10 Prestigious Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you are a high school student in Texas looking for a way to explore a field of interest in detail and pick up some practical skills, a summer research program can be a practical option.
The best research programs tend to offer hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge work environments, helping you explore subject areas and career paths without the high cost of regular pre-college programs. Some of these opportunities can be entirely free and/or even offer stipends to acknowledge your contribution to research. These summer research programs are hosted by respected institutions and organizations, offering rigorous research opportunities and guidance from leading professionals and researchers. All these features make the programs quite competitive!
Participating in such prestigious research experiences can also boost your college application and resume. Additionally, as a participant, you will get to build technical skills, get research experience, and form valuable academic or professional connections.
Texas has a strong lineup of research programs open to high schoolers. To help you find the right fit, we’ve listed 10 prestigious summer research programs for high school students in Texas.
1. Houston Methodist’s High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital at the Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: December 2 – January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Houston Methodist’s High School Emerging Researcher Experience allows high schoolers to work alongside college-level research interns and faculty in a real translational research environment. The program places you in a lab with a mentor, who guides you as you work on a focused summer research project based on their area of expertise. Throughout the program, you will pick up key lab techniques, gain exposure to current medical research topics, and develop a clear understanding of the research process. The experience ends in a research symposium and formal poster session, where you present your work. In addition to lab work, this prestigious research program for high school students offers professional development sessions to help you boost college readiness. You will also get to engage in seminars, lectures, and group events during the program.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Starts at $2,990 | Complete need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: Summer cohort: June – August | Spring, fall, and winter cohorts also run each year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Summer cohorts’ applications typically close in May.
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic backgrounds | Accepted applicants tend to have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research initiative designed for high school students seeking individualized research experiences. It allows you to choose from a wide range of academic disciplines and conduct independent research under the one-on-one mentorship of Ph.D.-level researchers. Areas of study include but are not limited to psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. During the program, you will collaborate closely with your mentor to design and carry out the research project. By the end of the session, you will have a formal research paper. This structure can help you pick up valuable skills in research methodology, critical thinking, and scholarly writing. You can find more details about the application here.
3. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Cost: No tuition, but a $25 application fee is charged; a $750 stipend is offered
Program dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 17 years old and are going to graduate in the current or the next year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 students accepted each year
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University brings together a select group of high-achieving students for seven weeks of intensive research and academic exploration. As a participant, you will collaborate directly with a faculty mentor in an area aligned with your interests—whether that’s molecular biology, computer science, history, or the visual arts. You will spend your days conducting research, analyzing data, and contributing meaningfully to ongoing academic work. The experience is supplemented by weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips that deepen your understanding of both your chosen subject and the broader research community. You will also present your work and engage in dialogue with peers and faculty.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: AI Scholars: $2,290 | AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase: $5,400 | $6,900 for both programs; need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts are scheduled throughout the year, including in summer
Application deadline: May (Summer cohort)
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars program participants or demonstrate some experience with AI concepts or Python.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Veritas AI, established by Harvard alumni, develops various AI-focused programs for high school students. If you are just getting started with AI, machine learning, and/or data science, you can choose AI Scholars, which serves as an introductory course. This 10-session bootcamp covers foundational concepts while allowing you to engage in hands-on projects based on real-world applications of AI.
If you have some experience with AI, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase can be a more advanced opportunity to work under the one-on-one mentorship of experts from leading universities. During the program, you will undertake independent research projects and receive guidance from Veritas AI’s editorial team to support potential publication in high school-level academic journals. The program also offers opportunities to present your work through showcases. You can check out past participant projects here to know what to expect.
5. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Hybrid, with the on-site portion of the internship conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, TX.
Cost: Free
Program dates: May 19 – July 22 (including the on-site portion: July 6 – 19)
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%; in the past, the program accepted 215 students out of 2,000+ applicants
The SEES High School Summer Intern Program, offered in partnership with NASA, is a hybrid opportunity to engage in research focused on Earth and space science. During the program, you will first work on preliminary online learning modules. Following the module learning portion, you will work remotely with mentors and then attend a two-week on-site experience, where you will collaborate with scientists and engineers on projects involving satellite data analysis, remote sensing, space geodetic techniques, and climate science. Depending on your assigned topic, you might study Earth’s gravity field, ice sheet dynamics, and/or planetary science using authentic NASA datasets. Your experience will end with a formal presentation at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium. The program can help you learn how to actively interpret data, contribute to team research, and develop technical skills in data visualization and scientific communication.
6. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S. | Students in Texas can choose the AFWERX site.
Stipend: $501.60 – $805.60/week, based on education level and credits earned
Program dates: Varies depending on internship | Summer sessions typically run for 10 weeks from late May/early June to August
Application deadline: January 10 (summer cohort)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens over 16 years of age with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Data not publicly available
The AFRL Scholars Program is a hands-on summer internship experience that allows you to work alongside AFRL scientists and engineers. As an intern, you might work on projects such as modeling spacecraft control using deep reinforcement learning, analyzing vulnerabilities in autonomous space systems, or contributing to space situational awareness for the growing cislunar domain. The research work is grounded in real mission needs, such as supporting autonomous spacecraft navigation or enhancing national space defense capabilities. You will spend your time conducting research, running experiments or simulations, and presenting findings. The experience can also help you pick up research skills and develop a deeper understanding of physics, computer science, aerospace engineering, and data analysis.
7. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800
Program dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Texas who are 18 or older
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; up to 12 students accepted each year
Also known as the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program
in Biomedical Sciences, this 10-week internship allows you to engage in a research project in a biomedical field. Here, you will work alongside a faculty mentor in an MD Anderson lab. In the process, you will familiarize yourself with lab tools and techniques and the scientific investigation process. You will also engage in activities like research poster and abstract preparation, presentation, and elevator speech competitions, which can help you sharpen your communication skills. During the program, you will also get to explore career paths in biomedicine and get firsthand insights into the life of a biomedical researcher.
8. University of Houston’s Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of Houston’s Mohan Lab, Houston, TX
Cost: Free, no information available about stipend
Program dates: June 2 – July 25
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with exceptional academic performance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically accepts a small cohort of 3–11 students
For those interested in biomedical or health-related research, the University of Houston’s Mohan Lab Summer Internship gives you a chance to participate in real laboratory work over the course of eight weeks. You will begin with 1–2 weeks of training learning core lab techniques, after which you will take on a bench research project under the mentorship of a scientist or graduate student. Projects are typically based on topics in biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or medical research, and may involve techniques like molecular assays, imaging analysis, or cell culture. At the end of the research program, you will present your findings at a lab-wide meeting, gaining some experience in scientific communication and data interpretation. Depending on the progress of your project, your work may contribute to ongoing research and potential publications. You also have the option to remain involved beyond the summer if your schedule allows it.
9. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's UPWARDS Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: A stipend of up to $6,800 is offered
Program dates: 10-week internship in the summer; dates TBA
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are 18 or older and are first-generation college students, with disabilities, and/or from backgrounds that are economically and educationally disadvantaged
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 10 high school students accepted each year
The University of Texas’s UPWARDS program is a 10-week research training program for high school students and undergraduates. During the program, you will get to work with a faculty member and engage in lab-based research. You will also participate in college-level coursework and undergo training to be better equipped for future academics and career opportunities. The program also offers various seminars, lectures, and career development sessions. Your research experience will end with a poster session, where you get to share your work with peers and faculty members. This summer experience can help you get some early exposure to the research process and the laboratory environment.
10. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: Virtual and in-person opportunities available at NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Awarded based on academic level and session duration.
Program dates: Varies based on the opportunity | Summer sessions run for 10 weeks from late May to August
Application deadline: February 27 for the summer sessions
Eligibility: Full-time high school students over 16 years of age with a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale who are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
The NASA OSTEM Internship Program allows high school students to work directly with NASA professionals across a variety of disciplines while contributing to real projects in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. Here, you will be matched with mentors, who are often engineers or research scientists, and guidance to work on assignments that may involve data analysis, coding, aerospace design, or scientific research. Internships are offered part-time or full-time, depending on your schedule and the center’s needs. The projects you get to work on may focus on supporting mission planning and Earth science initiatives, or developing software tools/new technologies. You may also assist NASA staff in testing and analyzing existing tech.
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