15 Medical Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you are a high school student interested in medicine or healthcare, a medical research program can help you explore the field in absolute depth. Research programs place you in laboratories or research-focused environments, allowing you to learn foundational lab techniques, important safety procedures, and additional skills. These experiences not only strengthen your understanding of scientific inquiry but also give you early exposure to careers in medicine, clinical research, and healthcare innovation.
Why should you attend a medical research program in Texas?
Texas is home to several prominent colleges and institutions that offer medical research programs, including Texas Tech University and MD Anderson Cancer Center. In these programs, you may work alongside scientists and medical professionals to assist in experiments, analyze biomedical data, and contribute to ongoing studies in prominent research areas. Through these programs, you may get to dive into medicine and explore a range of related subject areas, including cancer biology, biomedicine, microbiology, neuroscience, and drug development.
To help you with your search, here are 15 medical research programs for high school students in Texas.
If you are looking for internships in Texas, check out our blog here.
1. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16; applications open on January 2
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors, ages 17 and up
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a selective summer research program that gives you the chance to work alongside faculty on the Texas Tech campus. Placements are typically available across sciences, including fields such as cancer biology, cellular biology, and microbiology. Here, you will spend seven weeks working on research and developing a research report under the mentorship of faculty. The program also offers the chance to participate in weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips while living on a university campus.
2. Veritas AI: AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who have participated in the AI Scholars program or have coding experience
Founded and run by Harvard graduates, Veritas AI offers AI-focused programs for students interested in exploring the fields of artificial intelligence and data science. The AI + Medicine Deep Dive is an interdisciplinary program, during which you will explore how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Here, you will attend virtual sessions to study AI concepts like convolutional neural networks and image segmentation, and health tech topics, such as medical data preparation. You will also have the opportunity to work on real-world projects that use AI and ML models to solve challenges in healthcare, like diagnosing diseases, enhancing medical imaging, and interpreting data to support healthcare professionals and patients. You can learn more about the application here.
3. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 (for 10 weeks) | $6,480 (for nine weeks)
Cohort size: Up to 6 students/year
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 14; applications open on November 17.
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors, ages 18 and up
Through this program, MD Anderson Cancer Center allows high school seniors to contribute to a hands-on biomedical research project under the guidance of a full-time faculty member. As a participant, you will gain exposure to the complete scientific investigation process. You will spend time in the lab, engaging in activities designed to help you experience the daily lives of biomedical researchers. You will also attend seminars covering a wide range of research topics. The program also runs activities like abstract, poster, and elevator speech competitions. At the end of the summer session, you will present your findings.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Medicine Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts scheduled in a year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers you the opportunity, support, and resources to work on a research project. As a participant, you will work one-on-one with a Ph.D. scholar to develop a research paper from start to finish. You can choose a research question within medicine, healthcare, mental health, neuroscience, or other related disciplines. By the end of the program, you will complete your research paper and have the opportunity to present it at the closing Lumiere Research Symposium. You can find more details about the application here and review students' experiences with the program here and here.
5. MD Anderson Cancer Center’s UPWARDS Summer Program
Location: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200 offered
Cohort size: 10 students/year
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer; dates not specified
Application deadline: January 14; applications open on November 17.
Eligibility: Underserved high school current juniors/rising seniors who are 18 or older
The UPWARDS Summer Program is designed for underserved high school students seeking hands-on research experience in a lab environment. Focused on biomedicine and cancer research, the program will pair you with a faculty member to work in their lab and gain hands-on research experience. While applying, you can indicate your preference for a specific area or topic within cancer research. Along with lab work, you will engage in coursework and training and receive support for college and career planning. Additionally, you will attend scientific lectures, seminars, and career development events. The program will end with a poster session, where you will present your research work.
6. DACCPM Summer Research Program @ MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $3,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 14; applications open on November 17.
Eligibility: High school students, ages 18 and up
The DACCPM Summer Research Program is an opportunity for high school students to work on research and clinical projects. The program allows you to dive into areas like anesthesiology, perioperative immune function, opioids, chemotherapy-induced pain, factors influencing cancer recurrence, critical care, or pain medicine research. The first couple of days will be dedicated to a Cancer Biology boot camp. Then, you will be assigned a mentor with whom you will collaborate on a research project over the course of 10 weeks. In the process, you will gain exposure to laboratory safety procedures and techniques for collecting, analyzing, and presenting scientific data. You will have access to academic and professional development programming, which can help you with college applications. Toward the end of the program, you will participate in a poster symposium, where you will present your research project to the MD Anderson research community.
7. UT Health San Antonio’s Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 20 students selected
Dates: June 10 – July 23; the program requires a commitment of three summers.
Application deadline: March 6; applications open on February 6
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, ages 15 and up, with a 90 in Math, Science, and English or 85 in AP or honors, from San Antonio and the surrounding areas
The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy offers high school students an opportunity to explore biomedical research and careers over three summers. During the program, you will be paired with a biomedical scientist mentor from UT Health San Antonio and get to work in their laboratory, gaining exposure to a variety of subject areas in biomedicine. In the first year, you will engage in a seven-week research-focused program in the summer and participate in various enrichment and research-oriented activities in the academic year. The next two years will be dedicated to faculty-mentored research experiences. At the end of your final summer session, you will present your work by publishing an abstract and receive a monetary Voelcker Student Award.
8. SMS Summer Research Program @ Baylor College of Medicine
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Stipend: Paid according to minimum wages in Texas
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 11 – August 4 (tentative)
Application deadline: April 18 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students, ages 18+, who have participated in Saturday Morning Science programs in the past
The SMS Summer Research Program is an eight-week opportunity to gain research experience. As a participant, you will work in a laboratory or on a research project under the mentorship of a Baylor College of Medicine researcher. You will also participate in research meetings and other seminars related to your research group. Additionally, you will attend weekly “Lunch and Learn” sessions, which focus on various aspects of research and professional development. At the end of the program, you will present your research at the SMS Summer Research Symposium.
9. University of Houston Mohanlab Summer Internship Program for High School Students
Location: University of Houston Science & Engineering Research Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: March 26; applications open on February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Mohanlab Summer Internship is an eight-week program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedicine, bioengineering, or computer science. For the first two weeks, you will learn basic laboratory techniques. Then, you will spend six weeks participating in bench research or basic science research under the guidance of scientists or graduate students. Opportunities typically span areas like biomedical sciences, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and big data analytics. You will present your research findings at the end of the program. You may also get to contribute to work that is submitted for publication. You may also have the opportunity to continue working with the lab after the internship ends, taking up tasks like manuscript writing or data analysis.
10. High School Emerging Researcher Experience @ Houston Methodist
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: January 30; applications open on December 1.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors, 16 or older, with a GPA of 3.5+
Houston Methodists’ High School Emerging Researcher Experience is designed to introduce you to translational research while providing opportunities to engage with college students. During the program, you will work alongside undergraduate students and will learn about different aspects of the research process. Your summer project will be assigned by your mentor, based on their area of expertise. Throughout the program, you will receive guidance and instruction on fundamental laboratory techniques. In addition to research work, the program provides a career and professional development curriculum to help you with your college applications. At the end of the program, you will deliver a poster presentation, sharing your research experience.
11. UT Austin’s HSRA Summer Program
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000; need-based scholarships (stipend + free tuition) available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – July 16 (tentative)
Application deadline: March 23 (tentative)
Eligibility: Texas rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are 15 or older; preference given to rising juniors and seniors.
UT Austin’s HSRA or High School Research Academy is an opportunity for high schoolers to contribute to ongoing research projects within active laboratories at the College of Natural Sciences (CNS). These research projects span areas such as biochemistry, biology, environmental science, genetics, neuroscience, and genome engineering. As a participant, you will work within labs, build foundational research skills, and connect with UT faculty, students, and peers. Additionally, you will attend “Wednesday Seminars” that feature sessions led by guest speakers from UT. At the end of the program, you will present a poster summarizing your experience and findings at the HSRA Research Symposium. You will also get to earn NSC309 UT extension course credit upon completing the program.
12. UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School’s High School Summer Research
Location: UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,800
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 2
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up
UTHealth’s High School Summer Research program is designed for students interested in exploring science, medicine, and biomedical research. As a participant, you will engage in research projects alongside faculty and student mentors while gaining insights into interdisciplinary medical research. You will find opportunities to learn about laboratory practices and develop communication and teamwork skills. The program runs didactic courses covering basic laboratory biochemistry and molecular biology concepts and techniques. The program also offers access to seminars, where you can network with medical students, faculty, and healthcare professionals.
13. UT Austin’s Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500
Cohort size: Up to 20 participants
Dates: Two weeks in July
Application deadline: Mid-April; applications open in March
Eligibility: Central Texas high school rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are 16 or older
A part of the American Cancer Society’s High School Program, UT Austin’s Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology is a virtual program that allows 20 high schoolers each year to learn about cancer research and careers in oncology. During the program, you will connect with experts in cancer research and clinical care. You will also work on two distinct research projects. In the first week, you will conduct laboratory-based research, working with a lab kit containing a microscope, micropipettes, and live fruit flies. During the program’s virtual sessions, you will participate in discussions and activities centered on college readiness, health sciences, and healthcare. Following the summer session, you will have the opportunity to connect with UT faculty and fellow students in person every other month throughout the school year.
14. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual opportunities available for Texas students
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (can be waived); no stipend
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15; applications open on December 8
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15 and up
George Mason University’s ASSIP offers high school students the opportunity to engage in virtual research experiences under faculty mentorship. You can choose one out of various research areas, with options also spanning biomedical fields such as proteomics and molecular medicine, biochemistry, drug discovery, etc. During the program, you will work one-on-one with a faculty researcher and gain exposure to lab equipment and technologies. You will also attend discussion forums and meetings to explore careers in STEM. The program offers opportunities to develop key research skills, including academic writing and scientific communication. Upon completing the program, you may have the opportunity to have your name published in scientific journals or present your work at scientific conferences.
15. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program fee + $40 application fee; financial aid avaialble
Cohort size: 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27 (tentative)
Application deadline: February 28 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who are 14+ and U.S. citizens/permanent residents/those with valid visa documents; preference is given to students with solid math or computer programming skills or experience working on a healthcare project.
The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week program that offers you the opportunity to explore the technical aspects of healthcare through virtual sessions that cover the fundamentals and significance of AI in healthcare. You will learn from Stanford Student Leads and researchers who will serve as mentors and guide you through hands-on research projects. In addition, the program runs “Career Lunch and Learn” sessions featuring guest speakers from academia, government, industry, and other sectors. Upon completing the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, with the possibility of being offered an extended independent research internship during the academic year.
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