12 Best Summer Science Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in science, consider participating in a summer science program. Summer programs allow you to run experiments, work in labs, and collaborate with researchers. These programs are a practical way to gain exposure to STEM careers. You’ll build skills and connect with faculty and industry professionals who can help guide your future academic and career paths.
Run by top colleges and research institutions, these programs help you explore fields such as biology, physics, and engineering while giving you a clearer sense of your future college and career goals. Participating in a selective summer science program can also strengthen your college applications by showing admissions officers you’ve been chosen for a nationally competitive opportunity. To help you find the best fit, we’ve rounded up the 12 best summer science programs for high school students.
1. Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors
The Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week online program for high school juniors and seniors who want to explore neuroscience in-depth. Through virtual lectures and interactive sessions, you’ll dive into core topics in brain science and related fields. You’ll also take part in career development sessions that introduce you to exciting STEM paths in neuroscience and research. Along the way, you’ll gain training in basic lab techniques and develop an understanding of how neurological research is conducted. When you complete the program, you’ll earn a certificate of completion from Johns Hopkins University.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter; Fall cohort: September 14
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Fall cohort: August 24
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective program that gives high school students the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working with fast-growing start-ups. You’ll work remotely with companies across diverse sectors, including technology, deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s partner start-ups are backed by Y Combinator and led by founders who have worked at top firms such as Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft. Throughout the internship, you’ll work closely with both your start-up manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach. You’ll take up meaningful projects, contribute real value, learn valuable lessons, and wrap up the internship with a final presentation to the company. You can explore current openings and apply directly through the application form.
3. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; waivers are available | None
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University offers high school students an opportunity to work with faculty mentors on cutting-edge research. You’ll gain practical experience with state-of-the-art technologies, while investigating fields such as neuroscience, bioengineering, nanoscience, cybersecurity, and climate science. You’ll develop practical skills in scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving, while also gaining insights into how scientists approach complex questions. What makes ASSIP special is the occasion to contribute to real discoveries – past students have researched renewable energy, robotics, infectious diseases, and even helped uncover new exoplanets. Some have gone on to publish their findings in scientific journals or present at professional conferences.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June); upcoming cohort: Fall on September 14
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort; Fall cohort: August 24
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school | Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research program created exclusively for high school students who want to experience what academic research is like. It offers individualized, one-on-one research opportunities in a broad range of academic subjects. Students are paired with Ph.D. mentors to design and carry out an independent research project. You can choose a wide range of research fields, including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. The program features workshops on research methods along with guidance for writing a full-length research paper. By the conclusion of the 12-week program, you will have produced a professional-level research paper. Application information can be found here.
5. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University gives high school students an opportunity to undertake hands-on research across science, math, or engineering. As a Simons Fellow, you’ll join a faculty-led research team, work with mentors, and take charge of your own independent project. Over the summer, you’ll develop lab skills, attend faculty lectures from Stony Brook professors, and experience life at a top research university. The program also features weekly workshops, campus tours, and special events to enhance your research journey. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work through a written abstract and a research poster. Click here to explore the available research fields.
6. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; $1,000 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: NYC high school students currently in 10th or 11th grade with strong academic performance
NYU’s ARISE program is a free, 10-week summer research opportunity that gives high school students an opportunity to work in NYU research labs, combining skill development with lab experience. The program starts with four weeks of safety instruction, research training workshops, and college-level writing practice. In the following six weeks, you’ll join one of 80+ NYU research labs, contributing to active projects led by faculty and researchers in fields such as science and engineering. Over the course of the summer, students complete around 120 hours of lab work, strengthen public speaking and interpersonal skills, and grow their professional connections. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your work to the NYU community, and it will be showcased at the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Students are placed within a 45-minute commute from their homes
Stipend: $3,000
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer with flexible start and end dates
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; 16 years old by internship start date
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid internship program for students interested in fisheries and aquatic sciences. As a Hutton Scholar, you’ll be matched with a professional mentor in your local area. Depending on your location, your work might include field studies, lab research, data analysis, or community outreach. You might find yourself doing electrofishing, water quality assessments, or restoring aquatic habitats. Along the way, you’ll gain practical skills, learn about careers in aquatic sciences, and contribute to environmental work. Scholars must submit biweekly timesheets, as well as a mid-program report and a final report.
8. NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors entering grade 11 or 12; have taken at least one high school biology course; Minimum (unweighted) GPA of 3.0
NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) is a 12-week asynchronous summer program that introduces high school students to the exciting world of space biology and bioinformatics. In this program, you’ll study genomics research and develop computational skills to analyze NASA datasets used by scientists studying how life adapts to space. Optional weekly office hours provide up to six hours of live teaching, Q&A support, and mentoring to deepen your understanding. Students who complete all the required coursework earn a digital certificate from NASA GeneLab. After the main program, you may take your experience even further by applying for the Capstone Project, where teams analyze real data, present findings at a summer symposium, and advance to a national competition.
9. Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 14 years old, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and are authorized to work in the U.S.; applicants must live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s main campus on the Upper East Side in Manhattan
The Memorial Sloan Kettering HOPP Summer Student Program is an eight-week internship for high school students with an interest in biomedical sciences and cancer research. As an intern, you’ll conduct your own independent project in one of MSK's research labs, working on projects that contribute to the fight against cancer. Each student is paired with a mentor who helps them build technical and research skills while introducing them to collaborative lab work. Students also join lab meetings, program activities, and community events to gain a well-rounded view of how scientists work together to make breakthroughs in cancer biology, immunology, computational biology, drug discovery, and related disciplines. The program also provides professional development opportunities to learn about careers in translational medicine, where lab discoveries are transformed into real treatment.
10. Bridge to Biostats Summer Program (B2BSP)
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY
Stipend: Stipend provided
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Rising sophomores to rising seniors, residing and attending school in New York City
The B2BSP is a six-week paid summer program that introduces New York City high school students to biostatistics and data science. In this program, you’ll learn the foundations of statistics and R programming by working on data projects. Through interactive “Statistical Thinking” sessions, you’ll strengthen data interpretation skills. With mentorship from professional biostatisticians, you’ll complete a cancer data analysis project and deliver a formal presentation at the end of the program. B2BSP also provides SAT preparation and college readiness workshops, giving you valuable tools for your academic and career journey.
11. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 + $40 application fee (full financial aid available for both application and program fees) | None
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade in the fall, over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program that introduces high school students to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. Through technical lectures, you’ll learn about the fundamentals of AI and machine learning, and see how these tools are transforming medical research and patient care. You’ll work in small research groups and receive daily mentorship from Stanford faculty and experts. The program also features guest sessions led by experts from academia, government, and industry, who will offer insights into new technologies and innovations in the medical field. You’ll also take part in career-focused “Lunch and Learn,” where professionals will share their advice regarding careers at the intersection of technology and healthcare. Following the core program, students have the option to pursue extended research opportunities. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded at the end of the program.
12. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500 + $95 application fee; financial aid available
Dates: Program 1: June 23 - July 4 | Program 2: July 14 - 25
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on the first day of the program
The Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship offers high school students an opportunity to experience what it is like to step into the world of cardiothoracic surgery. You’ll learn about cardiac and thoracic anatomy, physiology, and surgical conditions directly from Stanford faculty and surgical residents, through lectures and guided labs. You’ll also get training in key surgical techniques such as suturing, knot tying, dissection, valve replacement, and coronary artery bypass. The program also goes beyond the operating table, introducing you to ECG analysis, echocardiography, and imaging methods to enhance your clinical knowledge. You’ll also study porcine heart anatomy to examine cardiac structures in depth and see how surgeons prepare for real procedures.
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