14 Physics Summer Programs for High School Students in Texas
As a high school student, summer programs are a great way for you to explore physics in an applied setting. These programs give you access to lab work, college-level topics, and the chance to connect with mentors in academia and industry. Whether you’re curious about quantum mechanics, classical physics, or engineering applications, a summer program can help you build skills, connect with mentors, and prepare for future academic challenges.
Texas is home to a wide range of physics-focused opportunities thanks to its leading universities, aerospace hubs, and energy research centers. Many programs in the state are designed to give you access to labs, faculty-led projects, and interdisciplinary seminars that show how physics shapes our world. Whether you are a local or an out-of-state student looking to explore opportunities in Texas, you can find a program that matches your interests.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 physics summer programs for high school students in Texas.
1. The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Application Deadline: February 16
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date | U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Graduating this year or next
During the seven-week Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University, you’ll engage in advanced, faculty-guided research across disciplines such as science, technology, humanities, and even the arts. Working alongside peers from around the world, you’ll contribute to active research projects and gain experience in collaborative inquiry. Weekly seminars and field trips expand your understanding of academic research and its real-world applications. Under the mentorship of university faculty, you’ll develop practical research skills and produce meaningful work within your chosen field.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program type; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: You can find the available locations here.
Stipend: $501.60/ week
Application Deadline: January 9
Dates: Start dates vary based on the AFRL sites and/or projects to which you are applying
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old with a GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 can apply. Check the detailed eligibility criteria here.
The AFRL Scholars Program offers high school students the chance to explore aerospace engineering and STEM research through hands-on internships. You’ll work on projects in areas such as atomic physics, satellite navigation, machine learning, and astrodynamics, guided by AFRL scientists and engineers. Past interns have contributed to studies on launch vehicle systems and rotating detonation rocket engines. Participants can apply to up to three topics per AFRL site. The experience can help you strengthen analytical and problem-solving skills while conducting research at advanced Air Force laboratories.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Physics Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies according to program type; full financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students; No previous experience necessary
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows high school students to conduct personalized, in-depth research with guidance from expert mentors. Over 12 weeks, you’ll work one-on-one with a PhD researcher to design, develop, and complete an independent project that results in a full-length research paper. The program covers diverse academic fields such as psychology, computer science, data science, and international relations, enabling you to explore your specific interests in detail. You can find the application link here.
5. NASA’s OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual / NASA centers across the country
Stipend: While most interns receive a stipend, certain opportunities are unpaid.
Application Deadline: Summer: February 28
Dates: Summer Session: Late May to August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, full-time students (high school through graduate level) aged 16 at the time of application, with a 3.0/4.0 GPA
NASA’s OSTEM Internships give high school students the chance to take part in real projects that support NASA’s work in science, engineering, technology, and space exploration. You’ll collaborate with NASA experts, including scientists, engineers, and professionals in areas like engineering and information technology. Positions are available both full-time and part-time at NASA centers across the United States. Throughout the internship, you’ll receive mentorship and skill-based training to enhance your technical and professional development. The program is offered three times a year, aligning with NASA’s spring, summer, and fall sessions.
6. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Center for Space Research, Austin, TX + Virtual components
Cost: None; housing, meals, and local transportation provided for on-site portion; limited travel scholarships available
Application Deadline: February 22
Dates: Distance learning modules: May 19 – July 1 | On-site internship: July 6 – July 19 | Virtual symposium: July 21 – 22
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors; 16+ by July 5
The NASA and UT Austin SEES High School Summer Intern Program offers hands-on research experience in space and Earth sciences. You’ll work with NASA scientists and engineers on projects involving environmental monitoring, planetary geology, climate science, and deep space technology. Using real satellite data, you’ll build prototypes, run simulations, and strengthen coding and analytical skills. The program’s research themes span Mars exploration to high-altitude flight physics. Throughout the internship, you’ll apply creativity and STEM problem-solving to address real-world challenges inspired by NASA’s ongoing missions.
7. PATHS-UP Digital Health Young Scholars Program at Rice University
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 4
Dates: June 9 – June 26 | July 24 (Symposium)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-11
At Rice University’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program, you’ll explore how engineering and computer science intersect with healthcare. Over three weeks, you’ll study digital circuitry, programming, and physics through hands-on projects focused on medical innovation. You’ll experiment with tools such as pulse oximeters, accelerometers, and GPS sensors to create a prototype that reflects real research at Rice’s engineering center. Though focused on digital health and engineering, this program incorporates key physics principles, such as circuitry and signal processing, within its exploration of medical technology.
8. Sustainable Futures Academy
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: June 7
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Eligibility: High school girls entering 10th or 11th grade are eligible to apply. Boys and non-binary students are welcome to apply.
The Rice STEM Academy is a free, one-week summer program for high school girls interested in exploring engineering through sustainability-focused challenges. You’ll work in labs to design and test projects such as roller coasters and landing capsules while learning core principles of motion and circuitry. Using Microbits and TI Nspire Rovers, you’ll study how physics concepts connect to real-world engineering. While primarily centered on sustainability and engineering, the program integrates physics concepts like motion, energy, and forces through practical, design-based challenges.
9. Physics Camp - UT Southwestern Medical Center
Location: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: July 10 – July 18
Eligibility: Current 10th-grade students
The Physics Camp at UT Southwestern Medical Center introduces you to core physics concepts through hands-on experiments and collaborative projects. You’ll work on topics such as motion, forces, electricity, and optics while learning how to measure and analyze results. The program also explores resonance and harmonic motion through guided lab sessions. Afternoon activities include team challenges, lab tours, and a straw rocket competition. You’ll gain insight into applied physics areas like prosthetics, orthotics, and crystallography while strengthening your problem-solving skills.
10. Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering Camp
Location: UTSA Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Day Camp: $550; Overnight Camp: $750 (Financial assistance is available)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Dates: July 14 – July 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
At UTSA’s Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering Camp, you’ll explore the principles of flight, propulsion, and stability by designing, building, and launching your own rocket. Mentored by members of the Aeronautics and Rocketry Club, you’ll learn how engineering choices affect performance and flight dynamics. The program includes workshops, lectures, and lab tours conducted by UTSA’s aerospace engineering faculty. Although the camp is oriented toward aerospace engineering, it offers a strong foundation in applied physics through lessons on motion, propulsion, and aerodynamics.
11. HSRA Summer Program
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000
Application Deadline: March 23
Dates: June 9 – July 16
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors living in Texas; 15 years or older by June 1
The High School Research Academy (HSRA) at UT Austin is a five-week summer program that provides high school students with practical research experience in STEM fields. You’ll conduct experiments in active College of Natural Sciences labs, working alongside university faculty and undergraduates in areas such as physics, neuroscience, ecology, data science, and engineering. The program includes seminars with UT researchers, advanced lab training, and a final Research Symposium where you’ll present your findings. Participants also earn UT course credit while gaining firsthand experience in scientific research and discovery.
12. TryEngineering at Rice University
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $4,095
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Dates: Session 1: June 29 – July 7 | Session 2: July 11 – July 19
Eligibility: Students aged 13-17
At Rice University’s TryEngineering Summer Program, you’ll explore how engineers apply creativity and problem-solving to real-world challenges. The program includes hands-on modules in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and civil engineering. You’ll solder electronic circuits, build a robotic arm, and study flight mechanics by constructing gliders. Civil engineering projects involve designing and testing model bridges in collaborative competitions. While not exclusively a physics program, TryEngineering explores fundamental physics concepts through hands-on projects in mechanics, circuitry, and flight design.
13. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
Location: Virtual; in person at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Dates: October – July
Application Deadline: September 27
Eligibility: Texas-based high school juniors who are U.S. citizens
NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program is a year-long STEM opportunity that begins with a five-month online course covering topics such as Earth science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. You’ll complete five interactive modules based on Moon and Mars missions, each aligned with NASA’s core exploration themes. High-performing students advance to a five-day Virtual Moonshot Experience guided by NASA engineers. Outstanding teams are then invited to an in-person residential session at Johnson Space Center.
14. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12; Priority to those from underrepresented backgrounds in physics
Stanford’s SPINWIP is a free, three-week virtual summer program that introduces high school girls to physics through coding and research. You’ll learn Python and use it to explore topics such as quantum computing, astrophysics, and data analysis in collaborative projects and lectures. The program includes mentorship from Stanford faculty and students, as well as workshops on college readiness and STEM career development. Open to beginners, SPINWIP offers an accessible way to build programming and scientific skills while discovering new areas within physics and technology.
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