15 Science Research Programs for High School Students
If you’re interested in science but unsure how to move beyond textbooks and actually do meaningful work, research programs can be a great way to move forward. Science research programs give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned in class to research questions, while building skills, gaining mentorship, and connecting with like-minded peers. With these programs, you’re able to explore biology, chemistry, physics, or interdisciplinary fields, and they expose you to lab techniques, data analysis, and even the process of publishing or presenting findings.
What are the benefits of a science research program?
In these programs, you could work on experiments, contribute to ongoing research initiatives, or build your own project from scratch, sometimes even presenting your findings at the end. Many are offered by respected institutions, which means you’re learning in environments that mirror real scientific work. You’ll gain skills like data interpretation, scientific writing, and research methodology, all of which are valuable far beyond high school. Plus, these experiences can help you refine your interests before choosing a college major.
In this blog post, we’ve compiled 15 science research programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
Several programs are free and many provide stipends, including Broad Summer Scholars ($3,600), UCSF SSRP (~$3,000), ARISE at NYU ($2,000), MSK Summer Student Program ($1,200), Anson L. Clark Scholars ($750), and Summer Science Program (full financial aid with $3,000 stipends available for students who need to earn during the summer).
Programs span a wide range of science fields, including cancer biology and oncology (MSK, Broad Institute, Stanford SIMR), neuroscience (BRAINYAC at Columbia), biomedical engineering (ARISE, RMP at UCSB), AI and machine learning (Veritas AI, Lumiere), astrophysics and biochemistry (Summer Science Program), and mathematics and computational science (MIT PRIMES, RSI).
Several programs are among the most selective pre-college science opportunities in the country, including RSI at MIT (acceptance rate under 2.5%), MSK Summer Student Program (approximately 2%), and the Summer Science Program at Rockefeller University (32 students nationwide).
Students looking for paid or stipend-bearing programs can apply to Broad Summer Scholars, UCSF SSRP, ARISE, MSK, Anson L. Clark Scholars, and the Summer Science Program, all of which provide financial support to offset summer earnings.
Deadlines for competitive programs are concentrated between December and February, with RSI closing in early December, Rockefeller SSRP closing January 2, Broad Summer Scholars closing January 21, and MSK closing February 6, so students should begin preparing applications in the fall.
1. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $750 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or recent graduates (must be at least 17 by program start); U.S. citizens or permanent residents
If you’re looking for a research experience with close faculty mentorship, this program places you directly into a university lab or project for the summer. Over seven weeks, you’ll work one-on-one with a faculty mentor at Texas Tech University, contributing to an original research project across a range of disciplines. Your time is largely spent conducting hands-on research, attending weekly seminars, and engaging in discussions that expose you to how academic research works in practice. Alongside your project work, you’ll participate in organized social activities and present a final research report at the end of the program. With only 12 students selected each year, the program offers an unusually personalized and intensive introduction to scholarly work.
2. Veritas AI's AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter; typically ~15 weeks)
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior experience with AI concepts or Python
The Veritas AI Fellowship is an advanced research program designed for high school students with a strong interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will work one-on-one with mentors from top universities to develop an independent AI research project over approximately 15 weeks. The program emphasizes personalized learning, allowing students to combine AI with other fields of interest while building technically rigorous projects. A key feature is access to an in-house publication team that supports students in submitting their work to high school research journals. The fellowship also includes collaborative learning opportunities and structured mentorship throughout the research process.
3. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; must be at least 16 years old by program start
Over seven weeks, you’ll join a small group of students guided by scientists from the Tri-Institutions, contributing to a shared research question shaped by your team’s interests. Early on, you’ll learn core lab techniques and narrow down a research focus, before moving into experimentation, data analysis, and ultimately presenting your findings at a final symposium. The structure mirrors an actual research lab, with multiple mentors and clearly defined roles, giving you insight into how scientific collaboration works day to day. Beyond lab work, you’ll attend lectures, workshops, and networking events that broaden your exposure to careers in science.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter); durations range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating strong 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. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost (tuition, housing, and meals covered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective (~100 students; <2.5% acceptance rate)
Dates: Late June – early August (tentative)
Application Deadline: Early December (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors (must be at least 16 by program start; seniors not eligible)
Often considered one of the most prestigious high school research programs in the world, RSI is designed for students who are already working at an advanced level in STEM and want to pursue original research. The program begins with a week of intensive coursework led by top professors, where you’ll explore advanced topics across multiple scientific disciplines. You’ll then transition into a five-week independent research project, working closely with a mentor in a university or industry lab, reading primary literature, and developing a research question from scratch. Unlike many programs, the expectation here is that you produce work at a level comparable to early-stage academic research, culminating in a written paper and conference-style presentation. Throughout the experience, you’ll also attend lectures by leading scientists and interact with a highly accomplished peer group.
6. Simons Summer Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; students cover housing/dining or commuting costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (must be nominated by their school; no exceptions)
Over the summer, you’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and integrated into an active lab, where you’ll contribute to ongoing research in science, math, or engineering. Your day-to-day work involves learning lab techniques, analyzing data, and collaborating with researchers, giving you a realistic sense of how academic research operates. At the same time, you’ll experience campus life at a major research university and interact with peers who are similarly motivated. One distinctive feature is the nomination requirement: your school must select you first, adding an additional layer of selectivity before the application process even begins.
7. UCSF Summer Student Research Program (SSRP)
Location: University of California, San Francisco (primarily UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland), CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; ~$3,000 stipend for high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: February (exact date not specified)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 10–12), age 16+; must meet underrepresented criteria in science
Designed specifically to support students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, this program combines research experience with strong mentorship and professional development. Over seven weeks, you’ll be paired one-on-one with a mentor, often a clinician or researcher, and work on a biomedical project in areas like lab science, clinical research, or public health. Your experience goes beyond just lab work: you’ll participate in workshops, journal clubs, and seminars that help you understand both the science and the broader healthcare landscape. Throughout the program, you’ll build practical skills in analyzing data, interpreting scientific literature, and communicating your findings. The program culminates in a formal research symposium where you present your work to a scientific audience.
8. Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost/Stipend: ~$5,675 (commuter) or ~$13,274 (residential); limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students (grades 10–11; exceptional 9th graders considered); minimum 3.80 weighted GPA
This program stands out because it blends independent research with formal coursework, giving you both hands-on experience and academic credit in one summer. After a short virtual onboarding, you’ll move into an intensive in-person schedule where you’re matched with a mentor and work on a project you’ve selected from a wide range of disciplines. Your days are largely spent conducting research, often 35–50 hours per week, while also taking structured courses on research methods and presentation skills. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a technical research paper and present your findings at a symposium, mirroring the expectations of early-stage university research. You’ll also earn college credit, which adds a tangible academic outcome to the experience.
9. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; limited need-based stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (~50 students)
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; age 16+; must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents and attending school in the U.S.
If you’re interested in medicine or biomedical research, this program gives you direct exposure to how research actually happens inside a major medical school. Over the course of eight weeks, you will join a Stanford lab and collaborate closely with a mentor — typically a researcher, postdoc, or faculty member — on a medically focused project. Much of your time is spent on full-time lab work (around 40 hours per week), learning techniques, analyzing results, and contributing to ongoing research. Early in the program, you’ll attend lectures that introduce key concepts in biology and medicine, while the final weeks focus on preparing a research poster for presentation. You can also choose from different research areas (or a bioengineering track), allowing you to tailor the experience to your interests.
10. MIT PRIMES (Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science)
Location: Greater Boston area (in-person) / Remote (for non-local students)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 1 – December 31
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in the United States; a strong background in advanced mathematics is expected
MIT PRIMES is a year-long research initiative where you’ll work on unsolved problems in mathematics or related fields like computational biology under the mentorship of MIT graduate students or researchers. The program is structured in phases, beginning with intensive reading and preparation, followed by guided research, independent work, and ultimately the production of a formal research paper and presentation. You’ll spend significant time developing advanced problem-solving skills, learning how to read mathematical literature, and constructing original arguments. Along the way, you’ll receive personalized mentorship and feedback, culminating in a conference presentation and a polished paper that can be submitted to competitions or journals.
11. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,600 stipend + partial travel support
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance; must have strong grades in math/science and be authorized to work in the U.S.
If you want hands-on lab experience in cutting-edge biomedical research, this program immerses you directly in that environment. The Broad Summer Scholars Program pairs you with scientists at the Broad Institute to work on a real research project in areas like cancer biology, computational biology, or infectious disease. Over six weeks, you’ll spend your days conducting experiments or analyzing data, while also attending scientific talks, workshops, and a college fair. The program focuses on developing technical skills and scientific communication, offering structured support such as weekly mentoring, poster training, and a final presentation of your work. Additionally, you'll join a broader research community by engaging with peers and researchers through social and academic events.
12. ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) – NYU Tandon
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY (hybrid; remote for first 4 weeks, in-person from July onward)
Cost: Free; $2,000 stipend awarded upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; competitive
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: NYC residents attending NYC high schools; rising juniors and seniors only
ARISE is a free 10-week summer research program at NYU Tandon, where high school students are placed in one of over 80 university research labs. The first four weeks are remote, covering lab safety training, scientific writing, and research methodology, before students transition to full-time in-person lab work at NYU Tandon's Brooklyn campus. Research areas span biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and more, with students working directly alongside faculty and graduate student mentors on active projects. The program concludes with a colloquium presentation at NYU and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
13. BRAINYAC – Columbia University Zuckerman Institute
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (in-person; no housing provided)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; competitive; nomination required
Dates: June 30 – August 14; weekend training sessions begin in the spring
Application Deadline: Applications distributed through partner programs each fall; typically due in late January
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders residing in New York City; must be nominated through one of five partner programs: S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, or BioBus; preference given to students in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx
BRAINYAC places high school students in active neuroscience research labs at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute for a seven-week full-time summer apprenticeship. Each student is paired one-on-one with a Columbia neuroscientist who guides them through a research project, where they learn essential lab techniques and engage directly with ongoing scientific investigations. The program begins with part-time weekend training sessions in the spring to prepare students for the full-time summer work. Students who complete the program emerge with hands-on research experience, a deeper understanding of the scientific process, and direct exposure to a professional academic research environment.
14. Summer Science Program (SSP)
Location: Multiple college campuses across the U.S. (residential; room, board, tuition, supplies, and local transportation all included)
Cost: Program fee is $11,800; financial aid covers 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students; families earning under $75,000 typically attend for free, including travel; $3,000 stipends available for students who would otherwise need to work during the summer; no application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; competitive
Dates: Five weeks in the summer; specific dates vary by campus
Application Deadline: Check website for current cycle
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; open to domestic and international students; financial need has no impact on admissions decisions
SSP is a five-week residential research program where students work in teams of three on an original scientific investigation from start to finish. Each team selects a research track at the time of application, choosing from astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics, or cell biology, and spends the full five weeks designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting findings. The research is genuine rather than guided, meaning teams must develop their own methodologies and troubleshoot independently under faculty supervision.
15. Summer Student Program – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Upper East Side, Manhattan, NY (commuter; no housing provided)
Cost: Free; $1,200 stipend awarded upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20 students; approximately 2% acceptance rate from 1,000+ applications
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with a permanent address within 25 miles of MSK's main campus in Manhattan; minimum 3.5 GPA in science subjects; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; ages 14+
The MSK Summer Student Program places 20 high school juniors in active biomedical research labs at one of the world's leading cancer research institutions for eight weeks. Each student works full-time under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor on a self-directed project that contributes to the lab's ongoing research objectives, spanning areas including cancer biology, immunology, computational biology, chemical biology, pharmacology, and structural biology. Students attend laboratory meetings and engage with the broader MSK scientific community throughout the summer, alongside professional development sessions hosted by MSK clinical departments. The program concludes with a poster session where students present their research findings.
Frequently asked questions
What types of science research programs are available for high school students?
Options include residential university research programs (RSI at MIT, RMP at UCSB, Summer Science Program), paid city-based lab internships (MSK, ARISE at NYU, Broad Institute, BRAINYAC at Columbia), remote and virtual research programs (Lumiere, Veritas AI, MIT PRIMES), biomedical and cancer research programs (MSK, Stanford SIMR, UCSF SSRP, Broad Institute), and independent research programs with faculty mentorship (Anson L. Clark Scholars, Simons at Stony Brook).
Which science research programs offer the largest stipends or financial support?
Broad Summer Scholars provides a $3,600 stipend plus partial travel support. UCSF SSRP provides approximately $3,000. Summer Science Program offers $3,000 stipends for students who would otherwise need to work, with full financial aid covering all costs for families earning under $75,000. ARISE at NYU provides $2,000 and MSK provides $1,200. Anson L. Clark Scholars provides $750 upon completion.
Which programs are best for students interested in cancer or biomedical research?
MSK Summer Student Program places 20 students directly in active cancer research labs at one of the world's leading cancer centers. Broad Summer Scholars places students at the Broad Institute working on cancer biology, computational biology, or infectious disease. Stanford SIMR offers tracks in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. UCSF SSRP focuses on biomedical projects in clinical research and public health with a focus on underrepresented students.
Are there science research programs specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds?
UCSF SSRP is specifically designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. BRAINYAC at Columbia requires nomination through partner programs that serve students from upper Manhattan and the South Bronx. Summer Science Program states that financial need has no impact on admissions decisions and families earning under $75,000 typically attend for free. MIT PRIMES and Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation also actively support students from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds.
Which science research programs are the most selective?
RSI at MIT has an acceptance rate below 2.5% and is widely considered one of the most prestigious high school research programs in the world. MSK Summer Student Program accepts approximately 20 students from over 1,000 applications, an acceptance rate of roughly 2%. Summer Science Program at Rockefeller University accepts 32 students nationally. Anson L. Clark Scholars selects only 12 students per year from a national applicant pool.
When should I apply to science research programs for high school students?
RSI at MIT has the earliest deadline, typically closing in early December. MIT PRIMES closes December 1. Rockefeller SSRP closes January 2, Broad Summer Scholars closes January 21, and BRAINYAC applications are typically due in late January. MSK closes February 6, Simons closes February 5, and Stanford SIMR closes February 21. Students should begin researching in the fall and prioritize December and January applications well before the winter break.