15 Medical Summer Research Programs for High School Students
Pursuing medical research as a high school student is a great way to gain practical experience, develop critical thinking skills, and explore the realities of working in the medical field. Summer research programs for high school students offer a valuable pathway to medical research, providing mentorship from experts and exposure to lab and clinical settings.
Many colleges, hospitals, and research institutions offer high school research opportunities during the summer, which allow you to contribute to projects, learn research methodology, and engage with topics like public health, molecular biology, neuroscience, and clinical medicine. This list highlights the 15 best medical summer research programs for high school students to help you get started!
1. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost: Free; stipend provided (amount unspecified)
Program dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: November 1 - 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.
If you're a high school student interested in neuroscience from a background historically underrepresented in medicine, this program might be a good fit for you. This summer program offers paid research opportunities where you'll be paired with a lab and work alongside neurologists and neuroscientists on ongoing projects. Your experience begins with a multi-day "bootcamp" to prepare you for professional lab work, covering research training, lab skills, and mentoring support. Throughout the summer, you'll attend weekly educational sessions led by professionals in the field and deepen your understanding of neurology. By the end of the program, you’ll present your research to peers, mentors, and professionals in the field.
2. VeritasAI Deep Dive (AI + Medicine)
Location: Remote
Cost: $1790
Program dates: June 9 - August 11
Application deadline: May 19 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience can apply.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Students get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free, $6,800 stipend
Program dates: June 2 - August 8
Application deadline: November 18 - January 20
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who will be over 18 years of age by the program's start and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders.
The High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center is an excellent opportunity for high school students in Texas interested in biomedical research and allied health careers. You'll spend 10 weeks working in the research labs of a leading global cancer center, gaining experience in various biomedical disciplines. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you’ll conduct research, learning the practical and theoretical aspects of scientific inquiry. You'll attend seminars on various research topics in the biomedical sciences and participate in abstract and poster competitions.
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.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
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 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. Roswell Park High School Summer Research Program
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 26 - August 8
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors residing and enrolled in a school in Western New York who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents and 15 years of age or older at the program's start.
The Roswell Park High School Summer Research Program, known as the SURE-CAN program, allows high school students to explore cancer research at a leading National Cancer Institute-designated center. Over six weeks, the program offers lectures, group discussions, and research in 'dry' or 'wet' lab settings. You’ll learn about key concepts in cancer biology, genomics, and emerging technologies such as AI and medical imaging. The program covers research ethics, statistics, and how engineering and physics intersect with biology to advance cancer treatments. Additionally, you’ll participate in seminars and activities to enhance your scientific communication skills and present your research findings in a formal symposium at the end of the program.
6. Pathmaker Scholars
Location: University of Utah - Huntsman Cancer Institute, UT
Cost: Free; up to $4,000 stipend
Program dates: May 26 - July 31
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their junior year before the start of the program, are members of a historically underrepresented group, and are citizens or non-citizen nationals of the USA, or have a valid Alien Registration Card I-551.
This ten-week residential program introduces high school students to biomedical cancer research. During this program, you’ll live on campus and work with a principal investigator in a university laboratory, gaining experience in lab techniques and research methods. You'll engage in your individual research project, attend weekly meetings, and participate in events to enhance your understanding of biomedical research. You’ll also present your work at the Summer Research Symposium and showcase your findings to peers and faculty. In addition to the research experience, the program allows you to attend a national conference to present your summer research, with all expenses covered by the program.
7. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus, Bethesda, MD
Cost: Free; up to $2,500 stipend
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer (varies according to your coordinating center and research mentor)
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or legal Permanent Residents and are 16 years of age or older.
The NIDDK High School Summer Internship Program allows high school students to conduct research in a professional lab setting. Over 8-10 weeks, you'll work full-time on your project under the guidance of mentors. You can choose from various research topics and pick a research site that best suits your interests. Before starting, you’ll complete an online training course to prepare for lab work. You'll also present your research at an end-of-summer event. The program offers 9 months of post-internship mentorship to help you continue your academic and career development.
8. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free; $3,600 stipend
Program dates: June 30 - August 8
Application deadline: November 13 - January 22
Eligibility: Rising MA high school seniors with a B or better in science and math who are U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents, or non-US citizens with work authorization.
If you're a high school student interested in science, BSSP offers an exciting six-week opportunity to conduct research at the Broad Institute. In the program, you'll be paired with Broad scientists and work on original research projects in cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, and infectious diseases. You'll be exposed to both experimental and computational techniques and have access to a tutor who will help you understand the scientific concepts related to your project. You’ll attend talks by leading scientists, present your work in a scientific poster session, and engage in team-building activities. This medical summer research program also allows you to explore scientific careers, attend a college fair, and participate in social events.
9. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 3 - December 2
Application deadline: November 1 - December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns counties in Florida with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA.
The Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program is a prestigious opportunity for high school students in Florida to gain research experience in a leading medical research center. Over the summer, you will work in state-of-the-art laboratories at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, collaborating with researchers in biochemistry, drug development, immunology, cancer biology, and neuroscience. As a SPARK scholar, you'll be mentored by scientists and learn about the research process, critical thinking, and professional conduct. Past students’ projects have won regional and state science fair awards. The program requires a minimum commitment of 25 hours per week during the summer, with additional time required during the school year.
10. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: Bar Harbor, ME, and Farmington, CT
Cost: Free; $6,500 stipend
Program dates: May 31 – August 8
Application deadline: October 26 - January 27
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 12 and full-time undergraduate students with at least one semester remaining before graduation who are U.S. citizens or lawful Permanent Residents and at least 18 years old.
For high school students looking for research opportunities in genetics and genomics, the Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program (SSP) is worth considering. In this summer research program, you’ll be paired with a mentor and develop your independent project, from planning and data analysis to presenting your findings at the end of the program. SSP focuses on practical laboratory work, helping you develop research skills at an early age. You’ll join a community of around 40 high school and undergraduate students nationwide, allowing you to connect with peers. At the end of the program, you'll have the chance to present your research to fellow students, researchers, and family members.
11. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 30 - August 15
Application deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Boston/Cambridge high school juniors and seniors who will be over 16 years of age by June 30, are from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, have a GPA of 2.7+, and have completed courses in biology, algebra, and chemistry.
If you're a high school student from Boston or Cambridge with a strong interest in pursuing a medical career, Harvard Medical School’s Project Success could be a solid opportunity for you. This paid, seven-week summer internship program is for students who are underrepresented in medicine or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. You'll be placed in a research lab at Harvard or one of its affiliated institutions, where scientists and physicians will mentor you. Besides research experience, this summer program includes seminars, workshops, and site visits to hospitals and biotechnology organizations. You'll also receive career guidance, writing and speaking skills training, and networking opportunities.
12. Arthritis Foundation Summer Science Internship Program
Location: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and affiliated laboratories
Cost: Free; $2,500 stipend
Program dates: June 2 - August 29
Application deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who will be at least 17 years old by the program's start.
The Arthritis Foundation Summer Science Internship Program at UCSF offers high school students exposure to rheumatology and immunology, with a focus on arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Throughout the eight-week summer internship, you’ll work with physicians and scientists in a laboratory or clinical setting. Depending on your interests, you can participate in basic laboratory research, clinical/translational studies, or bioinformatics research. This program encourages students to pursue careers in scientific research or medicine, particularly in arthritis and autoimmune diseases. You’ll present your findings at a poster session at UCSF.
13. High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Location: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Cost: Free; $4,800 stipend
Program dates: June 2 - July 25
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors from the Memphis-Shelby County area and surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas who are 16 years or older with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
The High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital provides research experience to rising seniors from the Memphis area and surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. During the program, you’ll work with a mentor on a research project in areas spanning lab research, psychology, clinical studies, and epidemiology. The research program is designed to introduce you to the scientific process. You’ll also engage with an educator to reflect on the nature of science, helping you develop a personal statement for college applications that highlights your growth and experience. At the end of the program, you’ll showcase your findings at a community exhibition through a scientific poster.
14. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, East Baltimore Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free; in-person interns are paid an hourly stipend, and virtual interns are provided a $500 stipend
Program dates: The in-person program lasts 8 weeks, while the virtual program runs for 5 weeks from June to August.
Application deadline: December 1 - March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (in the U.S. for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD, for the in-person program).
JHIBS is designed for motivated students interested in exploring a career in the neurological sciences. During this competitive summer research program for high school students, you'll work with researchers and scientists at a leading neuroscience research institution. You'll work on research projects, developing a deeper understanding of the brain, its functions, and neurological disorders. JHIBS provides educational seminars, discussions, and mentoring to prepare you for a future in brain science. By the end of the program, you'll have a stronger idea of what it takes to pursue a career in neurological science and the steps you can take to do so.
15. UChicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart Program
Location: University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, Rush University
Cost: Free; a taxable stipend of $3,000 is provided
Program dates: Second week of June through the first week of August
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 years of age at the start of the program.
UChicago Medicine's ResearcHStart Program engages high school students from Chicago and Urbana-Champaign in cancer research. In this summer program, you'll work with cancer researchers on immunology, bioengineering, and experimental therapeutics. The program is focused on practical lab experience while offering career development workshops and lectures by faculty to deepen your understanding of cancer science and its societal impact. You will gain a solid foundation in critical scientific concepts like biophysics, pharmacology, and biochemistry. The program culminates in a research symposium where you’ll present your findings to peers, mentors, and the broader scientific community.
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