12 Online Medical Research Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in medicine or healthcare, research programs can help you explore the field in a structured and accessible way. These programs introduce you to key concepts such as biomedical research, neuroscience, public health, and clinical studies while helping you build skills in data analysis, scientific writing, and critical thinking. You may also engage in research methods, analyze medical literature, and work under the guidance of mentors from universities or research institutions. Many are offered in an online format, which gives you flexibility in scheduling, access to mentors from different locations, and the ability to participate regardless of where you live.
What are the benefits of an online medical research program?
Online medical research programs allow you to develop a deeper understanding of how scientific studies are designed, conducted, and interpreted in the medical field. You can work on independent or guided research projects, explore specialized areas such as neuroscience or cancer biology, and learn to evaluate evidence in healthcare contexts. These experiences can help you clarify your academic interests, build relevant skills, and demonstrate sustained engagement with medicine on college applications.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of 12 online medical research programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Columbia Brain Seminar for Teens and Opportunities for Research Mentorship (BrainSTORM)
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 25 students for the mentorship program
Dates: Seminar Series: November – June (Monthly) | Mentorship Program: June – May (one-year duration)
Application deadline: January 1
Eligibility: High school students
BrainSTORM is a virtual neuroscience program that combines a monthly seminar series with an optional year-long research mentorship. You attend online lectures led by professionals in neurology, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, and neuropathology, with topics including Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, concussions, and brain injury. The seminars run from September through May and emphasize how neuroscience research connects to clinical and experimental work. If selected for the mentorship track, you are paired with a faculty mentor to design and complete an original neuroscience research project over several months. The program concludes with a research symposium where you present your work in a poster session.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Cost: Varies based on program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
The Veritas AI Fellowship is a 12–15 week online research program focused on independent artificial intelligence projects. You begin by strengthening foundational skills in AI concepts, research design, and technical problem-solving before narrowing down a feasible research question. Many students apply AI methods to healthcare-related areas such as medical imaging, genomics, or public health data, depending on prior experience and interests. Throughout the program, you work independently while meeting regularly with a one-on-one mentor for feedback and technical guidance. The fellowship concludes with a final project presentation and guidance on preparing work for submission or academic publication. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)
This online medical research program for high school students is a six-week online program focused on the structure, function, and disorders of the nervous system. As a scholar, you’ll participate in three sessions per week, including live seminars, virtual lab activities, and journal club discussions. Topics often center on Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative conditions, alongside broader neuroscience concepts. Students also observe neurology grand rounds, gaining insight into how clinicians and researchers analyze real neurological cases. The curriculum incorporates discussions on how social and cultural factors influence healthcare outcomes. With guidance from UCLA mentors, you complete a final research project based on program content.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research initiative that pairs you with a PhD mentor for one-on-one academic research. You work closely with your mentor to develop an original research question and carry out a structured investigation from start to finish. The program includes workshops on research methodology, academic writing, and data analysis to support independent work. Medical and health-related topics are commonly pursued through fields such as biomedicine, public health, and neuroscience. By the end of the program, you will have completed a full-length research paper under faculty guidance. Participants may also earn UC San Diego academic credit upon successful completion. You can find more details about the application here.
5. sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program
Cost/Stipend: NoneAcceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students; Underprivileged students in neuroscience or those without any research experience preferred
The sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program is a free, five-week virtual research experience centered on independent neuroscience inquiry. Each week includes recorded lectures introducing core neuroscience concepts, as well as journal club sessions analyzing published research papers. You use open-access datasets and tools to design and investigate your own research question. Students in the synchronous track meet regularly with volunteer mentors for individualized feedback and project guidance. It concludes with a 10–15 minute research presentation and a written paper summarizing your findings.
6. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee (financial aid is available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~50 students per year
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+) with solid math or computer programming skills, or those who have worked on a healthcare project
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week online program that introduces you to applications of artificial intelligence in medical imaging and clinical decision-making. Daily sessions combine lectures on machine learning fundamentals with hands-on group work using real healthcare datasets. You collaborate with Stanford-affiliated researchers and student mentors while completing a guided mini-research project. The online medical research program for high school students also includes virtual sessions featuring professionals from academia, industry, and public health discussing career pathways in AI and medicine. Students who complete all program requirements receive a certificate and may apply for extended research opportunities.
7. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Cost/Stipend: $1299 for three college course credits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University is an eight-week research experience available in virtual and in-person formats. You are placed in a faculty-led lab and work on projects that may involve neuroscience, cancer biology, bioengineering, or other biomedical fields. Research responsibilities vary by lab but often include data analysis, literature review, and experimental design. The program also includes workshops on scientific writing, ethics, and STEM career pathways. Throughout the internship, you practice presenting research findings in professional formats. Some students contribute to work that is later submitted to conferences or academic publications.
8. American Cancer Society - High School Program
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer, starting in July
Application deadline: Varies by institute
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts
The American Cancer Society High School Program is a two-week virtual summer experience focused on cancer research and career exploration. Participants collaborate with the eCLOSE Institute on research projects and case studies examining cancer biology and oncology-related challenges. The online medical research program for high school students introduces you to research methodologies and highlights different professional roles in cancer research and healthcare. Beyond the summer session, you can take part in year-round networking and career development activities. Students also engage with peers and professionals to develop a broader understanding of oncology-related careers.
9. UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program
Cost: $2,350; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Session One: June 22 – July 10 | Session Two: July 12 – 31
Application deadline: Typically end of January or early February
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 – 18 | Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program is a three-week mentored experience introducing you to medical research methods. You learn about responsible conduct in human subjects research, evidence-based medicine, and critical evaluation of medical literature. Instruction is delivered through online modules, email feedback, and virtual meetings with faculty and academic coaches. The program centers on writing an organized research report on assigned topics. You also receive guidance on college pathways and biomedical careers through mentor interactions. Students may submit an abstract to a national meeting, with accepted work listing them as a co-author.
10. UCSD Research Scholars – Bioengineering
Cost: $2,600 – $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by semester
Application deadline: Varies by semester
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 | Minimum GPA of 3.0 | At least 14 years old by the start of the course
UCSD Research Scholars in Bioengineering offers a sequence of online courses that introduce you to experimental and research-based bioengineering. Through BE-BOAT courses, you build foundational knowledge using custom lab kits, pre-lab planning, data analysis, and guided discussions. Students who advance may participate in BE-ROW, where they work in teams to design and execute a bioengineering research or design project from home. Research areas can include biomechanics, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. Advanced students may apply to BE-SHIP, which focuses on independently proposing and completing a research project with university lab collaboration.
11. Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program - Medical Research
Cost: $1,895; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 4-week sessions available (check the schedule of upcoming sessions here)
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Georgetown’s online medical research course introduces you to the principles that guide clinical research and evidence-based healthcare. Students complete coursework asynchronously using recorded lectures, interactive simulations, and assignments, with mentor support available throughout the program. The curriculum covers key topics such as evidence-based medicine, biostatistics, epidemiology, and ethical standards in human research. You also learn how clinical trials are designed, conducted, and evaluated, including how researchers measure outcomes and assess risk. A significant focus is placed on analyzing peer-reviewed medical literature to understand how published studies influence medical practice and innovation. At the end of the program, you complete a Capstone project that applies research design and critical analysis skills to a medical topic of interest.
11. Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program – Medical Research: Advancing Human Health
Cost: $1,795 (need-based scholarships are available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies depending on session
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and above
This online medical research program for high school students introduces you to the scientific approaches used to study disease and improve patient care. You’ll get to examine research methodologies ranging from molecular and cellular techniques to the use of model organisms in biomedical studies. The course explains how laboratory discoveries are translated into clinical treatments through translational research. You also explore how medical research informs population-level health strategies, drawing on examples from epidemiology and public health interventions. A central requirement of the program is a Capstone Project in which you analyze a major medical discovery and propose future research directions. Students who successfully complete the course earn a certificate from the University of Notre Dame.
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