as Ras, Hedgehog, and nuclear hormone receptors. Your experiments are part of a much larger effort, with hundreds of high school students contributing data that scientists later expand upon in advanced labs, sometimes even leading to peer-reviewed publications. The chemistry winter program for high school students is structured around weekly Saturday sessions, combining lectures, hands-on lab work, and an independent project that concludes with a presentation.
6. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA
Cost: $0 – $1,070 (For students who meet financial need eligibility criteria, there is no cost to attending ASDRP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: January 16 – May 30
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students in 9th-12th grade; no prior research experience required
ASDRP gives you the opportunity to design and carry out original research with the help of mentors in the Bay Area. Instead of repeating experiments with known outcomes, you’ll be working on projects that contribute to new knowledge in fields such as chemistry, biology, computer science, and engineering. Chemistry-focused students at ASDRP have explored areas ranging from drug design and catalytic reactions to nanoparticle development and solar cell materials. Along the way, you learn to read scientific literature, practice technical writing, and present your work in formats modeled after real academic publications. The program also covers professional skills like public speaking and experimental design, helping you build confidence in communicating research. At the end of your project, you showcase your findings at an expo, with opportunities to publish in the ASDRP journal or even at external conferences.
7. California Academy of Sciences Careers in Science Intern Program
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: Multi-year, year-round participation
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Open to underrepresented 9th or 10th graders in an SFUSD school with a 2.5 GPA and a grade C or higher in math and science, who can commit 2-3 years of attendance
The CiS Internship at the California Academy of Sciences is a multi-year, paid program for San Francisco high school students, beginning the summer before sophomore or junior year. As an intern, you participate in environmental research, science communication, and museum-based projects while also receiving structured support like college readiness workshops and mentoring. During the academic year, you continue developing your skills through small-group projects, museum exhibition support, and public engagement activities. Over time, your responsibilities increase, giving you leadership experience in both research and outreach. While the focus is on environmental science, chemistry plays a role when studying pollutants, water quality, or the chemical makeup of ecosystems, allowing you to connect molecular science with real-world environmental challenges.
8. Research Scholars at UC San Diego – Marine Biology: Mammalian (dolphins and sea lions) Chemistry and Genomics
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA (hybrid)
Cost: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: September 29 – December 6
Application deadline: September 24
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15, in grades 10-12, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
In UC San Diego’s Research Scholars program on marine mammal health, you investigate how environmental exposures affect animals like dolphins and sea lions, using both chemistry and molecular biology. A major part of the course involves measuring pollutants in San Diego Bay with advanced tools such as Composite Integrative Passive Samplers, which capture over 1,000 different chemical compounds. You also collect biological samples from mussels and oysters for chemical and genomic analysis, examining how contaminants influence microbial communities and marine ecosystems. Some sessions are held online, while in-person lab work lets you practice techniques like RNA and DNA extraction, metagenomic sequencing, and chemical profiling of tissues. Alongside the lab work, you study marine mammal anatomy, environmental toxicology, and the statistical methods used to design robust experiments. By the end of this chemistry winter program for high school students, you present your findings in a research poster.
9. UMBC’s Pre-College Program (Winter Session)
Location: University of Maryland, MD
Cost: Ranges from $439 – $6,426, depending on the number of credits and whether you are a Maryland resident or not
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: January 2 – January 24
Application deadline: December 16 (Visiting students) | January 2 (Students accepted from waitlists)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors eligible for concurrent enrollment can apply
At UMBC’s Pre-College Winter Session, you can enroll as a visiting student and take actual college-level courses while still in high school. Courses are available in multiple formats and span fields from STEM areas like biology to chemistry and social sciences. If you choose a science-related track, you’ll be learning at the same pace and standard as college students, which helps prepare you for the academic expectations ahead. Beyond coursework, you get to interact with faculty and peers in a university environment during the winter break.
10. University of California Berkley’s Extension Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Self paced
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students
UC Berkeley’s Introduction to Chemistry through its Extension Program is an online, non-lab course designed to help you build a solid foundation in chemical principles at your own pace. Over the course of around 180 days, you work through material covering atomic and molecular interactions, bonding, and chemical reactions, as well as topics such as acids and bases, chemical equilibrium, and redox processes. Since the chemistry winter program for high school students does not include lab work, it is focused on theory and quantitative reasoning, making it accessible from anywhere without needing a physical laboratory. The self-paced structure means you can fit the class into your schedule at any time of year, including the winter session. The credits you earn can also support your preparation for more advanced studies in college-level science.
11. Wake Forest University Precollege Program – Learn To Think Like A Bioscientist
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,570
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: December 21 – January 4
Application deadline: December 14
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
In Wake Forest University’s “Learn to Think Like a Bioscientist” pre-college course, you study the molecular and chemical basis of infectious diseases. The program looks at how conditions like tuberculosis, HIV, and COVID-19 develop, spread, and are treated, giving you insight into both biomedical science and public health. You’ll learn to differentiate between viral and bacterial pathogens, understand how molecules replicate within cells, and analyze how the immune system responds. The course also examines how drugs and vaccines are designed, linking biochemistry with practical approaches to fighting disease. As part of the program, you practice searching databases, reviewing scientific research, and tracing the progression of diseases from their origins to modern treatments.
12. University of Rochester Online Program – Personalized Medicine: Customizing Care Through Genetics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: December 21 – January 4
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
In the University of Rochester’s online program on Personalized Medicine, you explore how genetic information is reshaping modern healthcare and treatment strategies. The course introduces you to the basics of genomic sequencing, gene mutations, and inheritance patterns, then shows how these concepts are applied in areas like cancer treatment, disease prevention, and stem cell therapies. You will practice interpreting genetic data, analyze how different people respond to the same therapy, and study examples such as BRCA testing for cancer risk. Ethical issues are also addressed, including debates about gene editing, stem cell research, and the accessibility of advanced therapies. This program is well-suited if you are interested in biochemistry, genomics, or pre-med, since it bridges molecular biology with real clinical applications.
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