14 Data Science Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you’re a high school student in Texas interested in data, technology, and solving problems, joining a data science research program can be a practical next step. Research programs in data science are designed to help you learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data while building technical skills like coding, statistics, and data visualization. Many are hosted by universities, research centers, or industry groups, giving you access to professional tools and experienced mentors.
For students thinking about a future in STEM, participating in a data science program can give you an edge in college applications. These experiences can also help you explore career paths in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, healthcare analytics, or environmental data. To help you get started, here are 14 data science research programs in Texas for high school students!
14 Data Science Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
1. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Cost: Free (includes stipend, housing, meals)
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadlines: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors graduating in the next two years; must be at least 17 years old by the program start date; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week summer research experience for twelve high school juniors and seniors. You’ll work one-on-one with a faculty mentor on an original research project in fields that include computer science, economics, and engineering, areas where data science methods may be applied. The program is residential, free to attend, and includes weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. If you are interested in computational research, you can request mentors in relevant fields such as computer science or economics.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program type. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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.
Veritas AI is a virtual program designed by Harvard graduate students for high schoolers who want to explore artificial intelligence. If you're just getting started, the AI Scholars program gives you a solid foundation in AI, machine learning, and data science. Over 10 sessions, you'll learn how AI works, write Python code, and build a real-world project with a small group and a mentor.
If you already have experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase lets you dive deeper. You’ll work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university on your research project. You’ll get help from Veritas AI’s publication team to submit your work to high school research journals, and you’ll present it at the end of the program. You can also browse past student projects to see what’s possible. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Intern Program
Location: Hybrid (on-site experience at the University of Texas at Austin)
Cost: Free; Housing, meals, and local transportation will be provided
Program Dates: Various phases from May 19 - July 22
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Open to high school students currently in 10th or 11th grade
The NASA and UT Austin Center for Space Research summer intern program is a nationally competitive research experience for high school students focused on data-driven Earth and space science. You’ll analyze and visualize NASA satellite data to study climate change, natural hazards, and Earth systems. Projects include GRACE satellite data analysis for water resources, environmental monitoring using altimetry, and mission design using remote sensing data. You will also complete online modules in Earth science and Python, then work virtually or on-site with NASA scientists and engineers. All participants present their research at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a 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 rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Summer Research Program @ UT Dallas
Location: University of Texas, Dallas
Cost: Ranges from $600 to $1600, with early discounts and 50% off for low-income students.
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: Registration opens January 1 (rolling admission until full)
Eligibility: Open to applicants who have completed 10th and 11th grade.
UT Dallas offers an eight-week summer program where you’ll learn real research skills in areas like coding, cybersecurity, app design, and machine learning. You can choose between two paths. One is a research internship where you’ll work in a lab for 20 to 40 hours a week, reading papers, writing code, and solving problems with professors and mentors. The other is a workshop that meets a few times a week and ends with a final project or paper. These workshops are easier to join and feel like college classes. There’s also a full-time AI workshop for students who are 16 and older, where you’ll learn Python, data analysis, and build real-world projects.
6. PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost
Application deadline: April 4
Program dates: June 9 — June 26
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders from select Houston-area schools
The PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program at Rice University is a three-week research experience for high school sophomores and juniors from select Houston-area schools. You’ll explore how data is collected, processed, and used to solve healthcare challenges through digital health technologies. Projects focus on programming and digital design, using tools like pulse oximeters, accelerometers, and GPS devices to build devices that mirror real research at the PATHS-UP Engineering Research Center.
7. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Several locations across the United States. Students in Texas can choose the AFWERX site in Texas.
Cost: None. A stipend of $501.60/week is offered to participants.
Application Deadline: Varies based on the chosen site.
Program Dates: Typically run 10–12 weeks in the summer, with a minimum requirement of 8 weeks. Can extend to 14 weeks based on mentor preferences and availability of funds.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply and have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For the detailed list of eligibility, click here.
AFRL Scholars Program is a paid summer internship where you use data science to solve real research problems with Air Force scientists and engineers. You can apply to up to three projects focused on areas like machine learning, algorithm development, and satellite data analysis. You’ll work full-time for eight weeks at an Air Force research site. Many projects involve analyzing large datasets, building simulations, and developing models to support aerospace and defense systems. You’ll learn how to clean data, run experiments, and explain technical results clearly. Some interns have worked on predictive modeling, sensor data fusion, and AI-based decision tools.
8. PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program – Texas A&M University
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: None; stipend of $2000
Program Dates: June 9–27
Application Deadline: Not Specified
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors from Los Fresnos CISD, Sharyland ISD, or South Texas ISD; only two students are selected.
PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program at Texas A&M is a three-week residential internship where you use data science tools to solve health-related engineering problems. You work in NSF-funded labs on projects involving wearable sensors, mobile imaging, and remote patient monitoring systems. You collect and analyze biomedical data, code sensor outputs, and use computational imaging to study patient responses. Projects focus on creating low-cost, data-driven technologies for underserved communities.
9. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: $840 + $40 application fee
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are 14 years or older by the start of the program
Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program where you use data science and machine learning to solve healthcare problems. You work on medical datasets, learn how AI supports diagnosis and imaging, and build models with tools like Python and TensorFlow. You attend daily lectures on AI fundamentals, medical imaging, and ethics. You join a team project guided by Stanford researchers and student mentors, focused on analyzing health data and building predictive tools. You also hear from experts in research, public health, and industry.
10. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SparkSMP)
Location: Both in-person and virtual options are available
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9 – 12; U.S. citizens/permanent residents
SparkSIP Summer Internship Program connects high school students with real-world data science projects through industry and university partners. You can apply to 1–5 internships, each lasting 8–10 weeks between June and August. Projects vary, but many in data science involve pulling datasets, analyzing trends, and building tools using Python or other software. You work 20–40 hours per week, either online or in person, depending on the project. Some internships focus on business analytics, machine learning, or software development.
11. High School Research Academy (HSRA) – University of Texas at Austin
Location: UT Austin, Austin, Texas
Cost: $4,000; need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: June 9 – July 16
Application Deadlines: March 23
Eligibility: Open to all U.S. students, but priority is given to Texas residents. Students must be 15 years or older by June 1 and be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in high school.
The High School Research Academy (HSRA) at the University of Texas at Austin is a five-week, in-person summer research program for high school students held on the UT Austin campus. You’ll work in active College of Natural Sciences labs on projects in fields like biochemistry, neuroscience, genome engineering, data analytics, and environmental science. You’ll spend 15–25 hours per week in the lab, learning research techniques and collaborating with UT faculty, undergraduates, and fellow students. At the end of the program, you’ll create and present a printed scientific poster at the HSRA Research Symposium.
12. Academy for Machine Learning
Location: UT Austin Campus
Cost: $2,100. Need-based scholarship available.
Program Dates: Session 1: June 1 - 6, Session 2: July 20 - 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering 10th-12th grade
Spend your summer at the Machine Learning Academy, where you will learn Python, understand how machine learning works, and see how it affects society. You will work with teachers and industry experts to build skills you can use in school and future careers. You will practice writing code, train your machine learning model, and explore new technologies. You will also learn about project management, teamwork, and careers in technology. The program includes tips from UT admissions on how to make a strong application, a visit to the UT campus, and the chance to meet current UT students.
13. Statistics and Data Science Summer Camp
Location: Texas A&M University
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 2 - June 6
Application Deadline: May 12
Eligibility: Students aged 14-18
The Statistics and Data Science Summer Camp introduces high school students to core concepts in data science and statistics. You will learn how to collect, clean, and analyze data using real-world datasets. The program includes daily lessons led by Texas A&M faculty, covering topics such as probability, sampling, data visualization, and statistical modeling. You will complete hands-on projects that involve identifying patterns, interpreting results, and presenting findings.
14. Storytelling with Data at the UNT College of Information
Location: Frisco Landing
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: June 9 - June 13
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle Schoolers-High School Seniors
The UNT College of Information offers a weeklong summer camp focused on data science, Python programming, and digital storytelling. You will learn how to use Python to analyze data, identify patterns, and create clear visualizations. The program includes hands-on lessons in coding, chart creation, and data interpretation, with no prior programming experience required. You will also explore topics such as machine learning, generative AI, and digital media while working with real datasets. Each student completes a final project that turns data into a compelling story, shared with peers, family, and classmates.
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