15 Physics Summer Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
If you’re a high school student interested in physics, a summer program can be a worthwhile way to explore the field in great detail. Physics programs combine laboratory work with mentorship from faculty, graduate students, or industry professionals. These experiences strengthen your analytical abilities, expand your understanding of advanced concepts, and help you connect with supportive mentors and peers.
Why should you attend a program in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is home to many universities and research institutes that offer accessible summer programs. Whether you’re curious about astrophysics, quantum mechanics, or engineering applications, the state provides opportunities to broaden your interests and work on projects of interest. With a wide range of research fields, combined with resources and like-minded peers, you can explore your field of interest and build a strong network in Massachusetts.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 Physics Summer Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts.
If you are looking for programs and internships in Massachusetts, check out our blogs here and here.
1. Northeastern University - Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid, conditional
Application Deadline: March 2
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Eligibility: High school juniors from Massachusetts
The Young Scholars Program is a six-week summer research opportunity for rising high school seniors at Northeastern University. You’ll join an ongoing research project in a STEM department, such as Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences, and contribute to real research alongside Northeastern faculty and students. Past participants have worked on projects such as using agent-based modeling simulation to explore active particles in flow, optimizing battery chemistries to meet the energy demands of remote islands, and evaluating cancer therapies. Outside the lab, you’ll explore possible careers in STEM through seminars with university faculty, and site visits to companies like Biogen and Akamai. You’ll gain an understanding of college life and have access to Northeastern’s campus facilities like Snell Library and the Curry Student Center.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here
Dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
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. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Non-refundable application fee of $75; cost-free for all participants, all educational, housing, and dining expenses are covered
Application Deadline: December 10
Dates: 2 months between June and August
Eligibility: High school juniors
The Research Science Institute is a rigorous, six-week research program at MIT. The program begins with a week of intensive STEM classes taught by professors and researchers. After that, you’ll begin your assigned five-week research internship, where you’ll conduct independent research, read academic papers, design experiments, and collect and analyse data. The program culminates in a written and oral presentation at the RSI Symposium.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Physics Track
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: Varies by cohort; offered in 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. 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. MIT THINK Scholars Program
Location: Virtual + in person at MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: January 1
Dates: Project Completion by June
Eligibility: All high school students, as individuals or in teams of two
The MIT THINK Scholars Program is a STEM research opportunity for high school students. If you have a well-researched proposal for a STEM project and need the resources to begin, THINK is a good fit. If your proposal is shortlisted, you’ll work under MIT undergrad mentors to implement the proposed projects and receive up to $1,000 in funding. You’ll visit MIT for 4 days, attend classes, and share your work with faculty. The key focus of the program is its student-run structure, which helps you move from an idea to its completion through steady support.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: TBA, late June through early August
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in 11th grade
MITES Summer is a highly selective, six-week STEM program at MIT for rising seniors from underserved backgrounds. If selected, you’ll take five courses: mathematics, physics, life sciences, humanities, and a hands-on elective. Past elective courses have included Architecture, Engineering Design, Machine Learning, Genomics, and Electronics. The structure is fast-paced, with daily classes, labs, and significant homework. You’ll receive mentorship from MIT students, personalized college admissions and financial aid support, and attend lab tours, college fairs, and evening seminars. The program concludes with a symposium and detailed feedback from instructors. The program is part of MIT’s broader mission to expand equity in STEM.
7. Tech Apprentice – Boston PIC
Location: Sites across Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of minimum $15/hour, total approximately $3,000-3,500 for 25-35 hours of work/week
Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Dates: 6 – 7 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in a Boston Public School
Tech Apprentice is a six- to seven-week paid internship program for Boston Public Schools (BPS) high school students, providing them with work experience. This is a good fit for you if you’re looking for workplace experience to test and grow your skills. You’ll be matched with companies across Boston, based on your skills, interests, and employer needs. Internship areas change yearly and might include Software Programming, QA, and Database Analysis, among others. The program is part of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program and is run by the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC).
8. Broad Summer Scholars Program
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $3,600 stipend and partial reimbursement for transportation costs provided
Application Deadline: Late January
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending school in MA within commuting distance to the Broad, with a grade of B or better in science and math
The Broad Summer Scholars Program is a six-week research program at the Broad Institute — a biomedical research center affiliated with MIT and Harvard. Here, you’ll work on an independent science project in areas like cancer, infectious disease, or computational biology. You’ll be matched with a Broad researcher to guide you through literature review, experiment design, and data analysis. Apart from lab work, you’ll attend talks by scientists and join workshops. Finally, you’ll present your research work at the closing poster session.
9. Smith College Summer Science & Engineering
Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA
Cost: Not Mentioned
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: Session 1: July 4 – 17 | Session 2: July 19 – August 1
Eligibility: Students entering 9th–12th grade in the fall
The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program is a two-week STEM research program for high school students. You’ll choose one lab-based STEM course from Chemistry of Herbal Medicine, Designing Intelligent Robots, Novel Bacteriophage Discovery, and more, and work in small groups of up to 17 students. You’ll engage in both lab and field work, and get guidance from Smith faculty and undergraduate mentors to design solutions for problem sets. After the program, you’ll return to school with a better sense of what college science and engineering might look like.
10. Wolfram High School Summer Research Program
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA + Virtual pre-program workshop
Cost: $5,500, including a $500 non-refundable deposit
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Dates: June 24 – July 11
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–17
The Wolfram High School Summer Research Program is a highly selective, project-based research program for high school students. Here, you’ll spend two and a half weeks developing a computational research project using the Wolfram Language, with guidance from mentors and Stephen Wolfram himself—the creator of the language. You will submit a computational essay and an interactive paper for publication through the program. After completion, you might be invited for internships and advanced projects through Wolfram’s extended research network. Check past projects here.
11. Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program for High School Students
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee
Application Deadline: April 9
Dates: Session 1: June 21 – July 2 | Session 2: July 5 – 17 | Session 3: July 19 – 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 22 and will not turn 19 years old before July 31
The Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program for High School Students is a two-week on-campus summer program designed to give a realistic preview of college academics and campus life to high school students. Here, you’ll attend a college course with around 15 students. Classes run for three hours daily, with 2–4 hours of homework. Instead of grades, you’ll receive a written evaluation and a transcript. Course options in physics include Classical and Quantum Computing, and Introduction to Relativity, among others. You’ll participate in activities and workshops on college and financial aid, and go for group outings around Boston.
12. NASA Internship Programs
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Internships may be paid or unpaid
Application Deadline: February 27 for the Summer cohort
Dates: Varies depending on assignment
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old at the time of applying
NASA offers several internship opportunities for high school students interested in science, engineering, computing, and other fields. You’ll work alongside NASA scientists and researchers on ongoing projects in areas like aeronautics, robotics, and space exploration. The program helps you develop technical skills while contributing to real-world challenges. Interns also develop experience in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving through guided mentorship. These internships are highly competitive and offer a rare glimpse of the research process at NASA.
13. The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: July 7 – 25
Eligibility: High school students in 9th–11th grade
The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP) is a three-week summer outreach for high school students, especially girls from underrepresented backgrounds. Hosted by the Stanford Physics Department and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, the program covers fields such as quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology. You’ll work in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates to apply coding skills to projects, attend lectures by Stanford professors and researchers, and participate in college planning and career development workshops.
14. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) — Quantum Software
Location: Virtually through Zoom
Cost: Students from families earning less than $150,000 can attend for free; check details here
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: July 7 – August 3
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors living and attending high school in the U.S.
The Quantum Software program at the Beaver Works Summer Institute is a four-week program designed for high school students interested in quantum computation. You’ll begin with the fundamentals of quantum information, and then move into four weeks of coding exercises. You’ll cover topics including qubits and superposition, multi-qubit gates, quantum error correction, and communication protocols. Finally, you implement a self-designed quantum algorithm project as a software program for review.
15. Columbia’s Online Summer: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,965 per session
Application Deadline: April 2
Dates: Session A - 2 Weeks: July 7– 18
Eligibility: High school students
The Origin and Evolution of the Universe is a two-week pre-college offering by Columbia University for high school students interested in exploring physics, astronomy, and astrophysics. You’ll be introduced to the field of cosmology through discussions on the origin of the universe, evolution of its constituent materials, dark matter, general relativity, and its predictions regarding astrophysical phenomena such as black holes. You’ll engage in classroom problem-solving and study supplemental readings with peers to discover the explanations for the expansion of the universe.
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