14 Free STEM Research Opportunities for High School Students
STEM research in high school can take you far beyond textbook experiments and into the spaces where real scientific questions are being investigated. Through research programs, you can learn practical skills such as experimental design, coding, data analysis, laboratory techniques, and scientific communication while working alongside researchers, engineers, or university faculty. These experiences also give you an early look at professional STEM environments and help you build connections with mentors who can shape how you think about college and future careers. Better yet, programs that are completely free or offer full financial aid let you access high-level research without the steep price tag attached to many pre-college experiences, and several are hosted by prestigious universities, national laboratories, federal agencies, and leading medical research centers.
What are the benefits of STEM research in high school?
A strong STEM research experience teaches you how to ask focused questions, evaluate evidence, troubleshoot problems, document your methods, and explain complex findings clearly. Depending on the program, you might conduct biomedical experiments, analyze large datasets, build AI models, work on aerospace or engineering projects, explore computational biology, or contribute to ongoing research in a university or government laboratory. You may even produce a research paper, a scientific abstract, a technical report, a poster, or a conference-style presentation.
In this blog, we’ve gathered 14 free STEM research opportunities for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span AI research, biomedical science, cancer biology, data science, aerospace engineering, computational biology, and environmental science, so students with a wide range of STEM interests can find a relevant free or funded research opportunity.
Several programs offer significant stipends in addition to being free, including Florence E. King Foundation ($7,200), Kenan Fellows ($4,480), AFRL Scholars ($615 to $861 per week), and Berkeley Lab Experiences in Research ($500 per week), making them practical options for students who need to earn during the summer.
Acceptance rates are extremely low for the most prestigious programs, including Memorial Sloan Kettering (2%), Clark Scholars (12 students per year), and RSI (100 students worldwide), so students should apply to multiple programs and submit early.
Application deadlines begin as early as November (SEAP) and December (RSI, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mayo Clinic SPARK), so students should identify target programs in the fall and begin preparing materials well in advance.
1. Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students per cohort
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors worldwide
The Research Science Institute combines advanced STEM coursework with the chance to complete an individual research project under the guidance of experienced scientists. You begin with intensive classes led by accomplished professors before moving into the core research phase of the program. Your project takes you through the full research cycle, from reading current scientific literature and developing a detailed plan to conducting research and interpreting your findings. You also strengthen your scientific communication skills by preparing formal written and oral reports. Among free STEM research opportunities for high school students, RSI offers particularly comprehensive exposure to how advanced scientific research is developed, executed, and presented.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: 100% financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary by cohort: 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: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
The Veritas AI Fellowship helps you develop an independent artificial intelligence research project around a question that genuinely interests you. Working one-on-one with a mentor, you refine your research question, examine relevant scholarship, select a dataset or technical approach, and create a plan for testing your ideas. Your project can connect AI with fields such as healthcare, economics, environmental science, or social research, giving you room to pursue interdisciplinary questions. Regular feedback helps you improve your coding, model design, interpretation, and conclusions. By the end, you have a substantial project that can potentially be developed further for academic, competition, or portfolio purposes. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $615.60 – $861.60/week (based on education level and credits earned)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by placement
Dates: 8 – 12 weeks (late May/early June – August)
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0
The AFRL Scholars Program places you alongside professional scientists and engineers working on applied research in advanced STEM fields. Based on your assignment, you may contribute to projects involving aerospace systems, artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, physics, data science, materials, space research, or software development. Your responsibilities can include analyzing data, assisting with simulations, supporting experimental design, or contributing to technical documentation. Working within an active federal research environment shows you how scientific and engineering questions are connected to large-scale technological challenges. A dedicated mentor supervises your work and introduces you to the research practices used by professional teams.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter; vary depending on the yearly cohort
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college during the fall, demonstrating a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation gives you the structure to design and complete an independent academic project with individual guidance from a PhD mentor. You can pursue research across fields such as medicine, engineering, environmental science, computer science, physics, chemistry, data science, or interdisciplinary subjects. Your work involves narrowing a broad interest into a focused question, reviewing existing research, choosing an appropriate methodology, and developing your own analysis. As a free STEM research opportunity for high school students who qualify for the foundation’s support, the program is focused on producing original work. Regular mentor meetings help you address challenges and strengthen both your research process and academic writing. The experience culminates in a full-length research paper that documents your question, methodology, findings, and conclusions. You can apply here!
5. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Stipend: $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and at least 17 by the start date
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program centers on an original research project completed under the individual guidance of a university faculty mentor. Depending on your academic interests, your work may involve laboratory investigation, mathematical research, engineering, computational modeling, data analysis, or another form of scholarly inquiry. Much of your experience is devoted to actively developing the project, allowing you to become familiar with the decisions and challenges involved in independent research. Seminars and group discussions introduce broader academic perspectives beyond your chosen topic, while organized activities connect you with other scholars. You conclude by preparing a written research report that brings together your methods, analysis, and findings.
6. Experiences in Research
Location: Berkeley Lab, Berkeley, CA
Stipend: $500 stipend per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: 10th-12th graders (16+) with a 3.0+ GPA (11th-12th graders preferred); Must be living in Northern California (20-mile radius preferred); OUSD students need the ECCCO common application
Berkeley Lab’s Experiences in Research program allows you to contribute to projects across both traditional STEM and STEM-adjacent fields. Based on your placement, you might work with experimental research, data collection, coding, data science, science communication, or projects supporting the operation of a research organization. You collaborate with professionals while developing skills that align with your interests and the needs of your assigned team. The range of project areas gives you a broader view of research careers, including roles that combine technical knowledge with communication, analysis, or program support. Workshops, career discussions, and group meetings complement your project work and expose you to different professional pathways.
7. University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab
Location: John Crerar Library at the University of Chicago, Hyde Park campus, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Current high school seniors starting college in the fall and residing in Chicago; applicants familiar with at least 1 programming language preferred
The University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab immerses you in an active research group working on applied questions that use data and computational methods. Projects can span computer science, public policy, health, climate and energy, social science, materials science, and other interdisciplinary areas. After joining a research team, you learn how researchers organize datasets, select appropriate methods, document decisions, and collaborate when a problem draws on multiple disciplines. Near-peer mentoring, group activities, and researcher talks give you opportunities to discuss challenges and compare research approaches. You ultimately present your work in a conference-style setting, building experience explaining your findings and responding to questions.
8. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 2 – December 3
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns counties in Florida with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
Mayo Clinic’s free STEM research opportunity for high school students places you within a biomedical research environment where you work closely with a scientist on a defined project. Research areas can include biochemistry, molecular biology, drug development, epidemiology, immunology, cancer biology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and regenerative science. Through your project, you may learn laboratory techniques, analyze findings, and examine how basic scientific questions can contribute to advances in medicine. Mentor guidance helps you develop your project and understand the reasoning behind different research methods. Your work can also develop into a project suitable for science fairs or other research-focused academic settings.
9. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~300
Dates: Typically May to June
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: 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 introduces you to applied scientific and engineering research conducted within U.S. Navy laboratories. As a federal intern, you may contribute to work involving engineering, robotics, computing, environmental science, materials, electronics, simulations, or ocean technology. Day-to-day responsibilities can include assisting with experiments, modeling systems, analyzing data, documenting results, or supporting technical problem-solving. You contribute to active projects alongside professional scientists and engineers, so you see how research questions are translated into technologies and practical applications. Your mentor helps you build the technical skills needed for your assignment while introducing you to professional laboratory practices.
10. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships at the University of Florida Health
Location: Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $4,480
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 5 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will begin their junior or senior year in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school in the fall, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and will be 16 years old by the first day of the program
The Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship introduces you to biomedical research through training followed by sustained work in an active laboratory. Early instruction covers research safety, laboratory techniques, and the scientific process before you begin contributing more directly to your assigned project. Under the supervision of research scientists, you can explore areas related to biological and chemical research, drug discovery, biotechnology, or biomedical engineering. This free STEM research opportunity for high school students is especially hands-on, with an emphasis on research planning, experimental design, bench work, and data analysis. Scientific seminars broaden your exposure to ongoing biomedical research and potential career directions.
11. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 8-12 weeks starting in June (dates are flexible)
Application Deadline: February 18 (rolling)
Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years of age by June 1, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, accepted into an accredited program for the upcoming fall, have a cumulative GPA of 3.2+ on a 4.0 scale, and have completed coursework in computer science, data science, informatics, mathematics, or related fields
The NLM Data Science and Informatics Scholars Program focuses on computational research at the intersection of biology, health, and information science. Working one-on-one with a research mentor, you contribute to a project that may involve biomedical datasets, computational biology, informatics methods, or analytical tools used to investigate scientific questions. The experience teaches you to think beyond producing results by considering why a particular method is appropriate and how accurately the findings can be interpreted. Lectures and professional development activities strengthen skills such as collaboration, responsible data use, literature review, and research presentation. You eventually prepare your findings for poster-style presentations and practice discussing your work with a scientific audience.
12. Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 (10 weeks), $6,480 (9 weeks)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 6 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current high school seniors (18+) in Texas; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders
The Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program places you in a biomedical research setting where you contribute to a project under the mentorship of an MD Anderson faculty member. Your research may connect with cancer science, biomedical disciplines, or related areas of health research. Much of the experience centers on hands-on laboratory work, helping you understand how experimental design, careful data collection, and analysis contribute to scientific investigation. Working within a major cancer research environment also shows you how foundational laboratory science can connect with broader clinical and health-related questions. Faculty seminars expose you to additional research areas and career paths beyond your individual project.
13. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2%; About 20 interns/year
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors (14+) with a 3.5 GPA in science subjects; Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and live within 25 miles of the main campus
Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Summer Student Program gives you the chance to complete a self-directed project that contributes to the broader objectives of an active research laboratory. You may work in cancer biology, immunology, pharmacology, genomics, computational biology, chemistry, structural biology, engineering, imaging, or related areas. Your assignments can involve experiments, literature review, data analysis, computational methods, or other techniques appropriate to your research question. For students seeking a free STEM research opportunity for high school students with a strong biomedical focus, the program combines independent project responsibility with close technical mentorship. You conclude by presenting your project formally, giving you experience explaining your methods, findings, and scientific significance.
14. LEAH Knox: Data Science & Biomedical Research Internship
Location: Cambridge and Boston, MA
Stipend: Up to $2,250 in the summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: January – March
Eligibility: Boston-area public school students in grades 10-12, ages 16+
The LEAH Knox program combines research training, mentorship, career exposure, and college preparation through a multi-stage STEM experience. You begin by developing laboratory and data skills in an intensive research setting, then build on that foundation through later opportunities to pursue more advanced placements in academic, organizational, or industry labs. The program’s longer-term structure supports your growth from guided skill-building toward greater independence in research. Individual mentorship and STEM events give you access to professionals in the field, while continued lab visits, career panels, and college-readiness support help you connect your research experience with longer-term goals.
Frequently asked questions
1. What free STEM research opportunities are available for high school students?
Options include university and lab-based research programs, such as RSI at MIT, Clark Scholars at Texas Tech, and Berkeley Lab Experiences in Research, biomedical and cancer research programs, such as Florence E. King Foundation at MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mayo Clinic SPARK, and Kenan Fellows, data science and AI programs, such as Veritas AI Fellowship, UChicago DSI Summer Lab, and NLM DSI Scholars, and federal lab programs, such as AFRL Scholars and SEAP.
2. Which free STEM research programs offer the largest stipends for high school students?
Florence E. King Foundation at MD Anderson offers the largest stipend at $7,200, followed by Kenan Fellows ($4,480), AFRL Scholars ($615 to $861 per week), and Berkeley Lab Experiences in Research ($500 per week). Memorial Sloan Kettering offers $1,200, and Clark Scholars offers $750 upon completion.
3. Which free STEM research programs are best for students interested in biomedical or cancer research?
Students interested in biomedical or cancer research might consider Florence E. King Foundation at MD Anderson for mentored laboratory research in cancer science, Memorial Sloan Kettering for a self-directed project in cancer biology or genomics, Mayo Clinic SPARK for a six-month research mentorship in biochemistry or immunology, and Kenan Fellows for hands-on biomedical and drug discovery research.
4. When should I apply to free STEM research opportunities for high school students?
The earliest deadlines are SEAP (November 1), RSI and Memorial Sloan Kettering (December 1 to February 6), and Mayo Clinic SPARK (December 31). Other early deadlines include AFRL Scholars (January 10), UChicago DSI Summer Lab (January 12), and Florence E. King Foundation (January 14). Students should begin identifying programs and preparing materials in the fall of their junior year.