15 Free Medical Research Programs for High School Students

Participating in a medical research program in high school can be a great way to gain research experience and exposure to the medical industry. Instead of simply reading about science, you’ll get practice in lab techniques and the chance to learn from professionals in the field. These opportunities can help you form valuable connections and gain insights into careers you may want to pursue. 

Many of these medical research programs for high school students are hosted by leading universities, hospitals, and research centers. If you’re interested in medicine, biology, or other related fields, joining one of these programs can give you a head start in understanding how research impacts healthcare. To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed down the top 15 free medical research programs for high school students that stand out for their accessibility, academic rigor, and opportunities to grow.

15 Free Medical Research Programs for High School Students

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

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 
Cost/Stipend: None; Stipends of $7,200 (10 weeks), $6,480 (9 weeks)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 6 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: November 17 – January 14 
Eligibility: Current high school seniors (18+) in Texas; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders

If you live in Texas and are drawn to biomedical research, the High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center is a ten-week opportunity to step inside one of the world’s leading cancer research facilities. As a participant, you will be paired with a faculty mentor and take part in ongoing laboratory research projects. The work spans different biomedical disciplines, giving you firsthand experience in lab techniques and research processes while also strengthening your ability to think like a scientist. Throughout the summer, you’ll attend seminars led by researchers, practice skills such as abstract writing, and prepare for structured activities like poster and elevator pitch presentations. At the program’s close, you present your work to peers and faculty. 

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location:  Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program; Up to 100% financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort 
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks

Through the Medicine Track of the Ladder Internship Program, you will contribute to projects with startups that focus on areas such as biotechnology, health technology, and biomedical research. This eight-week virtual internship places you on a real company team, where you might work on tasks ranging from background research and analysis to content development or strategy building. A Ladder Coach and a company mentor will guide you throughout the process, ensuring you can navigate the work effectively. The experience is designed to help you understand how medicine connects with technology and entrepreneurship, offering insight into the broader healthcare industry. 

3. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program 

Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend provided (amount unspecified) 
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 8 
Application Deadline: November 1 – January 31 
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates living or studying in Massachusetts during the program with work authorization in the U.S.

At Massachusetts General Hospital, the Youth Neurology Education and Research Program gives you a paid, full-time summer research experience in neuroscience, especially if you come from an underrepresented background in medicine. The program begins with a short “bootcamp,” where you’ll learn lab skills, safety protocols, and expectations before being paired with a faculty mentor in a neurology lab. Over six to eight weeks, you and another student partner together to work on research projects that may explore brain function or neurological disorders. You’ll also attend weekly seminars by neurologists and scientists to expand your understanding of clinical and research perspectives in neurology. Alongside this, career support and mentoring are built into the experience. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings to an audience of peers, mentors, and faculty.

4. Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement 

If you’re curious about medical or health-related research but want flexibility, the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program lets you take on an independent project from home with guidance from a PhD mentor. Over 12 weeks, you’ll meet virtually with your mentor to design a research question, review academic sources, and gradually develop your work into a polished research paper. The process teaches you how to structure a study, design methods, and analyze results, while also giving you practice in presenting your findings in a clear and professional way. You might even get to submit your paper to journals or science competitions later, turning your summer project into something with lasting impact.

5. Pathmaker Scholars 

Location: University of Utah - Huntsman Cancer Institute, UT 
Cost/Stipend: Free; Up to $4,000 stipend 
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: May 26 – July 31 
Application Deadline: February 1 
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their junior year before the start of the program, are members of a historically underrepresented group, and are citizens or non-citizen nationals of the USA, or have a valid Alien Registration Card I-551

The Pathmaker Scholars Program at the University of Utah invites you to spend ten weeks living on campus while working in a laboratory focused on biomedical cancer research. During this time, you’ll join a faculty investigator’s team and participate in research that teaches you experimental design, data collection, and how to interpret scientific results. Weekly meetings and program events give you additional context about how lab discoveries connect to clinical oncology. The research program is designed like a full-time job, with about 40 hours per week dedicated to research and learning. At the end, you’ll present your work at a campus-wide research symposium and may also travel to a national conference to share your project, with expenses covered.

6. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) 

Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,600 stipend 
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 8 
Application Deadline: November 13 – January 22 
Eligibility: Rising MA high school seniors with a B or better in science and math; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens with work authorization

Through the Broad Summer Scholars Program, you’ll spend six weeks at the Broad Institute working directly with scientists on original biomedical research projects. You might explore subjects like cancer biology, infectious disease, computational biology, chemical biology, or psychiatric disorders, gaining exposure to both lab-based and computer-driven research techniques. You’ll be paired with a Broad researcher and supported by tutors who will explain complex scientific ideas tied to the project. Beyond the lab, the program includes career talks, workshops, and even a college fair that introduces you to paths in science and medicine. Social and team-building activities are also part of the summer, creating a balance between research and community. At the end, you’ll present your project in a formal poster session.

7. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program 

Location: Bar Harbor, ME, and Farmington, CT 
Cost/Stipend: Free; $7,000 stipend 
Cohort Size: About 40 students
Dates: May 30 – August 7 
Application Deadline: November 1 (tentative) – January 26 
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 12 and full-time undergraduate students (18+) with at least one semester remaining before graduation; U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents

If you want to focus on genetics and genomics, the Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program gives you ten weeks of intensive research. Each summer, about 40 high school and undergraduate students from across the country are matched with mentors and work on independent projects that involve designing experiments, collecting data, and interpreting results. The program covers learning through hands-on practice while also including seminars and discussions. The location allows you to enjoy recreational activities in nearby Acadia National Park when not in the lab, and community-building events help you connect with peers who share an interest in research. You’ll finish the program by presenting your research findings in a professional setting.

8. High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 

Location: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,800 stipend 
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 1 – July 25 
Application Deadline: October 31 – January 31 
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+) from the Memphis-Shelby County area and surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

The High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers you the chance to explore medical research connected to pediatric care. During the summer, you’ll work under the guidance of a mentor on projects that can range from laboratory science and epidemiology to psychology or clinical studies. Alongside research, you’ll reflect on your growth as a scientist with the help of educators, which can also support you in writing a strong personal statement for college applications. By the end of the summer, you will share your project in a community exhibition through a poster session.

9. UChicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart Program 

Location: Various universities in Chicago
Cost/Stipend: Free; a taxable stipend of $3,000
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Second week of June – the first week of August 
Application Deadline: January 20 
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+) 

UChicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart Program gives you the chance to spend the summer working on cancer research in Chicago or Urbana-Champaign. You’ll join a lab full-time and contribute to studies in areas such as immunology, pharmacology, bioengineering, or health disparities, depending on your placement. In addition to daily lab work, the program integrates faculty lectures and professional development workshops that expand your knowledge of both technical skills and the societal context of cancer. You’ll also have opportunities to learn how discoveries in science translate into real-world healthcare. The program ends with a symposium where you’ll present your findings to mentors, peers, and members of the scientific community.

10. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program 

Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Acceptance Rate: About 10%
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school students in the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, with work authorization in the U.S.

The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program offers a seven-week paid summer experience in biomedical research. As an apprentice, you’ll work full-time with Monell scientists on projects that may involve neuroscience, sensory biology, or other medical research topics. Along with lab work, you take part in enrichment activities such as lectures, career discussions, and workshops on communication and public speaking. These activities help you connect your research to broader career paths in science and medicine. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a public symposium, sharing your work with peers, mentors, and family.

11. CHOP’s Research Internship for Scholars and Emerging Scientists (CHOP-RISES)

Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors (16+) from a public or charter school in the City of Philadelphia who have faced barriers to participating in STEM-M opportunities

If you’re a Philadelphia public or charter high school student interested in science and medicine, the CHOP-RISES program offers a two-summer pathway into research. In your first summer, you’ll spend six weeks in a structured placement that includes lab experience, skill-building workshops, and a final presentation of your work. If you return the following year, the program expands into an eight-week session where you’ll take on more independence, design your own project, and even mentor new participants. Alongside lab experience, you’ll build professional connections with researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and explore a range of careers in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine.

12. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Summer Student Program

Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,200 stipend 
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 2%; About 20 interns per year
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors (14+) with a 3.5 GPA in science subjects; Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and live within 25 miles of the main campus 

At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, the Summer Student Program places you in a lab for eight weeks to work on cancer-related research. You’ll be paired with a mentor—often a graduate student or research technician—who will guide you through an independent project in fields such as immunology, pharmacology, computational biology, or structural biology. You’ll also join varied enrichment activities like journal clubs, faculty talks, and lab meetings to understand how scientific questions are investigated and shared. At the conclusion, you’ll present your research at a poster session to faculty, peers, and mentors. 

13. Zuckerman Institute: Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)

Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Winter/Spring training + 7-10 weeks summer research
Application Deadline: October 6 – 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in New York City and enrolled in a partner school (preference is given to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx)

Through Columbia University’s BRAINYAC program, you will spend the summer immersed in neuroscience research under the guidance of a Columbia neuroscientist. Over several weeks, you’ll take on lab-based projects that might involve designing experiments, analyzing data, and learning how brain-related questions are studied in practice. The program includes workshops to strengthen your technical skills and group sessions that connect you with peers who share your interest in brain science. Your mentor will help you not only with lab work but also with understanding the broader research process. At the end of the program, you’ll have the chance to showcase your work. 

14. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program 

Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 3 – December 2 
Application Deadline: November 1 – December 31 
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns counties in Florida with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA

At the Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus, the SPARK Research Mentorship Program places you in a biomedical research lab for at least 25 hours per week during the summer. You’ll work directly with a Mayo scientist on a defined project in areas like immunology, neuroscience, or cancer biology, with some students continuing their projects into the school year. Your work involves learning research methods, applying lab techniques, analyzing results, and understanding how discoveries connect to clinical care. Regular one-on-one meetings with your mentor help guide your progress along the way. You might also get the option to submit your project for science fairs or competitions, gaining recognition beyond the lab.

15. The Rockefeller University Hospital: Summer Science Research Program

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: No cost (stipend may be offered to students experiencing financial hardship)
Cohort Size: 32 students
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors (16+) 

During the Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program, you’ll be a part of a small group of motivated students for seven weeks of intensive research experience. After a week of training in lab techniques, you’ll join a research team led by Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan Kettering, or Weill Cornell scientists in fields like genetics, immunology, or neuroscience. Instead of working alone, you and your group choose a research question, collect and analyze data, and prepare your findings for presentation. The program also incorporates electives, workshops, and guest talks that broaden your view of biomedical research and its medical applications. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your work in a poster symposium attended by peers and mentors. 

Image Source - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Logo