15 Physics Research Opportunities for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in physics, research opportunities can help you take that interest to the next level. These programs enable you to explore advanced topics such as quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and nuclear science while gaining experience in labs and research environments.
Whether you're coding simulations, analyzing data, or working with lab equipment, you'll build valuable skills in scientific writing, critical thinking, and collaboration. To help you get started, we’ve curated 15 physics research opportunities for high school students who want to explore the science.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—STEM Track
Location: Remote—you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the fall cohort from September to December, the winter cohort from December to February, and the spring cohort from March to June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be a high school student with 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!
2. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~100 high school students
Program Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (Grade 11) with strong academics, especially in math and science. Recommended PSAT scores: Math ≥ 740, Reading & Writing ≥ 700
The Research Science Institute at MIT is a summer program designed for high school juniors to conduct research. During the first week, you attend classes led by MIT professors, where you learn key STEM skills such as data analysis, coding, and research techniques. Over the following five weeks, you develop your own research project with mentorship, receiving support at every stage. The program emphasizes collaboration, effective scientific communication, and exposure to real-world research. It is highly competitive and fully funded, including housing and meals.
3. Texas Tech Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: $25 application fee; upon completing a successful research project report, you will receive a $750 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective, 12 high school juniors and seniors.
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadlines: February 24
Eligibility: Rising or current high school seniors who are at least 17 years old by the start of the program.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University is a 7-week summer research program that pairs high-achieving high school juniors and seniors with Texas Tech faculty mentors across diverse disciplines. Students participate in practical research, create reports, and deliver presentations of their findings. The program also includes seminars on ethics, research methodology, and academic writing. Only 12 students are selected each year, making this one of the most selective opportunities.
4. UPenn Experimental Physics Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Students who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be eligible to attend free of charge with a Penn Summer Scholarship.
Program Dates: July 5 – July 26
Application Deadlines: May 1
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades 9–11
The UPenn Experimental Physics Research Academy is a summer program for high school students who are interested in physics. You live on campus and study subjects such as mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum physics, and space science. Students attend lectures, participate in labs, and work on projects designed to develop their analytical and problem-solving skills. The curriculum also includes guest talks from Penn faculty and opportunities for Q&A sessions. Participants live on campus and experience college-level academic and social life.
5. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,360 if you decide to live on campus.
Program dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 years of age
This six-week program enables high school juniors to perform research with guidance from faculty mentors in areas like physics, chemistry, or engineering. During the application process, you review the list of mentors and select your top three choices. If accepted, you will be assigned a mentor and a research team. Students participate in research groups, attend workshops, and acquire lab skills such as data collection and analysis. The program culminates in a poster presentation of each participant’s project. Participants also engage in weekly seminars and lab tours to broaden their understanding of scientific careers.
6. Stanford’s SHTEM: Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program dates: June 17 – August 9
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: You must be a high school junior or senior (11th or 12th grade) at the time of applying or a full-time community college student in your first three years.
SHTEM is a two-week virtual internship where students work on interdisciplinary projects guided by mentors, including students, professors, and staff from the Stanford Compression Forum. You can explore a range of topics, including computer science, psychology, biology, neuroscience, engineering, design, as well as philosophy and the arts. Students can build research and teamwork skills while examining the influence of technology on society. Daily workshops and mentor sessions support learning.
7. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering Program (RISE) – Internship Track
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $60 application fee + $5,700 tuition + $485 in service fees. Room and board options are $3,276 for 14 meals per week or $3,600 for 19 meals per week
Program Dates: June 29 – August 8 (Residential)｜June 30 – August 8 (Commuter)
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are US citizens can apply.
Boston University’s RISE Internship Track is a six-week program for high school students interested in hands-on research. Participants work full-time in a university lab with a mentor who oversees their research, teaching them data collection, analysis, problem-solving, and scientific reasoning. Weekly workshops focus on scientific writing, poster creation, and college readiness. The program concludes with a poster presentation and the opportunity to submit their work to national science competitions.
8. Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA)
Location: Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $8,000 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 32 students
Program Dates: June 23 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors at least 15.5 years old by the start of the program
The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics is a six-week program designed for high school students, beginning with a two-week online directed study and followed by a four-week residential session at Yale. Students reside in dorms, attend advanced courses in stellar physics, observatory techniques, and programming, and on most nights, operate Yale’s Ritchey–Chrétien telescope along with remote facilities in places like Chile and New Mexico. You will refine your findings throughout the program and submit a write-up for a final mini-conference, resembling a scientific journal article.
9. CMAP Research Experience for High School Students (REH) at the University of Rochester
Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Program dates vary each year, but the internship lasts for one month
Application Deadline: For details on nomination deadlines, you can reach out to the CMAP program administrator at adriana.cabiedes@rochester.edu.
Eligibility: Applicants must be nominated by their high school teachers from either the Rochester City School District or the Pittsford Central School District.
The CMAP Research Experience for High School Students at the University of Rochester is a one-month summer internship. This program offers you a chance to engage with campus life while conducting research in fields such as high-energy-density physics, planetary science, and Python programming. During the internship, you'll observe experimental demonstrations and collaborate with graduate students on research projects within the Rochester physics and astronomy departments. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to tour the campus and visit the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
10. NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST laboratory at Boulder, CO, or the Gaithersburg, MD campuses.
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Second/third week of June to the second week of August (actual dates vary by year)
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors living near the NIST Gaithersburg or NIST Boulder campus with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers a summer internship program called SHIP, which provides high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to assist with research at NIST’s Boulder or Gaithersburg labs. Over the course of six weeks, students collaborate with scientists on projects in physics, engineering, and materials science. Interns develop lab skills, practice scientific communication, and explore different areas of research. The program provides mentorship, hands-on experience, and insight into careers in STEM.
11. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Various NASA locations across the country
Cost/Stipend: Free; a stipend will be provided based on academic level and session duration.
Program Dates: Exact dates vary based on the internship. Summer session runs for 10 weeks, typically from late May/early June to August | Fall session lasts 16 weeks, typically from late August or early September to mid-December
Application Deadline: February 27 (Summer) | May 22 (Fall) | September 12 (Spring)
Eligibility: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old, and a full-time high school student with at least a 3.0 GPA.
The OSTEM internship from NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement gives you the chance to work in a real NASA lab alongside scientists and engineers on various projects central to the agency’s mission. Interns may analyze data, model physical systems, or contribute to engineering solutions. Most interns work full-time during the week, gaining technical experience as part of a research team. You also attend workshops on research methods, safety, and professional development. You can look for internships here and filter the results based on location to find the right option.
12. Caltech’s Summer Research Connection
Location: Caltech Campus, Pasadena, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically closes in March
Eligibility: High school students of Pasadena Unified School District who are at least 16 years old
The Summer Research Connection (SRC) at Caltech is a six-week program for high school students in the Pasadena Unified School District, allowing them to collaborate on real science projects with Caltech professors and graduate students. Participants become part of Caltech research groups, engaging in ongoing projects with faculty mentorship. They acquire practical lab experience, learn data analysis methods, and enhance critical thinking. Additionally, each student is paired with a faculty or graduate mentor, offering guidance and support throughout the program.
13. Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), Batavia, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 Stipend per week is provided
Program Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school seniors enrolled in a high school in Illinois
The PRISM program at Fermilab is a four-week hybrid internship designed for high school seniors and recent graduates in Illinois. Participants work alongside scientists and engineers on projects involving particle physics, engineering, and data science. You are paired with a mentor who guides you through every stage of research, from designing experiments to presenting results. You will develop skills such as writing a research abstract, creating a research poster, delivering a final presentation, and sharing your ideas. The program includes a $500 weekly stipend and opportunities for professional networking.
14. Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: High school students
Michigan State University’s Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) program introduces high school students to atomic nuclei and their connections to astrophysics and cosmology. During the program, you will learn about research at a leading rare-isotope laboratory, explore astrophysics and cosmology topics, and perform nuclear physics experiments. The program features talks and lectures given by scientists specializing in nuclear science, astrophysics, and precision measurement. Participants stay in dorms, dine on campus, and experience college life at Michigan State University.
15. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school students who are at least 16 years old
The High School Summer Internship at PPPL is a full-time, five-week program where you conduct real-world research in plasma physics and fusion energy. Hosted by Princeton University, this program provides practical experience in experimental and computational plasma physics, allowing participants to engage in projects that involve data analysis, coding (in Python and Java), and computer-aided design (CAD). You also get to work on a project that fits your interests and connects to the lab’s current research. Although having prior coursework in physics, chemistry, engineering, or advanced math can be helpful, it is not mandatory.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
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