15 Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Florida
If you are a high school student looking for something productive during the summer break, research programs help you explore academic interests in a more focused and practical setting than a typical classroom. You might be analyzing medical data, writing code, running chemistry experiments, or contributing to engineering or neuroscience research alongside professionals. These experiences also introduce you to mentors and research environments that mirror what college-level work looks like, making them a practical way to test-drive potential career paths.
Why should you attend a program in Florida?
Florida hosts a wide range of summer research programs for high school students, supported by major universities, medical schools, and specialized research institutes. Many programs place you alongside scientists and researchers, allowing you to observe day-to-day research practices, assist researchers, and learn how collaborative research environments operate. These opportunities are well-suited for students who live or study in the state, as well as out-of-state students interested in exploring research in a new academic environment.
To simplify the search, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer research programs for high school students in Florida.
If you are looking for internships in Florida, check out our blog here.
1. Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI) for Neuroscience High School Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Open to students entering their junior or senior years in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school during the next academic year. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older
This paid summer research program for high school students in Florida is a six-week research program focused on neuroscience and brain science. You’ll work as part of a research team studying brain structure, function, or development using advanced laboratory techniques. Tasks may include microscopy, genetic engineering support, histological staining, or data collection, depending on the lab. You also learn how experiments are designed and how research questions are tested in a professional setting. You conclude the program by writing a scientific abstract and presenting your findings.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
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.
The Veritas AI Fellowship is a 12–15 week online research program where you develop an independent artificial intelligence research project. You begin by strengthening foundational skills in AI concepts, research methodology, and technical problem-solving before refining a focused research question. Throughout the fellowship, you work independently while meeting regularly with a one-on-one mentor for technical feedback and research guidance. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your completed project. Prior experience with Python is recommended, and some students complete Veritas AI’s preparatory programs beforehand. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants); $4,500 (returning participants)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ≈300
Dates: Not specified; typically May to June
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program allows you to spend eight weeks working in a U.S. Department of the Navy research laboratory. Each year, approximately 300 high school students are placed across more than 38 labs nationwide, supporting active engineering and science projects. Depending on your lab assignment, you may assist with materials testing, environmental monitoring, electronics work, or computational research. You’ll work under the supervision of Navy scientists and engineers and gain exposure to applied research connected to national security. The federal summer research program for high school students in Florida also offers mentorship and professional development opportunities, such as lab tours and seminars.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions of varying lengths (12 weeks–1 year) available, including summer cohorts
Application deadline: Varies by cohort/multiple cohorts run each year, including in the summer
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research experience that pairs you with a PhD-level mentor for one-on-one academic work. You develop an original research question in a chosen field such as chemistry, physics, engineering, data science, or related disciplines. With mentor guidance, you design a research approach, analyze findings, and work through the full research process from start to finish. The program includes workshops focused on research methods and academic writing. You also receive feedback from a writing coach to help present your work clearly. By the end of the program, you will have completed a full-length independent research paper. You can find more details about the program application and available formats here.
5. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $615.60 – $861.60/week (based on education level and credits earned)
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Dates: 8-12 weeks (late May/early June – August)
Application deadline: January 10
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0
This summer research program for high school students in Florida is a paid summer internship that places you in a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory alongside professional scientists and engineers. You contribute to ongoing government research projects in areas such as aerospace systems, physics, artificial intelligence, data science, or materials research, depending on your assigned lab. Your role may involve analyzing data, supporting experimental design, or assisting with software or modeling tasks tied to national defense research. As an intern, you are matched with a mentor who supervises your work and introduces you to research practices used in federal laboratories.
6. Oxford Institute for Interdisciplinary Research
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available! Programs otherwise generally cost USD $2500-$4500
Application Deadline: Summer Priority Deadline: Feb 28
Duration: Programs range from 2 to 3 weeks, with follow-up publication support ranging from 2 to 6 months
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Oxford Institute for Interdisciplinary Research is a prestigious summer research program for high school students. The program offers both group and 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across every field of academic study. Students choose from a baseline group program or 3 different 1-1 research programs. The program is Oxford-based, so students work with top mentors from Oxford and Cambridge (with options from Ivy League and T-20 US Unis as well). The programs generally run as full-time, 2-to-3 week programs (i.e., students work 40 hours a week for 2 to 3 weeks), so they are considered highly intensive for top, motivated students interested in doing advanced research at the high school level.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Opportunities throughout the U.S., including in Florida. You will be assigned a mentor in your area within a 45-minute distance from your home.
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates are flexible
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors + recent graduates who are at least 16 years old and live in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid internship designed to introduce you to fisheries science through hands-on fieldwork and professional mentorship. As a Hutton Scholar, you are matched with a fisheries biologist whose active research projects determine your day-to-day tasks and learning focus. Intern responsibilities may involve conducting fish population surveys, collecting and analyzing water quality data, assessing aquatic habitats, or processing biological samples from freshwater or marine systems. Many placements focus on field-based research, and some require extended or multi-day field trips depending on the host organization.
8. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at UMiami’s School of Medicine
Location: Miller School of Medicine, UMiami
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15–August 7
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to juniors in good standing from high schools in South Florida. Eligible students must excel in the biological and/or computational sciences and have completed or currently be enrolled in at least one AP or honors science course
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship is an eight-week paid research program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The program is designed for high school juniors interested in human genetics or computational biology. You conduct research under the supervision of a faculty mentor while attending seminars and workshops focused on genomics. Projects often involve studying the genetic basis of disease through laboratory or data-driven methods. You develop professional research and presentation skills throughout the program. The experience concludes with a formal oral presentation of your work.
9. Dolphin Research Center Internships
Location: Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: 16-18 weeks (varies by term)
Application deadline: October 1 (Winter term) | February 1 (Summer term) | June 15 (Fall term)
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide who can read, speak, and understand English and are physically fit for the demands of the job
The Dolphin Research Center Internship Program is a full-time, onsite internship that immerses you in the daily operations of a marine mammal research and care facility. You are placed in a primary department such as Animal Care and Training, Research, Education, Medical, or Information Technology, while also spending one day each week rotating through other departments to understand how the center functions as a whole. Daily responsibilities may include assisting with animal care routines, supporting research and data collection, maintaining habitats, and helping with educational or operational tasks. As an intern, you are also expected to pursue individual independent study goals aligned with your skills and departmental needs. The role is physically demanding, involving outdoor work and extended time on your feet.
10. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: June 2 – December 3
Application deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns counties in Florida with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
The SPARK Research Mentorship Program places you in a biomedical research laboratory at the Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus for the summer. You commit at least 25 hours per week working with a scientist on a defined research project in areas such as immunology, neuroscience, cancer biology, or molecular biology. Your work includes learning laboratory techniques, analyzing data, and understanding how research findings relate to clinical medicine. Regular one-on-one meetings with your mentor guide your progress and research development throughout the summer research program for high school students in Florida. Many students continue their projects into the academic year, and participants often submit their work to science fairs or research competitions.
11. Florida State University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Florida State University campus, Tallahassee
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: June 7 – July 18
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors living in Florida who have finished Pre-Calculus and have a minimum unweighted 3.0 GPA and a score in the top 90th percentile in standardized math/science exams
Florida State University’s Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential summer program for high school students with strong interests in science, mathematics, or computer science. During the program, you enroll in three advanced courses that are custom-designed for Young Scholars rather than standard high school or college classes. In addition to coursework, you spend two days each week working on a faculty-sponsored research project within an active university lab or research group. Research topics change each year and are based on the ongoing work of participating faculty members, rather than student-proposed projects.
12. University of Florida’s Student Science Training Program (SSTP)
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville
Cost: $5,500 + $50 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: June 7 – July 25
Application deadline: April 15 (rolling)
Eligibility: Students entering senior year who are at least 16 years old by the program start date
The University of Florida’s Student Science Training Program is a seven-week residential research experience centered on full-time laboratory work. You’ll spend approximately 30 hours per week conducting research with a UF faculty mentor and their research team. The program also includes a daily interdisciplinary lecture series and an Honors Program seminar focused on scientific communication and analysis. You are required to maintain lab notes, write a scientific paper, deliver oral presentations, and present a research poster. Florida high school students may earn dual enrollment credit through participation. Residential and academic counselors provide comprehensive support throughout the program.
13. UF CPET – Research Immersion in Science and Engineering (RISE)
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville
Cost: To be announced
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: Session 1: June 7 – June 12 | Session 2: July 12 – 17
Application deadline: Opens January 5
Eligibility: Students entering grade 10
The Research Immersion in Science and Engineering program at the University of Florida is a residential STEM experience exploring how science and engineering intersect. You’ll engage in hands-on lab activities, discussions, case studies, and field trips led by UF faculty and graduate students. The summer research program for high school students in Florida highlights how scientific research develops into real-world applications and technologies. Daily programming includes learning sessions alongside collaborative group activities. Evening programming allows time for peer interaction and recreational events. The program is more geared towards exposure to research rather than independent project production.
14. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old for remote internships and at least 16 years old for in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University is an eight-week research experience offered in both in-person and virtual formats. You are placed in a faculty-led research group working in areas such as neuroscience, bioengineering, cybersecurity, or environmental science. Research responsibilities vary by lab but often include data analysis, literature review, modeling, or experimental design. This remote summer research program for high school students in Florida includes workshops on scientific writing, ethics, and STEM career pathways. You are expected to present your research through posters or formal presentations. Some projects may contribute to conference submissions or academic publications.
15. UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program
Location: Remote
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 virtual experience introducing you to medical research methods. Instruction focuses on responsible conduct in human subjects research, evidence-based medicine, and critical evaluation of scientific literature. You receive guidance through online modules, virtual meetings, and written feedback from faculty and academic coaches. The program centers on writing a research report based on assigned medical topics. You also interact with undergraduate and postgraduate mentors for academic and college guidance. You may submit an abstract to a national meeting, with accepted work listing you as a co-author.
Image source - Lumiere Education