15 Online STEM Summer Programs for High School Students
As a high school student, participating in STEM summer research programs for high school students is a great way to go beyond the classroom and gain experience. Many summer programs offer exposure to new subjects, provide a glimpse into a STEM research career, and lead to connections with mentors and peers. Many top colleges and institutions offer quality research programs for high school students, and often at a reasonable cost. Online options offer even more flexibility, allowing you to learn from home and manage your schedule.
If you’re interested in STEM, summer research programs for high school students allow you to explore coding, robotics, healthcare, and more. In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 15 online STEM summer programs for high schoolers to get you started!
1. Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18 years
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford is a 10-day summer program designed for high school students interested in neuroscience, psychology, or psychiatry. You’ll attend interactive lectures led by Stanford faculty, exploring topics like clinical neuropsychiatry, behavioral sciences, and mental health research. Throughout the session, you will collaborate with other participants in small teams on a capstone project focused on addressing real-world challenges in neuroscience and psychology.
The program also includes discussions about career pathways and mental wellness. Students from across the globe attend, bringing diverse perspectives and backgrounds. If you're seeking an immersive, fast-paced introduction to the brain sciences, this program offers just that.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 onwards; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students
Veritas AI offers two engaging programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to AI, machine learning, and data science through hands-on, real-world projects.
However, if you’re already experienced in these areas, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase gives you a chance to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities. In this advanced program, you’ll complete an original project with guidance and get help from a publication team to submit your work to high school research journals. Designed by Harvard graduate students, both programs help you build skills and explore AI in a research-based, academic setting.
3. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual / NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Dates: Spring Session: Mid-January to Early May | Summer Session: Late May to August | Fall Session: Late August to Mid-December
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; Full-time high school students; 16+ at the time of application; 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
NASA’s OSTEM Internship program offers paid opportunities for high school and college students looking to gain real-world experience while contributing to groundbreaking science and exploration. As an intern, you will work alongside NASA professionals in engineering, science, technology, IT, and business. You’ll also receive mentorship, hands-on training, and exposure to real NASA missions and research projects. Internships are available part-time or full-time and are hosted across various NASA centers. The program is offered three times a year, giving you multiple chances to apply.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,990 onwards; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students with a demonstrated high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is designed for high school students ready to challenge themselves with serious research. With the help of a Ph.D. mentor, you’ll explore advanced topics through one-on-one guidance. Over 12 weeks or more, you’ll create and complete your research paper. This is your opportunity to go deeper into your interests while developing critical academic skills. Click here to learn about how to apply, subject options, and eligibility.
5. UCSD’s Research Scholars
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the subject
Dates: Varies, based on subject
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
UC San Diego’s Research Scholars Program gives high school students the chance to engage in university-level research across fields like bioengineering, marine science, and sports medicine. The program encourages hands-on learning and real-world applications. Whether online, in-person, or hybrid, you will gain research experience while developing critical thinking and collaboration skills.
You’ll also get to participate in an immersive environmental program in Hawaii and online tracks in business and life sciences. You’ll work alongside professionals and explore advanced topics relevant to today’s global challenges.
6. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; 14+ by the start of the program
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Research Internship provides high school students with a virtual, two-week exploration into artificial intelligence in medicine. As a participant, you will attend lectures on fundamental AI concepts and their applications in healthcare while collaborating on hands-on group projects guided by Stanford researchers. Mentorship is a key part of the experience, with student leads and professionals offering insight and support throughout.
You’ll also engage in career-focused “Lunch and Learns” with experts from academia, government, and industry. The program concludes with a Certificate of Completion, and extended research opportunities may be available for interested students. It’s a unique chance to explore how AI can transform human health.
7. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: December 9 – January 24
Dates: June 18 – July 2
Eligibility: 9th graders or rising 10th graders; 14+ by the start of the program
Stanford AI4ALL offers two-week, online research programs for high school students interested in exploring the potential and applications of artificial intelligence. Through lectures, hands-on projects, and mentorship, you’ll explore topics like robotics, medical AI, computer vision, and natural language processing.
The program is run in partnership with the Stanford AI Lab, offering access to cutting-edge research environments. You’ll collaborate with peers who share your interest and learn directly from AI researchers and professionals and attend workshops on career development and social impact. This will help you connect AI to real-world applications. It's a chance to explore how AI can be a tool for change, and how you can be part of that future.
8. Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 5 weeks
Eligibility: Current rising juniors or seniors in high school
JHIBS offers a five-week virtual internship designed for high school juniors and seniors who are curious about neuroscience and research careers. Hosted by Johns Hopkins, the program will introduce you to brain science through educational talks, lab technique simulations, and one-on-one mentorship. You'll also receive professional development training to help prepare for future academic and career steps. JHIBS is part of an effort to spark STEM interest early, helping capable students build confidence and direction. By the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
9. Coding for Cancer
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $1,000
Application Deadline: March 30
Dates: July 28 – August 22
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th to 12th grade in the fall; Washington state residents
Coding for Cancer hands-on program research programs for high school students interested in the intersection of coding and biomedical research, with a focus on cancer biology. You don’t need prior coding experience to participate, as you will learn the R programming language during the program. This will be done through small-group and individual activities in the first half of the program.
The second half centers on student-led research projects applying those coding skills to real cancer research questions. You will work closely with computational biologists and receive mentorship from experienced scientists. A $1,000 award and a Credly badge will be granted upon completion.
10. Biomedical and Surgical Research: Boston Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,200
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: July 7 – July 18
Eligibility: Students entering 8th grade through entering college
Boston Leadership Institute’s Biomedical and Surgical Research program offers research programs for high school students that combine hands-on surgical practice with an in-depth study of anatomy and disease. As a participant, you will learn surgical techniques, dissect organs, and conduct mock procedures that simulate real medical settings. You'll also analyze blood pressure, test reflexes, and explore the nervous system through cranial nerve and spinal cord exams.
Later, you’ll transition to more complex tasks, like mock gastric bypass and pacemaker implantation. Each student also completes an original research project on surgical treatments. This is an engaging, real-world experience designed to prepare you for a future in medicine or healthcare.
11. Stanford EXPLORE
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,800
Application Deadline: Registrations open on March 1
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Eligibility: Students currently in 9th- 12th grade
If you're curious about medical research, Stanford Explore offers a lecture series that covers both foundational science and cutting-edge topics. Taught by Stanford graduate students, postdocs, and faculty, this program introduces high school students to subjects like neuroscience, stem cell medicine, and bioinformatics. Each week explores a different research area, complete with insights into experimental techniques and real-world applications.
You’ll also learn about the path to medical or graduate school from those currently on it. The format is lecture-based with no required homework, designed to mimic a college learning experience. It’s an informative, low-pressure way to explore science at Stanford.
12. JHU's Biomedical Engineering Innovation: Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,170
Application Deadline: May 28
Dates: Summer Session: June 23 – August 1 | Fall Session: August 25 – December 5
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent high school graduates; For academic prerequisites, see here
Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI) is an online, three-credit course developed by Johns Hopkins University for high school students interested in biomedical engineering. The course covers topics like biosensor design, arm and circulatory system modeling, and experimental planning. You'll work asynchronously with pre-recorded lectures and have the option to join real-time study sessions.
Throughout the course, you’ll complete a self-driven project that may involve literature review, prototyping, or experiment design, culminating in an online poster presentation. It’s a chance to apply engineering concepts to real biological systems. If you're looking to expand your STEM skills in a flexible yet structured setting, BMEI offers that opportunity.
13. Summer@Brown Online: Breakthroughs: An Exploration of Laboratory Organisms in Biomedical Research
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218
Application Deadline: May 9
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12; Ages 14 to 18 by June 15; Should have completed a high school biology course
Summer@Brown Online’s Breakthroughs course introduces you to the fascinating world of model organisms in biomedical research. You’ll explore how simple creatures like yeast, frogs, and worms are used to study cancer, aging, gene editing, and more. Through videos, readings, case studies, and discussions, you'll analyze the strengths and limitations of each organism.
The program includes virtual lab tours and interviews with researchers working on real projects. Ethical considerations and laboratory regulations are key components of the course. Your experience will culminate in a final project exploring a lab organism of your choice and the cutting-edge research associated with it.
14. Girls Who Code
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling; February 28 (Early); April 16 (General)
Dates: Pathways: June 30 – August 8 | Summer Immersion Program: July 7 – July 18; July 28 – August 8
Eligibility: Girls/non-binary students currently in grades 9-12
Girls Who Code’s Summer Programs offer summer research programs for high school students looking to develop technical skills, expand their networks, and explore future careers in tech. You can participate in the Summer Immersion Program, a two-week live experience focused on game design, or join Pathways, a six-week self-paced program that dives into areas like data science and cybersecurity. You’ll also learn programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. Both options include opportunities to connect with tech professionals and attend virtual events hosted by industry leaders. The programs are free and designed for students of all skill levels.
15. Emerging Tech Camp by The Coding School
Location: Virtual
Cost: $695 with early registration
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Dates: July 8 – July 19
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Coding School’s Emerging Tech Camp is a dynamic two-week experience designed to teach foundational coding skills and introduce students to advanced technologies. You’ll begin by learning Python, building a strong understanding of essential programming concepts like loops, conditionals, and functions. In the second week, you’ll explore emerging tech fields such as AI, web development, and healthcare + tech through daily hands-on projects. Each day mirrors the challenges and collaboration of a real tech workplace. You’ll finish the camp with new skills, completed projects, and an Emerging Technologies certificate.
Image source - UC San Diego