15 Science Programs for High School Students in Seattle, Washington
If you are a high school student curious about a career in STEM, attending a structured science program can give you a clear sense of what that path actually looks like. Beyond memorizing formulas or reading about experiments, these programs let you practice lab techniques, analyze data, and communicate your findings, skills that textbooks rarely teach. You also get direct exposure to working scientists, university faculty, and industry professionals who can later serve as mentors or recommenders.
Why should you attend a science program in Seattle, Washington?
Seattle has a concentration of biomedical research institutes, environmental science agencies, aerospace employers, and technology companies. Organizations such as the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, NOAA, and The Museum of Flight run science programs specifically for high school students. Local students benefit from commuting to campus labs and building long-term relationships with mentors close to home, while out-of-state students can also benefit from the city's nationally recognized research institutions and university pre-college offerings.
To help you find a good match, we have listed 15 science programs for high school students in Seattle, Washington.
If you’re looking for free programs in Seattle, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
Several programs are free or paid, including Fred Hutch SHIP (paid internship), Seattle Children's Research Institute RTP ($2,000 stipend), Seattle Youth Employment Program ($21.30/hr), Allen Institute Career Quest ($500 stipend), NOAA Science Camp Internship (paid), DO-IT Scholars (free), Museum of Flight Aeronautical Explorations (free), UW Engineering Academy (free), and ASM Materials Camp (free).
Programs span a wide range of science fields including biomedical and cancer research (Fred Hutch SHIP, Seattle Children's RTP, Camp BIOmed), neuroscience and cell biology (Allen Institute), environmental and marine science (NOAA, SYEP), aerospace and aviation (Museum of Flight, Washington Aerospace Scholars), materials science (ASM Materials Camp), AI and machine learning (Veritas AI, Lumiere), and zoo conservation (Woodland Park Zoo).
Several programs specifically prioritize students from underrepresented backgrounds, including DO-IT Scholars (students with disabilities), UW Engineering Academy (underrepresented students and first-generation college students), Seattle Youth Employment Program (students from qualifying-income households), and Allen Institute Career Quest (Seattle Public Schools students).
Students looking for paid or stipend-bearing programs have a wide range of options in Seattle, including Fred Hutch SHIP, SYEP, Seattle Children's RTP, Allen Institute Career Quest, and NOAA, which all offer financial compensation alongside research experience.
Deadlines for competitive programs are concentrated between January and May, with DO-IT Scholars closing January 30, ASM Materials Camp closing by March 15, Fred Hutch SHIP closing March 13, and Museum of Flight AE closing May 15, so students should begin identifying programs in the fall and apply to January and March deadline programs first.
1. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid internship (financial award upon successful completion)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school student entering senior year, age 16 or older, strong scientific background, resides in the Greater Seattle area
The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) is a competitive eight-week paid internship for high school students transitioning from junior to senior year. The program is structured for students who have not yet had extensive research experience, making it a genuine entry point into laboratory science. You begin with two weeks of hands-on training in laboratory safety and core biomedical techniques conducted in the Fred Hutch Training Labs. For the remaining six weeks, you are paired with a research group and work under direct mentorship, experiencing what real biomedical research looks like day to day. Throughout the internship, you’ll also attend research seminars and professional development workshops focused on college preparation and career planning. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your work to the Fred Hutch community.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by cohort). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12. For advanced tracks, prior Python experience or completion of AI Scholars is required
Veritas AI is a virtual program offering high school students a structured introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning, with a curriculum designed by experts from top universities. The program is primarily project-based: you learn by writing code, analyzing real datasets, and building functional AI models. Core topics include data analysis, model building, and the ethical implications of AI, which help develop both computational and problem-solving skills. Veritas AI offers multiple tracks: the AI Scholars program is open to students without prior coding experience, and the AI Fellowship is designed for those who have completed the introductory track or have a basic understanding of Python. For students in Seattle, it offers a flexible, rigorous online complement to in-person options, available year-round across multiple cohorts.
3. Research Training Program (RTP) – Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Location: Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free ($2,000 stipend for transportation and meals)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders residing within commuting distance of downtown Seattle; strong interest in biology or public health
The Research Training Program (RTP) at Seattle Children’s Research Institute is a four-week, in-person program for local high school students interested in biomedical research. Over the summer, you’ll learn foundational lab skills, including microscopy, gel electrophoresis, PCR, bacterial transformation, and gene editing, while exploring topics such as biochemistry, immunology, and infectious diseases. In addition to daily lab work, you’ll participate in workshops on college readiness and career exploration and tour research facilities. Each student completes an independent research project and delivers a final oral presentation to program faculty and peers. RTP is intended for students seeking their first structured research experience and requires a competitive application that includes letters of recommendation and transcripts.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Science Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-12; curiosity and strong academic record; no prior research experience required
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. DO-IT Scholars (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology)
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15-20 students per year
Dates: Summer (specific dates vary)
Application Deadline: January 30 (priority); rolling
Eligibility: Washington State high school sophomores or juniors with disabilities who have an interest and aptitude in STEM
DO-IT Scholars is a multi-year college preparation program for high school students with disabilities who are interested in STEM careers. Scholars are accepted into a cohort of approximately 15-20 students per year and participate in online mentoring, peer support, and activities for up to three years. Each summer, you attend a live-in camp on the University of Washington Seattle campus, where you explore STEM careers through hands-on activities, learn adaptive technology tools, and experience college life. The program focuses on building self-advocacy skills, networking with professionals who have disabilities, and learning about academic accommodations in college and workplace settings. DO-IT Scholars is free of cost and funded by organizations including the NSF, Microsoft, and Boeing. The program has a reported 100% high school graduation rate, with nearly all participants entering postsecondary education.
6. Museum of Flight Aeronautical Explorations
Location: The Museum of Flight and Raisbeck Aviation High School, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th grade students who are Washington State residents
Aeronautical Explorations (AE) is a three-week career and technical education (CTE) summer program for Washington State students curious about the aviation industry. You are exposed to multiple aviation careers, including air traffic control, airline dispatch, professional pilot, airport management, and drone operations, with instruction from industry professionals. The program is hands-on: you’ll team up to research major airlines and give presentations, design your own airport, and fly drones in the museum’s Aviation Learning Center simulator lab. AE is free, and participants receive 0.5 CTE credit on their high school transcript through the Puget Sound Skills Center. Students also receive a complimentary Connections educational membership, granting unlimited museum admission until age 19.
7. Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) – Internship Program
Location: Various employer sites across Seattle (City departments, local businesses, nonprofits)
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid internship ($21.30/hour minimum)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 250 youth and young adults selected by lottery
Dates: July 6 – August 18
Application Deadline: March 18 – May 4
Eligibility: Seattle residents ages 16-24 from qualifying-income households or communities experiencing racial, social, or economic disparities
The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) connects young people to paid internship opportunities across City departments, local businesses, and nonprofit agencies. While SYEP is not exclusively a science program, it places interns in science-focused roles such as environmental science with Seattle Public Utilities, marine biology at the Seattle Aquarium, or lab assistant positions at research organizations. Internships run approximately six to eight weeks during the summer and include pre-employment training, professional mentorship, and hands-on work experience. You receive direct support from a dedicated mentor throughout the program and may earn Career and Technical Education credit through Seattle Public Schools.
8. CTE Career Quest Internships – Allen Institute (Seattle Public Schools)
Location: Allen Institute, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 stipend for successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Exact dates vary
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Seattle Public Schools high school students
Through Seattle Public Schools’ Career Quest program, high school students interested in biology can earn a $500 stipend for completing an externship and class at the Allen Institute, a leading biomedical research institute focused on neuroscience and cell biology. The program is structured as a paid learning experience that provides exposure to real laboratory environments and research workflows at the Allen Institute’s Seattle facilities. Career Quest internships are part of a broader initiative that partners with dozens of industry organizations across Seattle, including Amazon, for tech-focused placements. Students earn high school credit outside of the school day while exploring science careers. Because this program is administered specifically through Seattle Public Schools, eligibility is limited to current SPS students.
9. NOAA Science Camp Internship (Communications, Outreach and Education)
Location: Virtual or in-person at NOAA’s Western Regional Center, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 2 interns
Dates: Summer (specific dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in STEAM education and experience working with youth
This NOAA internship places you as a camp educator supporting NOAA Science Camp, a week-long day camp that introduces students to earth and ocean sciences. Working alongside NOAA and Sea Grant experts, you help directly with camp programming, develop curriculum, and create outreach materials such as blogs, newsletters, and web content for NOAA and Sea Grant websites. Interns gain experience working with a large team of science educators and also assist with lab activities where campers analyze water samples, learn how buoys help predict climate events, and conduct shellfish biology dissections. A field trip to observe aquaculture in action is also part of the camp programming. The internship is highly selective, recruiting up to only two interns.
10. University of Washington Engineering Academy
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors attending school in the greater Seattle area
The University of Washington Engineering Academy is a five-day summer program that introduces high school students to engineering through hands-on design challenges. You’ll work in teams on collaborative projects that showcase how different engineering disciplines, including mechanical, civil, electrical, and materials engineering, solve real community and societal problems. The program emphasizes the engineering design process, problem-solving, and teamwork in a low-pressure, exploratory environment. You also have opportunities to interact with UW engineering faculty and current undergraduates, gaining insight into academic pathways and potential engineering careers. No prior engineering experience is required, and the program is free. The Engineering Academy is specifically targeted toward students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and first-generation college students.
11. Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS)
Location: Online course plus in-person summer residency at The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free (Phase One); $1,850 (Phase Two residency) | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Online course: November – March | Summer residency: July & August
Application Deadline: Opens in the fall
Eligibility: High school juniors in Washington State
Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is a distance learning course and summer experience for Washington State high school juniors interested in STEM through the lens of aviation and space exploration. The online phase, which you complete during the winter and spring, is a University of Washington college course that covers air and space vehicle design, NASA missions, and Earth and space science. You earn five UW credits upon successful completion of the online curriculum. Students who complete the online phase may be invited to a six-day summer residency at The Museum of Flight, where they’ll work with STEM professionals and NASA scientists on team-based aerospace design challenges. The program also provides access to over $250,000 in scholarship opportunities and connects you to an alumni network of more than 2,000 former scholars.
12. ASM Materials Camp
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 11
Application Deadline: February 1 –March 15
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores attending school in the greater Seattle area
ASM Materials Camp is a week-long summer program that introduces high school students to materials science, the study of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. You’ll conduct hands-on experiments in UW laboratories, using instruments to explore the physical and chemical properties of different materials. Activities include testing material strength, examining microstructures under a microscope, and learning how material selection affects engineering design. The program combines mini-demonstrations, field trips, and team-based problem-solving under the guidance of volunteer engineers and researchers who serve as "materials mentors." The camp is open to current sophomores (10th grade) and requires an online application that includes a short essay and a transcript.
13. Camp BIOmed
Location: Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $750 – $845, depending on track and membership status; early bird discounts and scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Varies depending on track
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 in the fall
Camp BIOmed is a week-long, in-person program where you explore biomedical careers through lab experiments on the Seattle Pacific University campus. You can choose from six tracks: Molecular Biology of Cancer, Genetic Engineering, Crime Scene Investigation, Bioinformatics, Microbiology, and Global Health. In the Molecular Biology track, you perform DNA restriction digests, ELISA assays, and brain dissections while learning how healthy cells acquire mutations that cause cancer. In Genetic Engineering, you learn PCR, cloning, and bacterial transformation, techniques used in real biotech labs. Each camp runs from 9 AM to 3 PM daily, with multiple weekly sessions available throughout July and August. Camp BIOmed does not require prior lab experience, making it a practical introduction for students seeking hands-on lab experience before college.
14. UW Youth & Teen Programs
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA (some courses also online)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling throughout the year
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
In the Robotics & Engineering course, you’ll program a functional robot using sensors and motors, then test its ability to navigate obstacles. The AI: Building Brains with Deep Learning course introduces neural networks through hands-on coding exercises, where you’ll train a model to recognize images or patterns. Medical Career Exploration includes simulations of patient diagnosis and discussions with healthcare professionals about daily clinical work. Each course runs for one to two weeks, with most meeting daily for several hours either on the UW campus or via a live online classroom. Because enrollment is open and courses fill on a first-come, first-served basis, early registration is recommended for students with a specific track in mind.
15. Woodland Park Zoo Teen Programs
Location: Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $150 per Teen Trips+ program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Throughout the school year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Woodland Park Zoo offers Teen Trips+, career-connected learning experiences for high school students interested in conservation careers. In the Zoo Careers theme, you’ll explore how the zoo promotes wildlife empathy, cares for animals, and supports global conservation work. Practical activities include designing your own zoo exhibit in teams and presenting your ideas, giving you insight into professions such as animal care, horticulture, exhibit design, education, and sustainability. Each Teen Trips+ session lasts about one hour and is typically paired with a self-guided field trip to the zoo. Financial assistance is available for groups that need help covering program costs.
Frequently asked questions
What types of science programs are available for high school students in Seattle?
Options include paid biomedical research internships (Fred Hutch SHIP, Seattle Children's RTP), city-funded paid internships (SYEP, Allen Institute Career Quest), federal agency internships (NOAA), university pre-college science programs (UW Youth and Teen Programs, UW Engineering Academy, Washington Aerospace Scholars), hands-on lab camps (Camp BIOmed, ASM Materials Camp), aviation and aerospace programs (Museum of Flight, Washington Aerospace Scholars), and virtual AI and research programs (Veritas AI, Lumiere).
Are there free science programs for high school students in Seattle?
Yes, several programs are free or paid. DO-IT Scholars, Museum of Flight Aeronautical Explorations, UW Engineering Academy, and ASM Materials Camp are all free. Fred Hutch SHIP, Seattle Children's RTP, SYEP, and Allen Institute Career Quest are also free and provide stipends or hourly pay. Programs like Lumiere, Veritas AI, and Washington Aerospace Scholars charge tuition but offer financial aid.
Which Seattle science programs are best for students interested in biomedical or cancer research?
Fred Hutch SHIP places students in active cancer research labs at one of the world's leading cancer centers for eight weeks. Seattle Children's Research Institute RTP introduces foundational lab techniques including PCR, gel electrophoresis, and gene editing over four weeks. Camp BIOmed at Seattle Pacific University offers tracks in molecular biology of cancer, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics. Allen Institute Career Quest places SPS students in neuroscience and cell biology research environments.
Are there science programs in Seattle specifically for underrepresented students?
UW Engineering Academy specifically targets students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and first-generation college students. DO-IT Scholars is designed for students with disabilities interested in STEM careers. SYEP prioritizes Seattle residents from qualifying-income households and communities experiencing racial, social, or economic disparities. Seattle Children's RTP and Fred Hutch SHIP both accept students based on academic interest and proximity, with no GPA cutoff listed.
Which programs are best for students interested in aviation, aerospace, or environmental science?
Museum of Flight Aeronautical Explorations is a free three-week program covering aviation careers from air traffic control to drone operations, with students earning CTE credit. Washington Aerospace Scholars combines a UW online course with a summer residency at the Museum of Flight, connecting students to NASA scientists and over $250,000 in scholarship opportunities. NOAA Science Camp Internship places students as educators supporting ocean and earth science programming at NOAA's Western Regional Center.
When should I apply to science programs for high school students in Seattle?
DO-IT Scholars has the earliest priority deadline at January 30. ASM Materials Camp closes between February 1 and March 15. Seattle Children's RTP closes March 8, Fred Hutch SHIP closes March 13, and SYEP closes May 4. Museum of Flight AE closes May 15. Washington Aerospace Scholars opens applications in the fall for its online phase. Students should begin researching in the fall and prioritize January and March deadline programs first.