14 Chemistry Programs for High School Students in Houston, Texas
Chemistry programs allow high school students to explore scientific concepts beyond the standard classroom curriculum. Through laboratory activities, research projects, and specialized coursework, you can gain insight into how chemical principles are applied in fields such as medicine, environmental science, materials science, and engineering. Many programs also introduce the research process, allowing you to develop skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. By working alongside researchers or instructors, students can better understand how scientists solve complex problems and contribute to new technologies.
Why should you attend a program in Houston, Texas?
Houston, Texas, is home to a large network of universities and research institutes that support scientific research across multiple disciplines. This environment enables chemistry programs to connect students with laboratories, researchers, and facilities engaged in scientific work. Many programs draw on the expertise of faculty, graduate students, and industry professionals working in areas such as biomedical research, energy science, and environmental chemistry. Since Houston hosts institutions focused on both academic research and applied science, these programs provide insight into how chemistry is used across a range of industries.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 14 chemistry programs for high school students in Houston, Texas.
If you’re looking for free programs in Houston, check out our blog here.
1. ACS Project SEED
Location: Nationwide, including Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 350+ students annually
Dates: 8 - 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have completed at least one course of high school chemistry and whose family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
ACS Project SEED is a chemistry program that introduces high school students to laboratory research through mentored projects. During the program, you work in a professional research lab alongside scientists who supervise your work and guide experiments within ongoing chemistry research. Over several weeks, you learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and document findings using standard scientific methods. The experience typically concludes with a written report or research poster summarizing your results. Some Project SEED sites also include additional academic components such as research presentations, campus visits, or scientific discussions within the broader scientific community.
2. Veritas AI's AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program | financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students who have experience with Python or have completed the AI Scholars program
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students passionate about AI with a supportive environment 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Welch Summer Scholar Program
Location: Various universities, including the University of Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: May 31 - July 3
Application Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Welch Summer Scholar Program is a research-based chemistry program for Texas high school students interested in laboratory science. You spend several weeks working in university research labs under the supervision of faculty, graduate students, or postdoctoral researchers. Your daily activities will typically include conducting experiments, analyzing results, and learning how professional research groups approach chemical problems. The program also includes lectures, workshops, and tours of research facilities that introduce different areas of chemistry and related scientific fields. Alongside laboratory work, you learn how to communicate scientific results through presentations and written reports. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a research paper or poster that summarizes the project you completed during the session.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program | financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
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. University of Houston TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Up to $1,000 in scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 - August 7
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors planning to attend UH and have taken or are enrolled in pre-calculus
University of Houston TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy is an intensive academic program designed to prepare high school students for college-level STEM coursework. Over several weeks, you complete structured coursework that includes Calculus I and introductory chemistry topics typically taught in first-year university courses. The program emphasizes analytical problem-solving, independent study habits, and adapting to the pace of a college academic environment. You spend much of your time attending lectures, completing assignments, and reviewing course material outside of class. The curriculum offers an early insight into the expectations of university science courses for students interested in chemistry programs or related STEM majors.
6. Houston Methodist High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+ years old) with a minimum GPA of 3.5
The Houston Methodist High School Emerging Researcher Experience introduces high school students to translational biomedical research in a professional laboratory setting. During the program, you work alongside undergraduate research interns as you learn how scientific studies move from laboratory experiments to real-world applications. Each participant is matched with a mentor who guides a research project based on their area of expertise. In many cases, projects involve chemical and biochemical techniques used in areas such as drug development, molecular biology, or diagnostic testing. You learn laboratory skills such as experimental design, sample preparation, and data analysis while contributing to ongoing research. The program concludes with a research symposium where you present your work as a poster to faculty, mentors, and fellow participants.
7. Mohanlab Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising seniors
The MohanLab Summer Internship Program allows high school students to participate in laboratory research focused on biomedical science and infectious disease studies. The program begins with introductory training that covers fundamental laboratory techniques and safety protocols used in research environments. After this initial instruction, you join a research team and assist with experiments related to ongoing projects in the laboratory. Tasks may include processing biological samples, conducting molecular assays, and analyzing experimental data. Many projects involve chemical and biochemical processes used to study pathogens, diagnostics, and treatment approaches. At the end of the internship, you present your research findings in an oral presentation that explains the research methods and results.
8. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $7,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 6 students
Dates: June 1 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Texas high school seniors (18+ years old)
The MD Anderson Cancer Center hosts the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences. This is a research-focused program where high school students work in active medical laboratories under a faculty mentor. You contribute to a research project within a biomedical discipline while spending most of your time conducting experiments, recording observations, and learning how scientific investigations are structured in professional labs. Many projects incorporate concepts in chemistry related to drug development, biomarker analysis, and molecular interactions in cancer research. In addition to laboratory work, the program includes seminars led by researchers on current topics in biomedical science. You conclude the experience by presenting your research through a poster or a presentation summarizing your findings.
9. Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (PREP)
Location: University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 - July 18
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: 7th, 8th, or 9th grade students with a B or higher
The Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (PREP) is a multi-year academic program that introduces high school students to advanced STEM concepts through structured coursework and laboratory activities. The curriculum emphasizes mathematics and its applications in chemistry, physics, and engineering. During the program, you participate in hands-on laboratory sessions that demonstrate how scientific principles apply to real-world problems. Activities are designed to strengthen analytical reasoning and quantitative problem-solving skills used in many chemistry programs. You also attend field trips, workshops, and career exploration sessions related to science and technology fields.
10. Rice Tapia STEM Camps
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $2,500 | $2,200 for early bird pricing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 5 - 10 | Session 2: July 12 - 17 | Session 3: July 19 - 24
Application Deadline: March 1 (early bird) | May 1 (regular)
Eligibility: Rising 8th - 12th graders
Rice University Tapia STEM Camps are short residential programs where high school students explore interdisciplinary science and engineering topics through project-based learning. Many activities focus on applying scientific concepts from chemistry, physics, and environmental science. For example, you might study heat transfer by designing a heatsink or examine carbon capture systems used in environmental engineering. The camp also includes collaborative activities where you work in teams to solve technical challenges and present your solutions. The program concludes with project presentations that emphasize the clear explanation of scientific ideas to peers and instructors.
11. George Mason Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 - August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students (15+ years old)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University allows high school students to participate in faculty-led research across a range of STEM disciplines. During the program, you work directly with a researcher who supervises your project and introduces you to laboratory or computational research methods. Many projects incorporate chemistry concepts, particularly in materials science, environmental chemistry, or biochemical analysis. You learn how to analyze data and learn about experimental or analytical techniques used in professional laboratories. The program also emphasizes scientific communication, with opportunities to practice writing about research and discussing results with mentors and peers.
12. Johns Hopkins ASPIRE Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Less than 10%
Dates: June 23 - August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (15+ years old ) who are U.S. citizens with a minimum GPA of 2.8
The ASPIRE internship at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory introduces high school students to research and engineering projects within a professional STEM environment. You’ll be paired with staff mentors who guide you through technical assignments and collaborative problem-solving tasks. Projects may involve physical science topics with chemistry concepts in materials research, environmental studies, or laboratory analysis. Throughout the program, you learn how to approach complex problems, document progress, and communicate results within a research team. By the end of the internship, you’ll have gained practical experience with the workflow and expectations of scientific and technical research environments.
13. Talaria Summer Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 1 - August 12
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Female-identifying and non-binary high school students
The Talaria Summer Institute is a research mentorship program in which high school students complete an independent scientific project under the guidance of an academic mentor. Over several weeks, you meet regularly with a professor, postdoctoral researcher, or doctoral student who helps you develop and refine your research topic. Early sessions focus on outlining a research plan and selecting the appropriate methods to investigate your question. Depending on the project, this may involve literature reviews, experimental analyses, or working with scientific datasets in chemistry or biomedical science. As the program progresses, you analyze your findings and draft a formal research paper that explains your findings. The experience concludes with a research presentation and the submission of your completed paper.
14. MITES Semester
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June - December
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Semester is an academic program that allows high school students to study advanced STEM coursework through online classes and collaborative projects. You complete two courses, including one project-based class and another core subject such as calculus, physics, or science communication. Some course options explore scientific concepts relevant to chemistry, including thermodynamics and the chemical principles underlying physical systems. Through assignments and discussions, you examine how scientific ideas are applied to real-world challenges and technological development. The program also includes webinars and workshops that introduce research careers and college-level STEM preparation.
Image source - MITES logo