15 Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
If you’re a high school student looking for ways to explore a subject you’re interested in or ways to strengthen your college applications, consider participating in a research program or internship. These research opportunities allow you to go beyond classroom learning and explore practical applications of the subjects you're passionate about. Also, they usually come at a lower cost than pre-college academic options and may even offer a stipend.
Research programs and internships provide relevant experience, industry exposure, and the chance to work with experts, while you learn to use professional tools and explore subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and more. You will also get to develop key skills such as data analysis and critical thinking, build a network, and explore potential career options in science.
A number of top universities, leading science institutes, and private organizations across the country offer research opportunities for high school students. To help you find the program that works best for you, we’ve narrowed down the options to this list of the top 15 science research opportunities for high school students that you can consider. From hands-on lab work to virtual internships at tech startups, this blog has something for everyone. Let’s take a look.
1. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 300 placements across ~38 labs every year
Location: There are several lab locations across the country
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 students who have completed at least grade 9, are at least 16 years old by the program start date, and are U.S. citizens. Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has any other particular requirements or exceptions.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week paid summer program where you get to work on real Naval research at Department of Navy laboratories across the country. With about 300 placements in 38 labs, SEAP is highly competitive. You can apply to labs based on your interests, whether that’s computer science, engineering, physics, aeronautics, or another field of science. You’ll collaborate with Navy scientists and engineers, contribute to active research projects, and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology. The program helps you strengthen your research skills, explore potential career paths in science and engineering, and receive mentorship from top scientists and experts in their fields.
2. Ladder Internships Mentored Research Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; ~100–150 students per cohort
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies with program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts (8–12 weeks) offered in summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year; varies with cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students; requires a 10–20 hours/week commitment
Ladder Internships offers mentored, project-based internships with high-growth startups across a wide range of fields, including AI, tech, engineering, health tech, sustainability, and more. As a Ladder intern, you will work directly with your startup team on research or product development projects while receiving mentorship from your startup mentor and guidance from a dedicated Ladder Coach. Weekly check-ins and cohort-wide seminars will help you develop communication and professional skills throughout the program. You’ll gain practical, relevant experience working on current projects in the field you’re interested in and might pursue in college. At the end of the program, you will you’ll present your work to the company and your peers.
3. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; ~30 students per year
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will be paid
Dates: June 17 – August 9
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who are at least 16 years old by June 26 and have completed at least one year each of high school biology and chemistry
The Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program is an 8-week summer program at the Salk Institute, a leading science research institute. It provides high school students with the opportunity to conduct original, independent scientific research. You’ll work alongside professional scientists on projects in biology, neuroscience, genetics, and other STEM fields, developing practical lab and research skills. The program includes structured mentorship, skill-building workshops, and exposure to the latest techniques in molecular biology and bioinformatics. You are expected to commit full-time and will also present your research at a final symposium at the end of the program.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial assistance available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies with cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records; 3.3+ GPA recommended
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct independent research under the guidance of PhD-level mentors in a field of their choice. You can select a focus area from options such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, neuroscience, and more, and work on an independent research project. Throughout the program, you will participate in writing workshops, gain exposure to advanced research methods, and receive one-on-one mentorship to refine your work. The program supports both theoretical and experimental research, offering flexible scheduling to accommodate your academic needs. By the end of the program, you will have a publication-ready academic paper that demonstrates your research skills and subject expertise.
5. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 100 students selected worldwide
Location: MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current juniors only)
The Research Science Institute (RSI), held each summer at MIT, is one of the most competitive science research programs for high school students. Each year, only about 100 students from around the world are selected to paricipate. Over six weeks, you’ll experience the full research cycle, starting with academic seminars in biology, physics, math, and engineering, then moving into guided research under the mentorship of MIT scientists and researchers. You’ll learn how to read advanced scientific papers, use professional tools, and analyze real data. You’ll also sharpen your communication skills by writing a research paper and presenting your findings in a conference-style setting.
6. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive (~3%); ~50 students annually
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students earn a stipend of $500 - $1,500, based on financial need
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is an 8-week, highly competitive, fairly prestigious research program offered by Stanford. It gives students a chance to collaborate one-on-one with a mentor, who is typically a Stanford graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow, and engage in hands-on research. Students will have to select one of eight study fields – Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics and Genetics and Genomics. Once selected, you will be assigned a particular field of study (branch) based on your preference, and spend two months conducting independent research, with guidance from your mentor. You will be mentored by experts, scholars, researchers, and PhD fellows.
7. Johns Hopkins University Internship in Brain Science (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 University Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) offers high school students a neuroscience research experience that combines lab work, clinical observation, and mentorship from university faculty. You will study topics such as neurodevelopment, neuroimaging, and clinical neurobiology while developing skills in laboratory techniques and scientific research methods. Weekly seminars and mentorship sessions will help enhance your understanding of neuroscience, and in-person participants also join hospital rotations to observe real-world clinical practice. The program concludes with a capstone presentation, where you will share your research with peers, mentors, and fellow scientists.
8. Summer Internships for High School Students (Laboratory Learning Program) at Princeton
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive, 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 research internship where you can work full-time alongside faculty and researchers in Princeton laboratories. Each year, about 40 students are chosen to join research teams across nearly 25 labs in the natural sciences and engineering. You’ll be part of a team that includes postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff researchers, giving you a real sense of how academic research works. Projects vary year on year, but past topics have included machine learning for power systems, biofuel oxidation, genetic variation in human health, and antibiotic resistance. By the end of the program, you’ll write a short research summary report and leave with hands-on lab experience and stronger research skills.
You can see the entire list of past research opportunities here
9. Biorocket Research Internship Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; ~12 students
Location: Genspace, New York City, New York
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a $2,000 stipend
Dates: February - May (spring semester), July - August (summer semester)
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old and attend a NYC public or charter school within 45 minutes of Genspace
The Biorocket Research Internship at Genspace is a six-month program where you can explore the fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering while building both lab and communication skills. Starting in the spring, you’ll take workshops in biology techniques and public speaking, then move into an intensive summer research experience with a small group of peers. You’ll design and carry out your own project under the guidance of scientist mentors, using state-of-the-art lab facilities and tools. Past projects have explored topics like algal growth for water purification, biofilms, and Zebrafish liver cells as biosensors. You’ll also receive training to help you explain complex science clearly and take field trips to biotech labs and companies to explore career paths.
10. 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.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University is an eight-week summer opportunity that allows high school students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers and create their own independent research project. You’ll spend your time in the lab learning how to use advanced equipment, analyzing data, and writing about your findings. You’ll also build communication skills through presentations and research summaries, preparing you to share your work with a wider audience. Past interns have contributed to projects on antibiotic development, tuberculosis diagnosis, nanoscience, robotics, and even game design. Your work may also be published in a scientific journal, giving you practical experience while you explore potential career paths in science.
You can look at previous research projects here!
11. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: <3%, around 12 students selected every year
Location: Texas Tech University, 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
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a highly competitive seven-week summer research experience at Texas Tech University. If accepted, you’ll join a small group of just 12 scholars from across the country and work one-on-one with a faculty mentor on an independent research project. Your project can be in fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, medicine, physics, history, or the humanities. Beyond research, you’ll attend weekly seminars, join field trips, and take part in discussions that sharpen your critical thinking and broaden your perspective. You’ll also connect with peers and mentors who share your interests, giving you both guidance and community.
You can find a detailed list of research areas here.
12. Science Internship Program (SIP)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Location: In-person (University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California) | Virtual
Cost: $4,750. Need-based financial aid is offered
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June - August
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old by the program start date (and at least 16 years old for certain research project placements), and will not graudate by the program start date
The Science Internship Program (SIP) at UC Santa Cruz provides high school students with an intensive, mentored research experience across disciplines such as astronomy, bioinformatics, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, and biology. You will be paired with a UCSC faculty member, graduate student, or postdoctoral researcher to contribute to active research projects. Depending on your placement, you will gain hands-on experience in lab techniques, data collection, and computational tools like MATLAB, Python, or R. Weekly seminars will cover topics such as research ethics, scientific communication, and lab procedures. By the end of the program, you will present your work at a formal research symposium.
13. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~20 interns per session
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Dates: June 16-27
Application Deadline: March-end
Eligibility: U.S. high school students at least 14 years old with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
Hosted by Stanford’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI), this two-week virtual internship introduces students to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. You will attend lectures on machine learning applications in diagnostics, participate in team-based research projects, and receive small-group mentorship from Stanford faculty and researchers. The program also includes “Lunch & Learn” sessions with experts from academia, government, and nonprofit organizations, offering insight into real-world AI applications in medicine, and potential career paths. Though academic credit is not offered, interns receive a certificate of completion.
14. Young Scientist Program: Summer Focus
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective (~3%); 15–18 students
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $4,500
Dates: June 2 - July 25
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois), particularly those from under-resourced schools or underrepresented groups in STEM
The Young Scientist Program: Summer Focus is an intensive eight-week research experience designed to provide mentorship, hands-on biomedical research, and academic support for local high school students. You will be paired with a research mentor and contribute to an ongoing scientific investigation through full-time lab work. The program also includes coursework in science communication, one-on-one tutoring, and seminars to prepare you for college-level academics. The program concludes with a final symposium where you will present your research findings to faculty, peers, and mentors.
15. Simons Summer Research Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~5%
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; students who want to stay on campus will have to pay $2781.50 for accommodation and meals. A stipend may be offered at the end of the program
Dates: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old
The Simons Summer Research Program offers high school juniors the opportunity to participate in six weeks of intensive, mentored STEM research at Stony Brook University. You will collaborate with faculty and graduate researchers on projects in fields such as biochemistry, neurobiology, computer science, and physics. During the application process, you can indicate your preferred mentors to ensure a strong alignment with your academic interests. The program integrates lab research with weekly lectures, workshops, and campus exploration. Your experience concludes with a formal research symposium, where you will present your findings through poster and abstract presentations, mirroring the format of professional academic conferences.
Bonus! Here are a few more research opportunities you can consider:
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