40+ STEM Research Programs for High School Students in 2026

TL;DR

STEM research programs put high school students in university, hospital and government labs for a summer, and most of them are free or pay a stipend, up to $7,200 at MD Anderson's King Foundation program. Eligibility is the main hurdle: 19 of the 40 programs below only take students who live or go to school in a specific city, county or state, and 16 require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Check where you live and your citizenship before you shortlist anything. Ladder Internships is fully remote, so where you live has no bearing on whether you can apply.

The programs below run at universities, cancer centers, national laboratories and research institutes, and every one is open to high school students with a 2026 or 2027 cycle on its own website. They're grouped into university research programs, biology labs, physics and computer science research, and medical and biomedical research. For camps, courses and career internships, see our list of STEM programs for high school students.

Already know which field you want to research? You might enjoy our lists ofAI summer research programs,pre-med research opportunities andmedical research internships for high school students.

What Types of STEM Research Opportunities Are Available for High Schoolers?

University research programs: You join a faculty lab for five to eight weeks, often living on campus, at programs like RSI at MIT, Iowa's SSTP or Stony Brook's Simons program. Several are open to students nationwide, which makes them some of the most competitive options. Our guide on how to get a research internship in high school covers how to approach them.

Hospital and research institute internships: Cancer centers and institutes such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, City of Hope and the Broad Institute place you in a working lab, usually with a stipend. Most recruit from their own region, since few provide housing.

Government and national lab internships: The Navy's SEAP, AFRL Scholars, NIST and Brookhaven place students in federal research labs, and nearly all of them require U.S. citizenship. The federal government's STEM workforce training directory lists more agency programs by eligibility.

Are There Paid or Free STEM Research Programs?

Yes, there are paid programs (which pay you a stipend), as well as free programs (that you can participate in at no cost) in the list below. 

Paid programs: MD Anderson's King Foundation program pays $7,200 for ten weeks, WashU's Summer Focus pays $4,800, City of Hope and UCSF's High School Intern Program each pay $4,500, and the Navy's SEAP pays $4,000 to new participants. AFRL Scholars pays $506.80 a week at most sites, and Fermilab's PRISM pays $500 a week.

Free but unpaid programs: RSI and Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program cost nothing, and SIMR is free to attend with a few need-based stipends. NIST's SHIP and Johns Hopkins APL's ASPIRE are unpaid; private companies, by contrast, are held to the Department of Labor's primary beneficiary test before they can offer an unpaid internship.

Tuition-based programs: George Mason's ASSIP charges $1,299 for three college credits, UC Santa Cruz's Scholar Immersion Program charges tuition with need-based aid of 25% to 100%, and Iowa's SSTP costs $7,500, though financial aid can cover up to 95%. Ask about aid before ruling any of them out.

Factor	Paid research internships	Tuition-based research programs
What you get	A stipend, often $1,200 to $7,200 for the summer	Lab placement, mentoring and sometimes college credit or housing
Who can apply	Usually local students, often U.S. citizens only	Often open nationally, sometimes internationally
What you do	Join a lab team on its own research	Complete a mentored project, often with a final presentation
Examples	King Foundation program, SEAP, Broad Summer Scholars	SSTP, ASSIP, Scholar Immersion Program at UC Santa Cruz

How Competitive Are STEM Research Programs, and Who Can Apply?

STEM research programs range from welcoming to highly selective, and the most competitive ones admit under 5% of applicants, like Stony Brook's Simons program, or take 20 interns from more than 1,000 applications, like Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Selectivity: Stony Brook's Simons program admits under 5% of applicants, Memorial Sloan Kettering takes 20 interns from more than 1,000 applications, and MD Anderson's King Foundation program takes up to six students. Texas Tech's Clark Scholars takes 12 each summer, so a strong application matters at almost every program on the list.

Where you live and your citizenship: Many programs only take nearby students, such as Princeton's LLP for New Jersey students and Memorial Sloan Kettering for students within 25 miles of its main campus. Federal programs like SEAP, AFRL and NIST require U.S. citizenship.

Your grade and age: Most programs want rising juniors or seniors who are at least 16. NIH's summer program takes high school seniors, while George Mason's ASSIP accepts students from age 15 for remote projects.

How Does STEM Research Influence College Applications?

What you produce: A research poster, a final presentation or a mentor who can describe your work gives an admissions reader something concrete. NIST's SHIP ends with a poster session, and most lab programs close with a presentation you can describe in your activities list.

What the numbers show: Ladder's own self-reported survey of 85 alumni who applied in the 2024 to 2025 cycle found that 64% had a manager write a recommendation letter, and that 14.29% were admitted to an Ivy League or top 20 university, which Ladder reports as 1.66 times the general rate. Read the full admissions report.

How We Selected These Programs

Open to high school students now: Every program's own eligibility rules admit high school students today. When you check a program yourself, read the enrollment requirement rather than the age floor, since a program that says "16 and up" can still require college enrollment.

A dated, current cycle: Each program lists 2026 dates or a 2027 application window on its own site. A page that only says "typically in summer" doesn't show a program is still running.

Actual research in a STEM field: You work on a research project in science, technology, engineering, math or medicine under a mentor, rather than taking a course or attending a camp. For more options, Pathways to Science keeps a searchable database of funded STEM programs, filterable for high school students.

Section	Top programs	Cost	Best for
Top University STEM Research Programs	RSI, Simons Summer Research Program, SSTP	Free to $7,500	Strong students who want a research summer in any science
Biology and Life Science Research Programs	Broad Summer Scholars, Janelia, Rockefeller SSRP	Free to a $4,800 stipend	Students who want lab research in genetics, neuroscience or microbiology
Physics and Computer Science Research Programs	Summer Science Program, Fermilab PRISM, SEAP	Free to $11,800 before aid	Future physicists and data scientists, especially U.S. citizens
Medical and Biomedical Research Internships	SIMR, NIH Summer Internship Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering	Free to a $7,200 stipend	Future doctors and biomedical researchers

Top University STEM Research Programs

These university programs place you in a faculty lab, and several accept students from anywhere in the country, which makes them among the most selective. Our guide on how to get into a competitive internship covers how to stand out.

1. Research Science Institute (RSI)

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts; open to U.S. and international students
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: The 2026 session ran June 28 to August 8, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was December 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET; the 2027 deadline hasn't been announced.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed about three years of high school, usually applying midway through junior year; high school seniors aren't eligible

The Research Science Institute is a summer research program run by the Center for Excellence in Education together with MIT. You spend about six weeks on MIT's campus working on a science, math or engineering research project. The program is free to attend, so cost won't hold you back, but the competition will, since it draws top high school students from the U.S. and abroad. Plan ahead: the last deadline fell on December 10, months before most summer programs close, so you need your application ready in the fall of your junior year.

Who it's best for: Juniors with a strong research record who can meet an early December deadline and want a free summer of research at MIT.

2. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: George Mason University campuses in Virginia (Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, Potomac Science Center at the Woodbridge Campus, or Fairfax Campus), with remote options
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 tuition for 3 undergraduate credits plus a $25 application fee; both can be waived with financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 22 to August 12, 2026, after a June 18 orientation.
Application deadline: The 2026 application closed February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.; it opened December 8, 2025, so watch for the 2027 application in December 2026.
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students; at least 15 for remote projects and 16 for wet-lab projects by June 18, 2026

ASSIP is an 8-week summer research internship where you work with faculty in George Mason University's College of Science. You can join a project in person at one of three Virginia campuses or work remotely, which opens it to applicants far from the region. Undergraduates apply too, so you'll be working alongside college students. The age rules shape your options: you need to be 15 for a remote spot and 16 for wet-lab work, and there is housing only for students 18 and older, so most high schoolers either commute or go remote. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: Students 16 or older near Northern Virginia who want faculty-led wet-lab research, or students elsewhere who are at least 15 and fine with a remote project.

3. Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
Cost/Stipend: Not published; ask the program office about any cost or stipend before you apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Under 5% acceptance; highly selective
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 29 to August 7, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: For 2026, school nominations were due January 30, 2026, applications February 5, 2026, and teacher recommendations February 13, 2026; check the program site for 2027 deadlines.
Eligibility: Students in 11th grade when applying who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 by the program start

The Simons Summer Research Program places high school juniors in science, math and engineering research at Stony Brook University. You spend the summer working on a research project at the university, from late June to early August. Before you can apply at all, your school must nominate you, and in 2026 that nomination was due nearly a week before the application itself, so talk to your counselor early. With acceptance under 5 percent and a citizenship or permanent residency requirement, the applicant pool is narrow and the competition is steep.

Who it's best for: U.S. citizen or permanent resident juniors whose high school will nominate them for a highly selective research summer at Stony Brook.

4. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Cost/Stipend: Not published; ask the program about any stipend or housing support before you apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 participants each summer
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 21 to August 6, 2026.
Application deadline: Watch the Clark Scholars application page for the 2027 deadline.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates

The Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. You work on a research project in one of many disciplines, including the sciences and engineering, so you choose a STEM placement rather than being placed in one by default. Weekly seminars, discussions and field trips round out the research. The program takes just 12 scholars each summer, so every spot is hard to win. Recent graduates are eligible too, so you can still apply in the summer after senior year.

Who it's best for: Highly qualified rising seniors or new graduates who want a tiny, seven-week research cohort in Texas.

5. Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) at the University of Iowa

Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Cost/Stipend: $7,500, covering room, board, materials, scheduled activities and 3 semester hours of credit; financial aid can cover up to 95%
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is highly selective and by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs June 16 to July 23, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications open December 15, 2026 at 5 p.m. CST and close February 16, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. CST, with decisions on April 1, 2027.
Eligibility: Advanced high school students in grades 10 and 11; international students accepted if they meet visa and English requirements

SSTP is an intensive summer research program run by the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa. You spend about five and a half weeks doing research in a university lab, and you earn 3 semester hours of undergraduate credit for it. The $7,500 price covers room and board, and aid of up to 95% could bring it down to about $375 if you qualify. It also accepts 10th graders, so you can apply a year earlier than many research programs allow.

Who it's best for: Advanced sophomores or juniors, including international students, who want university lab research plus college credit.

6. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus (residential)
Cost/Stipend: No cost beyond transportation to and from campus; housing, meals and a monetary award are provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran six weeks, from move-in on June 14 to a final symposium on July 31, 2026.
Application deadline: Applications for summer 2026 are closed; check the program site for the 2027 application window.
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin

The Grainger College of Engineering's Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering office runs this six-week residential research program, with tracks called SpHERES Young Scholars and GEnYuS. You spend 30 to 35 hours a week on research and professional development, with projects in areas such as cancer immunology, neuroscience, AI, physics and bioengineering. Mentors range from faculty and postdocs to graduate, medical and undergraduate students, and you finish by presenting a research poster at the final symposium. Housing and meals are covered and you receive a monetary award, but the program is open only to students from seven Midwest states.

Who it's best for: Midwest sophomores, juniors and seniors who want a free, live-in research summer at a major engineering school.

7. Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) program

Location: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (residential or commuter)
Cost/Stipend: Not published; check for cost details when 2027 applications open on December 17, 2026
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs June 27 to August 6, 2027 for residential students and June 28 to August 6, 2027 for commuters; these dates can still change.
Application deadline: Applications for summer 2027 open December 17, 2026; check the RISE page then for the 2027 deadline.
Eligibility: Domestic (U.S.) students currently in their junior year of high school

RISE is a six-week summer program at Boston University for juniors who want to do lab research in science and engineering. It runs as two tracks: the Internship puts you on a faculty-mentored research project for 40 hours a week, while the Practicum pairs a two-hour lecture each morning with four hours of group research in the afternoon. You can live on campus or commute, which makes it a practical option for Boston-area students. The program is open only to domestic students, so international applicants should look elsewhere.

Who it's best for: U.S. juniors who want six weeks of science or engineering lab work in Boston, either living on campus or commuting.

8. Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton University

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Free; there are no fees to participate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; the program has drawn over 3,000 applications a year in its recent active years
Dates: Most placements run 5 to 6 weeks over the summer during normal business hours; all 2026 spots are filled.
Application deadline: The 2027 application opens February 15, 2027; the 2026 window ran February 15 to March 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in a local New Jersey high school, with no exceptions, who are at least 16 by June 15

Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program places high school students in university labs for research in the natural sciences and engineering. Internships typically last 5 to 6 weeks over the summer, and there are no fees to take part. The catch is the eligibility rule: the program is open only to New Jersey high school students who are U.S. citizens, with no exceptions. If you qualify, have your materials ready for February 15, 2027, since the program draws over 3,000 applications a year and the 2026 window lasted only one month. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: U.S. citizens at local New Jersey high schools who want free summer lab research at Princeton.

9. Scholar Immersion Program (SIP) at UC Santa Cruz

Location: UC Santa Cruz, in person, with on-campus housing available
Cost/Stipend: Fee-based; 2027 tuition is announced by December 2026, the application fee is $68, and need-based aid covers 25% to 100% of tuition and fees for students who qualify
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: SIP 2027 starts online June 14 to June 17, 2027, then runs in person June 21 to August 6, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications open January 15, 2027 and close February 26, 2027, at 12:00 noon PST; references are due March 5, 2027.
Eligibility: Ages 14 to 17 for the full program; students who will have graduated high school by the summer are generally not eligible

UC Santa Cruz's Scholar Immersion Program, formerly called the Science Internship Program, pairs high school students with university researchers for a summer of science research mentorship. You start with a short online week, then spend nearly seven weeks in person on campus, with housing available if you live too far to commute. The age rule is strict: you must be 14 to 17 for the whole program, so a senior who turns 18 in July won't qualify. Need-based scholarships cover 25% to 100% of tuition and fees for students who qualify.

Who it's best for: Students aged 14 to 17 who want a long, mentored research summer in California with the option to live on campus.

Biology and Life Science Research Programs

These place you in research institutes working on genomics, neuroscience, microbiology and the chemical senses. Our roundup of summer biology research programs has more options.

10. Broad Summer Scholars Program

Location: Broad Institute, 415 Main St., Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost to apply or attend; scholars receive a $3,600 stipend plus partial transportation reimbursement
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 scholars in each of the 2025 and 2026 cohorts
Dates: The 2026 program ran June 29 to August 7, 2026 (six weeks).
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was January 21, 2026, with decisions sent March 20, 2026; the 2027 deadline hasn't been announced.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (you apply during junior year) at a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance of the Broad, with a B or better in science and math; U.S. citizens, permanent residents or work-authorized students only

The Broad Summer Scholars Program brings a small group of Massachusetts high schoolers into the Broad Institute in Cambridge for six weeks of genomics and biomedical research. You apply in the winter of junior year and spend the summer before senior year working in a Broad lab. It costs nothing to attend, and the $3,600 stipend comes to about $600 a week, with some help on commuting costs. With only 18 scholars a year, it is very selective, and you must attend a school within commuting distance of the Broad.

Who it's best for: Massachusetts juniors with strong science and math grades who can commute to Cambridge and want a paid genomics research summer.

11. Janelia-Loudoun County Resident Summer Internship Program

Location: Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; ask Janelia about the pay rate before you apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: A small number of local high school students each summer
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 22 to August 7, 2026, full time for seven weeks at 40 hours per week.
Application deadline: For the 2026 cycle, applications opened December 2, 2025, student applications were due January 14, 2026, and teacher recommendations were due January 21, 2026.
Eligibility: Loudoun County Public Schools students or Loudoun County residents who are 16 or older at the time of the internship; Python or Matlab programming experience required

This paid internship places a few local teenagers inside the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, where you spend the summer on computational neuroscience projects such as machine learning, reconstruction of neural networks, animal behavior analysis and computer vision. You need experience programming in Python or Matlab, so this suits coders more than bench scientists. It runs full time, 40 hours a week for seven weeks, which adds up to roughly 280 hours of research. The catch is geography: it is open only to Loudoun County students or residents. Plan early, since the application opens in early December, closes in mid-January, and needs a teacher recommendation a week after your own deadline.

Who it's best for: Loudoun County, Virginia students aged 16 and up who already code in Python or Matlab and can commit to a full-time research summer.

12. Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM)

Location: JBEI in Emeryville, California; the prep week is virtual.
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application.
Dates: Summer 2026 ran a virtual prep week from June 8 to 12, 2026, then in-person research from June 20 to August 1, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: 2026 applications are closed, and details for the 2027 program come out later in 2026.
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who live in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Francisco County, are 16 by June 15, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, have passed Algebra 1 and Biology, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and meet family income limits (for a family of four, under $120,800 in Alameda or Contra Costa County or under $156,650 in San Francisco).

iCLEM is a paid summer microbiology program at JBEI, a Department of Energy bioenergy research center led by Berkeley Lab. You begin with a virtual prep week in early June, then spend six weeks in the Emeryville lab doing microbiology and bioenergy research. The $3,000 stipend works out to about $500 per week of lab time. What sets it apart is that it is built for students from families under set income limits, so check the cap for your county along with the GPA, course and citizenship rules before you apply.

Who it's best for: Bay Area sophomores and juniors from families under the income cap who want a paid microbiology lab summer close to home.

13. Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars Program at the Salk Institute

Location: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; ask Salk about the pay rate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs Monday, June 14 to Friday, August 6, 2027 (eight weeks).
Application deadline: Applications open Tuesday, December 1, 2026 and close Monday, February 15, 2027.
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who completed their most recent semester at a San Diego County high school, are at least 16 by June 14, 2027, have a GPA of 2.75 or higher and have taken at least one high school biology course

The Heithoff-Brody program is an eight-week paid internship that puts San Diego County high schoolers side by side with Salk scientists on research projects. You commit 30 to 40 hours a week to lab work under expert mentors, along with seminars, career workshops and biotech industry site visits. The summer closes with a research symposium where interns present their findings. The 2.75 GPA minimum is lower than at many research institutes, but you must live in and attend school in San Diego County.

Who it's best for: San Diego County students 16 and older who want a paid summer of biology research at the Salk Institute.

14. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL (Palm Beach County)
Cost/Stipend: $14 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Seven interns chosen from 167 applicants in 2025, about 4%
Dates: Usually six weeks in summer, full time at 40 hours a week; the most recent session ran in summer 2026.
Application deadline: Applications for 2026 are closed; the 2027 window hasn't been announced.
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors at Palm Beach or Martin County high schools who live in those counties, are 16 or older by the start date and have U.S. work authorization

MPFI's high school internship has run for more than a decade and places a handful of local students in neuroscience labs in Jupiter for a full-time summer. You work 40 hours a week for six weeks, and at $14 an hour that comes to about $3,360 before taxes. Getting in is the hard part: the 2025 cohort took seven interns from 167 applicants. You also need to live in and attend school in Palm Beach or Martin County, be 16 by the start date and be authorized to work in the U.S.

Who it's best for: Palm Beach and Martin County rising juniors and seniors who want an hourly-paid neuroscience lab job and can handle a highly selective process.

15. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) at The Rockefeller University

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free, with no application fee; students get an OMNY card for NYC public transit, and need-based stipends are possible
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students accepted each summer
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 22 to August 6, 2026, full time at about 35 hours a week.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was January 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with recommendation letters due January 5, 2026.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors aged 16 or older at the program start

SSRP is Rockefeller University's summer research program, run through its RockEDU outreach office in Manhattan. Over seven weeks you join a lab and carry out biomedical research alongside working scientists. The program is free to attend, covers your subway and bus fare with an OMNY card, and may award a need-based stipend to students facing financial hardship. Each summer 32 students are accepted, and you can come from outside New York as long as you arrange your own housing in the city. Mark your calendar early, since the last deadline fell on January 2, right after winter break.

Who it's best for: Juniors and seniors from any state who can spend seven weeks in New York City doing biomedical lab research.

16. Summer Focus at Washington University in St. Louis

Location: Washington University in St. Louis
Cost/Stipend: $4,800 stipend (pre-tax).
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Summer Focus accepts 15 to 18 students each year.
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 1 to July 24, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: The most recent deadline was Monday, January 26, 2026; plan for a late January deadline in 2027.
Eligibility: 11th graders at any high school in the Greater St. Louis area, on either the Missouri or Illinois side

Summer Focus is the paid summer research internship of WashU's Young Scientist Program. Over eight weeks you work on a biomedical or science research project at Washington University in St. Louis. The $4,800 pre-tax stipend works out to about $600 a week. Only 15 to 18 students get in each year, and you apply during 11th grade from a Greater St. Louis high school, on either the Missouri or Illinois side.

Who it's best for: St. Louis area juniors, in Missouri or Illinois, who want a well-paid eight-week research internship at a major university.

Physics and Computer Science Research Programs

National physics labs, federal research labs and university computing centers run these, and most federal ones require U.S. citizenship. For coding-focused programs, see our guide to computer science programs for high school students.

17. Summer Science Program (SSP)

Location: 13 host campuses in summer 2026, including Indiana University, Purdue University, Lehigh University and the University of Guelph (residential)
Cost/Stipend: $11,800 program fee for 2026, with need-based aid that makes the program free for lower-income families, plus $3,000 lost-wages stipends; applying is free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 700 participants admitted in 2026, in groups of 36 at each site
Dates: The 2026 programs began in mid to late June 2026 and ran five weeks.
Application deadline: For 2026, applications opened December 31, 2025 and closed February 19, 2026 for U.S. applicants and January 29, 2026 for international applicants.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are at least 15 but not yet 19 during the program; freshmen, sophomores and seniors aren't eligible, and international students can apply

The Summer Science Program is a five-week residential research program run by the nonprofit SSP International, with tracks in astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics and cell biology. You work in a team with about 35 other students on a real research problem and share your findings at the end, with guest lectures and field trips along the way. The $11,800 fee is reduced or waived through need-based aid, and $3,000 lost-wages stipends help students who would otherwise spend the summer working. Only juniors can apply, and about 700 were admitted in 2026.

Who it's best for: Juniors anywhere who want a team research project in astrophysics or biochemistry, with aid that can cover the full cost.

18. SURATech/Jefferson Lab High School Summer Honors Program

Location: Jefferson Lab, Newport News, VA
Cost/Stipend: Not published; ask the program about pay before applying
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 22 to July 31, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was April 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET; the summer 2027 application goes live soon.
Eligibility: Attend a high school within 60 miles of Jefferson Lab, at least 16 by the start date, good standing, GPA of 3.5 or higher; dependents of Jefferson Lab employees are ineligible

Jefferson Lab's honors program, now run under the SURATech name, gives local high school students six weeks of research with scientists at a Department of Energy national lab. The program is limited to schools within 60 miles of Newport News, so it's built for students in that corner of Virginia. You'll also need a 3.5 GPA or higher and must be 16 by the start date, and children of lab employees can't apply. Expect a full-time commitment of six 40-hour weeks, and watch for the summer 2027 application, which opens soon.

Who it's best for: Students at high schools within 60 miles of Newport News who carry at least a 3.5 GPA and want summer research at a physics lab.

19. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)

Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL (mix of on-site and off-site work)
Cost/Stipend: $500 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs July 12 to August 6, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications open January 12, 2027 and close March 1, 2027.
Eligibility: Rising high school senior for the 2027 to 2028 school year or a 2027 graduate, U.S. citizen, enrolled at an Illinois high school, proof of medical insurance

PRISM is Fermilab's four-week summer program in research, innovation and STEM mentorship at the Department of Energy's physics lab in Batavia. You work with lab mentors on research, splitting your schedule between on-site and off-site days. At $500 a week for four weeks, you'll earn about $2,000 for the summer. The program is open only to U.S. citizens enrolled at Illinois high schools, and the 2027 cohort is for rising seniors and 2027 graduates, so you apply during junior year.

Who it's best for: Illinois high school juniors who are U.S. citizens and want a short, paid summer at a national physics lab.

20. High School Research Program (HSRP) at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Location: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY (commuter program; housing and transportation not provided)
Cost/Stipend: Not published; you cover your own daily commute
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran July 6 to August 14, 2026, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Application deadline: The 2026 application opened January 12, 2026 and closed March 20, 2026 at 5 p.m.; watch for the 2027 application in early 2027.
Eligibility: Recommended for students who have completed 11th grade, at least 16 by program start, U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, active health insurance

Brookhaven's HSRP puts high school students on research supporting the Department of Energy's work in energy, environmental and nuclear science. The six-week summer session is recommended for students who have finished junior year, and you must be 16 by the first day. It's a commuter program on Long Island, with no housing or transportation and no vacation days, so it realistically serves students who can reach Upton every weekday. Lawful permanent residents are eligible alongside citizens, and you'll need two recommendation letters and proof of active health insurance.

Who it's best for: Rising seniors within commuting distance of Long Island, including green card holders, who want research at a DOE lab.

21. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)

Location: NIST Gaithersburg, MD and NIST Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; you apply through a USAJobs vacancy announcement.
Dates: Usually mid-June to early August for seven weeks; the 2026 program closed with a poster session on August 6, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2027 vacancy is expected to open on USAJobs in mid-October 2026, with applications due at the end of January 2027.
Eligibility: U.S. citizen, high school junior or senior at application, minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA, permanent residence within 50 miles of the host campus

SHIP is the National Institute of Standards and Technology's summer research internship, where high school juniors and seniors spend seven weeks in NIST science and engineering labs. The program runs each year from mid-June to early August and includes a poster session where interns present their work. The catch is geography: you must live within 50 miles of the Gaithersburg or Boulder campus, so it's effectively a program for students near those two cities. The internship is unpaid, and you apply through a USAJobs vacancy announcement rather than a typical program form.

Who it's best for: Juniors and seniors with a 3.0 unweighted GPA who live near Gaithersburg or Boulder and can take an unpaid seven-week research spot.

22. ASPIRE at Johns Hopkins APL

Location: Johns Hopkins APL, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Fewer than 10% of new applicants are accepted.
Dates: Usually June 23 to August 21, starting with in-person onboarding June 23 to 25; an optional academic-year session begins September 15.
Application deadline: Applications usually open January 1 and close February 15 at 11:59 p.m., with recommendations due March 1; the summer 2026 application is closed.
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors, 15 or older by June 1, minimum 2.8 GPA, U.S. citizen, permanent residence in listed Maryland counties, Alexandria, Arlington or Fairfax, VA, or Washington, D.C.

ASPIRE is the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory's summer STEM internship for high school juniors and seniors, based at APL in Laurel. You work on projects inside a large research center for 30 to 40 hours a week, and you can opt to continue into the school year. APL isn't reachable by public transit, so you need a reliable ride every day. With an acceptance rate under 10% for new students, it's one of the most selective internships for high schoolers in the region. Eligibility is tight too: you must be a U.S. citizen, since green card holders aren't eligible, and live in specific Maryland counties, Northern Virginia areas or D.C.

Who it's best for: U.S. citizens in the D.C. region with at least a 2.8 GPA who are ready to compete for a highly selective, unpaid internship.

23. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Location: 38 Navy laboratories nationwide
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 300 placements across 38 labs; admission is competitive
Dates: Summer 2027 apprenticeships last eight weeks, with a possible extension of up to two more weeks.
Application deadline: Applications for 2027 opened September 15, 2026 and close November 30, 2026.
Eligibility: Completed at least grade 9, 16 or older by the internship start, U.S. citizen

SEAP is the Navy's summer research apprenticeship for high school students, with placements at 38 Navy science and engineering labs across the country. You spend the summer as an apprentice on research at one lab, working with the scientists and engineers there. The $4,000 stipend for eight weeks comes to about $500 a week, and returning apprentices earn $4,500. Citizenship is required, though some labs also accept permanent residents or dual citizens, so check your preferred lab's rules before the November 30, 2026 deadline. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: U.S. citizens who have finished ninth grade and want a paid summer research apprenticeship at a Navy lab, with sites spread across many states.

24. Veritas AI Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program

The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more. This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.

Who it's best for: A student who wouldn’t be able to commute to an actual lab, and would rather have a one on one mentorship experience guiding them through the process

25. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote, fully online
Cost/Stipend: $3,190 for the basic startup internship program, paid in two installments starting with a $200 deposit; full and partial financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% for the Summer 2023 cohort, with 700 applicants for 70 spots
Dates: Four 8-week cohorts a year (spring, summer, fall and winter); the next winter cohort starts December 7, 2026
Application deadline: November 15, 2026 for the winter cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can commit about 5 to 10 hours a week; a separate program serves university and gap year students

Ladder Internships was founded by Harvard entrepreneurs and places high school students with startups for an 8-week remote project, in fields that include machine learning and AI, software engineering, health tech, environmental science, and tech and deep tech. Ladder suggests a project based on each applicant's interests and interview, and the student has the final say on the match. The internship follows a set timeline: you define the project with a company coach in week one, present a first deliverable to the company in week four, and present the finished project in week eight. Interns leave with a letter of completion from the host company, and students from families earning $50,000 or less a year can apply for full or partial financial aid.

Who it's best for: A student who can't reach a research lab in person and wants a remote, mentored project with a startup in AI, software or health tech.

26. DSI Summer Lab at the University of Chicago

Location: University of Chicago, 5460 S. University Ave., Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: Paid; ask the program about the stipend amount before you apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 15 to August 7, 2026 (eight weeks).
Application deadline: The 2027 application opens in fall 2026, so apply as soon as it goes live.
Eligibility: Undergraduates and Chicago-area high school students who live in the Chicago area year-round

DSI Summer Lab is a paid, eight-week data science research program at the University of Chicago that brings in high school students alongside undergraduates. You spend the summer on a research project, and while some project areas reach into social science and public policy, the core work is data science. The high school track is limited to year-round Chicago-area residents, so students who only spend summers in the city don't qualify. Plan for a full summer commitment, since the 2026 session ran from mid-June to early August.

Who it's best for: Chicago-area high schoolers who want paid data science research experience next to college students without leaving home.

27. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program

Location: NIH main campus, Bethesda, Maryland
Cost/Stipend: Paid through an NIH Intramural Research Training Award stipend, set by education and experience and updated each year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Starts in June and runs 8 to 12 weeks; the 2026 program began in June 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 application ran December 8, 2025 to February 18, 2026 at noon ET, with rolling review from January 15, 2026; the 2027 window hasn't been announced.
Eligibility: High school seniors enrolled at least half-time (or college and professional students); 18 or older, or 17 if living within 40 miles of an NIH campus by June 1, 2026; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; 3.0 GPA preferred

The NLM Data Science and Informatics Scholars Program is a summer research internship run by the National Library of Medicine on the main NIH campus in Bethesda. You do computational and data science research applied to biomedicine, and you're paid through an NIH Intramural Research Training Award stipend. The program runs 8 to 12 weeks starting in June, and on the high school side, only high school seniors qualify. Check the age rule closely: you must be 18, or 17 if you live within 40 miles of an NIH campus, and you need U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

Who it's best for: Seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, ideally with a 3.0 GPA or higher, and want paid biomedical data science research at NIH.

28. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford

Location: Stanford University, in person (housing not provided)
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; $95 nonrefundable application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application, and space is limited
Dates: The next program runs 8 weeks in summer 2027; dates will be announced in fall 2026.
Application deadline: Applications are expected to open in December 2026, with decisions at the end of March or early April 2027.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors in the 2026 to 2027 school year, at least 14 by June 20, 2027; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only

SHTEM is Stanford's eight-week summer research internship for high schoolers, with interdisciplinary projects spanning information theory, engineering and data science. You work in person at Stanford on a research project over the summer. The internship is unpaid, with a $95 application fee, and housing isn't provided, so it works best for students who can live at home near campus or arrange their own housing. If giving up summer work would strain your family's finances, say so in your application. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are juniors or seniors during the 2026 to 2027 school year can apply. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: Juniors and seniors who can commute to Stanford or arrange their own housing, and who don't need a paycheck for the summer.

Medical and Biomedical Research Internships

Hospitals, cancer centers, NIH and medical schools run these, and most pay a stipend for a full summer in a lab. For more in one field, see our list of cancer research programs for high school students.

29. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

Location: Stanford, California
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; a very limited number of need-based stipends are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs June 7 to July 29, 2027 (eight weeks).
Application deadline: Applications open December 18, 2026 and are due in late February 2027.
Eligibility: Juniors or seniors as of fall 2026 (class of 2027 or 2028) who are 16 or older by June 2027, live in and attend high school in the U.S., and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

SIMR is Stanford's eight-week summer research program in biomedical and medical science for high school juniors and seniors. You join a Stanford research group for the summer and spend those weeks on biomedical and medical research. There's no cost to attend, but stipends are rare and go to a small number of students with financial need. Selection heavily favors local Bay Area students, so applicants from farther away face longer odds. The program is open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents living and studying in the U.S., and you must be 16 by June 2027. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: Bay Area juniors and seniors who want an eight-week research placement at Stanford Medicine and can attend without a stipend.

30. STaRS Internship Program at Stanford

Location: Stanford, California, in person (no on-campus housing)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, with no cost to participate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 15 to August 7, 2026, Monday to Friday from 9 to 5 for eight weeks.
Application deadline: 2026 applications are closed; watch the STaRS apply page for the 2027 application window.
Eligibility: High school and community college students who are at least 16 and live in the U.S. or its territories; international applicants are not accepted.

Stanford's plastic and reconstructive surgery department runs STaRS, an eight-week research internship for high school and community college students. You work in a lab on plastic and reconstructive surgery and related biomedical science, Monday through Friday from 9 to 5, and you don't need prior lab experience to apply. The program is fully funded, so there is no cost to take part. It is open nationally, but there is no on-campus housing, so out-of-area students need a local place to stay and their own way to the lab. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: Students 16 and older anywhere in the U.S. who have Bay Area housing and want free, full-time surgical research experience at Stanford.

31. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Location: NIH campuses, including Bethesda, MD
Cost/Stipend: Paid; stipends are adjusted each year based on educational level.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application.
Dates: The SIP 2027 internship window runs May 10 to August 31, 2027.
Application deadline: The SIP 2027 application opens October 13, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET and closes January 26, 2027 at noon ET.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are high school seniors enrolled at least half-time when applying, graduate before the internship starts and are 18 by September 30, 2027; 17-year-olds qualify only if they live within 40 miles of an NIH campus.

The NIH Summer Internship Program places students in biomedical research labs across NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda. The high school track is now part of the unified SIP, which means it is open only to graduating seniors, not sophomores or juniors. You apply during senior year and do your research the summer after you graduate. Stipends scale with your education level. The 2027 application opens October 13, 2026, so seniors should line up materials now and keep the January 26, 2027 deadline in view.

Who it's best for: Graduating seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and want a summer in an NIH biomedical lab the summer after graduation.

32. Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program at Northwestern University

Location: Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, 303 E. Superior St., Chicago, Illinois; interns arrange their own housing and transportation
Cost/Stipend: Competitive stipend; no application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: High school interns worked June 22 to July 31, 2026, full time from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Application deadline: Applications for summer 2027 open in early January 2027.
Eligibility: High school juniors at the time of application who are at least 16 by May 31 of the program year; students from anywhere in the country can apply

Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine runs this full-time summer program in basic and clinical lung disease research. You're paired with a Northwestern faculty mentor and spend six weeks in the lab at 40 hours a week, with career workshops, research article discussions and time shadowing clinicians. The summer ends with a poster at the annual Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium. The program welcomes applicants from all over the country, but you need your own housing in Chicago, and the application asks for a CV, transcripts and two recommendation letters.

Who it's best for: Juniors anywhere in the U.S. who can arrange Chicago housing and want a paid, mentored summer in lung disease research.

33. Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering

Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, New York (housing not provided)
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 stipend for the summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 interns per summer from 1,000+ applications; 2% acceptance rate
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 29 to August 21, 2026 (eight weeks).
Application deadline: The 2026 cycle opened December 1, 2025 and closed February 6, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. EST; watch for the 2027 application around December 2026.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with a 3.5 GPA in science, at least 14 by June of the program year, who live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut within 25 miles of MSK's Main Campus.

Memorial Sloan Kettering's Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program runs this eight-week summer internship in cancer biology lab research. You spend the summer in an MSK lab in Manhattan, and the $1,200 stipend works out to about $150 a week. Housing is not provided, which is why applicants must live within 25 miles of the Main Campus. With 20 spots and a 2% acceptance rate, it is extremely selective, so apply as soon as the window opens.

Who it's best for: Juniors living within 25 miles of MSK with a 3.5 science GPA who want a highly selective summer in a cancer biology lab.

34. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope

Location: City of Hope, Duarte, California
Cost/Stipend: $4,500 stipend paid at the completion of the 10 weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs June 1 to August 6, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications open November 1, 2026 and close February 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Eligibility: High school or undergraduate students who are at least 16 before June 1, 2027 and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

City of Hope runs this 10-week, full-time summer research program in biomedical science at its Duarte campus. The academy accepts both high school and undergraduate students, and you earn a $4,500 stipend once you complete the full 10 weeks. That comes to about $450 a week, paid at the end rather than in installments. Check the citizenship rule and the June 1 age cutoff before you apply, since both are strict.

Who it's best for: U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are 16 by June and want a full 10-week, paid research summer at a major cancer center.

35. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Cost/Stipend: $7,200 stipend for the 10-week program ($6,480 for nine weeks)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 6 students
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 1 to August 7, 2026; 2027 program details come out in October 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 cycle opened November 17, 2025 and closed January 14, 2026; the 2027 timeline comes out in October 2026.
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who will be 18 and graduated before the program begins; U.S. citizens, permanent residents or students with a work-eligible visa.

MD Anderson Cancer Center hosts this 10-week paid research program in biomedical and cancer science, funded by the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation. You apply as a senior and take part the summer after you graduate, working in cancer research at MD Anderson in Houston. The $7,200 stipend works out to about $720 a week, and preference goes to students planning a career in an allied health field. With up to 6 students each year, spots are very limited, and you must be 18 by the start date.

Who it's best for: Texas seniors who turn 18 before June and want a well-paid, full summer of cancer research before starting college.

36. researcHStart

Location: UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and participating institutions, Chicago
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 taxable stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No more than 30 participants are selected across all participating institutions.
Dates: The 2027 cohort runs June 14 to August 6, 2027, at 35 to 40 hours a week.
Application deadline: January 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. CT, including the application and two recommendations; applications are open now.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who live in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana, and are at least 16 at the program start.

researcHStart is an eight-week paid research program led by the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center with partner institutions in Chicago. You work 35 to 40 hours a week on cancer research in areas such as immunology, bioengineering and therapeutics. The $4,000 stipend comes to about $500 a week before taxes. Your application needs two recommendations by January 11, so ask your teachers well before winter break.

Who it's best for: Illinois juniors and seniors, not just Chicago-area ones, who want a full-time, paid summer in cancer research labs.

37. CHOP Research Internship for Scholars and Emerging Scientists (CHOP-RISES)

Location: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104
Cost/Stipend: Stipends plus subsidies for travel and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran Monday, June 29 to Thursday, August 6, 2026 (six weeks); RISES II runs eight weeks for rising seniors.
Application deadline: Applications are closed; the Summer 2027 application opens in February 2027.
Eligibility: Rising juniors at public or charter schools in the City of Philadelphia who are 16 and legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia runs CHOP-RISES as a paid research internship in pediatric biomedical science. You spend six weeks at CHOP's research campus, and the program covers a stipend plus help with travel and meals. A second stage, RISES II, offers eight weeks for rising seniors. The program is open only to Philadelphia public or charter school students, so private school and suburban students should look elsewhere. Priority goes to applicants from West Philadelphia and from schools with a history of partnering with the program.

Who it's best for: Philadelphia public and charter school rising juniors who want paid research experience in children's medicine.

38. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) at Fred Hutch

Location: Fred Hutch campus, South Lake Union neighborhood, Seattle
Cost/Stipend: Financial award for interns who complete the internship, with details shared with interview candidates, plus a free ORCA transit card
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: The 2026 program ran June 22 to August 14, 2026, up to 40 hours a week.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was March 13, 2026; details on the 2027 program arrive in November 2026.
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year who live in Greater Seattle or surrounding areas and are 16 or older by the program start; international and out-of-state students aren't eligible

Fred Hutch runs SHIP as an eight-week research internship in biomedical and cancer science at its South Lake Union campus. You work up to 40 hours a week, and you receive a financial award when you complete the program, along with a free ORCA card for getting around. The program is designed for students without extensive research experience, so a strong interest matters more than a long lab record. You need to be available for all eight weeks in Seattle, so plan your summer around it. Watch for the 2027 details in November 2026.

Who it's best for: Seattle-area rising seniors who have never done formal research and want a full summer in a cancer research lab.

39. High School Intern Program (HIP) at UCSF

Location: UCSF, San Francisco
Cost/Stipend: $4,500, paid on full completion of the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 25 positions, with around 50 students interviewed each year
Dates: Eight weeks in summer at 35 hours a week; the most recent cycle ran in summer 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was February 8, 2026; fill out the interest form to hear when the 2027 application opens.
Eligibility: Current juniors attending an SFUSD school or a San Francisco charter school

UCSF's Science & Health Education Partnership runs HIP, matching San Francisco juniors with a scientist mentor for a summer of original research. Projects cover areas such as infectious disease, neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, cancer, stem cells and developmental biology. Alongside the lab work you get science communication training and college counseling, including resume and personal statement workshops, financial aid events and college tours. Interns earn $4,500 on completing the program, and with about 25 spots for the roughly 50 students interviewed, the interview matters as much as the written application.

Who it's best for: San Francisco public and charter school juniors who want a paid research summer with college guidance built in.

40. High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Location: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee (on site)
Cost/Stipend: $4,800 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application with a teacher recommendation
Dates: The 2027 program runs June 1 to July 24, 2027, on a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday.
Application deadline: The 2027 application is open now and closes Friday, December 4, 2026.
Eligibility: Current juniors at high schools in the Memphis-Shelby County area or nearby counties in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas who are at least 16, have a 3.0 GPA or higher and are U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals or permanent residents

St. Jude's High School Research Immersion Program is an eight-week summer research program at the Memphis children's research hospital. You work in a pair with a research mentor on a research project during a full 9-to-5 workday, and you also do reflective work with an educator on your identity as a scientist. The summer ends with a community exhibition where you present a scientific poster. Students earn a $4,800 stipend, and the 2027 deadline of December 4, 2026 comes much earlier than most summer programs, so start your application now.

Who it's best for: Memphis-area juniors with a 3.0 GPA who want a paid research summer at St. Jude.

Commonly Asked Questions About STEM Research Programs for High School Students

1. How can you get research experience as a high schooler?

Apply to summer research programs at universities, hospitals and national labs near you, and email professors whose work interests you. Ladder Internships offers remote, mentored startup projects in AI and health tech if no lab is nearby.

2. What is the best summer research program?

RSI at MIT is often named the most selective, and it's free to attend. Stanford's SIMR, Stony Brook's Simons program and Iowa's SSTP are also highly regarded; the best fit depends on your field, your grade and where you can spend the summer.

3. Can a 16-year-old work at NASA?

Not through NASA's own internships, which now require college enrollment. At 16 you can apply to NASA-supported programs instead, such as the SEES Earth science internship at UT Austin for sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens.

4. What are some good high school research programs in New York?

Rockefeller University's SSRP and Memorial Sloan Kettering's Summer Student Program run in Manhattan, Stony Brook's Simons program is on Long Island, and Brookhaven's HSRP is in Upton. The New York Academy of Sciences also runs high school research programs.