10 Virtual Data Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in data science, virtual research programs are a flexible way to explore the field while building essential skills in coding, statistics, and data analysis. These programs let you apply data science to real-world topics like healthcare, climate change, or social trends through hands-on projects guided by researchers or university mentors.
Virtual research opportunities are especially accessible and often include options for financial aid or free participation. Whether you're curious about AI applications, game analytics, or public health data, these programs can help you explore career paths and deepen your understanding of the field.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 10 virtual data science research opportunities for high school students!
1. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 25 students per session
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; 14+ by program start. Applicants strong in math or computer programming, or those with experience with a healthcare project, are preferred.
Cost: $850 program fee + $40 application fee
If you’re interested in the intersection of AI and healthcare, the Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship offers high school students the chance to explore the technical and clinical aspects of AI. During a two-week period, you will engage in introductory and technical lectures on the fundamentals of AI in healthcare, take part in collaborative group research projects, and join activities facilitated by Stanford Student Leads and researchers.
You’ll also get to sit in on “Virtual Career Lunch and Learns,” where you’ll hear from professionals in academia, industry, non-profit, government, etc. At the end of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and may even get to participate in an extended independent research internship.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Selective
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).
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.
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Run and founded by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI is a program that offers data science research opportunities for high school students interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and more. As a participant, you can choose from two main programs: the AI Scholars program and the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program.
In the AI Scholars program, you will learn all about the fundamentals of AI & data science through hands-on work on real-world projects. This will take place over the course of ten sessions. However, if you’re seeking more advanced exposure to AI and data science, then the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program is more apt. During this program, you will get to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. You’ll also get access to the Veritas AI in-house publication team, which will help you secure publications in high school research journals.
You can check out some examples of past projects here and apply to the program here!
3. George Mason University: NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing
Location: Hybrid (Mostly virtual, with in-person options at the GMU Fairfax Campus)
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: June 14 – August 30
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: Contact execed@gmu.edu for the fee details; Need-based scholarships available
George Mason University offers a premier NASA Data Science Analysis and Research Paper Writing program for high school students. This program provides an opportunity to delve into NASA's space data science and statistical analysis via research projects and lectures. You’ll also get to work on current NASA mission research, developing scholarly papers that will enhance your research and communication skills.
As a participant, you’ll attend group observation nights and will get remote or in-person control and operation of George Mason University’s 32-inch telescope. You will also have the chance to collaborate with various astronomy specialists from NASA and across the globe. At the end of the program, you will get a Certificate of Completion and will have your research paper posted on the official George Mason University webpage.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students with a high level of academic achievement (unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4); no previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Cost: Starts at $2,990; financial aid available
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 that you can explore as a high schooler.
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.
5. Girls Who Code
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates:
Pathways: June 30 – August 8
Summer Immersion Program (SIP): July 7 – 18; July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Students who identify as girls or non-binary; 9th-11th graders (SIP); 9th-12th graders (Pathways); more details here
Cost/Stipend: 100% free; $300 needs-based grant (SIP)
In an effort to close the gender gap in tech, the Girls Who Code program offers incredible data science research opportunities for high school students who identify as girls or non-binary. You can choose from their two main programs, the Summer Immersion Program or the Pathways program.
In the Summer Immersion Program (SIP), you’ll learn all about game design and the basics of UX design. Over two weeks, you’ll cover beginner to intermediate computer science concepts and the game design process.
During the Pathways program, you’ll explore topics like web development, cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence for over six weeks. Since Pathways is a self-paced program, you’ll be able to take your time learning coding languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. You’ll also get to attend live events and hear from industry-leading companies.
6. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: 9th graders or rising 10th graders; 14+ by program start; International students accepted; Applicants with strong math or computer skills are preferred
Cost: $4,000; Financial aid available
The Stanford AI4ALL program collaborates with the Stanford AI Lab to offer high school students research opportunities in data science focused on artificial intelligence. Participants engage in lectures, practical research projects, and mentoring activities related to AI.
You’ll learn under the guidance of professionals and researchers in the field, exploring topics like robotics, computer vision, AI in medicine, natural language processing, and more. The program touches on AI's potential to improve society and how it can be achieved.
7. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory: ASPIRE
Location: Virtual options available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~10%; Up to 200 students per summer
Dates: 6-9 weeks starting from June; More info here
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors or seniors; At least 15 by June 1; Minimum GPA of 2.8; Permanent residents in certain Maryland counties; More details here
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s ASPIRE program offers high school students the chance to experience STEM careers before committing to a specific area of study once in college. When applying, you may choose two areas of interest; you will be placed in either area based on availability.
It can encompass a wide range of fields, including AI and machine learning, engineering, mathematics, data science, programming, and more, depending on the mentor. During the program, you’ll get to work on a project under the guidance of APL staff members or mentors. Some projects include coding, research, development, lab experiments, and additional activities.
8. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: Virtual options available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 8-12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 22
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; applicants from the Greater Seattle area preferred
Cost: No cost; some projects offer a stipend
The Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) is a volunteer-run initiative that pairs highly motivated high school students with mentors from various professional fields. Students participate in project-based learning for 8 to 12 weeks, enhancing essential skills such as communication and critical thinking while exploring real-world applications related to their interests.
Depending on the mentor and project, participants may be able to co-author research papers (including IEEE publications), contribute to innovation challenges, or present work at science competitions like the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). While it is not a traditional data science–focused program, SMP offers students the flexibility to explore data science and related fields through tailored mentorship, provided a suitable project and mentor are available.
9. The Coding School's National High School Research Program - Data Science
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; Fill out this interest form
Eligibility: Incoming 10th to 12th graders
Cost: $3,995; limited need-based scholarships available
The Coding School’s Summer Research Program with Columbia University is a great way for high school students interested in exploring the data science field to develop and enhance relevant technical skills. The program provides an opportunity to engage in ongoing research at the Columbia University Data Science Institute, even without prior experience.
In the first few weeks, you will learn college-level coding skills in R, data visualizations, data cleaning, and data analysis. From weeks 3-5, you will assist PhD researchers with real-life research projects and develop your own research project and presentation that you can showcase in college applications.
10. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates:
Session One: June 16 – 27
Session Two: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: 8th to 11th graders
Cost: $3,080 course fee + $65 application fee; Financial aid available
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers online summer courses and data science research opportunities for high school students across a variety of fields. Some of their data science courses include Artificial Intelligence, Introduction to Data Science, Introduction to Machine Learning, Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, and more.
During the program, you’ll build relevant skills and learn more about your area of interest from field experts and other participants from across the globe. The program emphasizes maintaining an environment that fosters creativity and collaboration and offers student life seminars, workshops, and activities that you can participate in.
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