15 Summer STEM Research Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in pursuing STEM in the future, a summer research program is worth exploring. These programs offer research experience, opportunities to collaborate with professionals and peers, and exposure to problem-solving. From solutions to environmental challenges to the role of AI in solving health issues, you can explore a topic of choice in detail. You will apply theoretical concepts to projects while developing technical and analytical skills.
Many summer STEM research programs are hosted by universities, research labs, or specialized organizations, making them academically rigorous. As a participant, you may present your work, build a portfolio, and network with mentors and researchers, which can be valuable for your college applications. Some programs even offer virtual options, allowing students from all over the world to participate.
In this blog, we have compiled a list of 15 summer STEM research programs for high school students that stand out for their educational value, research depth, and accessibility. Whether you are interested in biology, robotics, or AI, you will probably find a program here that aligns with your interests.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cohort size: ~50 students each year
Dates: June 10 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 when the program starts
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee (waivers available); $500–$2,500 stipends offered
SIMR is an in-person program that offers high school students opportunities to engage in hands-on research in the biomedical sciences under the guidance of Stanford researchers. You will choose from one of eight focused tracks, like Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, and Genetics, and complete a lab-based project over eight weeks. You will work with mentors throughout the program, gaining technical research skills. You will also engage in seminars and community outreach. You will end the experience by presenting your work at a final symposium.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here.
3. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Acceptance rate: 3–5%
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Rising seniors worldwide who meet exceptional academic criteria
Cost/Stipend: No cost
RSI is among the prestigious summer STEM research programs for high school students, offering participants a fully funded six-week experience at MIT. The program begins with an intensive week of STEM coursework taught by MIT faculty, followed by five weeks of mentored research in areas such as computer science, mathematics, and engineering. You will work closely with professional scientists on independent projects and present your findings in both oral and written formats at a concluding research symposium. Along with academic rigor and mentorship, the program offers opportunities to get practical exposure to real STEM work through field trips to science and technology facilities in the Boston area.
4. Young Scientist Program: Summer Focus at Washington University
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Low; 15–18 students selected
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application deadline: January 27
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the Greater St. Louis area, with preference for students from under-resourced schools or underrepresented backgrounds in STEM
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; $4,500 stipend provided
This eight-week summer STEM research program is designed to engage high school students in the St. Louis area in intensive biomedical research. You will be matched with a research mentor and work on hands-on laboratory investigations, while also receiving academic tutoring and training in science communication. The program balances full-time lab work with college prep activities and culminates in a final research symposium where you and your peers will present research findings. You will also get access to guidance regarding college applications, seeking financial aid, career exploration, and college admission tests.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Year-round cohorts; summer cohorts typically run from June to August
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records, 3.3+ GPA recommended
Cost: Varies; financial assistance available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides individualized summer STEM research experiences for high school students through one-on-one mentorship with Ph. D.-level researchers. You can choose a focus area from STEM disciplines like biology, chemistry, math, engineering, or neuroscience, and design an independent research project. Throughout the program, you will receive targeted guidance from your mentor, participate in writing workshops, and explore research methods at the undergraduate level. The program accommodates both theoretical and experimental projects while offering flexibility in scheduling. Your research experience will culminate in a publication-ready academic paper.
6. Simons Summer Research Program @ Stony Brook University
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old
Cost/Stipend: No tuition fees; optional $2,360.25 housing fees + ~$500 additional meal costs; a stipend is offered
The Simons Summer Research Program enables high school juniors to participate in intensive, mentored university-level STEM research during the summer. You will collaborate with faculty and researchers on projects in biochemistry, neurobiology, computer science, physics, and more. You will indicate your preferred mentors during the application process to ensure you spend the summer working on a project that aligns with your academic interests. The program combines lab work with weekly lectures, workshops, and campus explorations. At the end of the six weeks, you will present your research at a formal symposium through poster and abstract presentations.
7. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 17 – August 9; commitment of 30–40 hours/week
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: San Diego County high school students who are at least 16 years old by June 26 and have completed at least one year each of high school biology and chemistry
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will receive a stipend
This eight-week summer STEM research program for high school students is an opportunity to conduct research at one of the country’s leading biological research institutes. You will work full-time in labs alongside scientists on projects in neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics. You will receive structured mentorship and participate in workshops designed to build scientific and communication skills. The program culminates in a final symposium where you will present your biology research to peers and scientists.
8. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Acceptance rate: Low, with a rigorous selection process
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Boston or Cambridge, at least 16 years old, with a minimum GPA of 2.7; priority is given to students who are underrepresented in medicine or face disadvantages
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge; students receive a stipend (amount unspecified)
Project Success, hosted by Harvard Medical School, is a six-week summer STEM research program for high school students that offers hands-on research in biomedical science. You will be placed in a lab at HMS or an affiliated institution, where you will conduct mentored research alongside scientists and clinicians. The program includes academic seminars, biotech and hospital site visits, and skill-building workshops in writing, public speaking, and computer literacy. It offers an introduction to both research and the medical profession.
9. Johns Hopkins University Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS)
Location: In-person at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, or virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: In-person: June – August (eight weeks); Virtual: July – August (five weeks)
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing in Baltimore City (in-person) or anywhere in North America (virtual)
Stipend: $15/hour for in-person participants; no stipend for virtual interns
JHIBS is a summer STEM research program for high school students that focuses on neuroscience and brain research. Here, you will work alongside Johns Hopkins faculty in labs studying topics such as clinical neurobiology, neuroimaging, and brain development. The in-person format allows you to conduct research in a lab or clinical setting. During the program, you will also present your findings at a final symposium. Both virtual and in-person formats offer STEM-focused and professional opportunities, including weekly seminars, experiment-based activities, college preparation classes, and lab training.
10. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are permanent Massachusetts residents attending school in the state year-round and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Cost/Stipend: Free; no stipend provided
The Young Scholars Program offers Massachusetts high school students an opportunity to participate in advanced research in Northeastern’s Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences. You will work in university labs on real projects such as programmable signal acquisition or temperature sensor calibration for microelectronics. The program also includes weekly engineering seminars, career development sessions, and field trips. With direct access to faculty and graduate student mentors, you will find opportunities to exercise and refine technical and professional skills.
11. UCSC’s Science Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Hybrid—online + in-person at UC Santa Cruz campus, Santa Cruz, CA
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Week 1 (online): June 16 – 20 + Weeks 2 to 8 (on-campus): June 23 – August 8
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14+ (16+ for select projects), currently enrolled in school
Cost: $4,850 + application fee of $60; scholarships available
The Science Internship Program at UC Santa Cruz is an interdisciplinary summer STEM research program for high school students, offering opportunities in fields like astronomy, bioinformatics, computer science, and environmental science. You will be paired with a mentor, typically a faculty member or graduate researcher, and contribute to active research projects. Depending on your project, you will gain experience with lab techniques, data analysis, and programming tools such as Python, MATLAB, or R. The program includes seminars on ethics and communication, culminating in a research symposium where you will present your findings.
12. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cohort size: ~32 students each year
Dates: June 24 – August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program begins
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge; travel expenses covered; need-based stipends may be available
The Summer Science Research Program offers high school students direct access to professional biomedical research at Rockefeller University. You will join a lab team and contribute to ongoing research under the guidance of scientists and postdoctoral researchers, developing skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program also features elective science courses, expert-led seminars, and social events that foster community and deeper learning. At the end of the program, you will present your work at a formal symposium, gaining experience in scientific writing and public speaking.
13. UC San Diego’s OPTIMUS
Location: Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego, CA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited to students from partner schools
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application deadline: Early Spring
Eligibility: San Diego high school students in grades 10 and 11 from select schools
Stipend: Provided
OPTIMUS, offered by UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center, is a summer STEM research program for high school students focusing on the fields of cancer biology and clinical medicine. Over eight weeks, you will conduct lab-based research and shadow physicians at the Moores Cancer Center. You will undergo training to develop clinical skills such as suturing, learn from surgical residents, and engage in guided laboratory work. The program also offers mentorship and access to academic workshops.
14. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Low; 12 students/session
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Stipend: $750
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a prestigious, seven-week summer STEM research program for high school students, selecting just 12 students each year. If accepted into the program, you will work closely with Texas Tech faculty on original research in a field of your choice, with options spanning biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, economics, and more. The program combines independent research with mentorship and professional development workshops. The experience can offer a firsthand look at life on a college campus. You will submit a written research report at the end of the program.
15. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Location: Duke University West Campus, Durham, NC
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors at least 15 years old by the start date and residents of North Carolina within commuting distance of Duke University West Campus
Stipend: Paid
DUNE is an eight-week summer STEM research program for high school students that places participants in neuroscience labs at Duke University. You will work full-time under the mentorship of faculty or lab researchers, contributing to real neuroscience research projects and developing technical and analytical skills. The program includes college prep workshops and career exploration sessions. The research experience culminates in a poster presentation of your work. The program offers a structured, hands-on introduction to neuroscience, mentorship, and careers in academia.
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