15 University Research Opportunities for High School Students
If you’re in high school and want to explore academic work beyond your regular classes, many universities run summer programs that can help you do that. University research programs let you contribute to structured projects, attend lectures, and work with faculty and researchers.
You can choose from programs in science, humanities, business, the arts, and more. Some focus exclusively on research, while others incorporate workshops and seminars. Through these research opportunities, you’ll build skills in academic writing, data analysis, reading research papers, and presenting your work. These experiences can boost your college applications and give you a better sense of what you want to study later.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 university research programs you can join as a high school student!
1. Anson L.Clark Scholars Program
Cost: None
Location: Texas Tech University
Application Deadline: February 24
Program Dates: June 22 - August 7
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate this year or the next (U.S. and international).
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a 7-week summer research program at Texas Tech University. If you get in, you will work closely with a faculty mentor on a research project in a subject that interests you. One of the options is computer science. For example, a past student used machine learning to study GPU energy use.
You will also attend weekly seminars, join group discussions, and go on field trips with the other scholars. The program selects only 12 high school students each year, so it is very competitive. If selected, you will receive a 750 tax-free stipend and be named a Clark Scholar, which can strengthen your college applications.
2. The University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute Summer Lab
Cost: Free; stipend provided ($5400)
Location: University of Chicago Campus, IL
Application Deadline: January 12
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: You must be a high school student living and studying in the Chicago area, including current seniors starting college in the fall.
The DSI Summer Lab at the University of Chicago is an 8-week paid research program in data science. You will be matched with a mentor and work on a real research project. Topics may include computer science, climate, energy, or any field that uses data. Your mentor will guide you and help you build skills in research and teamwork.
You will also learn how to use data science tools and methods. The training you get will depend on your project. At the end of the program, you will make a short video to explain your project. You will also present your work at a final event and see what other students have done.
3. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program
Cost: No cost
Location: Northeastern University, Boston
Application Deadline: January 1
Program Dates: June 23 to July 31
Eligibility: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, live and attend school in Massachusetts year-round, and be entering 12th grade in the fall.
In Northeastern University's Young Scholars Program, you will work in research labs at the university. You can explore areas like engineering, science, or health. You will help a professor on a real research project and learn how research works in a lab. You will also take part in a seminar called "Introduction to Engineering." This covers topics such as robotics, chemical testing, and microwave materials. The program includes field trips and career support from Northeastern’s Cooperative Education team.
4. UCSD’s and SDSC's Annual Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)
Cost: Program with research project—$1,500, and program without research project—free.
Location: On Campus (UC San Diego, California) & Virtual
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders. The program is mainly for students from San Diego County, but if you can arrange your housing for the summer, you can still apply.
UC San Diego and the San Diego Supercomputer Center offer an 8-week research program for high school students. You will work on a real project in areas like computer science or artificial intelligence. You will learn how to ask research questions, run experiments on a computer, and understand your results, and you will also use coding and data tools to solve complex problems.
A mentor from UC San Diego and a group of graduate students will guide you. They will help you through each step. This makes the program a good option if you are new to research. You will also take software training, read research papers, and talk often about your work with the team.
5. NYU’s ARISE Program
Cost: No cost.
Location: New York University Campus, NY (Specific Area depends on subject area/lab choice.)
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and rising seniors. Must be based in New York City
ARISE at NYU is a free summer program for high school students who live in New York City. It lasts for 10 weeks and takes place at NYU. You will work with research faculty and explore subjects like computer science, machine learning, or robotics. In the first two weeks, you will join workshops to build your research and communication skills. After that, you will spend five weeks in a lab working on a real research project with a mentor. You will learn how to ask good questions, collect data, and share what you find.
6. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Cost: Free to attend, with an application fee. Stipends start at $500
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9- July 31
Eligibility: You must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder, be at least 16 by June 9, and be a junior or senior graduating this year or next.
SIMR is an eight-week summer program held at Stanford University. Each year, 50 high school students are selected to take part. You will work in a real research lab with Stanford faculty, researchers, and postdoctoral fellows. You can explore areas like bioengineering, genetics, stem cell research, cancer biology, immunology, neurobiology, and bioinformatics. You will also get training in lab safety, research methods, and basic science skills. At the end, you will create a poster and present what you learned.
7. Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) Pre-College Program
Cost: Free; this is a fully funded program.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 21 — August 2
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and in their junior year at the time of application submission are eligible.
SAMS is a pre-college STEM program for high school students. It starts with a virtual session where you build skills and get ready for the main part of the program. After that, you take part in a six-week in-person session. You will take classes, attend lectures, join workshops, and work on group projects. Faculty and graduate students will guide you through the process. At the end, you will present your work at a final event called the symposium.
8. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Cost: Free
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (commuter program for statewide residents).
Application Deadline: March 15
Program dates: May 12 – August 1
Eligibility: Students must be 16 or older by June 15, enrolled in high school (or graduated but not yet 18 by June 15), and U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or international students attending a U.S. high school, with some research opportunities having additional eligibility criteria.
Princeton’s Laboratory Learning Program is a free research opportunity for high school students who live in New Jersey. You’ll get to work one-on-one with a faculty member, postdoc, or researcher on a real research project in science or engineering. You can explore topics in natural sciences, computer science, or engineering. Past students have used large language models to design environmental tools, studied fossil sizes to understand climate change, and built image analysis algorithms.
You’ll contribute to lab work, literature reviews, coding, and data analysis. You’ll also join regular lab meetings and get feedback from your mentor. You don’t need to have any prior research experience to apply.
9. Simons Summer Research Program
Cost: Free, although students are responsible for transportation and residential costs. At the program’s closing symposium, students receive a stipend award.
Location: Stony Brook University, featuring commuter and residential options.
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 — August 8
Eligibility: Applicants must be in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of application, must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program.
The Simons Summer Research Program is a free research program hosted by Stony Brook University. You can apply if you are a high school junior and live in the U.S. or hold a U.S. visa. If selected, you will spend seven weeks working full time on a real research project in fields like biochemistry, computer science, geoscience, pharmacology, or astronomy.
You will join a university research group and be matched with a mentor. You will use lab tools, follow research methods, and collect and analyze data. You will also attend workshops and seminars, write a research abstract, and present your work at a final symposium.
10. High School Research Internships at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), Cornell University, and the USDA
Cost: High school students in the program receive a monthly stipend, which adds up to $4,200 by the end of the program.
Location: Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, New York
Application Deadline: Not specified. Usually in the first week of March
Program Dates: Not specified, but usually from late June to early August
Eligibility: Local/regional high school students who are at least 16 years of age by the start of the program
The Boyce Thompson Institute offers a summer research program for high school students interested in science. You will work on a research project in areas like plant science, molecular biology, bioinformatics, or biological engineering. You will be matched with a graduate student or postdoc who will guide your work, along with a faculty mentor.
You will take part in lab research, attend training sessions, and join professional development talks. The program also includes field trips related to science and research. At the end of the program, you will present your research in a poster session at a symposium.
11. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program
Cost: $6,000 stipend
Location: Houston, Texas
Eligibility: Must be a high school senior living in Texas.
Application deadline: January 20
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
The MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program is a free research internship for high school students in Texas. If selected, you will spend your summer working full time in a biomedical research lab. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and work on a real research project. You will learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and write research abstracts. You will also attend seminars on science and healthcare topics. The program includes activities like research poster creation and a final presentation.
12. Research Mentorship Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara
Cost: $4,700 (commuter option) | $6,599 (housing option)
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.
Application Deadline: 17 March
Program Dates: June 16 — August 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 (outstanding 9th graders may be accepted on a case-by-case basis) with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA.
The UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program is a summer research opportunity for high school students. You will choose a research project and work one-on-one with a mentor from the university. You will learn how to ask research questions, test ideas, and analyze results. The program helps you build skills in writing, critical thinking, and lab or data work. You will also attend seminars and workshops to learn more about college-level academics and research careers.
13. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Cost: No cost. Stipend available.
Location: Duke University West Campus, Durham, NC
Application deadline: February 9
Program dates: June 16 - August 8
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15 years old at the start of the program and live in North Carolina within commuting distance of Duke University’s west campus.
Duke University’s Neuroscience Experience is an 8-week summer program for high school students interested in brain science. You will be matched with a neuroscience lab and a mentor to guide you through a research project. Most of your time will be spent working in the lab, where you will collect and analyze data to learn how the brain works.
You will also join workshops on college prep, careers in science and medicine, and how to plan your future path. At the end of the program, you will present your research in a poster session attended by Duke scientists, peers, and family.
14. Summer Science Research Program at the Rockefeller University
Cost: No cost. Travel expenses are covered. Need-based stipends may also be given to students.
Location: The Rockefeller University campus, New York, NY
Application deadline: February 1
Program dates: June 23– August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program.
The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a free summer research opportunity for high school students interested in biomedical science. You will work in a real lab at Rockefeller University alongside scientists and mentors who will guide you through your research project. You will learn how to use lab tools, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and understand how scientific research is done. You will also attend classes, hear from guest scientists, and participate in group activities with other students. At the end of the program, you and your team will present your work to the university community.
15. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Cost: Free of cost, stipend available
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: January 14
Program Dates: June 2 - August 22
Eligibility: High school juniors from any country can apply. It is recommended that you have a PSAT Math score of 740 or higher, an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 700 or higher, an ACT Math score of 33 or higher, and an ACT Verbal score of 34 or higher. If your scores are lower, you should show strong academic performance in other ways.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a free six-week summer program held at MIT for high school students from around the world. In the first week, you will take classes in science, math, and engineering. Subjects may include physics, biology, computer science, and more. In the next five weeks, you will work on a research project with guidance from a mentor. You will learn how to design experiments, analyze results, and write your findings. In the final week, you will write a research paper and present your work to others in the program.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
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