14 Data Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
If you’re looking to move beyond theory in data science, research programs and internships in data science offer a great way to work on practical projects and use professional tools. Apart from studying equations or coding basics, you can clean and visualise datasets, build prediction models, or explore applications of machine learning in areas like healthcare or finance. These programs often involve tasks such as analysing climate trends, optimising marketing campaigns for start-ups, or designing algorithms for pattern recognition; experiences that bring data science concepts to life. We’ve selected 14 data science research opportunities for high school students, with virtual and hybrid options, giving you access to mentorship and collaborative projects from anywhere.
1. Girls Who Code Summer Programs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open; competitive spots for SIP.
Location: 100% virtual; open internationally.
Cost/Stipend: Free.
Dates: SIP: Two weeks | Pathways: Six weeks, self-paced.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application encouraged.
Eligibility: SIP: Current 9th–11th graders | Pathways: 9th–12th graders or recent graduates.
Girls Who Code offers two programs, including the Summer Immersion Program (SIP) and the Pathways program. Both programs teach coding fundamentals while giving you the chance to explore data science, web development, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. You can complete projects in languages like Python and JavaScript, build applications, and showcase your work. You will also receive mentorship from industry professionals who share insights about careers in tech. The programs include networking opportunities and access to a supportive alumni community that continues beyond the summer experience.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which 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.
3. DSI Summer Lab at the University of Chicago
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited; selective for high school students.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship.
Dates: June 16 – August 8.
Application Deadline: Applications open late fall.
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicago area; undergraduates also eligible.
The DSI Summer Lab at the University of Chicago is an eight-week, paid research opportunity for high school students. You will be matched with mentors in fields like computer science, public policy, biomedical research, and social sciences to work on data-driven projects. Expect to gain experience with real datasets, learning programming, statistical analysis, and research methodologies. No prior research experience is required, making the program accessible for motivated students interested in exploring data science.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Remote; available globally.
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies; financial aid available.
Dates: Cohorts start in Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (January, May, September, November).
Eligibility: High school students; recommended GPA of 3.3+; no prior research experience required.
Lumiere’s Research Scholar Program pairs high school students with PhD-level mentors for an individualized 12-week research experience. You can select a topic of interest from fields like data science, AI, economics, or computer science, then work with your mentor to design and execute an original research project. Each week, you will receive detailed guidance learning how to develop hypotheses, conduct literature reviews, analyze data, and write research papers. The program culminates in an independent research paper that will strengthen college applications and be submitted for publication or competitions. Lumiere offers an academic environment that mirrors university-level research, encouraging you to think critically and explore advanced topics.
5. Columbia University Summer Research Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective.
Location: Virtual; hosted by Columbia Data Science Institute.
Cost/Stipend: Paid program; scholarships available.
Dates: Five weeks in summer (dates TBA).
Application Deadline: Rolling; scholarship deadline: May 31.
Eligibility: 10th–12th graders or recent graduates; no prior STEM experience needed.
Columbia’s Summer Research Program provides a five-week program to explore data science applications across industries like medicine, sports analytics, and technology. You will receive training in coding (using R), data visualization, and research methodologies while working on collaborative projects guided by Columbia faculty and PhD mentors. The curriculum includes workshops on professional development, helping you learn how to communicate findings through presentations and reports. By the end of the program, you will develop and present your research projects, which can help your college applications.
6. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; varies by mentor organization.
Location: Online; fully remote.
Cost/Stipend: Participants receive a stipend upon successful completion.
Dates: Community Bonding: May–June; Coding: June–August; Final Evaluation: late August.
Application Deadline: Applications open in March; proposals due early April.
Eligibility: Open to anyone 18+; prior coding experience recommended but not required.
Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a virtual program that introduces participants to open-source software development through coding projects with mentor organizations. Over a period of 12+ weeks, you can propose a project idea, receive feedback from mentors, and build your solution while learning to navigate development workflows. The program includes a three-week community bonding phase, giving you time to understand the organization’s codebase, communication practices, and goals. You’ll complete milestones collaboratively with mentors, refining their technical and problem-solving skills as they progress. By the end of the summer, you can submit your working code to the organization’s open-source repository, gaining portfolio-ready projects.
7. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; ~80 students per year.
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA.
Cost/Stipend: Free; travel costs covered for accepted students.
Dates: Six weeks in summer (specific dates TBA).
Application Deadline: Opens in the fall; closes in December.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with exceptional STEM achievements.
Hosted by MIT and run by the Center for Excellence in Education, the Research Science Institute (RSI) is a six-week summer program that brings together top high school seniors from around the world for intensive STEM research. You will spend the first week attending STEM lectures, then transition to five weeks of research under the guidance of MIT faculty and graduate mentors. You can design and conduct independent projects in areas like mathematics, computer science, engineering, and data science, culminating in a formal research paper and presentation.
8. Wharton Data Science Academy
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohorts.
Location: On-campus at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost/Stipend: Paid program; need-based scholarships available.
Dates: July 13 – August 2.
Application Deadlines: Priority: January 29; Final: April 2.
Eligibility: Grades 10–11; strong math and coding background recommended.
The Wharton Data Science Academy provides a three-week summer experience focusing on data science techniques and applications. You will learn programming, data visualization, and machine learning fundamentals, progressing from foundational skills to advanced concepts like classification, regression, and clustering. Lectures are paired with labs and team-based projects, encouraging you to apply their knowledge to case studies. You can expect to collaborate with peers and receive mentorship from Wharton faculty and TAs, gaining insight into data-driven decision-making. Guest speakers from the industry share their expertise, expanding perspectives on careers in data science. The program concludes with presenting projects and building public speaking and analytical communication skills.
9. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~16 students per class.
Location: Online; live classes.
Cost/Stipend: Paid program.
Dates: Sessions: June 16–27 and July 7–18.
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended.
Eligibility: Current 8th–11th graders.
Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer two-week, university-level courses in topics like data science, computer science, and engineering. Courses are taught in live, online sessions by Stanford instructors. The program brings together peers from all 50 states and over 50 countries. Each course is ungraded, encouraging curiosity and exploration without the pressure of exams or grades. You will leave with deeper subject knowledge, improved critical thinking, and connections with like-minded peers passionate about STEM.
10. MIT PRIMES & CrowdMath
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective.
Location: On-campus (Boston area) and online (PRIMES-USA, CrowdMath).
Cost/Stipend: Free.
Dates: The year-long program; applications are open in the fall.
Application Deadline: Typically December.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; PRIMES-USA open to U.S. students outside Boston.
MIT PRIMES is a year-long research program that allows you to work with MIT faculty and mentors on advanced projects in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology. You’ll meet regularly with mentors to investigate problems, gain exposure to academic research, and develop critical thinking skills. The PRIMES-USA track extends access to students across the U.S. through distance mentoring, while CrowdMath offers an online collaboration where students worldwide tackle an open research question together. You will learn to write formal research papers, present at conferences, and contribute to discoveries.
11. ARISE at NYU
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective.
Location: Hybrid; remote workshops and in-person labs at NYU Tandon, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost/Stipend: Free; students receive a stipend upon completion.
Dates: June 2 – August 8; Remote Workshops in June; Labs July 2 – August 8.
Application Deadline: February 21.
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders living in NYC.
NYU Tandon ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) program provides a 10-week summer research experience for high schoolers in grades 10–11 living in New York City. The first four weeks include remote evening workshops on STEM fundamentals and lab safety, building foundational knowledge. The next six weeks involve full-day research in NYU labs, where you join active projects in computer science, robotics, AI, and more. You will be mentored by faculty and graduate students, developing skills in experimental design, data analysis, and technical writing. The program concludes with a research presentation, helping you hone communication skills. ARISE aims to expand access to STEM opportunities for underrepresented students in NYC.
12. Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; varies by course.
Location: Cambridge, MA (some courses in-person; no housing provided).
Cost/Stipend: Free; students cover their own housing/transport if needed.
Dates: June – August (specific dates vary by course).
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application advised.
Eligibility: High school students with strong STEM aptitude.
MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a four-week program offering courses in areas such as data science, machine learning, and AI. Programs like Medlytics, CogWorks, and Remote Sensing for Disaster Response combine lectures, labs, and team-based projects that challenge you to apply technical skills to problems. You learn programming in Python, data visualization techniques, and work with algorithms. Courses include guest speakers from academia and industry, exposing students to STEM careers. The program’s environment promotes teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving.
13. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open; rolling admissions.
Location: Fremont, CA; various research labs on campus.
Cost/Stipend: Paid tuition; financial aid available.
Dates: Year-round; flexible schedules.
Application Deadline: Varies; check website for updates.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12.
The Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) provides year-round research opportunities for high school students (grades 9–12). Located in Fremont, California, ASDRP enables students to join ongoing projects in areas like data science, climate analysis, and computational drug discovery. You will work under the mentorship of experienced researchers, developing technical and critical thinking skills through laboratory and computational work. Weekly Research 101 seminars teach fundamentals like experimental design, statistics, and professional communication. Students often publish their work or present at conferences, gaining recognition for their contributions.
Bonus -
14. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Image Source - NYU logo