15 Research Opportunities for High School Students in Pennsylvania (PA)

Are you a high school student in Pennsylvania wanting to know how to take your academic interests to the next level before college? Research opportunities for high school students can be a great way to gain hands-on experience, learn practical skills, and connect with professionals working in your field of interest–all while still in high school. 

Many research opportunities for high school students in Pennsylvania (PA) are hosted by well-known universities and organizations in Pennsylvania, such as UPenn and Carnegie Mellon University. They are either free or relatively affordable, making them accessible options for motivated local students and also helping to reduce housing and travelling costs.

These research opportunities for high school students in Pennsylvania (PA) often include working on real-world projects, attending seminars, and even presenting your own research. We’ve narrowed it down to 15 research opportunities for high school students in Pennsylvania (PA) that stand out for their quality, depth, and accessibility. They also include a few virtual research opportunities that allow students in Pennsylvania to apply.

15 Research Opportunities for High School Students in Pennsylvania (PA) 

1. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) 

Location: University of Pennsylvania's campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: $9000 + $90 non-refundable application fee (limited financial aid may be available) | None
Dates: July 6–25
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15 years old | Minimum 3.0 GPA

At the Engineering Summer Academy at Penn, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deep into fields like AI, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and robotics, while working with University of Pennsylvania faculty. The program combines college-level theory with hands-on projects and is designed for high school students who want to explore engineering in a real university setting. Each course, ranging from building functional robots to modeling 3D characters and studying molecular biology, includes labs, lectures, and a final team or independent project. ESAP is project-heavy, so you’ll leave with a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to build working systems—useful for future applications, and offers college credit upon successful completion. 

2. Ladder Internship Program

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.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; Fall cohort deadline is 24 August
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks | All high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students

Ladder Internships are virtual programs that connect high school students with early-stage startups for an eight-week experience centered on real-world projects. Ladder’s start-ups are dynamic, often having raised substantial funding, with founders from top accelerators like YCombinator and companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. You can choose from a wide range of fields, such as machine learning, journalism, health tech, and marketing, and then work directly under the guidance of your assigned company’s manager and a Ladder Coach. Interns contribute meaningfully to the work of their host organizations and present their projects to company stakeholders at the end. Here is the application form.

3. Drexel University - BIOMED Summer Academy

Location: In-person, commuter, and residential options at Drexel University, Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 | None
Dates: Session I: July 7–11 |  Session II: July 14–18 |  Session III: July 21–25 |  Session IV: July 28–August 1
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors

Drexel University’s week-long BIOMED Summer Academy gives a hands-on introduction to the rapidly evolving field of biomedical engineering. Offered multiple times each summer, this program blends lab-based activities with guided instructions in the topics of tissue engineering, bioimaging, and biomaterials. You’ll attend faculty-led seminars, participate in group projects, and tour biomedical companies and clinical sites to see how concepts are applied in real settings. You will develop core laboratory and research skills via this program. If you're curious about how technology intersects with healthcare, this is a good way to explore it in a practical setting. 

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available | None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: 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 matches high school students with Ph.D. mentors to conduct independent research over the course of 12 weeks. You’ll work one-on-one with your mentor to explore a research question in a subject you choose, ranging from psychology and engineering to international relations or data science, and produce a final research paper. You’ll follow a rigorous research process that mirrors what’s done at the undergraduate or graduate level. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper and be eligible to earn credit from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). You can apply here.

5. Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI)’s High School Summer Internship Program

Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh
Cost/Stipend: None | $1800 (if household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania)
Dates: 6 weeks starting June 16
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school students currently in their sophomore or junior year | Over 16 years old by the program start date | Permanent/primary residence in the local southwest Pennsylvania region

At the Magee-Womens Research Institute in Pittsburgh, you can participate in a six-week biomedical research internship focused on women’s and infant health, reproductive biology, and related clinical topics. You will work on a specific research project under the supervision of faculty and staff, attend weekly discussions on scientific careers, and present your findings at the end of the program. You’ll be placed in a lab, whether basic, translational, or clinical, and learn how to conduct hands-on research, analyze data, and communicate results through a formal presentation. Past research projects have covered areas such as gene analysis, cancer models, and reproductive health.

6. Lehigh University Summer Engineering Institute (SEI)

Location: Lehigh University campus, Bethlehem
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: Session 1: June 29–July 12 | Session 2: July 13–26 
Application Deadline: No open application; students cannot apply directly. Instead, students must be nominated by their school district
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors

If you’re interested in exploring different branches of engineering through collaboration and hands-on learning, Lehigh University’s Summer Engineering Institute might be a strong fit. SEI brings together rising juniors and seniors to tackle real-world problems in areas like robotics, environmental remediation, nanoscience, and bioengineering. You’ll work in teams, use advanced lab equipment, and be guided by Lehigh faculty and current engineering students. Participants are selected in collaboration with local and regional school districts, though the program draws students from beyond the Lehigh Valley as well. You’ll also get to visit local companies and research labs in this research program.

7. UPenn Summer Academies

Location: University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: $9,949 (scholarships are available for select Philadelphia students) | None
Dates: July 5–26
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Current 9th- 11th grade students

The University of Pennsylvania’s Summer Academies include multiple three-week, residential programs that give high school students a deep dive into topics such as biomedical research, neuroscience, chemistry, and social justice. Each academy blends daily lectures with lab experiments, faculty research talks, and small-group projects that revolve around current academic and societal questions. Whether you’re running experiments in a lab or analyzing historical movements and inequalities, the programs encourage both intellectual exploration and academic rigor. Faculty from Penn and experienced graduate students lead the instruction, and upon completion, you receive a certificate and can request recommendation letters.

8. High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research, The Wistar Institute

Location: Wistar Institute, University City District, Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: None | $1,500
Dates: July 7–31
Application Deadline: March 31 
Eligibility: At least 16 years old | Have completed at least one high school science course | (Priority is given to students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia)

At the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, the High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research is a month-long program that teaches you foundational lab techniques while immersing you in cancer and infectious disease research. Working in Wistar’s advanced training lab, you’ll be introduced to reading scientific literature, data analysis, and how lab research supports breakthroughs in medicine. You’ll also hear from professionals about careers in biomedical science and present your findings at the end of the program. The experience is designed to mirror a real research environment, helping you build a strong understanding of the scientific process even if you have no prior lab experience.

9. The Wharton Data Science Academy

Location: University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: $9,799 (scholarship opportunities available) | None
Dates: July 13–August 2
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 10-11 with a strong background in math and coding

At the Wharton Data Science Academy, you’ll learn how data science tools like machine learning, data visualization, and predictive modeling are used to answer real-world questions. This research opportunity focuses on applying statistics and coding (using R) to actual data sets and is centered around lectures, problem-solving labs, and a team-based final project. Taught by Wharton instructors and supported by undergraduate and graduate assistants, the academy also features guest speakers and career-focused sessions to help you understand the broader field of data science. You’ll not only gain technical skills but also improve your ability to think critically about how data is used in business, policy, and research.

10. Drexel University College of Medicine - Neuroscience Camp

Location: Drexel University Queen Lane Campus, Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 | None
Dates: July 21–August 1
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a background in biology, chemistry or research

Drexel University’s Neuroscience Camp is a competitive summer experience for high school sophomores and juniors who want to study how the brain works at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels. Throughout the program, you’ll learn about neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, neuropathology, and more through lectures and lab-based instruction. You will also engage in a comprehensive lab project that involves techniques in neurobiology and data analysis, all guided by Drexel faculty and graduate students. Live brain activity demonstrations and sessions on brain-machine interfaces add a practical dimension to the curriculum. The program also includes training in literature review and presentation skills, culminating in a final showcase of student work.

11. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: July 7–25
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school female students and others of all minority genders in grades 9–11 | Preference will be given to rising seniors and students from under-resourced backgrounds

If you’re a high school student identifying as female and interested in physics, SPINWIP offers a supportive, online space to explore everything from astrophysics to quantum computing. For three weeks, you’ll attend lectures from Stanford researchers, learn to code in Python, and apply your new skills to physics-based projects in small, mentor-led groups. The program covers both academic learning and community building, with workshops on college planning, career development, and opportunities to connect with undergraduates and faculty. You’ll work on assignments that reinforce core concepts and also explore major topics like dark matter, exoplanets, lasers, and probability. This program is free to attend and is designed with inclusivity in mind.

12. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: June 16–July 24
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)

The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program centers on exposing students from underrepresented backgrounds to topics in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. You will participate in neuroscience seminars, neurology rounds, literature discussions, and a guided research project, with particular emphasis on health disparities and community impact. The curriculum is designed to blend foundational learning with exposure to real-world research. You’ll also connect with mentors and gain insight into both academic neuroscience and related career paths. While the focus is on brain health and neurodegenerative disease, the program also encourages a broader understanding of how science intersects with culture, care, and policy.

13. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)

Location: Remote 
Cost/Stipend: $3,580; financial aid available | None
Dates: Session One: June 16–July 4 | Session Two: July 7–25
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from around the world

At Stanford’s Mathematics Camp (SUMaC), you will spend several weeks immersed in higher-level mathematics, studying topics like abstract algebra, number theory, and topology. The program is designed for students who already have a strong background in math and are looking for academic enrichment rather than traditional coursework. You’ll engage in lectures, group problem-solving, and guided research discussions with a small cohort of peers who share a deep interest in theoretical math. The workload is challenging and meant to mirror college-level expectations, but the program encourages collaborative learning and exploration rather than grades. The program doesn’t award credit, but it emphasizes mathematical history, logical thinking, and mathematical creativity.

14. Georgetown University's Medical Research: Clinical Trials Resulting in Medical Discoveries Program 

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Up to $1,895 | None
Dates: Several one, two, and four-week sessions available throughout the calendar year
Application Deadline: Varies based on the chosen session; applications typically close one week prior to the session start date.
Eligibility: Students who are at least 13 years old

This Georgetown summer course shows you how medical research leads to new treatments through the process of clinical trials and evidence-based methods. You will have the opportunity to learn how to formulate a research question using the PICO model, study biostatistics and epidemiology, and understand the ethical frameworks that guide medical studies. Instructors walk you through real-world case studies in areas like cancer research, and you’ll be expected to create your own research study outline using the tools and principles you’ve learned. The course also covers how to read, write, and interpret scientific journal articles, making it especially helpful if you're thinking about a future in medicine or health sciences. 

15. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (Financial aid available) | None
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2025 | Aged 14+ by the start of the program | U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual experience where you’ll dive into how artificial intelligence is being used to improve healthcare. Through a mix of technical lectures, project-based group work, and mentoring by Stanford researchers, you’ll learn about AI applications in diagnostics, imaging, and clinical workflows. You will interact with experienced Stanford faculty and research engineers, and work on projects that involve medical data analysis, machine learning model training, image recognition, and developing ML models to analyze chest X-rays and detect medical tubes. Besides coursework, you’ll attend virtual career panels and possibly continue with an extended independent research internship if selected.