15 Free Summer Research Programs for High School Students
As a high school student, participating in a summer research or internship program is a great way to explore your interests, gain hands-on experience, and get early exposure to the challenges in your chosen field. These programs allow you to build essential skills, connect with professionals, and strengthen your college applications by demonstrating your motivation to learn beyond the classroom.
From in-person lab research at universities and hospitals to online projects in areas like cybersecurity or communications, these programs can help build a strong foundation for college and your future career. Not to mention, several such programs, offered by top universities and leading institutions, are fully funded and may even offer a stipend—making them more prestigious and a valuable addition to your resume.
Whether it’s working in the lab, learning to analyze data, or receiving mentorship from experts in the field, these programs can give you insight into how research is conducted in a subject you’re interested in. To help you get started, we've put together a list of the top 15 free summer research programs for high school students, including both in-person and virtual options, covering a wide range of fields. If you're looking for an affordable way to gain experience and build your research skills, this list is for you.
1. Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~100 students selected worldwide
Location: MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: High school juniors with competitive standardized test scores
At RSI, you’ll spend six weeks conducting original research under the mentorship of scientists from MIT, Harvard, or Boston-based institutions. The first week includes lectures and seminars led by eminent professionals, followed by four weeks of lab research where you design experiments, analyze data, and draft a research paper on a STEM topic of your choosing. You’ll conclude the program by presenting your work at the RSI Symposium, and both written and oral formats are required. The program includes evening lectures and community events, allowing you to interact with peers and experts.
2. Ladder Internships Mentored Research Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15%
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts in a year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines that vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students available for ~10–20 hours/week over the summer
Ladder Internships gives ambitious high school students the chance to intern in a field they’re interested in, with startups from across the world, in a virtual setting. The startups you can choose from function across various industries, including AI/ML, tech, engineering, health tech, sustainability, media, journalism, and more. You can choose a field that interests you! Based on your preference, you’ll be matched with a high-growth startup and a startup manager. You will also be assigned a dedicated Ladder coach. With your manager and coach’s guidance and mentorship, you’ll work on current research projects that are relevant to the company, and present your work at the end of the program. On average, Ladder's partner startups are raising over $1 million in funding. The program includes professional skills and group training sessions as well.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive (~3%); ~50 students
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $500-$1,500, based on financial need
Dates: June 9–July 31, 8-week program
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 16+, U.S citizens/permanent residents
This program offers an intensive 8-week research experience for high school students at Stanford’s labs in various fields of medicine and biomedicine. Students can choose a track based on their interests, from options such as immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, and more. You’ll participate in structured lab work, attend department seminars, and receive mentorship from faculty and grad students, while you conduct research on an independent project in your field. The program concludes with a research poster and oral presentation, where you share your research with peers and faculty. The program includes weekly networking events and site visits, providing additional exposure.
4. Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Location: Remote
Cost: Fully funded
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines; varies with cohort
Eligibility: High school students; preferred GPA 3.3+
In the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program, you’ll work one-on-one with a PhD-level mentor to develop and carry out an independent research project on a topic of your choosing. You can choose from topics in a number of subjects, including biology, psychology, data science, medicine, engineering, mathematics, and more. During the program, you will build key research skills such as literature review, experimental planning, data analysis, and academic writing. You’ll receive ongoing mentorship, participate in peer workshops, and produce a formal research paper by the end of the program. This remote, fully funded option gives you significant autonomy and flexibility.
5. Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – Department of Navy (DoN)
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive; ~300 placements across 38 labs
Location: Varies based on lab locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend – $4,000 (new participant) | $4,500 (returning participant)
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer. Exact dates vary with the lab
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (age 16+), U.S. citizens, strong academic background in STEM
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives you the chance to spend 8 weeks working alongside scientists and engineers in Department of Navy (DoN) labs. You’ll be matched with a mentor and will engage in real research projects in areas like cybersecurity, engineering, robotics, and environmental science. Based on your placement, your work may include data analysis, modeling, or hands-on experimental design. During this program, you’ll develop technical and problem-solving skills while learning how research is applied in defense and national security. Many labs also host tours or activities that give you a broader view of naval science. SEAP is highly competitive, with only about 300 spots available across more than 38 Navy labs.
6. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; ~8 students per year for in-person program
Location: In-person (Baltimore, Maryland) | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost; in-person interns are paid at $15/hour, and virtual interns receive a $500 stipend
Dates: 8 weeks, June - August (in-person) | 5 weeks, July - August (virtual)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing in Baltimore City (for the in-person program), and across the U.S. (for the virtual program)
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) gives you the chance to dive into neuroscience through a mix of lab research, clinical observation, and mentorship from faculty. You’ll explore areas like neurodevelopment, neuroimaging, and clinical neurobiology while building skills in lab techniques and research methods. Alongside your project work, weekly seminars and mentorship sessions will help deepen your understanding of brain science and research careers. If you attend the program in person, you’ll also take part in hospital rotations to see clinical practice up close. The program wraps up with a capstone presentation, where you present your work to mentors, peers, and the wider scientific community.
7. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive (4%); 82 students accepted from 2,100 applications last year
Location: Los Angeles, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $4,500
Dates: 10 weeks, June 2 - August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school or undergraduate students, 16+, completed high school courses in chemistry and biology
This 10-week summer internship invites high school students to conduct their own research projects under renowned physicians and scientists in the field of biomedicine. As an intern, you will also attend weekly seminars, laboratory sessions with the staff, workshops on ethics and making research posters, and will also network with peers and professionals. The program ends with the completion of your research paper, which you then present. Previous interns have contributed to published research papers, while some have patented and sold their program-specific inventions.
8. Broad Summer Scholars Program (Broad Institute)
Acceptance rate: Highly selective; ~20 students
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3,600
Dates: 6 weeks, June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending Massachusetts high schools within commuting distance; must have a B+ or higher in science/math
The Broad Summer Scholar Program is a six-week research program where you’ll work one-on-one with Broad scientists on original research projects. You can explore areas like cancer biology, psychiatric disorders, chemical biology, computational biology, infectious disease, and more. Beyond the lab, you’ll attend seminars, participate in a college fair, present your work in a poster session, and join social and team-building activities. This program gives you hands-on research experience while helping you explore scientific careers and develop professional skills in a collaborative environment.
9. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Location: University of California San Francisco and its affiliated hospitals, San Francisco, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3000–$4300, which varies with student eligibility and funding
Dates: June - August, 9 weeks
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, 16+; GPA 3.0+, must have completed at least one year each of biology and math by program start; underrepresented background
UCSF’s program offers one-on-one mentorship with health care providers and researchers across various fields, including genetics, neuroscience, epidemiology, and public health. You’ll work in a university lab or at one of its affiliated hospitals, design experiments, learn how to analyse data, and contribute to projects alongside peers and mentors. With weekly seminars, career panels, workshops, simulations, and networking opportunities to supplement your research work, the program ends with a research presentation session.
10. Scripps Research High School Internship Program
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $4,830
Dates: Late-June to early-August, 7 weeks
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: High school students from partner schools in San Diego; 16+ by program start; minimum grade point average of 3.0
This internship offers high school students an introduction to biomedical science through lab tours, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive presentations. For this program, you will be placed in a laboratory and paired with a mentor to work on a research project, gaining practical experience while exploring current topics in translational science, precision medicine, digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement. Under your mentor’s guidance, you will learn key lab techniques, study design, and data analysis methods relevant to translational research, including genomic and genetic association studies, and follow the process of proposing, designing, conducting, and analyzing clinical trials. The program concludes with an opportunity to present your research to peers and mentors
11. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at TexasTech University
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive (3%); 12 students
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, Texas
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $750
Dates: June 16 - August 1, 7 weeks
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Students who will be at least 17 years old by the program start date, will graduate this year or the next, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a highly competitive, seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University for motivated high school students. Scholars work one-on-one with faculty mentors on independent projects across diverse fields, including biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, medicine, physics, history, and the humanities. Throughout the program, you’ll gain hands-on research experience, deepen your understanding of the subject, and learn directly from experienced scientists and researchers. Beyond the lab, you’ll participate in weekly seminars, discussions, field trips, and social activities that develop your critical thinking, broaden your perspective, and connect you with peers and mentors who share your interests.
You can find a detailed list of research areas here.
12. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: Various marine and freshwater sites across the U.S. (students will be placed within a 45-minute commute from where they live)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3,000 + an all-expenses paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit
Dates: 8 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, 16+
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers high school students an eight-week experience focused on fisheries and aquatic science. As a Hutton Scholar, you will work closely with a local mentor across a variety of settings, including outdoor and overnight field trips. You’ll gain hands-on experience conducting fish population surveys, creating aquatic habitats, electrofishing, snorkeling, examining specimens under a microscope, testing water quality, and processing data. The program schedule is flexible and tailored to your work with your mentor. Toward the end of the internship, you’ll also attend the Scholars’ Summit, where you can share your experiences and connect with fellow participants.
13. Magee‑Women’s Research Institute High School Summer Internship
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: No cost; eligible students receive a stipend of $1,800
Dates: 6 weeks, typically mid-June to late-July
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores, 16+, residents of the southwest Pennsylvania region
As part of this fully funded, free summer research program for high school students, you’ll spend six weeks at Magee‑Women’s participating in original biomedical research in areas like women’s health, immunology, or infant science. After you’re matched with a research project, you’ll work under the mentorship of faculty investigators and their teams, performing experiments, data analysis, and contributing to research questions. You’ll attend informal Lunch & Learn sessions where researchers share insight into the field and potential career paths. The program culminates in a final presentation of your research findings to peers and institute staff.
14. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; ~10%
Location: In-person (Fairfax, Virginia) | Hybrid | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June-end to mid-August
Application Deadline: January or February
Eligibility: For the remote internships and in-person/hybrid computer lab internships, students must be 15 years or older by June-end. For the ‘Wet-lab’ in-person or hybrid internships, students must be 16 or older by June-end
Note: While the program accepts international applications, specific research labs may be unavailable for non-US citizens.
ASSIP is an eight-week summer experience that gives high school students the chance to work one-on-one with faculty researchers and design their own independent research project in a subject they’re interested in. In the lab, you’ll gain practical experience using advanced equipment, analyzing data, and writing about your findings. You’ll also develop communication skills through presentations and research summaries, preparing you to share your work with a wider audience. Past interns have contributed to projects in areas such as antibiotic development, tuberculosis diagnosis, nanoscience, robotics, and game design. Exceptional projects may even be published in a scientific journal.
15. Summer Internships for High School Students (Laboratory Learning Program) at Princeton
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive, with very few positions open to high school students
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: None; a few positions may provide stipends
Dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer, depending on the research project and the researchers' schedule
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old (and high school graduates who will not turn 18 by June 15), are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or international students enrolled in a U.S. high school
The Princeton Laboratory Learning Program is a highly selective summer internship that allows high school students to work full-time alongside faculty and researchers in Princeton’s laboratories. Around 40 students are selected to join research teams across nearly 25 labs in the natural sciences and engineering. You’ll collaborate with postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff researchers, gaining an in-depth understanding of how academic research operates. Projects vary each year, with past topics including machine learning for power systems, biofuel oxidation, genetic variation in human health, and antibiotic resistance. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a research summary report and leave with practical lab experience and enhanced research skills.
You can see the entire list of past research opportunities here.
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