12 Medical Research Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
If you’re a high school student thinking about medicine, biology, neuroscience, or public health, joining medical research programs can be a practical next step. These programs allow you to work in labs, learn data collection and analysis methods, and observe how scientific studies are conducted. Many of these opportunities are offered by hospitals, universities, and national research institutions, which makes them especially valuable when you’re building your academic profile. Whether you’re aiming for medical school, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or public health, these experiences can help you test your interests early.
Why should you attend a program in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is home to institutions such as Harvard, MIT, the Broad Institute, and major teaching hospitals that offer research programs. Through these programs, you can engage with mentors, observe ongoing studies, and learn how medical research translates into clinical or technological applications. Whether you are a local or plan to visit the state, Massachusetts provides an excellent setting to deepen your understanding of science and healthcare.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down a list of 12 medical research programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
If you are looking for internships in Massachusetts, check out our blog here.
1. Massachusetts Life Science Center High School Apprenticeship
Location: Life sciences companies, incubators, and research institutions across Massachusetts, with special training sites in Brockton, New Bedford, Worcester, and Greater Boston
Stipend: $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 150+ students
Dates: Internships offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; placements and funding are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students at least 16 years old by the internship start | Currently in high school, more details can be found here
The MLSC Apprenticeship funds paid internships for high school students by reimbursing host life sciences organizations, enabling placements in research labs, biotech companies, or clinical settings across Massachusetts. Interns perform work that supports active research, including preparing reagents, collecting and organizing experimental data, and assisting with analytical tasks under professional supervision. Although rooted in the life sciences broadly, many apprenticeships involve quantitative, data‑oriented work that aligns with skills valued in medical research. Structured mentorship from experienced staff guides interns through complex methods and helps them contextualize their tasks within larger scientific goals.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: 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.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which 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, including medicine.
3. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising MA high school seniors with a B or better in science and math who are U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents, or non-U.S. citizens with work authorization
Over six weeks at the Broad Institute, rising seniors conduct authentic research projects alongside Broad scientists in areas including cancer biology, psychiatric disease, infectious disease, and computational biology. Students learn to apply both experimental and computational methods, ranging from wet‑lab techniques to data processing and interpretation, within the context of active scientific studies. Work is structured around a specific research question, with training in lab techniques, safety, and data handling provided early in the session. This is one of the most recognizable medical research programs for high school students in Massachusetts, due to its affiliation with MIT and Harvard.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program (Medicine Track)
Location: Remote; you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and 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 for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students 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 choose a research topic based on your interests, which may include psychology, public health, biology, or data-driven medical research. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided (amount unspecified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates living or studying in Massachusetts during the program who have work authorization in the U.S.
This paid summer research program places you in a neurology lab at one of the world's leading hospitals. You collaborate with neurologists and neuroscientists on active research projects related to brain science. The program kicks off with a multi-day bootcamp to teach essential lab skills, research safety, and professional standards. During the summer, you participate in weekly educational sessions led by neurology experts and receive organized mentoring throughout the program. At the conclusion, you present your research findings to peers, mentors, and field professionals.
6. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Residents in Boston or Cambridge, Massachusetts; currently enrolled in grade 11 or 12, with a minimum 2.70 Grade Point Average (GPA); 16 years of age by June 29; have completed algebra, biology, and chemistry by program start.
Project Success places local Boston and Cambridge high school students in research labs at Harvard Medical School or affiliated hospitals for a seven‑week summer internship that combines practical research with academic inquiry enrichment. Interns contribute to ongoing studies by preparing samples, collecting and analyzing data, and participating in lab meetings where results and questions are discussed. The program includes site visits to hospitals and biotech organizations, providing a broader context on how research translates to clinical applications. Regular professional development sessions support the research activities, strengthening career paths and providing practical insights.
7. Brigham and Women's Hospital Youth Summer Program
Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital campus, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: May 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Boston high school students aged 16+ by June 1
The Youth Summer Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) provides paid internships for high school students interested in healthcare careers. You’ll work about 30 hours per week in departments like radiology, transport, materials management, or research labs. Daily tasks may include supporting diagnostics, helping with hospital logistics, or observing clinical workflows. The program also includes weekly professional development sessions led by hospital staff. This provides insight into how large medical institutions operate behind the scenes and helps participants build early workplace skills and explore healthcare career options.
8. Forsyth Institute Student Scholars Summer Internship Program
Location: Forsyth Institute’s new building and research facilities in Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None / Minimum wage for 35 hours/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9–11 at a school in the Eastern Massachusetts/Boston area
This six‑week internship places high school students in Forsyth Institute research labs focused on oral health science, where you’ll assist scientists with experiments related to immunology, microbiology, and related fields. The program focuses on practical experimentation, including preparing samples, collecting data, and performing assays relevant to ongoing research projects. Weekly research lectures and discussions support understanding of broader scientific contexts and methodologies used by professional scientists. You will present weekly project updates and a final research poster at the conclusion of the internship.
9. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded; $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school students who have one year remaining before graduation and are at least 16 years of age by July 1 of the program year
At MIT’s RSI, high school students begin with intensive STEM coursework and quickly transition into mentored research under MIT faculty and graduate student guidance. In projects that often include biomedical or biological components, you’ll design experiments, collect and interpret data, and engage with current scientific literature. You’ll also attend lectures, workshops, and professional seminars that expand your understanding of research methodologies and scientific communication. Final deliverables include both written and oral presentations of research findings, mirroring academic symposium formats.
10. Harvard Medical School MEDscienceLAB
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 for 5-day program | $2,250 for 4-day program
Dates: Session 1: June 8 – 12 | Session 2: June 15 – 18 | Session 4: June 29 – July 2 | Session 9: August 3 – 7 | Session 10: August 10 – 14 | Session 11: August 17 – 21
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 and at least 16 years old
This one‑week intensive on the Harvard Medical School campus immerses high school students in foundational molecular biology and clinical laboratory techniques, including DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and ELISA. You work in small teams to carry out experiments and troubleshoot protocols, integrating hands‑on skill development with conceptual understanding of how these methods apply in biomedical research. The curriculum also includes simulations with programmable patient mannequins that link lab results to clinical decision-making. Faculty and medical professionals lead discussions on biotechnology, public health, and biomedical careers.
11. University of Massachusetts Research Intensives
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $12,157 | Commuter: $7,022
Dates: June 29 – August 9
Application Deadline: Rolling; priority deadline typically in May
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a B (3.0) or higher in math and science
Over a six-week summer program, you can conduct research in biology, biochemistry, or psychology labs, focusing on experimental design and methodology. Under faculty guidance, they master essential lab protocols, data collection, and analytical reasoning within a university research environment. The program includes workshops on scientific writing, data interpretation, and research ethics. Students participate in discussions that link their laboratory work to larger scientific questions and real-world applications.
12. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 (financial aid available) + $45 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26 | Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students entering 9th–12th grade who are over age 14; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This virtual internship focuses on the application of machine learning to medical imaging and health research. Students collaborate in small groups on projects that involve analyzing medical datasets with machine learning tools and interpreting results in a research context. Technical instruction includes applying supervised and unsupervised learning methods to real health‑related problems, such as imaging classification or feature extraction. Participants also attend technical lectures and discussions led by faculty that cover both computational techniques and domain knowledge in medical imaging.
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