§ Collection

Research programs for high school students

Research programs put you in a lab or with a mentor on a real question. They are the most common path to a project you can actually write about later.

1232 programs currently listed · 679 free or stipend-paying.

What to know

—Read the program page for what you will actually do. “Research” can mean running experiments or it can mean a lecture series.
—You do not need prior lab experience for most of these. You do need to explain why this specific lab.
—If nothing here is near you, cold-emailing a local professor is a real strategy — Atlas has a guide on it.

Programs in this collection

Clinical & Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin / Medical College of Wisconsin
500 Stars Summer Internship (CTSI of Southeast Wisconsin)
Paid 8-week summer internship giving high school, undergraduate and graduate students hands-on career training in clinical and translational sciences in research, clinical and community settings.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
A*STAR Scientific Research Programme
Government research placements for pre-university students in Singapore.
📍 Singapore⏱ 8 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
AACR CARES for High School Scholars Program
Six-week mentored cancer research experience in a Massey faculty lab for Richmond City high school students, including a cancer research bootcamp, seminars, professional development workshops and a final poster, followed by a one-year AACR mentorship.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Academic English & University Readiness Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn for non-native English speakers. Students do university-style work: reading, lectures, discussions, research and group projects, ending in a final presentation. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 2 weeks (July 26 - August 8, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
Academic Year Internships
Students contribute directly to TGen research in areas such as laboratory bioscience, computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, communications, regulatory affairs, and research administration. High-school placements are explicitly possible but described by TGen as extremely rare because they require roughly 10–20 hours per week.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Stanford AIMI
Academic Year Research Internship
During the school year, students meet weekly in small groups with their student mentors to work on healthcare AI research projects under the guidance of Stanford researchers.
📍 Virtual🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center / American Cancer Society
ACS Cancer Research High School Program
Two-week virtual experience for Virginia high school student leaders interested in STEM, with live cancer research lab instruction using at-home experiment kits and career exploration workshops and panels.
📍 Virginia (virtual)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
American Chemical Society / ACS Maryland
ACS Project SEED - Maryland Section
A paid summer research program placing economically disadvantaged rising juniors and seniors in academic, industrial, or federal chemistry labs with a scientist-mentor for 8-10 weeks, with a $1,000 completion fellowship and potential college scholarship.
📍 Maryland📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Case Western Reserve University Department of Chemistry
ACS Project SEED — CWRU
Economically disadvantaged students conduct eight weeks of hands-on chemistry research with professional scientists and receive mentoring and a fellowship award.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
American Chemical Society / Boise State University & Idaho State University
ACS Project SEED (Idaho)
A paid summer chemistry research internship for high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, placing them in university labs at Boise State and Idaho State University to conduct real research alongside faculty mentors.
📍 Boise & Pocatello, ID📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
American Chemical Society, Midland Local Section
ACS Project SEED (Midland Section)
Summer chemistry research placements in Midland-area labs for economically diverse high school students, working alongside professional chemists with stipends and mentorship; hosts 10-14 students each summer and has run since 1978. Contact the Project SEED coordinator for current-year eligibility and dates.
📍 Midland, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UW-Milwaukee Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
ACS Project SEED at UW-Milwaukee
Paid summer research internship for high school students interested in chemistry, working with faculty mentors and graduate students on authentic chemistry research projects.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Acting for the Camera
High-school students learn screen-acting techniques and work on camera in collaboration with the academy's filmmaking program.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Acting Intensive
Conservatory-style acting training with scene work and performance development.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Acting on Camera
Students learn screen acting, audition technique and on-camera performance.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The Adroit Journal
Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship
Online mentorship pairing teen writers with established poets and prose writers. Tuition is $575; fee remission and financial aid are available.
📍 Online⏱ 6 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Advanced Filmmakers Academy
Students work through pre-production, production, and post-production as a filmmaking cohort and collaborate on a short film using professional equipment.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Advanced Ocean Lab — Surrounded by Science
Students in grades 10–12 complete a longer advanced ocean-science residential experience emphasizing scientific practice and field-based learning.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
NC State University Global Training Initiative
Advanced Research Duo Track
Ten-week advanced research program in which pairs of students work with an NC State faculty mentor toward conference- or manuscript-level research.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education / AEOP
AEOP High School Internship STEM Research Program
Rising juniors and seniors complete roughly 220–300 hours of faculty-mentored STEM research and present their findings through program research events.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Museum of Flight with Puget Sound Skills Center
Aeronautical Explorations (Museum of Flight)
Three-week no-cost summer career and technical education course for rising 9th-12th graders exploring aviation careers such as air traffic control, dispatch, piloting and drones, with a flight simulator lab and airport design project.
📍 The Museum of Flight and Raisbeck Aviation High School, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Air Force Research Laboratory
AFRL Scholars Program (Kirtland AFB)
A paid research internship at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque for upper-level high school students (16+) pursuing STEM, placing scholars on real technical-directorate projects such as directed energy, lasers, optics, and space vehicle research with a dedicated mentor.
📍 Albuquerque, NM (Kirtland AFB)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New Hampshire Academy of Science
After School Scientific Research Program
Students conduct authentic research under STEM professionals using laboratory tools and methods in areas such as molecular biology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, machine learning, water quality and optical engineering. The 2026–27 program is currently open.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alcorn State University / USDA APHIS
AgDiscovery Summer Enrichment Program
Students ages 13–17 learn from university faculty and USDA experts in plant science, animal science, biotechnology, veterinary science, wildlife biology, and agricultural careers through laboratories and workshops.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Montclair State University
AI and Engineering Summer Lab
Hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence and engineering applications.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
George Mason University Department of Health Administration, Policy, and Informatics
AI in Health Summer Camp (George Mason University)
A free five-day camp for rising 11th-12th graders on how AI is used across hospitals, health systems and community health organizations, with daily hands-on AI Maker Labs and a student showcase.
📍 Fairfax, VA (George Mason University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Central Arkansas
AI Innovators Lab: From Code to Intelligent Systems
Students learn programming and introductory AI through guided exercises, collaborative projects and development of simple intelligent systems.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UMass Boston Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (PEAAII)
AI Institute Summer Camp
A five-week, project-based hybrid summer camp (July 27-Aug 28, 2026) where high schoolers build skills in machine learning, computer vision, NLP, generative AI, and robotics, producing a research-style write-up mentored by UMass Boston CS faculty and PhD students.
📍 Boston, MA (UMass Boston campus + virtual)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alabama Cooperative Extension System / Alabama 4-H
Alabama 4-H Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat
A weekend leadership retreat at the Alabama 4-H Center for Senior 4-H members ages 14-18, themed 'Launching into Leadership' and including lodging, meals and leadership workshops.
📍 Columbiana, AL (Alabama 4-H Center)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Legion, Department of Alabama
Alabama Boys State
A week-long model-government leadership program for rising high school senior boys, featuring simulated elections, political parties, mock legislation, interest groups, and a closing visit to the State Capitol.
📍 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL📅 May🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
QuantHub
Alabama Data Scholars
Alabama high-school students complete data and AI training and work on a real employer project. The program allows on-site, hybrid, and fully virtual placements.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DECA Inc., Alabama Chartered Association
Alabama DECA
Alabama's chartered DECA association preparing high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through classroom instruction, competitive events, and an annual Career Development Conference.
📍 Chapters statewide, AL; Association Career Development Conference in Montgomery, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alabama Soil & Water Conservation Committee
Alabama Envirothon
A three-day environmental problem-solving and team-building competition for five-student high school teams, combining classroom training and outdoor field testing in aquatics, forestry, soils, and wildlife, plus a current-issue case study presented to judges.
📍 Regional sites statewide, AL, with the state competition advancing winners to NCF-Envirothon📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alabama FBLA
Alabama FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
A statewide career and technical student organization preparing high schoolers for careers in business, entrepreneurship, IT, management, and finance through classroom curriculum, leadership development, and academic competitions at district, state, and national conferences.
📍 Chapters statewide, AL; State Leadership Conference in Montgomery, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
FCCLA / Alabama CTSO
Alabama FCCLA
Alabama's chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a national Career and Technical Student Organization for students in family and consumer sciences education, offering competitive events, leadership development and career exploration.
📍 Statewide (Alabama)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Alabama
Alabama Girls State
A week-long, hands-on civic education program in which rising high school senior girls build and run mock city, county, and state governments, form political parties, and draft legislation, culminating in a visit to the State Capitol.
📍 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Samford University
Alabama Governor's School
A three-week summer residential program for high-achieving high school students in Alabama.
📍 Birmingham, AL⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, hosted by UAH
Alabama High School Regional Science Bowl
A fast-paced, quiz-bowl-style academic competition testing high school teams' knowledge across biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, math, and energy topics, hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
📍 University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Alabama Humanities Alliance
Alabama History Day
The Alabama state contest of National History Day, engaging students in grades 9-12 (Senior Division) in year-long primary-source historical research presented as a paper, documentary, website, performance, or exhibit, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Regional contests statewide, with the state contest at American Village, Montevallo, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alabama Academy of Science
Alabama Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) / Gorgas Scholarship Competition
A research-based scholarship competition and high school outreach program in which students in grades 9-12 present original research papers and defend them orally at regional and state symposia, with top competitors advancing to the national Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.
📍 Regional sites statewide (2027 regional conference at Alabama State University), AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama, Alabama International Relations Club (AIRC)
Alabama Model United Nations Conference (ALMUN)
An annual weekend-long Model UN conference at the University of Alabama simulating General Assembly, Specialized Assembly and Crisis committees for high school delegations from across the Southeast.
📍 Tuscaloosa, AL (University of Alabama)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Alabama Wildlife Federation / Alabama Nature Center
Alabama Nature Center Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 16+ can assist with animal ambassadors, citizen-science work, educational field trips, fishing programs, and other conservation activities.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Auburn University
Alabama Science and Engineering Fair — Senior Division
Students who advance through affiliated regional fairs present original science and engineering research for judging, awards, and advancement opportunities.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Auburn University COSAM Outreach / Science Olympiad
Alabama Science Olympiad (State Tournament, Division C)
A statewide STEM team competition where high school students (Division C) compete in up to 23 events spanning earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, math, and engineering, advancing from regional to state to national tournaments.
📍 University of Alabama (Division C state tournament), Tuscaloosa, AL📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alabama Department of Education / SkillsUSA
Alabama SkillsUSA
A career and technical student organization preparing Alabama high schoolers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations through personal, workplace, and technical skills training, with chapter, district, and state competitions leading to a State Leadership and Skills Conference.
📍 Chapters statewide, AL📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alaska Historical Society (Alaska affiliate of National History Day)
Alaska History Day
Alaska's statewide affiliate of National History Day, where middle and high schoolers research a topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, website, performance, or paper, with winners advancing to nationals.
📍 Statewide, AK (online judging, in-person national contest)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature Volunteer Program
Volunteers assist with front desk operations, exhibit research and installation, education programming, and event outreach, typically committing to two 3-hour shifts per month.
📍 Anchorage📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium / University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
A statewide STEM research symposium where Alaska high schoolers present original research to a panel of scientists and researchers, competing for recognition and scholarships with a pathway to the national JSHS competition.
📍 Fairbanks, AK (UAF, regional symposium)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska SeaLife Center
Alaska SeaLife Center Teen Volunteer Program
A hands-on volunteer program at Alaska's public aquarium and marine research center, where teens support visitor interpretation, conservation, and rehabilitation work with Alaska's marine wildlife.
📍 Seward, AK📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Alabama
American Legion Department of Alabama Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech competition for high school students that advances from post to state to national levels, developing knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and public-speaking skills.
📍 Statewide (Alabama); state final in Montgomery📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Minnesota
American Legion Minnesota High School Oratorical Contest
High school students research and deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned constitutional topic, competing for a state title and scholarship money that leads to a national contest awarding up to $25,000.
📍 Anoka Post 102, Anoka, MN📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars — Europe & Asia
Fully funded summer research at host institutions across Europe and Asia for undergraduates in the sciences.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Advanced Materials Research Institute, LSU New Orleans
AMRI High School Summer Research Program
An 8-week, full-time paid research experience where high schoolers from the Greater New Orleans area work side-by-side with scientists in labs spanning chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering, psychology, and mathematics.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Colorado Anschutz
Anatomy & Medical Careers Camp
Students study university-level anatomy while exploring medical school, dentistry, physical therapy, scientific research and other health professions.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Life Sciences
Anatomy Academy Summer Camp
Students study physiology, histology and anatomy through organ and digital dissections, suturing, ECG activities and exposure to biomedical research and health careers.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program
ANSEP Acceleration High School
Free year-round STEM acceleration for Alaska Native students.
📍 AK⏱ School year + summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Tech University
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
An intensive seven-week summer research program in which twelve rising high school seniors and recent graduates work one-on-one with Texas Tech faculty. Open to almost any academic area, from natural sciences and mathematics to humanities and fine arts, with weekly seminars and field trips.
📍 Lubbock, TX📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
New Hampshire Academy of Science
Applied Scientific Research Summer Program
Three-week intensive in which students formulate a hypothesis and complete an original research project with PhD-level mentorship. The academy lists possible research papers, presentations and conference participation; registration for summer 2027 is already open.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Academic Pathways
Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM)
Summer program for Milwaukee-area rising juniors, rising seniors and June graduates aged 16+ to build interest in medicine, biomedical research and allied health careers.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of South Florida
Aqua Bulls Ocean Exploration
Students explore marine biology and oceanography through coastal fieldwork, research techniques and an at-sea research expedition collecting and analyzing data.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mystic Aquarium
Aquarium Marine Science Mentorship
A 12-week after-school mentorship for students in grades 10-12 that pairs job shadowing and independent research with hands-on work in animal behavior studies, enrichment design, and horseshoe crab conservation alongside aquarium professionals.
📍 Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University at Buffalo
Arcadis Pathways to Engineering Camp
Free engineering exploration emphasizing environmental impacts, laboratories and hands-on field activities.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne Exemplary Student Research Program
Chicago-area students conduct year-long research mentored by Argonne scientists.
📍 IL⏱ School year📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
ARISE@UM
Students spend four weeks conducting mentored research in fields including biology, chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, nanomaterials, physics, and renewable-energy chemistry while also earning up to six college credits. Summer 2027 applications are forthcoming.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (AzSEF)
Students advancing from qualifying fairs present original science or engineering research at Arizona's statewide fair. Senior Division Grand Award winners advance to Regeneron ISEF.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day Arkansas (affiliate)
Arkansas History Day
A year-long historical research program in which students create papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites on an annual theme, advancing from regional contests to the state contest and potentially the national competition.
📍 University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR (state contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Art, Geometry and Modular Design STEAM Camp
Students connect geometry, spatial reasoning, paper folding and geometric construction to build three-dimensional and collaborative installations.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 9
Selective
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering
Artificial Intelligence — Summer Engineering Academy
Students use hands-on experiments, collaborative projects and challenges to learn foundational AI concepts and explore machine-learning applications to real-world problems.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program
ASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
📍 CA⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology / ASM International
ASM Exploring Materials in Your World
Free selective materials-science program using laboratory equipment, experiments and team problem solving to investigate how materials behave and are engineered.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
George Mason University (GMU)
Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
A summer internship program that provides high school students with the opportunity to conduct research, develop new ideas, and invent new technologies.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute
Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship
Michigan juniors spend six residential weeks contributing to active U-M life-science research projects. Housing and meals are covered and participants receive a $3,000 stipend.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Astronomical Techniques Research Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn. Students learn observational astronomy and data analysis, build simple cameras and spectrometers, observe the Sun and stars, and analyze data with Python. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 2 weeks (July 11 - 25, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Arizona State University
ASU SCENE
Free science club + research opportunities for AZ high schoolers, with focus on first-gen students.
📍 AZ⏱ Year-round📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UC Berkeley ATDP
ATDP Jobs & Internships
Opportunities available at ATDP. This may include internships for high school students or older, further details are needed from the page.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
UMBC
Atmospheric Science Lab: Build, Test, and Deploy a Handheld Air Quality Sensor
Students explore atmospheric science through construction and deployment of an air-quality sensor.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Truman State University & A.T. Still University
ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
One-week residential academy where students explore healthcare professions through hands-on activities, discussions and campus experiences. 2026 tuition was $1,050, with need-based aid available.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Auburn University College of Engineering
Auburn Engineering Summer Camps (HS Track)
One-week intensive workshops in robotics, aerospace, and medical engineering for Alabama high school students.
📍 Auburn, AL⏱ 1 week📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Auburn University
Auburn Summer Science Institute
Hands-on STEM research at Auburn — Alabama residents prioritized; in-state tuition aid available.
📍 AL⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Audubon Connecticut
Audubon Sharon Summer Internships (Youth)
Research and education internship at a wildlife sanctuary focusing on birds and habitat health.
📍 Sharon, CT⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Delaware
Autonomous Driving Academy
Students build and program autonomous robotic vehicles using Python, C++, ROS, sensors, perception and control systems inside UD's CAR Lab.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UMass Amherst
Avian Physiology Lab Research Intensive
Students spend six weeks embedded in the Gerson Lab studying how birds physiologically respond to extreme environmental conditions and contribute to ongoing faculty research before presenting a poster.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Ohio State Manufacturing & Materials Joining Innovation Center
AWS Foundation & Mₐ²JIC High School Internship
Paid eight-week research internship in welding engineering, materials science, advanced manufacturing, automation and robotics; students complete a research project and poster.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Northern Kentucky University CINSAM
B.R.A.I.N. — Best Research Academy in Neuroscience
Students conduct EEG experiments, dissect animal brains, and study neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, and neurobehavior using NKU neuroscience laboratories. Academy tuition for community participants was $200 in 2026, with need-based scholarships.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Wisconsin Science Education Foundation (WiSEF)
Badger State Science and Engineering Fair (BSSEF)
Wisconsin's ISEF-affiliated state science and engineering fair where students present original research projects in a Senior High division; winners can advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Baruch College / CUNY
Baruch College Now STEM Research Academy
Spring research preparation followed by a five-to-six-week faculty-mentored summer project. Recent research includes genetics, biology and environmental science; participants receive a $1,000 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Base Pair Biomedical Research Mentorship
High-school students, primarily from Murrah High School and the Jackson Public School District, complete rigorous biomedical-research preparation and then work in UMMC laboratories with faculty mentors. Students can earn high-school credit and have historically co-authored scientific presentations and publications.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Chesapeake Bay Foundation / Washington College
Bay Science and Solutions at Washington College
Rising grades 10–12 collect environmental data by kayak and research vessel and work in Washington College science laboratories while studying ecosystem restoration and community solutions.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UNLV College of Sciences
Beal Bank USA Southern Nevada Regional Science & Engineering Fair
ISEF-affiliated regional fair for Nevada high-school research in chemistry, engineering/computing, environmental science, medicine, molecular biology, behavioral science, physics and astronomy. Cash prizes are offered and the overall winner may advance to ISEF.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rowan University
BEAM — BioEngineering And Me
Free virtual biomedical-engineering experience featuring faculty presentations, demonstrations, workshops and collaborative activities.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UT Health San Antonio Office of Recruitment and Science Outreach
BEAT Academy (UT Health San Antonio)
A one-week in-person academy for up to 20 high school students exploring medical and biomedical research, with anatomy lab visits, simulated patient interactions, biomolecular experiments, and college preparation sessions. Topics include anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, aging, and neurodegeneration.
📍 San Antonio, TX (UT Health Lozano Long Campus)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Bennington College
Bennington Young Scientists Awards
A free competition for high school students in the Natural Sciences category, submitting visual work such as field guides, scientific drawings, research posters or process diagrams that show their understanding of the natural world.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore
BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program
Eight-week full-time biomedical/cancer research placement followed by optional school-year work. Students receive a $2,500 stipend, meal support and transportation assistance.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering
BIG Bridge Builders
High-school students study structural engineering, model bridges in 3D, construct small basswood structures, and then build and destructively test a roughly 16-foot bridge in UAA's structures laboratory.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Boston Leadership Institute
Big Data
A one-week summer program for teens interested in business, math, and computer science, part of Boston Leadership Institute's STEM research offerings held at Greater Boston-area college campuses.
📍 Wellesley / Waltham / Boston, MA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Bio Blitz — Understanding Biodiversity
Students investigate biodiversity across intertidal, forest, shoreline, freshwater, and marine ecosystems while developing scientific-research and environmental-leadership skills.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Bio Space Academy
Combines biological experimentation, rocket/space systems and laboratory activities around the challenges of life and research in space.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
BioBus
BioBus Junior Scientist Internship
Twelve-month paid science-research experience combining summer laboratory research with academic-year independent projects and science teaching.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Biogen
Biogen Community Lab
Free hands-on biotech labs and high school research opportunities at Biogen sites.
📍 Cambridge, MA + RTP, NC⏱ Day to weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Washington Bothell Center for Biotechnology Innovation & Training
BioImpact Summer Camps (UW Bothell)
Five-day and two-day immersive camps at UW Bothell for rising 10th-12th graders covering anatomy and biomedical devices, immunology and vaccine innovation, and biotech entrepreneurship with AI and data science, with labs and company visits.
📍 Bothell, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Idaho State University, Department of Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences Summer Research Program
A four-week summer lab internship where high school students work alongside faculty and graduate student mentors on live research, such as studying bluebanded goby fish behavior, and present their findings at academic conferences.
📍 Pocatello, ID (ISU campus)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NC State University
Biomass to Brilliance: Engineering a Greener Future
Residential program explores biomass, paper engineering, biofuels, recycling, bioplastics and printed electronics through laboratory work.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME)
BioME Student Showcase
A life-science research poster competition for Maine students in grades 9-12, focused on projects in healthcare, agriculture, or industrial/environmental biotechnology, judged by Maine scientists and entrepreneurs.
📍 University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan Medical School
BioMed Focus
Rising juniors and seniors complete an eight-week independent biomedical research project in a U-M laboratory, write a manuscript, and give a research presentation. Scholars receive $4,000; the 2027 program runs June 14–August 6.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Drexel University
BIOMED Summer Academy
Biomedical engineering, medicine and laboratory activities.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 10, 12
Moderate
Outset (hosted at UNC-Chapel Hill)
Biomedical Research & Synthetic Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill
A one-week pre-med summer program at UNC-Chapel Hill where high schoolers explore synthetic biology in a course led by UNC Biomedical Science students, with university housing and instruction from physicians and medical faculty.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Biomedical Research Academy
An immersive program where students engage in hands-on biomedical research projects, learn about experimental design, and explore various biomedical disciplines.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Johns Hopkins University
Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT)
Rising sophomores through seniors spend five weeks conducting hands-on biophysics and biomedical research while studying scientific writing, mathematics, data analysis, and bioethics. The program is a paid internship; Hopkins materials list a $5,500 stipend.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Genspace
BioRocket Internship
Six-month biotechnology internship combining spring training with summer research in molecular/synthetic biology. Participants receive a $2,000 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma Biological Station
Biostation Concurrent Enrollment
A residential summer program at the OU Biological Station on Lake Texoma where rising juniors and seniors earn 3 college credits in biology, sociology, math, or history while conducting hands-on field research.
📍 Kingston, OK📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Utah State University Center for Integrated Biosystems
Biotechnology Summer Academy
An intensive five-day internship in which high school students complete a biotechnology-related project with USU faculty mentors, lab training, workshops, and field trips. Topics range from plant and soil sciences to genomics and cloning.
📍 Logan, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Minnesota Department of Biomedical Engineering
BME High School Internship Program
Students spend six paid weeks conducting hands-on biomedical-engineering research with a graduate-student mentor, touring laboratories, receiving scientific-writing and communication training, and presenting a research poster. A stipend and bus transportation are provided.
📍 MN🎓 Grade 11
Selective
LSU Health Shreveport
Bobbie Cates Hicks SMART Program
A yearlong research opportunity for academically advanced high school seniors from Caddo, Bossier, and DeSoto parishes to conduct hands-on research with LSU Health Shreveport faculty mentors on topics such as Parkinson's disease progression and cancer cell studies.
📍 Shreveport, LA📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
World Food Prize Foundation
Borlaug-Ruan International Internship
Eight-week international research internship for World Food Prize Youth Institute alumni.
📍 International⏱ 8 weeks📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
City of Boston
Boston Mayor's Youth Council
Boston high-school students represent youth in city government, collaborate with officials, and develop projects addressing community and civic issues.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Boston
Boston SuccessLink
Free paid summer employment program for Boston youth ages 14-18.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Boston University
Boston University Lab Apprenticeship in Science & Technology (BLAST)
Boston-area students participate in a paid biomedical-science internship featuring laboratory practicums and mentoring; the longer-term program can lead into immersive laboratory research.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Boston University
Boston University Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
Six-week summer research program in 14 STEM disciplines.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Cornell University
Boyce Thompson Institute Plant Genome Research
Paid 7-week plant-genomics research; housing provided.
📍 Ithaca, NY📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia University Zuckerman Institute
Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
An eight-month neuroscience apprenticeship for NYC 10th/11th graders combining weekend coursework in neuroscience, programming, and lab techniques with a seven-week full-time summer research placement in a Columbia neuroscience lab.
📍 New York, NY (Columbia University)📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Columbia University Zuckerman Institute
BRAINYAC
January–August neuroscience pathway culminating in seven weeks of mentored laboratory research. Participants receive a $3,500 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Rhode Island
Break Into Engineering
Students work inside URI engineering laboratories on robotics, biomedical devices, clean energy, ocean engineering and other real projects.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Breakthrough
Breakthrough Collaborative
Free summer and school-year academic program for first-generation, low-income middle schoolers; high schoolers can serve as teaching fellows.
📍 30+ US cities⏱ Multi-year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center
BRIDGE
Eight-week research/workforce program with laboratory or biomedical experiences, mentoring, networking, professional development and résumé building.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Washington Health Careers Opportunity Program
BRIGHT-UP (Biomedical Research Internship for Growth of High school Trainees from Underrepresented Populations)
A paid summer internship giving high school students hands-on biomedical research experience in UW labs: one week of orientation and training, then a six-week lab placement, weekly career development meetings and a closing symposium.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCSSM-Durham
Broad Street Scientific
Student STEM research journal publishing original work by NCSSM-Durham Residential and NCSSM Online students.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Broad Institute (MIT & Harvard)
Broad Summer Scholars Program
Paid genomics research for Boston-area rising seniors from underrepresented groups.
📍 MA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
A six-week paid summer research program for rising high school seniors near Boston to conduct original biomedical research with Broad Institute scientists in areas like cancer biology, chemical biology, and computational biology.
📍 Cambridge, MA📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Brooklyn College / CUNY College Now
Brooklyn College STEM Research Academy
Spring research preparation followed by summer research in fields such as ecology, environmental science and biology.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center
Brown Cancer Center High School Summer Research Program
Students complete two weeks of intensive wet-lab and drug-discovery work followed by seven weeks of mentored cancer research, then present their results at a poster showcase and research retreat. Participants receive $3,500.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Brown University Pre-College Programs
Brown Environmental Leadership Lab: Rhode Island (BELL RI)
A 12-day residential program for students completing grades 10-12 that pairs environmental science coursework with leadership development, field trips across Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, and a community environmental action plan.
📍 Providence, RI plus field sites across RI and southern MA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Brown Pre-College
Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL)
N/A
📍 Off Campus or On Campus🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
BS Biology Club, BS Neuro Club & Medspire
BS Neuroscience Research Initiative (NRI)
A student-led program for high school students interested in neuroscience, biology, medicine and research. Phase 1 is a series of neuroscience education sessions taught by experienced students and Brain Bee competitors. Phase 2 is mentored systematic-review research: choosing a research question, searching the literature, screening and analyzing studies, and learning scientific writing.
📍 Online⏱ Phase 1: Oct 17 to Nov 17, 2026; Phase 2 dates to be announced📅 October 15, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute and Dane County School Consortium
BTC Institute Biotechnology Youth Apprenticeship Program
Paid biotechnology youth apprenticeship for students in partner Dane County districts, combining 450 hours of work in an industry or UW-Madison research lab with a weekly biotechnology course.
📍 Fitchburg, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute (Promega campus)
BTC Institute Summer Camps (Camp Biotech I and II, Clinical Laboratory Science)
One-week hands-on biotechnology camps for high schoolers at the BTC Institute: The Wonders of DNA, The Wonders of Protein (DNA extraction, PCR, restriction enzymes) and Exploring Clinical Laboratory Science.
📍 Fitchburg, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ohio Academy of Science
Buckeye Science & Engineering Fair
Independent statewide ISEF-affiliated research fair. Ohio students present original STEM research; six projects advanced directly to Regeneron ISEF in 2026.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ohio State Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Buckeye STEM Bridge Program
Six-week experiential program placing high-school students in OSU research labs for mentored micro-research projects, lab tours and faculty seminars.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
University of Georgia
Building Engineering Pathways
Students use engineering laboratories and fabrication spaces to tackle design projects, team challenges and real-world engineering problems.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
BullD.O.G.S. in Healthcare
Students explore pharmacy, nursing, occupational therapy, and other healthcare professions through laboratory activities, educational sessions, a field trip, and interaction with Drake faculty and students. The residential program costs $200, with financial assistance available.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
Bulldog Pharmacy Camp
A weeklong overnight camp introducing high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to the pharmacy profession through compounding labs, simulation experiences and tours of local healthcare facilities.
📍 Birmingham, AL (Samford University)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Adelphi University
Business & Leadership Academy
Students conduct market research, build a startup concept, develop branding/product strategy and pitch an entrepreneurial idea. The 2026 fee was $1,000.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Health Tech Alley / Maryland Innovation Center
Business Analytics, Data Science and AI Youth Apprenticeship Program
A 12-month youth apprenticeship based at the Maryland Innovation Center in Columbia where high school seniors train in data analytics, AI, machine learning, and cloud computing while earning Google and Microsoft industry credentials and completing a year-long research project.
📍 Columbia, MD (Howard County)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation
Business Horizons
Iowa students form teams, create an original product or service, develop a business, and pitch it to industry professionals while participating in leadership activities and company visits. The residential 2026 program cost $650, with aid available.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
BYU David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
BYU Model United Nations (BYUMUN) High School Conference
A high school Model United Nations learning conference at BYU focused on developing writing, research and interpersonal skills. Country assignments are given on a first-come, first-served basis and new schools and delegates are welcome.
📍 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Tech University
CAKE: Creativity, Agriculture & Knowledge of Enterprise
Students investigate Arkansas agriculture and tourism through science laboratories, agritourism activities, enterprise development and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
National History Day California (NHD-CA)
California History Day
A year-long research program in which students create documentaries, exhibits, papers, websites, or performances on a historical topic, competing from county contests up through state finals.
📍 California statewide (county contests); state finals in Sacramento📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CSSSA Foundation
California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)
Multi-disciplinary arts sessions for young artists to collaborate and learn from professionals.
📍 Valencia, CA⏱ 4 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Ohio State Center for Automotive Research
Camp CAR
Week-long automotive-engineering camp covering simulation, manufacturing, machining, mobility research and industry/research-facility visits.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
LSU AgCenter
Camp CRISP
A summer internship immersing high school students and teachers in agricultural research on climate-resilient rice production, covering breeding, genomics, pathology, entomology, AI, and precision agriculture.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Gettysburg College
Camp Psych
Residential psychology institute involving experiments, research and college-level psychology.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 10, 12
Moderate
Texas A&M University Department of Aerospace Engineering
Camp SOAR (Summer Opportunities in Aerospace Research)
A six-day summer camp for rising high school juniors and seniors with tracks in aircraft, rotorcraft, space mission design and space robotics, featuring technical lectures, hands-on design projects and facility tours. Participants stay in campus housing.
📍 College Station, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Zon Lab, Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
Camp Zon Virtual Summer Research Experience
A paid two-week virtual research experience where Massachusetts high schoolers become part of the Zon Lab team, using zebrafish to study anemia and blood development, designing experiments, generating a hypothesis, and analyzing data alongside top researchers.
📍 Boston, MA (Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard-affiliated Zon Lab)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Black Hills State University
Campus and Career Discovery Camp
A four-day, three-night residential camp for incoming 9th-11th graders from West River South Dakota school districts to explore college life, academic programs, and career paths, including a field trip to the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead.
📍 Spearfish, SD📅 May🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
Cancer Research High School Program
A two-week virtual experience with live online laboratory instruction using an at-home lab kit, followed by career-exploration workshops and panels with research and medical professionals. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
📍 Remote (Utah, NV, MT, ID, WY residents)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
UC San Diego
Cardiovascular Institute Summer Research Program
Eight-week mentored cardiovascular-science research experience with clinician-scientists, a core lecture series, research training, and clinical-shadowing opportunities.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Cardiovascular Research Institute Summer Research Experience
High-school students work with real-world healthcare data while exploring data science and cardiovascular-health research.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture
Career Explorations in Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture Workshop
Six-day residential design workshop featuring studio projects, design discussions and exploration of architecture, landscape architecture and interior design. The 2027 session is already confirmed for June 6–11 and costs $650, with scholarships available.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science
Career Immersion Program (Minnesota)
A free, scholarship-funded, week-long residential program in Rochester for Minnesota high school sophomores and juniors to explore in-demand allied health careers such as sonography, phlebotomy, respiratory care, and paramedic work through hands-on classroom and lab experiences with Mayo Clinic faculty and students.
📍 Rochester, MN📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Adelphi University
Careers in Healthcare Academy
Students explore healthcare professions and receive hands-on preparation such as CPR, Narcan and Stop the Bleed training.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Academy of Sciences
Careers in Science Intern Program
Multi-year, year-round paid internship involving hands-on science, field research, STEM education, professional development and public engagement at the Academy.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
CEI
Caretakers of the Environment International
Annual international youth conference on environmental research and projects.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purdue University College of Agriculture
Cargill-Purdue Agriculture & STEM Academy (C-PASA) High School Camp
A one-week residential camp for rising 9th-12th graders exploring Purdue's College of Agriculture through tours of companies like Cargill, Corteva, Syngenta, and BASF plus hands-on lab and research-facility work.
📍 West Lafayette, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Nevada, Reno Raggio Center / Latino Research Center / School of Medicine
CBESS Student Researcher Program
Selects up to 30 bilingual Northern Nevada juniors for a 17-month pathway including residential and virtual research training, a student-designed community health research project, mentoring and a later outreach internship.
📍 NV🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Coastal Carolina University INBRE / SCoRE Program
CCU HCHEC Sponsored Research (SCoRE High School Track)
A paid summer research program placing Horry County high school students in Coastal Carolina University labs, where each student works alongside a faculty mentor and an undergraduate researcher; past participants have published work and presented at conferences.
📍 Conway, SC (Coastal Carolina University)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering and Applied Science
CEAS Summer Engineering Camps
Week-long, 9am-4pm summer engineering camps on UC's Clifton campus organized by age and interest level, with need-based scholarships available for students requiring financial assistance.
📍 Cincinnati, OH (University of Cincinnati)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Duke University Department of Cell Biology
Cell Biology Academy (CeBA)
Six-week paid laboratory research academy for Triangle-area high-school students, with close mentoring in contemporary cell and molecular biology.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
CFA Institute
CFA Institute Research Challenge
Global equity research and analysis competition with high school divisions in some regions.
📍 Global⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Kentucky STEM Experiences
Chem Camp for High School Students
Students complete investigative chemistry laboratory experiences that extend high-school chemistry and expose them to university laboratories and research environments. No prior chemistry experience is required.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University at Buffalo
Chem-E Camp
Week-long chemical-engineering program for upperclassmen interested in chemistry, physics and mathematics. The 2026 fee was $400.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Kansas Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering
Chemical Engineering Experience in Research (ChEER) for Youth Interns
Students ages 15–18 conduct non-hazardous chemical-engineering research under graduate or postdoctoral mentors, participate in research meetings, analyze data, and present results. The internship is unpaid and intended for students who can commute locally.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Chemistry Research Academy
The Chemistry Research Academy for rising 10th-12th graders offers intensive laboratory experience in chemical research.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering
Chemistry Summer Camp
Students conduct experiments and laboratory activities involving real-world chemistry such as food and medicine while interacting with UofL faculty and students. The 2026 fee was $250.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chicago EYES on Cancer
A two-year cancer-research program combining two full-time eight-week summer laboratory experiences with school-year virtual enrichment. High-school participants receive a $5,000 taxable stipend each year.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Children's Hospital Colorado
Child Health Research Internship
Participants conduct child-health research with faculty mentors, attend a weekly research lecture series, and present their work at the end of the internship.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
CHOP-RISES
Multi-summer research pipeline pairing Philadelphia students with CHOP scientists and mentors.
📍 PA🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
City College of New York / College Now
City College STEM Research Academy
Faculty-guided research pathway with projects that have included anthropology and stem-cell science.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
NYC College of Technology / CUNY
City Tech STEM Research Academy
High-school students complete research preparation and summer projects in engineering technology, computer science, biology and chemical technology.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Clark Planetarium (Salt Lake County)
Clark Planetarium Youth Volunteer Program
Volunteer program for 16- and 17-year-olds who help with guest engagement, exhibit interpretation, STEAM demonstrations, public star parties and data collection. Requires a 4-hour-per-week commitment for a year, a 2-hour orientation and a $15 background check (fee waivers available).
📍 Clark Planetarium, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Texas Tech University
Clark Scholars Program
Intensive research with TTU faculty across STEM and humanities. $750 stipend, room and board covered.
📍 TX (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Maryland
Clark School Pre-College Scholars Program
Rising juniors and seniors complete three weeks of intensive SAT preparation, engineering-department presentations, college admissions workshops, and individualized application support. The 2026 fee was $400, with financial aid available.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Case Western Reserve University / Cleveland State partners
Cleveland & Columbus KUH Summer Research Fellowship — C2KUHR
Eight-week NIH-supported research fellowship in kidney, urology, hematology, physiology, immunology, tissue engineering and related biomedical fields.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Cleveland State University & Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Cleveland Tech Talent Pipeline
An NSF-funded initiative giving CMSD high schoolers computer science classes, after-school robotics clubs (FIRST FRC, VEX, LEGO), and paid summer IT/web-development internships at sites such as NASA Glenn Research Center and Cleveland Clinic.
📍 Cleveland, OH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Climate Resilience Camp
Students investigate climate change, resilience and environmental solutions through field and laboratory activities.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Anatomy Summer Experience (CASE)
A one-week program with hands-on human cadaver anatomy labs taught by WVSOM medical school instructors, including exposure to a medical school classroom and interaction with osteopathic medical students.
📍 Lewisburg, WV📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Vanderbilt University Programs for Talented Youth
Clinical Psychology: Cognitive-Behavioral Theory in Research and Application
A one-week Vanderbilt Summer Academy course for rising 11th-12th graders studying cognitive-behavioral theory in clinical psychology research and application.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
National 4-H Council
CLOVER by 4-H Activities & Courses
4-H's online learning platform helps kids become more confident, resilient and independent. With 300+ interactive online activities available, CLOVER offers a wide range of activities and courses across Agriculture, STEM, Healthy Living and Civic Engagement.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Louisiana State University
Coast and Environmental Sciences Camp
Students collect environmental samples in the field, analyze them in LSU laboratories, visit conservation/research sites, and examine issues including microplastics, pollution, hypoxia, and coastal ecosystems.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Coastal Carolina University / NSF
Coastal Carolina High School SURF Pathway
Newly funded NSF expansion places four local high-school students each summer into CCU's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship ecosystem.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Auburn University
Coastal Fisheries Camp
Five-day marine-science program featuring field and laboratory work, water sampling, plankton studies, salt-marsh ecology, marine-species identification, and research-vessel experiences.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Georgia
Code and Cognition: The AI Lab
Students learn Python and machine-learning fundamentals and build a functioning AI project while examining ethical and social implications of AI.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
CodeDay
CodeDay Labs Fellowship
High school students are paired with industry mentors to build a real-world software project.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months📅 May 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Coding for Cancer
A four-week virtual program where students learn the R programming language and cancer biology, then carry out an individual research project with support from computational biologists.
📍 Online (Fred Hutch, Seattle, WA)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Coding it Forward
Coding it Forward Civic Innovation Corps
Summer civic-tech fellowship placing students at federal agencies (mostly college, some HS programs).
📍 United States⏱ 10 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Coe College
Coe College Talented and Gifted (TAG) Summer Academy
Week-long advanced courses for motivated high school students taught by Coe College professors, combining classroom lectures with hands-on lab sessions and campus life in Cedar Rapids.
📍 Cedar Rapids, IA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Children's National Hospital
Colaco Scholar Program
One or two area high-school students spend about eight weeks in Children's National's clinical laboratory learning medical testing, shadowing pathologists/hematologists and participating in research projects.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Meharry Medical College School of Applied Computational Sciences & Fisk University
Collaborative Interactive Data Science Academy
A free, NASA-funded residential week introducing high school students to robotics, data science, and immersive VR/AR/MR technologies, including programming a Sphero robot to simulate planetary orbits and building rubber-band-powered rovers.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UW-Madison School of Education
College Access Program in Education (CAPE)
A two-week residential summer experience on the UW-Madison campus for rising seniors interested in education or health professions, with a two-credit college course, college-prep seminar and exposure to School of Education research.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
City University of New York / NYC Public Schools
College Now
Free dual-enrollment program allowing NYC high-school students to take CUNY courses and earn college credit before graduation.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Colorado State University / Colorado State Science Fair
Colorado Science & Engineering Fair
Students qualifying through one of Colorado's regional fairs present original research at the statewide science and engineering fair in categories ranging from chemistry and biomedical science to physics, computer science, and engineering.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Columbia Climate School (hosted at Vermont State University Castleton)
Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains
A two-week residential pre-college program in Vermont where students work with Columbia faculty and researchers on climate science and solutions and climate leadership projects.
📍 Castleton, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
miRcore
Computational Biology Research Camp
Students use real scientific data and professional research tools to explore disease-related computational biology questions in small research groups. In-person and virtual formats are available.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Computer Science: Computer Vision, Web Development, Computer Organization
Students explore computer vision, web development, and computer organization through rigorous collaborative coursework, research, and a final symposium.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Connecticut Democracy Center / National History Day affiliate
Connecticut History Day
An affiliate of National History Day, Connecticut History Day engages thousands of middle and high school students in original historical research presented as exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers, or performances at regional and state contests, with top finishers advancing to the national contest.
📍 Regional contests in Fairfield, Storrs/Mansfield, New Haven, Norwich, and Torrington; state contest in Hartford📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut STEM Foundation
Connecticut STEM Fair
Students submit completed scientific research or research proposals in health, physical, environmental and behavioral-science categories and defend their work live before judges.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Conservation Discovery Corps
Year-long teen volunteer program combining field-conservation research, zoological career exploration and public conservation education.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northern Kentucky University CINSAM
Cooking with Chemistry Jr. Academy
Students investigate the chemistry behind cooking and baking in a chemistry laboratory and then apply those concepts through hands-on food experiments. High-school eligibility extends through rising grade 10.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Coolidge Scholars Foundation
Coolidge Senators Program
Fully-funded public policy program at the Coolidge Foundation in Vermont.
📍 VT (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Coro Northern California
Coro Youth Fellows
Civic leadership fellowships for young people exploring careers in public affairs.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of California
COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science)
A four-week residential summer STEM program for high-achieving students completing grades 8-12, held across six UC campuses with hands-on faculty-led research clusters.
📍 Six UC campuses statewide: Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Helena-West Helena School District
Cougar Next Level Scholars Institute
Advanced interdisciplinary program combining research, STEM, literature, leadership, civic innovation, seminars and innovation labs around real-world problems.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown Pre-College
Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE)
Propose, design, and conduct your own research project, working on topics and seeking answers to questions that are currently unknown to the specific discipline.
📍 On Campus or Online📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington University in St. Louis Pre-College Programs
Creative Immersion Institute
Two-week residential institute built around intensive creative, college-level work in small classes, combined with college-readiness and academic enrichment. The 2026 fee was $3,985 and need-based scholarships are available.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Media
Creative Summer Experience
High-school students choose intensive creative tracks while gaining hands-on experience in areas such as graphic design, motion design, photography, book arts, game design, film, theatre, and music. Need-based scholarships are available.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Washington University in St. Louis Cancer Research Club
CRISPr — Cancer Research Inspiring Future Scientists Program
Nine-week cancer-research internship pairing high-school students with WashU biomedical research labs for roughly 40 hours/week, plus workshops and a final symposium. Participants receive a $4,800 stipend.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado School of Mines Department of Computer Science
CS@Mines High School Research Internship
High-school students join Mines faculty research groups in areas such as AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and computing. Remote and in-person placements can be available.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard / edX
CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to computer science from Harvard University available for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 Self-paced — no fixed deadline🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
CTAHR Summer Research Institute
Eight-week program where students conduct original faculty-mentored laboratory, field or library research addressing food systems, sustainability, community resilience and related problems, then present at a research symposium.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Northern Arizona University ¡MIRA!
Cultural and Academic Research Experience (CARE)
High-school students conduct hands-on STEMM research with mentors while receiving college-preparation training. In-person participants can receive housing, meals, and a stipend up to $4,500; a virtual research track is also offered.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama, Culverhouse College of Business
Culverhouse Business Prep Summer Program
A one-week residential program for rising high school seniors in Alabama to explore business majors, connect with faculty and alumni, complete hands-on workshops and a local business field trip, and compete in an elevator-pitch competition.
📍 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
CURE (Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences) Summer Internship
A full-time, paid 7-11 week summer research internship for Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students, offering mentored cancer research projects in basic, nursing, clinical, and population science at DF/HCC institutions.
📍 Boston, MA📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center
CURE Jr.
Annual intensive introduction to cancer research and medical careers including microscopy, bionanotechnology, biomedical engineering, oncology and public health.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Curieux
Curieux Academic Journal
Monthly student-run academic journal publishing research by high schoolers worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Idaho National Laboratory
CyberCore Camp
High-school students complete hands-on cybersecurity and computing activities connected to INL's national-security and cyber research. Free INL STEM Scholars camp for grades 9-12; the 2026 sessions (June 15-18 and June 22-25) have passed and registration is closed. Check INL's STEM Scholars page for 2027.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Gallatin College Montana State University
Cybersecurity Summer Initiative Camp
Free summer cybersecurity camp where students explore networks, files, cyber hygiene and security through hands-on activities and a concluding challenge. The program includes high-school students within its grades 6–12 range.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cleveland Clinic
CYCE High School Summer Internship Program
Seven-week paid internship across clinical, nonclinical and advanced-technology tracks including medicine, laboratory science, pharmacy, AI, data science, IT, finance and healthcare administration.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Michigan Department of Chemistry
D-RISE
Cass Technical High School students spend seven weeks doing full-time mentored chemistry research while living on the U-M campus during the week.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
DAAD
DAAD RISE Germany
Summer research internships in Germany for undergraduates from North America, UK, and Ireland; monthly stipend + travel.
📍 Various📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program
DAPCEP (Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program)
Detroit nonprofit offering Saturday classes during the school year and summer camps on college campuses across Southeastern Michigan for elementary through high school students, covering engineering, robotics, coding, AI, renewable energy and drone certification. Participation carries a fee, with a financial aid form available; register through the online portal.
📍 Detroit, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Bound (Free)
Free fly-in program for high-achieving, low-income juniors.
📍 NH⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Lewis & Clark College
Data in Action
Data collection, analysis and research addressing real-world issues.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Quinnipiac University
Data Sciences Lab
Students explore how data are collected, analyzed and interpreted through hands-on data-science activities and university-level applications.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of the District of Columbia
Data STEAAM Summer Camp
Six-week business-intelligence and research program where DC students use data analytics to study agriculture, energy, architecture and public-policy problems while working in university labs and research farms.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center
Day with the Doctors
A free one-day, campus-based program for 11th-12th graders featuring 8+ rotations including anatomy lab visits to expose students to medical careers.
📍 Central Louisiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
DC STEM Fair
DC students present original STEM research at the District's official science and engineering fair. High-school overall winners and runners-up can advance toward Regeneron ISEF.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Historical Society
Delaware History Day
Year-long historical research and creative expression program for students in grades 6-12, culminating in a statewide competition judged on research quality, theme connection, and presentation.
📍 Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Delaware Teen Science Café
Free teen-only science events featuring local STEM experts, hands-on activities, collaborative discussion and topics ranging from astronomy to biology.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (Philosophy Dept.)
Delaware Valley Regional High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl in which student teams analyze ethical dilemmas and are judged on reasoning quality and collaborative dialogue rather than adversarial debate.
📍 West Chester, PA📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
DVSF
Delaware Valley Science Fairs
ISEF-affiliated research competition with awards/scholarships.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
University of Alaska Anchorage WWAMI School of Medical Education
Della Keats Health Sciences Program
Four-week residential health-sciences program in which students experience college life, complete health-related coursework and research projects, and participate in multiple medical or healthcare job shadows.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
OHSU School of Dentistry
Dental Explorers
Monthly lectures plus hands-on dental laboratory experiences mentored by current dental students.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Design Hive
Paid youth-led design initiative where students collaborate with professional designers, create projects and develop public programming. The 2027 cohort runs January–June.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UMass Amherst
Developmental Neurobiology: Neural Stem Cells and Brain Development Lab
Students use zebrafish to investigate nervous-system development, neural stem-cell proliferation, brain growth, and gene expression alongside the Karlstrom Lab.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Liberal Arts
Digging into the Past: UNLV Archaeology Summer Camp
Students act as archaeologists through excavation, artifact analysis, laboratory activities, cultural-heritage preservation and curation. The program returned as part of UNLV's 2026 summer series.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Dinosaur Academy (Wyoming Dinosaur Center)
A 5-day course for high school students in grades 9-12 on vertebrate fossils of the Morrison Formation, combining classroom instruction with field exploration, excavation and fossil preparation lab techniques.
📍 Thermopolis, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Southwestern Adventist University Dinosaur Science Museum
Dinosaur Excavation and Taphonomic Research Project (Wyoming dig)
A four-week summer dinosaur excavation on a private ranch in eastern Wyoming where high school juniors and seniors who have finished their sophomore or junior year can earn four semester hours of university laboratory science credit (GEOL 240, The Dinosaurs).
📍 Eastern Wyoming (arrival in Keene, Texas)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Discover Biomedical Research Summer Program
A free two-week, in-person program where high schoolers in grades 10-12 work alongside Vanderbilt graduate students in a lab setting, learning pipetting, data collection, and experimental design while exploring neuroscience, genetics, and molecular biology.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
Discover Engineering at UM
Rising ninth graders can explore chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering through hands-on challenges and university laboratory activities.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 9
Highly Selective
Wilkes University
Discover Pharmacy
Two-day pharmacy-career and hands-on lab program.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Providence College
Discover Providence Pre-College Program
A residential summer pre-college experience offering College Immersion, Business, and Nursing tracks for high schoolers, including college application support, simulation-lab learning, and campus life immersion.
📍 Providence, RI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
Discover STEM
Students spend a week exploring current STEM research through laboratory tours, experiments, technology demonstrations, faculty presentations, and career discussions. Attendance is free.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Discovering Chemistry
Laboratory-centered chemistry camp exploring molecules, reactions and experimental chemistry. The 2026 fee was $800.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Discovery to Cure Summer Internship Program
Rising seniors age 16+ spend eight weeks working roughly 40 hours per week in a C.S. Mott Center research laboratory studying areas such as reproductive biology, immunology, oncology, toxicology, and precision medicine.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Selective
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE STEM Rising / SCEP
Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.
📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Duke University
Duke Marine Lab Community Science Program
A hands-on summer research program at the Duke University Marine Lab focusing on ocean science and environmental justice.
📍 Beaufort, NC⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Duke Biomedical Engineering
Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP)
Seven-week biomedical-engineering research placement where students work in Duke laboratories and participate in STEM seminars and research presentations.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University
Duke STAR Program (Summer Training in Academic Research)
A high school track of Duke's Summer Training in Academic Research program at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, where students work on an original, hypothesis-driven clinical research project under a Duke faculty mentor with the goal of co-authoring a peer-reviewed manuscript.
📍 Durham, NC📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Eight-week neuroscience research experience placing Durham-area students in Duke laboratories with research mentors, professional-development sessions and scientific presentations.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Marshall University / Duke Clinical Research Institute
Duke-Marshall STAR Program
A cohort of four trainees works with Marshall University core faculty through short courses on research methods and medical writing, professional development, possible clinical shadowing and communication training.
📍 Huntington, Point Pleasant and Logan, WV📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean & Environment
ECO Camp — Marine Science
Residential program exploring Delaware coastal ecosystems through field sampling, laboratory work, underwater robotics, microscopy and marine research techniques.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR)
Graduating high-school seniors undertake ten weeks of mentored cancer research in laboratory, clinical, or database-based projects and present their work. The program provides a stipend and includes a longer-term research-development component.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Brooklyn College / partner organizations
EELS — Environment, Ecology & Learning for Sustainability
Fourteen-month environmental-science internship with training, field research and up to approximately $4,000 in stipends.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Summer Programs (Prescott Campus)
Residential summer camps at Embry-Riddle's Prescott campus for youth ages 7-18, including Forensic Science, Rocket Propulsion Engineering, and Astronomy camps that place high schoolers in college-level labs and simulations.
📍 Prescott, AZ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Emerging Business Leaders
Rising high-school seniors spend a week exploring business disciplines, solving team challenges, developing communication skills, and learning about college admissions and careers. The 2026 program cost $400, with scholarships available.
📍 IL🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Emory University
Emory Pipeline Collaborative
Free pipeline program for Atlanta-area students interested in health professions.
📍 GA⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma Gallogly College of Engineering
Engineering Days
One-day summer camps at OU for rising high school juniors and seniors to explore a specific engineering discipline (aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer science, electrical, mechanical, and more) through hands-on labs and faculty interaction.
📍 Norman, OK📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering
Engineering Innovation Research Program
Sophomores and juniors spend six weeks contributing to ongoing engineering research with Hopkins doctoral and postdoctoral mentors, including experimental or computational work, data analysis, scientific literature, and research presentations. Students earn three college credits.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Seton Hall University
Engineering Pathways: Robotics, Electronics & Green Technologies
Hands-on work across robotics, electronics, green technology and scientific research.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UA Little Rock
Engineering Scholars Program
One-week residential experience featuring engineering projects, laboratory sessions, robotics, industry exposure, facility tours, and college-preparation advising.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas
Engineering Summer Academy
Residential academy where students choose an engineering track and complete lab experiments, design challenges, and faculty-guided projects. Tracks include chemical engineering, technology systems, and structural/mechanical design.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Engineering Summer Academy
Rising sophomores through seniors complete engineering demonstrations, design challenges, laboratory activities, and industry tours while exploring engineering majors and careers.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Kansas State University College of Engineering
Engineering Summer Camp
High-school students spend a week exploring K-State engineering facilities, meeting faculty, collaborating with peers, and completing engineering-oriented activities and challenges.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stony Brook University
Engineering Summer Program
Hands-on engineering program using electronics, Arduino systems and design challenges. The 2026 session charged approximately $800.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Engineering with Biology
Hands-on laboratory camp centered on using biology and engineering concepts, including synthetic-biology-style challenges.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Montana Tech
Environmental Engineering Summer Camp
Fully funded residential camp with field and laboratory work involving water, environmental restoration, drones, wastewater and environmental-engineering design. Montana Tech has stated plans to bring the camp back for another summer.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Environmental Science and Biotechnology
Campers conduct ecological field surveys, visit a quartz mine and use laboratory techniques connecting molecular biology with ecology and environmental science.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
Environmental Stewardship Institute
A paid environmental leadership fellowship for Minnesota high schoolers combining a two-month summer intensive learning from environmental experts and visiting ecologically important Mississippi River sites with a school-year Youth Council for continued leadership and independent capstone projects addressing community environmental concerns.
📍 Twin Cities, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rockaway Waterfront Alliance / CUNY partners
Environmentor
Paid January–August environmental-research program focused on marine ecology and the Rockaway Peninsula.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
EPIC — Engineering Possibilities in College
Residential engineering camp where students rotate through engineering laboratories, learn from professors and industry professionals, and design, build and test a team engineering project.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
University of Mississippi
EPIC: Exploring particle Physics Integrated with Computing
Students work with particle detectors, run laboratory experiments, analyze authentic data, and see how physics, computing, and engineering intersect in experimental particle physics.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering
ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program
Rising seniors complete a four-week engineering research experience involving literature review, research design, experimentation, technical communication, and a research project.
📍 MD🎓 Grade 12
Selective
ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich Studienwoche
One-week research study weeks at ETH Zurich in math, physics, and CS.
📍 Zurich, Switzerland📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
EUCYS
European Union Contest for Young Scientists
Annual EU-hosted contest showcasing top research projects from young scientists across dozens of countries.
📍 European Union (rotating)📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia
ExCEL in Engineering
Students work in UGA engineering laboratories and design studios on hands-on engineering projects while developing teamwork and leadership skills.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth
Expand Your Mind (EYM)
Students entering grades 9–12 select an intensive two-week course from a large interdisciplinary catalog spanning STEM, humanities, arts, medicine, law, psychology, engineering, and writing. 2026 commuter tuition was $875 per session and residential tuition $2,200, with financial aid available.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Studio Museum in Harlem
Expanding the Walls
Free eight-month photography program combining art, history, community research, artist workshops and exhibition curation. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend and DSLR camera.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Experiences in Research (EinR)
Students spend six weeks working directly with Berkeley Lab professionals on projects in experimental research, data science, coding, science communication, and other STEM/STEM-adjacent areas.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Experimental Physics Research Academy
Participate in real experimental physics projects, gaining practical skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation within a university lab setting.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship
Eight-week, full-time laboratory research internship in neuroscience and neurological disease; interns work in active labs, attend journal clubs and present their findings.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Explorations in Neuroscience Summer Camp
A day camp for high school juniors and seniors with hands-on lab sessions on brain and spinal cord anatomy, clinician talks on neurological disorders, and small-group rotations through OSU neuroscience research labs, ending with a career-pathways day.
📍 Columbus, OH📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Chemistry and Biochemistry at USI
High-school students conduct laboratory activities and explore chemistry, biochemistry, majors, and careers during a two-day university program.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Dakota State University College of Engineering
Explore Engineering High School Camp
Students explore multiple engineering disciplines through laboratories, design activities, university facilities and engineering-industry visits.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
LSU College of Engineering
eXploreCS Senior High
Students learn Python, algorithms, AI, video games, robotics, digital music production, ethical hacking, electronics, and Arduino programming. Financial-need assistance is available.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Vanderbilt University Programs for Talented Youth
Exploring Music City: Fandom and the Making of Nashville
A two-week Vanderbilt Summer Institute course for rising 11th-12th graders studying Nashville's musical heritage through ethnographic research, guest lectures, and city tours, culminating in a virtual music museum project.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Sam Noble Museum / University of Oklahoma
ExplorOlogy Paleo Expedition
Competitive, week-long field research expedition led by OU scientists, including paleontology and geology fieldwork outside Oklahoma.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
HCA Healthcare New Hampshire
Extended Learning Opportunities Healthcare Internship
Semester-long high-school internship in clinical or nonclinical hospital departments. Students perform department tasks, complete professional development and research and present a healthcare topic, with potential school credit.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Science / The Possible Zone
FastForge Hackathon
High-school teams research a real-world problem, identify innovation opportunities, design a consumer-product concept, and pitch their work to judges. The 2026 event is scheduled for November 6.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oklahoma FCCLA
FCS Research Challenge
Students complete an individual/team research challenge while participating in FCS Day at the Oklahoma Capitol.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Kansas State University College of Agriculture
Feeding Your Future Summer Camp
Students explore grain production, milling, baking, animal feed, agronomy research, and related careers through laboratories, farms, and industry interactions. The 2026 fee was $75 including housing and meals.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON)
Field Marine Science Camp
High-school students design their own coastal or marine-science investigation, develop a question, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions, and work through the scientific process at LUMCON's marine center.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Field Museum
Field Museum Teen Volunteers
Current high-school students volunteer at least ten days during the summer, helping visitors engage with museum science through interpretive carts and the Crown Family PlayLab.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Field Museum
Field Museum Women in Science Internships
Paid high-school and undergraduate interns work full-time with Field Museum scientists on collections-based and other scientific research projects. Applicants may reside in Illinois or several neighboring states.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sternberg Museum of Natural History / Fort Hays State University
Field Paleontology Kansas
Students prospect for and excavate fossils, collect professional field records, practice mapping and fossil identification, and return specimens to the museum's research collections.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ohio University
Film Lab
Two-week high-school film program offering intensive college-level filmmaking experience.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Filmmaking Institute
Students develop, shoot and edit original films while learning directing, cinematography and production. 2026 tuition was approximately $2,200.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
FIRST
FIRST Robotics Competition
Team-based robotics season culminating in regional and world championships. Team participation fees vary; financial aid available.
📍 Local team + regional events⏱ 6-week build📅 Jan kickoff🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Auburn University
Fisheries and Aquaculture Camp
Students explore fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic ecology through hands-on field activities at Auburn research facilities, including pond sampling and fish-management work.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Museum of Florida History / Florida Department of State
Florida History Day
An annual statewide research competition in which students develop an original history project (documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website) around a national theme, advancing through school, county, and state contests toward National History Day.
📍 Tallahassee, FL (Museum of Florida History)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Florida
Florida Youth Institute
Students explore agriculture, food security, life sciences, biological engineering and natural resources through laboratories and interaction with UF and state agriculture professionals.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
OHSU Gibbs Laboratory
Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship
Ten-week laboratory research in cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopy, organic synthesis and image analysis.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
UMass Amherst
Food & Environmental Chemical Impact on Development of Obesity Research Intensive
Students join the Park Lab to investigate relationships among food, environmental chemical exposures, metabolism, and obesity.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Roger Williams University
Food Science Camp
A 6-day overnight camp for students in grades 9-12 exploring the chemistry of fermentation, food waste reduction, and sustainable protein alternatives in a state-of-the-art food science lab, plus farm and oyster-farm visits.
📍 Bristol, RI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Adelphi University
For-Credit Pre-College Program
Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors earn three college credits through subject tracks including Coding & AI, Pre-Med, Pre-Law, Psychology, Quantum Engineering, Music Production, Writing and Art.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Forensic Science Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn on forensic investigation: lab work, mock crime scenes and case studies in areas such as DNA analysis and toxicology. Current 10th-11th graders; non-credit.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 2 weeks (July 11 - 25, 2026)🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Ball State University
Forensic Science High School Summer Camp
Rising sophomores through seniors investigate fingerprints, blood-spatter evidence, digital evidence, and other forensic methods through laboratories and field experiences. Scholarships can cover up to the full program fee for eligible Indiana residents.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Delaware
Forensic Science Pre-College Summer Program
Students process mock crime scenes, perform toxicology, chemistry, DNA/PCR and other forensic laboratory work, visit forensic agencies and prepare a court-ready capstone report.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
ADA Forsyth Institute
Forsyth Student Scholars Summer Program
A six-week, full-time paid summer internship at ADA Forsyth's Somerville headquarters where high school sophomores and juniors from Eastern Massachusetts work alongside scientists on oral health, immunology, and microbiology research, ending in a poster presentation.
📍 Somerville, MA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Sternberg Museum of Natural History / Fort Hays State University
Fossil Preparation Methods Kansas
Students work in the Sternberg fossil-preparation laboratory using professional tools to clean, stabilize, reconstruct, and preserve authentic fossil specimens.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
Franklin's Guides Junior Docent Program
A six-week summer program where teens train as museum docents and work in the galleries, planetarium, Build It Lab and butterfly house, greeting visitors and assisting with programs.
📍 St. Johnsbury, VT📅 May🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Frank Church Institute, School of Public Service, Boise State University
FrankMUN (High School Model United Nations Conference)
One of the only multi-day Model UN conferences in the Pacific Northwest, where Idaho high school delegates research global issues, debate resolutions, and practice diplomacy at Boise State University.
📍 Boise State University, Boise, ID📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship
Paid cancer research in Seattle. Prioritizes students underrepresented in biomedical sciences.
📍 WA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Late January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Various
Freedom Summer Collegiate
Free college-prep program in the Mississippi Delta taught by graduate students. Travel and housing covered.
📍 Mississippi⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
FRESH Outcomes
A weeklong, in-person summer internship for local high schoolers to explore how environmental factors impact human health, gaining hands-on experience in a research environment at the Gillings School of Global Public Health.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UW Oshkosh (Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin)
Freshwater High School Experience (UW Oshkosh)
Three-day camp where high school students do hands-on freshwater research, pilot water drones and explore waterways by pontoon boat while learning about freshwater majors and careers.
📍 Oshkosh, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UW-Green Bay
Freshwater High School Summer Scholars (UW-Green Bay)
Paid summer research experience in which high school students are matched with a UW-Green Bay freshwater mentor for a project, field trips and a poster presentation.
📍 Green Bay, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls (Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin)
Freshwater Science Field Experience (Western Wisconsin)
Week-long field program where high school juniors and seniors do freshwater research on western Wisconsin lakes, streams and groundwater alongside faculty and learn about college majors and careers.
📍 Menomonie, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Illinois Institute of Technology Elevate College Prep
From Lab to Life: Chemistry Career Exploration
Students explore chemistry and how chemical science connects to real-world careers and applications. The daytime 2026 option was listed at $2,000.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UMass Amherst
From Lipids to Resistance: Investigating Mycobacterial Defense Layers
Students investigate mycobacterial cell envelopes using microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, western blotting, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and flow cytometry.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
NCSSM-Durham
Frontier
Student publication dedicated to economics, entrepreneurship, business research and student ventures at NCSSM.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Kansas / University of Houston Future of Semiconductors 2
FuSe2 Summer Camp
Eligible high-school juniors and seniors from migratory-worker families spend a week exploring semiconductor research with KU and UH researchers. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend plus travel, lodging, and food.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Future Deaf Scientist Program
A four-week paid research internship for students at the Indianapolis School for the Deaf, shadowing deaf physicians and scientists in clinical and lab settings.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brown University
Future Gen Cancer Scholars
Rhode Island students work with trained medical/scientific professionals in cancer-research and education activities.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Lewis & Clark College
Future Health Leaders: Care Begins Here
A six-day precollege 'mini med-school' for rising 9th-12th graders interested in pre-med, pre-nursing, or public health, featuring lab research, BLS/CPR certification, and healthcare-focused creative writing.
📍 Portland, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Future Scientist Program
Marion County public-school juniors complete an eight-week paid research employment experience under an IU cancer researcher. Students work on a project while learning about biomedical research careers.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Quinnipiac University
Game Design Lab
Students learn the game-development process and create interactive game projects using design, technology and storytelling principles.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stony Brook University
Garcia Research Scholars Program
Seven-week polymer research program for highly motivated high school students.
📍 Stony Brook, NY⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Stony Brook University
Garcia Summer Scholars
Polymer research with university mentors; partial stipend.
📍 Stony Brook, NY📅 Not yet announced — 2027 cycle dates not yet posted🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi
GEEK — Geology & Geological Engineering Exploration Kamp
Rising juniors and seniors study rocks, minerals, groundwater, Earth structure, and geological engineering through laboratory experiments, field sampling, and visits to geological sites.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Vermont Historical Society
Geiger Fellowship at the Vermont Historical Society
Paid summer fellowships in collections, library, museum and education work at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier and the Vermont History Center in Barre.
📍 Montpelier and Barre, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Idaho State Historical Society / Idaho State Museum
GEM High School Internship
A hands-on internship where high school students research the stories of Idaho, help with exhibit design, and facilitate youth and family programs at the Idaho State Museum, networking with archivists, curators, and designers along the way.
📍 Boise, ID📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Pittsburgh
Gene Team
Four-week genetics/molecular-biology research experience pairing high-school students with university researchers.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
University of Southern Mississippi
GenSea Blue Economy Pathways Internship
A paid summer internship placing Gulf Coast Mississippi high schoolers at USM labs and partner sites (Mississippi Aquarium, oyster companies, naval oceanography facilities) for hands-on work in aquaculture, marine geology, computer modeling, and coastal restoration research.
📍 Mississippi Gulf Coast (Hancock, Harrison, Jackson counties)📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UT Dallas Nanotech Institute
George A. Jeffries NanoExplorers Summer Research Program
An immersive 8-week, non-residential summer research program placing high school students in UT Dallas faculty labs across natural sciences, engineering, computer science and brain sciences. Students present their findings at a final symposium.
📍 Richardson, TX📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Georgia / GOSA
Georgia GHP - Agriscience Research
A residential summer academy for Georgia students focusing on agricultural and environmental sciences through hands-on research.
📍 Athens, GA⏱ 2 weeks📅 May 1🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Georgia
Georgia Ready Summer Institute
Rising seniors explore research, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization while living on the UGA campus and visiting research facilities.
📍 GA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Georgia
Georgia Science & Engineering Fair
Georgia students advance through school and regional fairs and present original STEM research at the statewide ISEF-affiliated competition.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech Summer Research at CSE
Paid CS/engineering research at Georgia Tech. Strong recruitment of Georgia students.
📍 GA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Michigan-Dearborn Department of Mathematics and Statistics
GirlsGetMath@Dearborn
Selective, 100% tuition-free one-week summer program for Metro Detroit students entering grades 10-12 (rising 9th graders considered case by case; all genders welcome) covering topics outside the standard curriculum such as cryptography, graph theory, voting systems and image processing, with daily computer labs and free lunch. 2026 session was June 22-26 with a May 31 deadline.
📍 Dearborn, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
Global Houston Model UN Conference
A student-led Model UN conference where delegates represent countries and committees to negotiate and draft resolutions on global issues. Focuses on global diplomacy, research, and soft-skill development.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Pioneer Academics
Global Problem-Solving Institute
Tackle the world’s most complex challenges alongside high school students from around the globe in a 12-week virtual innovation lab. Guided by four university professors, you’ll apply design- and systems-thinking to real-world problems, collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, and earn college credits through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
📍 Online, Globally Accessible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The World Food Prize Foundation
Global Youth Institute
An international organization that empowers students to research and propose solutions to the global food security crisis.
📍 Des Moines, IA/Global⏱ Year-long📅 January 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
United Nations / WHO
Global Youth Mobilization Fellowship
An online-based global youth leadership accelerator focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months (Learning)📅 May (Annual)🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Department of Neuroscience
Go4Brains
Students facing barriers to science and medicine opportunities spend a week exploring neuroscience through lectures, demonstrations, hands-on experiments, research-lab visits, career workshops, and mentoring. The program is free and selected students receive a $400 stipend plus meals and travel support.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Brown University / ICERM
GoGetMath @ ICERM
Intensive mathematics enrichment emphasizing exploration, collaborative problem solving and mathematical discovery beyond standard high-school curricula.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Colorado State University
GoGetMath@CSU
Five-day mathematics program exploring cryptography, data science, image processing, fractals and geometry through computer labs and hands-on activities.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Society for Science
Google Science Fair (Alumni Network + Regional Fairs)
Regional science fairs affiliated with ISEF that welcome international student researchers.
📍 Global (affiliated fairs)📅 Varies by fair🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tennessee Tech University
Governor's School for Emerging Technologies (GSET)
A three-week summer residential program studying biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology through classroom instruction, lab work, team projects, and weekly field trips to high-tech facilities including Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Vanderbilt University.
📍 Cookeville, TN📅 November🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Drew University / State of New Jersey
Governor's School in the Sciences
Three-week residential program for rising NJ seniors combining advanced science/math courses, laboratories, lectures and hands-on team research. Tuition, room and board are free.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Rutgers University / State of New Jersey
Governor's School of Engineering & Technology
Selective residential program for outstanding NJ juniors featuring university-level engineering coursework, laboratory work, industry exposure and a team research/design project.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Research & Development Council of New Jersey
Governor's STEM Scholars
Year-long statewide STEM cohort connecting high-achieving high-school and college students with NJ research institutions, companies, STEM leaders and research experiences. High-school sophomores through seniors are eligible.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Adelphi University
Grace Pilcer Pre-College Scholars
Need-based awards of up to full tuition for Adelphi's for-credit pre-college program, prioritizing students facing financial/access barriers.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Graphic Design
Studio-based design intensive covering visual communication, typography and digital design.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Oklahoma
Great Plains Saxophone Workshop
Intensive saxophone performance and instruction.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Kean University
Group Summer Scholars Research Program
Two- or four-week intensive research program with streams including cancer biology, developmental biology, scientific computing, machine learning, and modern drug discovery. The 2027 application is scheduled to open in January 2027.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Boston University LERNet
GROW Research Program
Massachusetts rising seniors living near Boston spend six weeks working full-time in an individual BU research lab and present their work at a symposium. Participants receive up to a $2,000 stipend.
📍 MA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
GSSM Residential High School
Two-year advanced STEM residential high school with intensive coursework and mentored research.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics / Clemson
GSSM Summer Program for Research Interns — SPRI
Six-week intensive mentored research placement between junior and senior year at university and industry research sites.
📍 SC🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Faith, Science, and Ethics Camp
Week-long summer camp at Gustavus Adolphus College where high school students explore a yearly theme through the lenses of faith, science and ethics with lectures, hands-on activities, mentor group discussions and recreation; the 2026 theme investigated the Mississippi River's ecosystems and history. Scholarships are available.
📍 St. Peter, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
HAAEA Summer Internship Program
High-school and university students complete hands-on aerospace activities, develop research skills and build professional skills through UH's Hawaiʻi Aspiring Aerospace Engineers Academy.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Creighton University, College of Arts and Sciences
Haddix STEM Corridor Program
Juniors from Omaha North, Omaha Central, and Omaha South high schools spend eight weeks conducting paid STEM research with Creighton faculty mentors, attending career workshops, and presenting a final research poster.
📍 Creighton University, Omaha, NE📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Oregon State University
Hatfield Marine Science Center Career Day
Students explore marine-science professions, laboratories and research facilities.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities
Hawaiʻi History Day
Year-long project-based history and civics program for grades 4-12, in which students research an annual theme and present at district, state, and national competitions.
📍 Statewide (district and state fairs)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Academy of Science
Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair
Students advance through district fairs and present original science or engineering research at Hawaiʻi's statewide fair, with top projects advancing toward ISEF.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
HCI-RISE Virtual Summer Research Experience
A virtual summer program introducing high school students from rural Mountain West communities to cancer research and healthcare careers through interactive workshops, career panels, and small-group activities.
📍 Remote (Utah, ID, MT, NV, WY residents)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Health Care Pathway Initiative (HCPI)
A four-week residential summer camp that introduces students to health care and STEM careers such as nursing, pharmacy, research, health informatics and biomedical engineering, with hands-on sessions, field trips, a career day and a College PREP workshop.
📍 Huntington, WV📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
West Chester University College of Health Sciences
Health Career Summer Academy
A summer academy, in collaboration with Main Line Health, for high school students interested in health science careers, especially those from under-served populations, including CPR/AED certification and hands-on learning with healthcare providers across nine health career fields.
📍 West Chester, PA (West Chester University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia / Foothills AHEC
Health Careers Youth Conference
Students explore healthcare careers through cellular-biology and cadaver laboratories, kinesiology facilities, veterinary-hospital tours, college preparation and hands-on medical activities.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Kansas State University College of Health and Human Sciences
Health Professions Exploration Program
Incoming juniors and seniors spend a residential week exploring medicine, nursing, public health, nutrition, biomedical engineering, sports medicine, disease research, and related careers through hands-on activities.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center
Health Researchers Youth Academy (HRYA)
Kentucky juniors spend two residential weeks learning research methods and physiology, observing health professionals and research, using simulation centers, and completing a poster-presentation project.
📍 KY🎓 Grade 11
Selective
George Mason University
Health Services Mentorship Program (HSMP)
A free, fully virtual program in which high school students design and carry out their own health services and clinical research studies under PhD-student guidance, meeting 2-3 times a month and presenting at the HSMP Colloquium.
📍 Virginia (virtual)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Marian University
Healthcare Camp
A one-week day camp for high school freshmen through seniors exploring nursing, medicine, research science, and sports science careers with hands-on simulation-lab practice and current health-professions students as mentors.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Quinnipiac University
Healthcare Career Exploration Academy
Students explore multiple healthcare professions through practical experiences, simulations, laboratories and field activities on Quinnipiac's campus.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University of Pennsylvania / Armstrong-Indiana Intermediate Unit / Indiana Regional Medical Center
Healthcare Education and Learning Pathways (HELP) Summer Experience
A hands-on two-day experience for area high schoolers exploring healthcare careers such as athletic training, nursing, emergency medicine, physical therapy, and medical imaging, through lab visits and demonstrations by healthcare professionals.
📍 Indiana, PA (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
Healthcare Experience & Research in Oncology (HERO)
Kentucky sophomores, juniors, and seniors participate in virtual oncology research, laboratory-kit activities, career exploration, scientific-skills programming, and continuing school-year enrichment. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa
Heartland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Iowa and Nebraska's regional STEM research symposium where high schoolers submit original research papers and the top 15 present orally to judges for scholarships, with winners advancing to nationals.
📍 Regional symposium in Iowa/Nebraska📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
URI College of Pharmacy
HERBAL
NIH-supported biomedical-science program combining virtual research laboratories with hands-on investigation of medicinal plants, natural products and analytical chemistry.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
State Historical Society of North Dakota
Heritage Volunteer Program
Teens can assist at the Heritage Center and state historic sites in interpretation, museum operations, research and public programs.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
HERO Cancer Research High School Program
Minnesota high-school students spend two weeks online learning directly from cancer researchers, completing experimental activities with supplied lab kits, receiving mentorship, and exploring cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research careers. Successful participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UW Carbone Cancer Center and Medical College of Wisconsin (American Cancer Society funded)
HERO: Healthcare Experience and Research in Oncology (Virtual)
Two-week synchronous virtual program for Wisconsin high school students: at-home Drosophila lab work on nutrition and genetic cancers, faculty speakers, cancer career panels and a patient case study.
📍 Virtual (Wisconsin students)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy
HI STAR — Hawaiʻi Student/Teacher Astronomy Research
Maui students learn astronomy research methods using real astronomical datasets and receive mentorship in scientific investigation.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Utah Price College of Engineering
Hi-GEAR Camp
A four-day camp exposing students to biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, materials, and mechanical engineering and computer science through hands-on projects, lab tours, and guest speakers.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Underrepresented and low-income Massachusetts students receive paid life-sciences internships at research institutions and biotechnology companies. Host wages are subsidized at $17 per hour for up to six weeks full-time.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rowan University
High School Biomedical Scholars Program
Two-week biomedical program with laboratory techniques, gross anatomy and research-oriented activities. The 2026 tuition was $1,500.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Tulane University, Center for Ethics / Murphy Institute
High School Ethics Bowl (Louisiana Regional)
A collaborative debate-style competition in which New Orleans-area high school teams analyze real-life ethical dilemmas and respond to a panel of judges, with Tulane undergraduates coaching participating schools through weekly club meetings ahead of two to three tournaments held each semester.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Botanical Garden
High School Explainer Program
Competitive environmental-education program where students complete 125 volunteer hours, conduct citizen-science phenology research and teach visitors; successful interns can advance to paid tiers. Spring 2027 applications are open.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
High School Fed Challenge (Cleveland Fed region)
A team competition where high school students research an assigned economics theme and produce an analytical paper/podcast evaluated by Federal Reserve staff; the Cleveland Fed hosts the regional round for Ohio, western PA, eastern KY, and northern WV.
📍 Cleveland, OH📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Michigan Council on Economic Education
High School Fed Challenge (Michigan)
A research and writing competition for grades 9-12 in which student teams author an original economics research paper on an annual theme (2025-26: the economics of music), with selected entries published in the Journal of Future Economists.
📍 Michigan (statewide, virtual submission)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Forward Montana
High School Fellowship
Paid civic-engagement fellowship for Montana high-school students involving organizing, voter engagement, community events, leadership development and democracy education. The fall 2026 cohort runs into November and provides a $500 stipend.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UMass Chan Medical School
High School Health Careers Program (HSHCP)
A tuition-free, four-week residential precollege immersion at UMass Chan Medical School exposing Massachusetts high school sophomores and juniors from disadvantaged backgrounds to biomedical research and health careers, including a research project and mentorship.
📍 Worcester, MA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
University of St. Thomas, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
High School Innovation Day
A one-day, hands-on design-thinking workshop on UST's St. Paul campus where sophomores through seniors (up to 10 students per school) collaborate with entrepreneurially-minded peers to create a prototype for a business concept, and observe St. Thomas students pitch business ideas at a live university competition.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
State of Hawaiʻi
High School Internship Program — Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Six selected students work in the State Capitol on research, writing, public speaking, teamwork, leadership and civic-engagement projects.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Maryland Department of Geographical Sciences
High School Internship Program (HIP)
DMV-area juniors and seniors complete six weeks of remote geographical-sciences research with a faculty mentor in areas such as climate change and geospatial analysis. Students receive a $900 stipend and some may continue during the academic year.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ohio University Scripps College of Communication, Media Arts Studies
High School Media Workshop
An overnight, on-campus workshop in Athens where high schoolers choose a track in video production, music production and technology, animation, or audio for cinema and create original projects in university studios and labs.
📍 Athens, OH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Brookhaven National Laboratory (DOE)
High School Research Program (HSRP) at Brookhaven
Paid summer research program for local students to gain hands-on experience in physics and engineering at a major particle physics lab.
📍 Upton, NY⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Sanford Research / Sanford Health
High School Research Scholars Program (PROMISE Scholars)
A 10-week, total-immersion summer research internship in which students entering their senior year work alongside Sanford Research scientists in biomedical labs, join journal clubs and career-coaching seminars, and present their findings as a poster at the Sanford Research Symposium.
📍 Sioux Falls, SD📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa
High School Research Symposium (HSRS)
Iowa and nearby high-school students submit original research papers for selection into oral or poster presentations at the University of Iowa. Winners receive UI scholarships of up to $4,000, and there is no attendance fee.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Field Museum
High School Science and Digital Learning Internship
Fifteen Chicagoland high-school students spend five weeks completing a research project with a museum expert while building digital-media, technology, and professional skills. The 2026 position paid $17.25 per hour.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Science
High School Science Series
High-school groups interact with scientists and researchers and complete science and engineering activities connected to STEM careers and current research.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School — Research Office
High School Student Interns Program
A self-arranged, unpaid research internship letting NJ high schoolers age 16+ work directly in a Rutgers NJMS faculty member's lab on real biomedical research, after submitting sponsorship, consent, and state working-papers forms.
📍 Newark, NJ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UConn Health
High School Student Research Apprentice Program
Five-week program where students conduct research in a basic-science or clinical laboratory at UConn Health or CCSU and finish with a research presentation.
📍 CT🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Samia Research Group, Case Western Reserve University
High School Student Research Training
High-school students can receive summer research training in a chemistry laboratory studying metallic and metal-oxide nanomaterials, sensing and biomedical applications.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
MDI Biological Laboratory
High School Summer Fellowship
A 7-10 week research fellowship in Bar Harbor where high school students age 16+ work alongside MDI Biological Laboratory scientists on hands-on biomedical research projects, with free room and board for residents.
📍 Bar Harbor, ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Nevada, Reno Biotechnology Program
High School Summer Internship Program — Biotechnology
High-school interns are matched with faculty and research groups and spend the summer shadowing and interacting with professors and university researchers in areas including CRISPR, cancer, genomics, infectious disease and biomedical science.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Central Florida PREM Center
High School Summer Internship Program — CQ-MIEE
Juniors and seniors join one of ten UCF research laboratories studying quantum materials at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Utah John and Marcia Price College of Engineering
High School Summer Research Internship (Price College of Engineering)
An 8-week, 30-hours-per-week lab internship where high school students are matched with a faculty lab, work on a research project, and present a poster at a closing symposium. Free to participate; open to students who will be seniors the following year.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
NC State College of Natural Resources (with NC A&T)
High School Summer Research Program
A program where high school students learn the scientific process and conduct field and lab research in forestry and natural resources, culminating in a mini-symposium, with some students advancing to the statewide Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium.
📍 Raleigh, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School
High School Summer Research Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A four-week program for rising juniors and seniors with hands-on lab work in biochemistry and molecular biology, faculty and graduate student mentorship, seminars and career guidance. Students work on discovery-driven medical science projects.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Eastern Michigan University STEM-Ed Institute
High School Summer Science Program
Students work in pairs with EMU faculty and undergraduate researchers for three weeks on an original biology, chemistry, or physics project, then present their results. Participation is free.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
High School Terrestrial Ecology
A one-week residential program on Hurricane Island for rising 9th-12th graders researching the island's forests, meadows, ponds and soils.
📍 Hurricane Island, ME📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
High School to Health Care (HS2HC)
A grant-funded program (NIGMS-backed) introducing rural Tennessee high school students and their teachers to careers in medical laboratory sciences and public health information technology through a dual-enrollment course and summer camp.
📍 Ripley, TN📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Delaware CHARM MRSEC
HighRise — Materials Laboratory Experiences for High Schoolers
Students rotate through university soft- and hard-materials laboratories and explore polymers, semiconductors, nanomaterials and materials engineering with researchers.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center / University of Pittsburgh
Hillman Academy
Seven-to-eight-week authentic cancer-research experience across multiple Pitt/UPMC laboratories and research sites.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
CUNY CREST Institute
HIRES — High School Initiative in Remote Sensing
Seven-week research program using GIS, remote sensing, satellite data and environmental monitoring.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education
HiSTEP (High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program)
A structured summer research-and-enrichment program for rising high school seniors from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, combining biomedical research exposure, career-readiness workshops, and college-application guidance at NIH's Bethesda campus.
📍 Bethesda, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
State Historical Society of Iowa
History Podcast Camp
Students research Iowa history, conduct interviews, write scripts, learn audio storytelling, and produce their own podcast segment with help from museum staff and media professionals. The three-day camp costs $200.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Tickle College of Engineering
HITES12 (High School Introduction to Engineering Systems for Twelfth Graders)
A selective, one-week residential program established in 2001 where rising 12th graders rotate through UT Knoxville engineering labs, design challenges, and team competitions to explore engineering and university life.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Bloomington, Department of Biology
Holland Summer Science Programs
A tiered set of summer science programs (SEP, SSRP, RISE) giving academically high-achieving high schoolers hands-on research experience and faculty mentorship in STEM fields.
📍 Bloomington, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MIT
Homeschool Internship Program for Science and Technology (HIP-SAT)
Homeschooled high-school students spend eight weeks conducting frontier research in MIT laboratories in areas such as chemical biology, chemistry, and engineering. Students are paid $15 per hour for about 20 hours per week.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
College of Charleston Honors College
Honors Pre-College Summer Institute
A non-residential summer institute on the downtown Charleston campus offering rising sophomores through seniors college-level seminar courses such as 'Exploring Charleston's Ecosystems' and 'Savor the Story: Food, Culture & Charleston,' combining classroom instruction with local field research.
📍 Charleston, SC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Texas State University Mathworks
Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)
A six-week residential, full-time summer math camp for talented high school students that builds problem-solving and research skills, with returning students working with research mentors on original projects.
📍 San Marcos, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences
Eight-week paid summer neuroscience research internship for Baltimore high schoolers.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Horizon Academic
Horizon Academic Research Journal
Alumni of the Horizon Academic Research Program can submit their research to the Horizon Academic Research Journal, which accepts only 10% of submissions, making it one of the most selective high-school publications in the world.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Horizon Academic Research
Horizon Academic Research Pre-print Server
A platform for Horizon students to view and submit pre-print versions of their research papers.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Horizon Academic Research
Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
The oldest 1-1 research program in the world, founded in 2016 by Columbia researchers. Students work with world-class researchers, with 70% of mentors from Ivy League, Stanford, Oxford & Cambridge. The program aims to help students create college and graduate-level research, with options for professor seminar courses or 1-1 PhD labs courses. Students have gone on to attend top universities.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Horizon Academic Research
Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) - Professor Seminar Courses
Work in a small group led by professors from top universities. These summer-only courses for 3–6 students cover broad topics, with 20 professor/TA sessions and 4 writing-coach sessions.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Ohio State University at Marion
Horizons of Science: From Microbes to Megastructures
A week-long day camp blending biochemistry, engineering, and environmental science through molecular gastronomy, blood-typing simulations, and crime-scene biochemistry challenges, building a take-home programmable robot, racing cardboard boats, and studying ecosystems in the campus prairie learning lab.
📍 Marion, OH (Ohio State University at Marion)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
Hospitality Exploration Summer Camp
Five-day residential pre-college experience with faculty, industry speakers, field trips, campus life and hospitality-management exploration. The 2027 camp is already confirmed for June 21–25 and costs $850, with scholarships available.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Creighton University, Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity
HS-MACA/CPHHE Summer Research Institute
High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors conduct paid biomedical or community-based public health research under Creighton faculty mentors, culminating in a student presentation of their findings.
📍 Creighton University, Omaha, NE📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Ohio State University
HumCog — Humanities & Cognitive Sciences Summer Institute
Interdisciplinary lectures, lab demonstrations, workshops and discussions connecting cognitive science with the humanities and arts.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Idaho Law Foundation / Idaho State Bar
Idaho High School Mock Trial
Idaho high school teams try a hypothetical legal case from opening statement through closing argument in real courtrooms before real judges and attorneys, building critical-thinking, research, and presentation skills.
📍 Regional courthouses statewide; state competition March 9-11, 2027📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho STEM Action Center
Idaho Science & Engineering Fairs (IDSEF)
Idaho students conduct original STEM research and compete through the Northern, Western or Eastern Idaho regional science and engineering fairs, with top high-school projects advancing toward Regeneron ISEF.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Technion — Israel Institute of Technology
Ignite: International High School Summer Program
Three-week international summer program in science and engineering research at the Technion.
📍 Haifa, Israel📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Indian Institute of Science
IISc Summer Fellowship
Research fellowship at India's premier science institute in Bengaluru.
📍 Bengaluru, India⏱ 8 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
IIT Bombay
IIT Bombay Summer Research Fellowship
Competitive summer research placement at IIT Bombay across engineering fields.
📍 Mumbai, India⏱ 8 weeks📅 March🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Illinois State University CeMaST
Illinois State University Research Experience (ISURE)
High-school students spend two weeks working in university research settings and developing research skills with Illinois State faculty. The 2026 program charged a $100 participation fee, with scholarships available.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Imi Hoʻōla Pathway / UH Manoa SHARE
Free research program for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
📍 HI⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Immersion Science Program
Research training in cancer biology followed by competitive summer fellowship opportunities.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Lewis & Clark College
Immersive Summer Theatre Program
Two-week theatre training and collaborative production experience.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Indigo Research
Indigo Research
One-on-one mentored research projects with university faculty.
📍 Online⏱ 3-6 months📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, UNL
Innovate: The Raikes School Way
Two-week residential computing program teaching programming, innovation and leadership to students ranging from beginners to experienced coders. Students also interact with research labs and industry partners; full and partial scholarships are available.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Vanderbilt University Programs for Talented Youth
Inside Clinical Psychology: Science, Practice, and Ethics
A one-week Vanderbilt Summer Academy course for rising 9th-10th graders exploring clinical psychology practice, assessment, and research methodology.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
INSPIRE
Free residential STEM research and leadership experience at NCSSM-Morganton for North Carolina high-school students.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Inspirit AI
Inspirit AI Scholars
AI research mentorship by Stanford/MIT alumni for HS students.
📍 Online⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Moderate
Inspirit AI
Inspirit AI Scholars (Aid)
AI research projects mentored by Stanford/MIT grads. Need-based aid covers full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-25 hours📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Institute for Youth in Policy
Institute for Youth in Policy (Economics Dept)
A youth-led organization providing resources for high schoolers to conduct and publish research in economics.
📍 Online⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNC Wilmington
Interdisciplinary Health Professions Summer Summit (iHPSS)
Free health-care career program using interactive labs, case-based activities, teamwork and professional certification experiences.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Six-Week Art Camps
Six-week summer arts programs for students in various disciplines.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Interlochen Arts Camp
Interlochen Visual Arts Summer Program (High School)
Three-week residential summer program in northern Michigan for grades 9-12: Drawing and Painting plus one elective studio (digital media, film photography, printmaking, metals or ceramics) in the Dow Center for Visual Arts, ending with a student exhibition. 2027 tuition $7,550; financial aid and scholarships available.
📍 Interlochen, MI📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The Fryderyk Chopin Institute
International Chopin Piano Competition for Young Pianists
One of the world's most prestigious international piano competitions; youth divisions available.
📍 Warsaw, Poland📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Terra Science
International Journal of High School Research
Open-access peer-reviewed journal for HS research across disciplines.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Society for Science (co-sponsored by AAPT)
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
The world's largest international pre-college science competition, providing an annual forum for more than 1,800 high school students from around the world to showcase their independent research.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
IYPT
International Young Physicists' Tournament
International team competition where students research and defend solutions to open-ended physics problems.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 January (national selection)🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
IYRC
International Youth Research Conference & Mentorship
Student-run research group providing mentorship and resources for high schoolers to conduct and publish original research.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 May (for summer/fall)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Johns Hopkins University
Introduction to Laboratory Research
Students receive an on-campus introduction to laboratory research and scientific investigation.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Oakland University
Introduction to Quantum Physics and Research Opportunities
Students entering grades 10–12 study introductory quantum physics while learning about current physics research opportunities.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Iowa Academy of Science
Iowa Junior Academy of Science
A mentoring program connecting middle and high school students with Iowa scientists, supporting original research projects, proposal writing, and presentations at the Academy's annual spring meeting.
📍 Statewide, Iowa📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Iowa Academy of Science
Iowa Junior Academy of Science Symposium
A statewide competition in Iowa where students present original STEM research to judges from industry and academia.
📍 Iowa City, IA⏱ 1 day📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Iowa / UI REACH
Iowa National Summer Transportation Institute
A free residential STEM camp introduces students to transportation careers, engineering, leadership, and college readiness through hands-on activities, university laboratory tours, and field trips.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
University of Iowa
Iowa Young Writers' Studio
Premier creative writing program from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Need-based aid available.
📍 IA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management Program
Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition
Teams identify corn and soybean problems in the field and demonstrate crop-scouting and integrated-pest-management knowledge. Top teams earn cash prizes and advance to a regional competition; the 2026 team fee was $50 with financial assistance available.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Society for Science
ISEF Project Database
Searchable database of abstracts from Regeneron ISEF projects from 2014 to 2026.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The College of New Jersey
iSTEM MakerCraft Camp
Students design wearable products using CAD, MATLAB/Simulink, electronics, 3D printing and laser cutting. The 2026 cost was $625.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Jackson Lab
Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Independent genetics research; $6,500 stipend, room & board.
📍 Bar Harbor, ME📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
The Jackson Laboratory
Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Paid genetics research at JAX. Highly competitive, all expenses + stipend.
📍 ME⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
DePaul University
Jarvis Game Development Summer Camp
Students use Unreal Editor for Fortnite and related tools to explore game design, level development, character art, and animation. The 2026 camp cost $450, with full scholarships available.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The Jackson Laboratory
JAX Summer Student Program (Bar Harbor)
A 10-week residential research fellowship at The Jackson Laboratory's Bar Harbor, Maine campus, where high school seniors and undergraduates join ongoing genetics and genomics research under a scientific mentor and present their findings at summer's end.
📍 Bar Harbor, ME📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Kansas
Jayhawk Debate Institute
High-school debaters complete intensive two- or three-week policy-debate training involving argument construction, original research, practice debates, and a concluding tournament.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Jayhawk Media Workshop
High-school students spend four days producing journalism, video, photography, websites, yearbooks, and multimedia content with university and high-school journalism instructors. Scholarships are available.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
William & Mary Center for Gifted Education / Jefferson Lab
Jefferson Lab Engineering Governor's School Mentorship
Four-week summer residential Governor's School mentorship in which engineering students join existing research teams at Jefferson Lab in Newport News and give a technical presentation at the end.
📍 Newport News, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab)
Jefferson Lab High School Summer Honors Program (HSSHP)
Paid summer internship at Jefferson Lab in which high school students work with mentors on scientific or technical projects. Requires a student application, two recommender forms, a parent acknowledgement and a transcript.
📍 Newport News, VA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Johns Hopkins
JHU Internship in Brain Sciences
Paid neuroscience research for Baltimore-area students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 MD⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Biology
Jim Holland Research Initiative in STEM Education (RISE)
Current 11th graders participate in a two-week residential research program emphasizing scientific inquiry, research ethics, communication, and hands-on STEM work. Successful participants receive a $600 stipend.
📍 IN🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Biology
Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program in Biology (SEP)
Students explore genetics, evolution, molecular biology, environmental biology, and plant science through lectures and hands-on laboratory activities.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Biology
Jim Holland Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Students spend a week embedded in an IU faculty research laboratory, complete a small scientific research project, and present their work in a poster session.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
James Madison University STEM Center / Department of Biology
JMU Brain Bee
A low-pressure neuroscience competition for students ages 13-19 with questions from the free book Brain Facts plus hands-on activities in JMU neuroscience labs; the winner advances to the national Brain Bee.
📍 Harrisonburg, VA (James Madison University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale Peabody Museum
John and Dorothy Allen Summer Internship
Students in Yale's EVOLUTIONS pipeline can obtain paid summer positions working in Peabody collections and Yale science laboratories on authentic projects.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
JEI (Harvard)
Journal of Emerging Investigators
Free peer-reviewed publication venue for middle/high school STEM research. Real PhD reviewers.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
JRHS
Journal of Research High School
Multidisciplinary peer-reviewed HS journal.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
JSR
Journal of Student Research
Peer-reviewed academic journal for high-school and undergraduate researchers.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Journalism & Introduction to Multimedia Production
Students practice reporting, interviewing, writing and multimedia storytelling.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Michigan Electrical and Computer Engineering
Joy of Coding — Intro to Coding & Computational Thinking
Students complete a six-week self-paced online introduction to Python and computational thinking. No prior programming experience is required; the 2026 fee is $149 with need-based aid available.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Open
DoD / National Science Teaching Assoc
JSHS
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Regional and national competitions in original STEM research, with cash awards and DoD lab tours.
📍 Regional sites nationwide⏱ 2 days📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Junior Curators
School-year teen program involving live-animal care, field biology, conservation, research exposure and museum service.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering
Junior Engineers Summer STEM Experience (JESSE)
Rising seniors spend six weeks working directly in UH engineering research laboratories on projects involving medical robotics, structural engineering, environmental biotechnology, materials, networking and drones, plus industry site visits.
📍 HI🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium / University of Indianapolis
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) — Indiana Region
A Department of Defense-sponsored regional research symposium where Indiana high schoolers present original STEM research and compete for undergraduate tuition scholarships, hosted at the University of Indianapolis.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Kansas History Day (National History Day affiliate)
Kansas History Day
A year-long research program where students in grades 6-12 investigate a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website, advancing from district to state to national competition.
📍 Kansas (district sites, state contest in Topeka)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UMass Amherst
Karatsoreos Lab Research Intensive
Students study how circadian rhythms and stress-response systems influence immunity, metabolism, neural communication, physiology, and behavior.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Kean University
Kean STEAM Academy
High-school students take intensive courses spanning biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, computer science and AI, with college-credit options available.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Keller BLOOM Program
Sixteen Maine high-school juniors spend a free residential week conducting ocean-science field sampling and laboratory work, collecting and analyzing data, and learning directly from Bigelow scientists.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Kelley Women's Leadership Institute
High-school students explore business and leadership with Kelley faculty through case-based activities, teamwork, and exposure to business majors and careers. Fall 2026 virtual sessions are available to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wertheim UF Scripps Institute
Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship
Students spend eight weeks full-time conducting individual biomedical research in a UF Scripps laboratory while learning experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Kenyon Review
Kenyon Review Young Writers (Online Program & Publication)
The official high school literary magazine of the Kenyon Review, accepting poetry and prose globally. Virtual workshops also available.
📍 Online/Kenyon College⏱ Annual publication📅 May (Summer Review)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute
Knight Cardiovascular Internship
Oregon students explore cardiology through clinical exposure and research-oriented tracks; no prior cardiology experience required.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation High School Journalism
Various Knight-funded high school journalism programs and fellowships.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
Knight Scholars Program
Statewide cancer-career/research pipeline emphasizing rural and underrepresented Oregon students; any Oregon high-school student may apply.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Kansas School of Pharmacy
KU Pharmacy Summer Camp
High-school students explore pharmacy careers through hands-on activities, clinical and laboratory experiences, interaction with pharmacy students, and exposure to research and medication science.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Kansas
KU Project SEARCH
Paid biomedical research at KU Med Center for Kansas students.
📍 KS⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Stony Brook University
Lab Techniques in Biotechnology
Intensive laboratory experience covering contemporary biotechnology techniques. Students must have completed ninth grade; the 2026 fee was $700.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Princeton University
Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
A free, full-time 5-6 week summer research placement for local New Jersey high schoolers inside an active Princeton lab, closely supervised by faculty and research staff across biophysics, engineering, psychology, and the natural sciences.
📍 Princeton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
LaGuardia Community College / CUNY
LaGuardia Community College STEM Research Academy
Research experience spanning biology, chemistry and computer science with CUNY faculty and laboratories.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Launch Leadership, hosted at Doane University
Launch Leadership Summer Leadership Workshop
A five-day, four-night residential leadership experience running over 60 years, where high school students (grades 9-12) work in small cooperative groups on skill tracks like communication, group dynamics, and decision-making, with scholarships available to reduce cost.
📍 Doane University, Crete, NE📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
LaunchX
LaunchX Online BootCamp
Learn startup basics in a beginner-friendly, flexible online program where you create an idea in 3 weeks.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
LaunchX
LaunchX Online Entrepreneurship
Start a real business, become an entrepreneur, and focus on revenue generation in this intensive 5-week program.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Louisiana Department of Education
LDOE High School Summer Internship Program
A paid summer internship placing a small cohort of Louisiana high schoolers in LDOE offices such as Career and College Readiness, Teaching and Learning, Governmental Affairs, and Public Affairs to do policy research, communications, and data analysis.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
MIT Department of Biology / Health Resources in Action
LEAH Knox Scholars Program
Boston, Cambridge, and Everett public-school students enter a two-year pathway beginning with a paid five-week laboratory course and continuing with a six-week research internship the following summer.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Learn & Earn
Year-round academic/career program for eligible NYC juniors and seniors culminating in a paid six-week summer internship.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rutgers University Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
LEEDAR Summer Research Program
High-school juniors and seniors spend roughly six to eight weeks working on an actual research project alongside researchers in a Rutgers chemistry laboratory.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lehman College / CUNY
Lehman College STEM Research Academy
Students complete research preparation and a six-week summer laboratory experience in fields including biology, chemistry and psychology.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee
LESC Legislative Internship
A paid internship placing a New Mexico high school senior with legislative staff to research education policy, attend interim committee meetings around the state, and interact directly with lawmakers.
📍 Santa Fe, NM (travel to interim committee meetings statewide)📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota
LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program (High School)
Eight-week summer cardiovascular research program for high school juniors and seniors (16+, U.S. citizens): scholars join a laboratory with a faculty mentor for intensive basic or clinical research, plus weekly faculty/industry seminars and field trips. Scholars are paid an hourly wage. 2027 high school session runs May 31 to July 23.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Caltech
LIGO SURF
Gravitational-wave research at Caltech. Need-based travel and housing aid.
📍 CA⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NC State University
Livestock Science Camp
Students explore animal genetics, nutrition, biotechnology and livestock production through university laboratories and agricultural facilities.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair
Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair (LACSEF)
The largest science fair specifically for LA County students, where roughly 1,000 middle and high schoolers present research projects for medals, scholarships, and advancement to state and international fairs.
📍 Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, CA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The National WWII Museum (Louisiana affiliate of National History Day)
Louisiana History Day
A project-based history research competition for grades 6-12 (Senior Division is 9-12) where students create a paper, exhibit, website, performance, or documentary and advance through Regional, State, and National contests.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA (state contest at West Baton Rouge Museum)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana HOSA - Future Health Professionals
Louisiana HOSA State Leadership Conference
Louisiana's statewide HOSA conference where high school chapters compete in health-science events like Prepared Speaking, Health Career Display, Research Poster, Forensic Science, and Medical Spelling, with top finishers advancing to the International Leadership Conference.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UW-Madison Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
LSC Kramer Fund Summer Internship (UW-Madison Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Paid 8-week lab internship doing supervised routine lab tasks in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology for a Dane County high school junior or graduating senior interested in a science career.
📍 Madison, WI📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine
LSU Health New Orleans Summer Research Internship Program — High School
High-school students complete an eight-week, full-time biomedical research internship with LSU Health mentors, attend scientific seminars, and present their findings at a poster symposium. The 2026 high-school stipend was $2,645.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana State University
LSU HSSR (High School Summer Research)
Paid research at LSU for Louisiana students.
📍 LA⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
LUMCON Estuarine Awareness and Discovery (LEAD) Camp
High-school students spend a residential week investigating Louisiana coastal ecosystems through research cruises, marsh and beach surveys, laboratory work, microscopy, dissections, paddling, and interactions with marine scientists.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Lumiere Education
Lumiere Education Individual Research
One-on-one research mentorship with PhDs producing a publishable paper.
📍 Online⏱ 3-6 months📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Lumiere Education has launched a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides high-quality research opportunities to talented, low-income high-school students at no cost. Students are paired with world-class PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, they learn about the cutting edge of their field and develop an independent research paper.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Lumiere Education
Lumiere Research Scholar (Aid)
Independent research papers with PhD mentors. Need-based financial aid up to 100%.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lumiere Education
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Independent research program mentored by PhDs; open to high schoolers worldwide.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Madison Public Library
Madison Public Library Volunteer Program (Teens)
Volunteers 17 and under can apply through the library's volunteer form for tasks such as pulling holds, packing maker kits, seed library work and program setup, with teen roles such as the Pinney Library PlayLab associate.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Chewonki Foundation
Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki
A four-month residential, college-preparatory semester program for high school juniors combining rigorous academics with field research in coastal ecosystems, work on a sustainable farm, and outdoor leadership on the Maine coast.
📍 Wiscasset, Maine📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
University of Southern Maine / Maine Model United Nations Program
Maine Model United Nations Conference (MeMUNC)
An annual three-day Model UN conference at USM's Gorham campus where Maine high schoolers simulate UN bodies and debate global issues like maternal health, environmental justice, and disinformation, developing research, negotiation, and public speaking skills.
📍 Gorham, ME (USM)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Maine / Margaret Chase Smith Library
Maine National History Day
A year-long research and project-based competition for grades 6-12 in which students create a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website on a historical topic tied to an annual theme, advancing from classroom to state to national competition.
📍 Orono, ME (University of Maine)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Space Grant Consortium
Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) — High School
Maine high-school juniors complete six weeks of paid research or technology-development work at STEM laboratories, companies, and research institutions around the state. Participants must be Maine residents and U.S. citizens.
📍 ME🎓 Grade 11
Selective
The Jackson Laboratory & Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance
Maine State Science Fair
Maine's statewide science fair, open to students in grades 9-12 from any public, private, parochial, or home school, where participants present independent research projects to expert judges for cash prizes and college scholarships.
📍 Statewide (rotating host high school), ME📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Southern Maine STEM Outreach
Maine-SMART High School Research Program
Rising juniors and seniors spend a week conducting mentored research tied to Maine's targeted technology sectors. The 2026 sessions focused on algae-growth experiments involving species, growth media, agitation, and environmental variables.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Lincoln Park Zoo
Malott Family Research Apprenticeship Program
Chicago students spend seven paid weeks working alongside zoo scientists on an original conservation-research project and finish by communicating their findings. Applicants must be Chicago residents and generally enter grades 11 or 12.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Roger Williams University
Marine Biology Camp
A residential summer camp introducing high schoolers to coastal ecosystems, marine life, and oceanography through kayaking, snorkeling, boat-based sampling, and lab work at RWU's Bristol, RI campus.
📍 Bristol, RI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology / Coral Resilience Lab
Marine Molecular Mentorship Program
Hawaiʻi high-school girls live at Moku o Loʻe while learning molecular-biology techniques, coral science, evolution and marine field-research methods with women scientists.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oregon Sea Grant / Oregon State University
Marine Science Adventures — Teen Programs
Hands-on marine-science field/lab summer programming through Oregon Sea Grant.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
Marine Science Investigations
Weeklong immersion in marine-science research at Moku o Loʻe, giving students hands-on experience inside an active tropical marine-research environment.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
LUMCON Blue Works
Marine Science Semester
Homeschool students in grades 7–12 meet weekly for hands-on Louisiana coastal and marine-science investigations and complete independent research projects designed to build scientific and communication skills.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UNC Wilmington
MarineQuest Ocean Solutions
Students investigate sea-level rise, coastal management and marine conservation through research-vessel, barrier-island and field activities.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Mark Cuban Foundation and Gearbox Labs
Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp (Milwaukee, Gearbox Labs)
Free three-Saturday AI bootcamp for underserved grade 9-12 students with 20+ hours on current AI tools, applied AI ethics and building an AI application for career exploration, with meals and technology provided.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Marshall University
Marshall University NeuroCamp
A week-long summer camp with hands-on activities and presentations by faculty and graduate students on lab safety, neuroanatomy, addiction, stroke and behavioral models.
📍 Huntington, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Maryland AAPI Legislative Caucus (Maryland General Assembly)
Maryland AAPI Legislative Caucus Summer Internship Program
A structured civic education program engaging high school and college students through the legislative process, including policy research, bill drafting, mock committee hearings, floor debates, and a final mock legislative session at the Maryland State House.
📍 Annapolis, MD📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Maryland Humanities
Maryland History Day
Maryland's affiliate of National History Day, inviting middle and high school students to create original documentaries, exhibits, performances, research papers, or websites on an annual historical theme, progressing through school, district, state, and national competitions.
📍 Maryland (statewide); state contest at UMBC📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Historical Society (National History Day state affiliate)
Massachusetts History Day
A year-long historical research program in which students in grades 6-12 investigate a topic using primary and secondary sources and present their findings as a documentary, website, performance, paper, exhibit, or podcast at regional and state contests.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, sponsored by the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair, Inc.
Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair
A statewide science and engineering fair open to grades 9-12 that requires a research plan, project notebook, lab report, visual display, and oral presentation, with top projects advancing to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Massachusetts (statewide, regional fairs and state finals)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MassRobotics
MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program
A fellowship providing diverse Massachusetts high school girls with technical skills in robotics through CAD design, electronics, and coding instruction, mentorship from industry professionals, and a paid summer internship at a robotics or technology company.
📍 Boston, MA (MassRobotics facility)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
LSU Cain Center / Department of Mathematics
Math Circle Competition Team (MCCT)
A collaborative, informal math program for grades 8-12 that meets periodically to explore enjoyable math topics and prepares students for the AMC 10/12, AIME, and tournaments like Harvard-MIT Math Tournament.
📍 Baton Rouge, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Citadel, Department of Mathematics and Data Analytics
Math Research Experience for Lowcountry High School Students
A free, non-residential week-long camp where Lowcountry-area high school students and teachers work with Citadel faculty on open mathematical research problems drawn from MAA publications and The Fibonacci Quarterly.
📍 Charleston, SC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Florida
Mathematical Exploration Summer Institute
Rising juniors and seniors work on mathematics beyond the standard high-school curriculum through lectures, hands-on exploration and collaborative problem solving.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Matter of Trust
Matter of Trust Citizen Science
Free citizen-science volunteer projects in oil-spill remediation and sustainability.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium / Maunakea Observatories
Maunakea Scholars
Program pairing Hawaiʻi public high school students with professional astronomy mentors to write research proposals and compete for observing time on Maunakea's world-class telescopes.
📍 10 partner high schools across Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
McNeese State University
McNeese Summer Engineering Research Academy
Students entering grades 9–12 use university equipment for research-oriented projects spanning robotics, chemical engineering, computer engineering, atmospheric data, clean water, energy, and other engineering areas.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
MD Anderson Summer Experience
Paid summer internships for high school students in Houston to explore careers in clinical care, research, and support services.
📍 Houston, TX⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 31🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Ohio State College of Medicine
MD Camp
Intensive three-week medical-school experience with clinical and research shadowing at OSU Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Me, Myself, and Art
Students explore identity and visual communication through portraits, collaborative painting, embroidery, collage, watercolor, and a culminating gallery exhibition.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Mechanisms of Human Health and Disease
Intensive science program for students interested in medicine and medical research; top participants can present research and the top student receives an AWRI internship opportunity.
📍 OH🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine
Medical Diagnosis and Treatment
Students experience medical-school-style learning through anatomy demonstrations, clinical-skills laboratories, patient simulations, vital-sign measurement and diagnostic scenarios.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Rochester
Medical Exploration Pre-College Program (Explorations in Pathology)
A competitive, full-day residential pre-college program for 11th-12th graders at Strong Memorial Hospital/URMC where students learn pathology and laboratory medicine through hands-on instruction, organ dissection, and clinical shadowing.
📍 Rochester, NY (University of Rochester Medical Center)📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Utah Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory Sciences
Medical Laboratory Science Summer Immersion Program
A one-week summer immersion for high school students ages 16-18 with hands-on lab work in hematology, microbiology, clinical chemistry, blood banking and parasitology, plus microscopy and pipetting training and a tour of ARUP Laboratories. The 2027 session runs June 28-July 2 at the Eccles Health Science Education Building.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
VCU School of Medicine
Medical Science Internship Program (MSIP)
Six-week summer internship placing Greater Richmond high school students with a research mentor in a VCU lab.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Medical Sciences Summer Institute
Week-long biomedical-research workshops covering cellular/molecular biology and, in 2026, a medical-informatics/data-science track.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
MELNHE High School Research Opportunity
A free, year-round hands-on lab research opportunity for high schoolers to join the Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project, processing soil and leaf-litter samples and earning optional college credit.
📍 Syracuse, NY (SUNY ESF)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Tennessee Health Science Center / Hyde Family Foundation
Memphis Challenge Program
An eight-week summer internship for graduating high school seniors through college juniors to work in clinical and research laboratories at UTHSC, sponsored by the Hyde Family Foundation and capped at 20 participants.
📍 Memphis, TN📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
MERIT Baltimore / CollegeBound Foundation
MERIT Health Leadership Academy
A multi-year, out-of-school academic and career mentorship program for underrepresented Baltimore high schoolers pursuing healthcare careers, combining Saturday college-prep classes, progressive summer internships (bioengineering/math, then clinical shadowing, then research), and longitudinal mentorship.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Children's National Hospital / George Washington University
METEOR v3
Seven-week neuroscience and clinical/translational research internship combining Children's National lectures with immersive laboratory mentorship and a final research presentation.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Metropolitan Science & Engineering Fair, Inc.
Metropolitan Science & Engineering Fair
Greater Omaha students present individual or team research projects to professional scientists and engineers. The 2027 fair serves as the eastern Nebraska NJAS qualifier, offers awards and requires a $15 per-student registration fee.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Michigan Debate Institutes
Michigan Debate Institute: Seven Week Program
In-person seven-week policy debate camp at the University of Michigan for top rising junior and senior debaters, with separate senior and junior labs and coordinated evidence research. 2027 session June 20 - August 3; program fee $7,350 plus a $65 application fee; apply by June 1.
📍 Ann Arbor, MI📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Historical Society of Michigan
Michigan History Day
A yearlong, project-based research program in which students investigate a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as a paper, exhibit, documentary, website, or performance, competing from school contests through district and state finals.
📍 Statewide, Michigan (State Finals typically at Wayne State or Central Michigan University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Michigan
Michigan Math & Science Scholars
Hands-on math/science programs at U-M. Need-based aid available.
📍 MI⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Rising seniors study business with Ross faculty and industry professionals through college-level instruction, collaborative projects, and applied problem solving. The 2027 application opens in November 2026.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
University of Indianapolis / Central Indiana Area Health Education Center
MICI-AHEC Summer Health Careers Camps
A set of one-to-three-week camps for grades 9-12 exploring nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other health professions through panel discussions, lab simulations, and hands-on activities at UIndy's School of Physical Therapy.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Academy
Microbiology, disease and laboratory science.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft High School Internship Program (Redmond Area)
Paid summer internship doing technical research or development at Microsoft.
📍 Redmond, WA⏱ 4-10 weeks📅 February 1🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Mid-America Transportation Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Mid-America Transportation Center STEM Academy
Free multi-day residential STEM academy featuring university labs, engineering activities, career exploration and interaction with faculty and industry professionals.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
Mike Yarrow Peace Fellowship
Year-long Seattle-based training in active nonviolence for high school and college-age youth ages 14-23, including an online intensive and a self-designed nonviolent social change project.
📍 Seattle, WA (online intensive training)📅 July🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MUSC Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (MIND)
MIND Summer Experience Program
A summer program giving high school and college students hands-on experience in neuroscience research, faculty mentorship, and clinical shadowing at MUSC, intended to prepare the next generation of neuroscientists and healthcare professionals.
📍 Charleston, SC (Medical University of South Carolina)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Mining the Mind
Psychology camp exploring the brain, behavior, psychological research and how psychologists investigate human thought and action.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
BestPrep
Minnesota Business Venture
Students spend a week on a college campus forming mock companies, developing products or services and business plans, meeting executives, practicing interviews, and presenting Shark Tank-style pitches. Financial assistance is available.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota Urban Debate League, Augsburg University
Minnesota Urban Debate League Summer Speech and Debate Camps
Summer policy, congressional debate and speech day and residential camps at Augsburg University for middle and high school students, from one-week beginner/advanced sessions to multi-week policy camps. Full tuition scholarships are available for qualifying students (free or reduced lunch with adequate GPA) at select July sessions.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
YMCA Center for Youth Voice (YMCA of the North)
Minnesota Youth in Government (Model Assembly)
Since 1946, students form school or community delegations and spend the fall preparing for a four-day January conference at the Minnesota State Capitol and a downtown Minneapolis hotel, serving as legislators, judges, attorneys, lobbyists, media or cabinet members in a model state government. Includes an October LAUNCH training day; financial aid is available through delegations.
📍 Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Minnesota CFANS (World Food Prize Foundation network)
Minnesota Youth Institute (MNYI)
Part of the World Food Prize Youth Institute network, MNYI has Minnesota high schoolers write a research paper on a global food security challenge connecting agriculture, nutrition, economics, and policy, then present it in small roundtable discussions with experts at a spring event hosted by the University of Minnesota. Top participants can advance to the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines and earn a $1,000 CFANS scholarship.
📍 St. Paul, MN📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Cosmosphere
Mission: Astro Lab
Students work together on a simulated space-station mission and participate in SCUBA-related experimentation while exploring spaceflight and associated career fields.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH) / National History Day
Mississippi History Day
Mississippi's National History Day affiliate, a cross-curricular research competition in which students create a Paper, Website, Performance, Exhibit, or Documentary based on an annual theme, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Statewide, Mississippi📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi State University / MDOT / FHWA
Mississippi Summer Transportation Institute
Mississippi students explore road, rail, air, water, and transmission systems through laboratories, bridge projects, flight simulation, field trips, and engineering activities. The residential program is free.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship Program
A fellowship immersing St. Louis-region high schoolers in plant science and conservation, working alongside Garden scientists and horticulturists on botanical research and ecological restoration projects, for students planning to pursue higher education in a related field.
📍 Missouri Botanical Garden / Shaw Nature Reserve, St. Louis region, MO📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Missouri
Missouri Scholars Academy
Three-week residential academic academy for highly capable Missouri sophomores. The 2027 cohort carries a $600 scholar fee, with waivers available to qualifying students.
📍 MO🎓 Grade 10
Moderate
Missouri State University School of Health Sciences
Missouri State University DNA Camp
A hands-on biology day camp for high schoolers exploring how the human body works, taught by biomedical professionals through scientific puzzles and lab activities.
📍 Missouri State University, Springfield, MO📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
MIT Department of Mathematics
MIT PRIMES
A free year-long after-school research program for high school sophomores and juniors near Boston, pairing students with MIT mentors to work on original research in mathematics and bioinformatics, culminating in a conference presentation.
📍 Cambridge, MA📅 December🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
MIT Sloan
MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference Student Programs
Premier sports analytics conference with student research competition and case competition.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 2 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
MIT
MIT THINK Scholars
Funded research mentorship; finalists travel to MIT for an all-expenses-paid weekend.
📍 Online📅 Not yet announced — 2026-27 cycle not yet posted🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Mizzou Mini Medical School
Annual week-long program for Missouri high-school juniors featuring patient-based learning, anatomy, microbiology, simulation and interactions with physicians and medical students. 2026 tuition was $650 with scholarships available.
📍 MO🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Major League Hacking
MLH Fellowship
A 12-week fellowship for aspiring software engineers to contribute to Open Source projects.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
MOHAI History Lab
Two-week summer intensive for high school students interested in local history and storytelling who conduct their own research and publish a work of historical interpretation on the Rainy Day History website.
📍 MOHAI, Seattle, Washington📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Houston Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mohan Lab Summer Internship (MLSI) for High School Students
An eight-week bench research internship for rising seniors in biomedical sciences, bioengineering and computer science, with 1-2 weeks of foundational lab training followed by mentored research and an oral presentation. Projects include AI and image analysis, big data and neuroscience.
📍 Houston, TX📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Grand Valley State University Department of Chemistry
Molecular Minds
Students perform experiments involving chromatography, intermolecular forces, synthesis, enzymes, molecular separations, and drug discovery using advanced research instrumentation, then present results in a poster session. The program is free.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana State University
Montana Apprenticeship Program (MAP)
Paid research apprenticeships at MSU for Montana Native American students.
📍 MT⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Alabama
MOORE Scholars
Rural Alabama high-school seniors explore health professions through coursework, seminars, clinical shadowing, field trips, and other preparation for medical careers.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NCSSM-Morganton
Morganton Scientific
Official STEM research journal through which Morganton Residential and Online students publish research papers and serve as editors.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Morgridge Institute (Madison)
Morgridge Institute Summer Research
Paid biomedical research in Madison.
📍 WI⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Morsani Mini-Med
Rising seniors study human anatomy, chronic disease and clinical reasoning using simulation labs and standardized-patient scenarios.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Mosaic Summer Enrichment Program
Rural Mississippi students spend a free residential week exploring medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, biomedical research, population health, and other health professions while also receiving ACT and professional-development preparation.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
MS Rural Physicians Pipeline (high school strand)
Free med-school pathway program for rural Mississippi students.
📍 MS⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Memorial Sloan Kettering
MSK HOPP Summer Student Program
Paid cancer research at MSK for students from groups underrepresented in medicine.
📍 NY⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Milwaukee School of Engineering
MSOE Summer Programs for High School Students
Week-long residential academic summer camps at MSOE (Explore, Focus on a major, Focus on AI, Focus on Health Professions, Women in Technology) with labs, professors and hands-on projects in engineering, computing, business and health.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Michigan State University
MSU High School Honors Science Program
Research immersion at MSU labs. Aid available for Michigan students.
📍 MI⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Michigan State University
MSU Veterinary Medicine Enrichment Summer Program
An intensive three-week program exposing students to the diverse careers in veterinary medicine through clinical rotations and labs.
📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 3 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UA Little Rock
MT Stage: From the Bard to Broadway
Students reinterpret Shakespeare through contemporary theatre, original lyrics, acting, stage combat and collaborative performance.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Sternberg Museum of Natural History / Fort Hays State University
Museum Academy Kansas
Students use authentic fossils and scientific literature while learning museum research, collections care, scientific illustration, exhibit design, and public science communication.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Yellowstone Art Museum
Museum Teen Council
Free teen council for ages 13–18 where members create art, collaborate on museum activities, meet arts professionals, volunteer and help shape teen programming. The fall 2026 cohort begins in October.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USC Center for Music, Brain and Society
Music and the Brain Summer Research Program
Students explore auditory neuroscience and music psychology through lectures, lab tours, EEG/MRI research demonstrations, data collection, research-method training and development of an original research proposal.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The College of New Jersey
Music Technology Camp
Students compose, edit, make beats and produce original tracks using a Mac lab and professional recording studio.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine
MYHealth
Southeast Michigan high-school students participate in a nine-month virtual health-research program, learn research fundamentals, select youth-health questions, collect data through surveys or activities, and present their findings.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cameron University
NanoExplorers
Hands-on nanotechnology, chemistry, physics and STEM research academy.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Louisiana State University Pre-College Programs / NASA Astro Camp
NASA Astro — Virtual
Students use mailed kits and virtual activities to build robots, plan a lunar colony, launch rockets, explore Mars, conduct experiments, and complete collaborative simulated space missions.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NASA
NASA Citizen Science
Dozens of free NASA citizen-science projects. Your contributions co-author published papers.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium (Brown University)
NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium: Lunar Challenges
A NASA-funded consortium led by Brown University that runs student-facing programs including the Build the Moon and Plant the Moon classroom challenges for middle and high schoolers, alongside teacher partnerships bringing NASA-focused research into Rhode Island classrooms.
📍 Providence, RI (Brown University; challenges run through RI schools statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NASA / UT Austin
NASA SEES Internship
Earth and space science research mentored by NASA scientists.
📍 TX / Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Virtual spring + 2-week onsite📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
NHSJS
National High School Journal of Science
Free peer-reviewed online journal publishing high school students' STEM research.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day
National History Day
Year-long historical research project competition culminating at the national contest.
📍 College Park, MD⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Arizona Historical Society / National History Day
National History Day Arizona
Statewide academic history competition where students in grades 6-12 (with grades 4-5 at state level) research a historical topic and present it as a paper, exhibit, performance, website, or documentary, advancing from regional contests to state and national finals.
📍 South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ (state contest)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Humanities / LaGrange College
National History Day Georgia
National History Day Georgia encourages middle and high school students to research a topic tied to the year's theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, advancing from regional contests to the state contest at LaGrange College.
📍 Ten regional sites statewide; state contest at LaGrange College📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day in Colorado / CU Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
National History Day in Colorado (State Contest)
Students research and present historical projects (documentary, exhibit, performance, website, or paper) at one of thirteen regional contests, with top finishers advancing to the state contest at CU Denver.
📍 University of Colorado Denver (state contest)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
DC History Center (National History Day DC Affiliate)
National History Day in DC
The DC affiliate contest of the national History Day program, where students research a historical topic tied to the annual theme and present it as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website.
📍 Washington, DC (Howard University, Myrtilla Miner Building)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho State Historical Society (National History Day Idaho affiliate)
National History Day in Idaho
A year-long research program where students in grades 9-12 (Senior Division) create a historical paper, documentary, performance, exhibit, or website tied to an annual theme, competing through regional contests to the state contest and on to nationals.
📍 Regional sites statewide and virtual; state contest at The College of Idaho, Caldwell📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Humanities
National History Day in Indiana
Indiana's affiliate of the national research competition, where students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website through local, state, and national contest levels.
📍 Statewide, Indiana📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of Iowa
National History Day in Iowa
A year-long research and presentation program where students create documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or websites on a historical topic, advancing from district contests to the state contest in Ames and on to nationals.
📍 Statewide with state contest in Ames, IA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kentucky Historical Society
National History Day in Kentucky (NHDKY)
An annual project-based history competition where students in grades 4-12 research a topic tied to the national theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, advancing from regional contests to the state contest and nationals.
📍 Regional sites statewide; State Contest at the Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Historical Society
National History Day in Minnesota
A co-curricular historical research program for students in grades 6-12 who choose a topic tied to an annual theme and present original research as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website, competing at school, regional, state, and national levels.
📍 Regional and state contests across Minnesota📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of Missouri
National History Day in Missouri
Missouri's affiliate of National History Day invites middle and high school students to research and present history projects as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, advancing from local contests to the state contest at the University of Missouri.
📍 Regional contests statewide; state contest at University of Missouri, Columbia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Montana State University / Montana Historical Society
National History Day in Montana
An academic program where students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website, competing through Western/Eastern regional contests and a state contest.
📍 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (state contest); regional contests statewide📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Center for Civic Engagement
National History Day in Nevada
Nevada's affiliate of the National History Day competition, where students research an annual theme and present findings as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, website, or podcast, advancing through regional and state contests toward nationals.
📍 Nevada (regional contests statewide; state contest in Las Vegas/virtual)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day / Plymouth State University
National History Day in New Hampshire
NH's affiliate of National History Day, where students research and present original historical analysis as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website.
📍 Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Historical Society of North Dakota
National History Day in North Dakota
A project-based history research competition in which students produce a documentary, paper, exhibit, performance, or website on an annual theme, advancing from regional contests to the state contest at the ND Heritage Center.
📍 Bismarck, ND (State Contest at the ND Heritage Center & State Museum)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota State University, SD Agricultural Heritage Museum
National History Day in South Dakota
A yearlong research and creative-project competition for students in grades 6-12 who create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website on an annual history theme, competing first at one of four regional contests, then at the state contest hosted at SDSU.
📍 Statewide, SD (state contest at SDSU, Brookings)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Utah Division of State History
National History Day in Utah
Students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as an exhibit, documentary, performance, paper or website at local tournaments and a state contest. Top projects advance to the national contest in Washington, D.C.
📍 Utah (regional tournaments and state contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arizona
Native American Science & Engineering Program (NASEP)
Year-long STEM pathway for eligible Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students combining a residential summer experience, STEM workshops, college preparation, networking, computer building, tutoring, and research activities.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Native OKStars Summer Research Program
Native American juniors and seniors conduct research with Native faculty/medical mentors, often involving tribal health, while learning about medicine and STEM careers.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
ND EPSCoR / North Dakota State University & University of North Dakota
NATURE High School Summer Research Experience
A STEM outreach and research program for Indigenous North Dakota students that pairs middle school, high school, and tribal college students with university researchers at NDSU and UND through tribal college summer camps, Sunday Academy sessions, and university summer camps.
📍 Fargo & Grand Forks, ND (NDSU and UND campuses, plus ND tribal colleges)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Carolina Central University BRITE
NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Summer Immersion Experience in Biotech
Residential biotechnology research experience exposing North Carolina students to pharmaceutical science, clinical research and laboratory biotechnology.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
National Center for Atmospheric Research
NCAR Atmospheric Research Internship
Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.
📍 CO⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Nebraska Center for Materials & Nanoscience, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
NCMN STEM High School Internship
Lincoln-area high-school students conduct real research in UNL physics, engineering or chemistry laboratories for about eight weeks. Interns work roughly 20 hours/week, earn $15/hour and complete a final research poster; no prior research experience is required.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences
Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences State Science & Engineering Competition
Students develop original science, engineering or agriculture research and advance through one of six Nebraska regional competitions to the statewide event at UNL. Top senior projects can advance to the American Junior Academy of Science. Regional entry fees vary; recent Nebraska regions charged roughly $6.50–$15 per student.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
National History Day, Nebraska affiliate (hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University, sponsored by Humanities Nebraska)
Nebraska National History Day
Middle and high school students conduct original historical research and present it as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website, advancing from seven regional district contests to the Nebraska state contest at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
📍 Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE (with district contests statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Neurology High School Scholars
Five-week paid internship including neuroscience research, physician exposure and a final poster.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Utah NeuroRobotics Lab
NeuroRobotics Summer Enrichment Program
A custom two-month summer research experience where high school students train alongside biomedical engineers, computer scientists, and neuroscientists. Past trainees have built exoskeletons and VR systems and presented at international conferences.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Drexel University College of Medicine
Neuroscience Camp for High School Students
A two-week camp for rising juniors and seniors with a background in biology, chemistry, or research, combining morning neuroscience lectures with afternoon laboratory projects supervised by graduate students, plus field trips to the Academy of Natural Sciences and Franklin Institute.
📍 Philadelphia, PA (Drexel University, Queen Lane Campus)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Wright State University (Dept. of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology)
Neuroscience Interactive Lab for High School Students
A 90-minute hands-on lab session where groups of 15-30 high school juniors and seniors conduct experiments, collect data, and learn about neuromuscular physiology, offered Fridays during the spring semester.
📍 Dayton, OH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Delaware
Neuroscience Pre-College Summer Program
Students explore brain function, psychology and research methods through laboratory experiments, neuroimaging facilities and a team research capstone presented to neuroscience experts.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Neuroscience Research Academy
Discover the complexities of the brain and nervous system through lectures and hands-on laboratory experiences. Learn about current neuroscience research and methodologies.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
New England High School Journalism Collaborative (NEHSJC) / New England Newspaper & Press Association
New England High School Journalism Collaborative Summer Workshop
A one-week, all-expense-paid summer workshop at Simmons University in Boston where high school students learn reporting, writing, editing and multimedia production and produce their own newspaper under deadline pressure with professional journalists.
📍 Simmons University, Boston, MA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New England High School Journalism Collaborative (NEHSJC)
New England High School Journalism Collaborative Summer Workshop
A fully-funded, residential week-long workshop (June 20-27, 2026) at Simmons University in Boston where New England high schoolers learn to report, write, edit, and produce multimedia journalism, publishing a newspaper under deadline pressure.
📍 Boston, MA (Simmons University)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
National High School Ethics Bowl / Tufts University
New England Regional Ethics Bowl (Maine teams)
Teams of 4-6 students discuss real-world ethical dilemmas and respond to judges' questions in a collaborative (not adversarial) debate format; Maine high schools compete in this New England regional, which qualifies teams for the national tournament.
📍 Medford, MA (New England regional; Maine teams travel)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Manchester Artists Association
New Hampshire High School Senior Art Scholarship
Annual scholarship supporting a New Hampshire high-school senior planning postsecondary study or a career in the visual arts.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NHSEE
New Hampshire Science & Engineering Exposition
ISEF-affiliated statewide research competition where high-school students present original science and engineering projects to judges. The next high-school exposition is scheduled for March 18, 2027.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Jersey ACS / New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Chemistry Olympics
Teams compete in chemistry research, forensic chemistry, instrumentation, microscale laboratory work, nomenclature, information search, debate and web design. The 2026 competition drew 300+ students.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
William Paterson University (NJ affiliate of National History Day)
New Jersey History Day
The Garden State affiliate of National History Day, inviting students in grades 6-12 to conduct original historical research and present it as a performance, exhibit, documentary, website, or paper, with regional and state contests leading to the National Contest at the University of Maryland.
📍 Regional sites (Rutgers-Camden, Monmouth University, St. Elizabeth University) and state contest at William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
National High School Ethics Bowl (NJ Regional, hosted by Princeton University)
New Jersey Regional High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier of the National High School Ethics Bowl in which teams of high school students engage in civil, collaborative discussion of real-world ethical cases before a panel of judges, hosted at Princeton University.
📍 Princeton University, Princeton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
New Jersey Scholars Program / Lawrenceville School
New Jersey Scholars Program
Free, selective five-week interdisciplinary program for approximately 39 NJ juniors, combining residential seminars with online work and culminating in a major research paper and arts programming.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 11
Selective
NASA / Rutgers University
New Jersey Space Grant Consortium (NJSGC)
A NASA-funded statewide consortium headquartered at Rutgers that funds K-12 'bridge' STEM programs connecting NJ high schoolers with university researchers — historically including support for Liberty Science Center's Partners in Science and Rutgers engineering outreach for girls — plus fellowships for aerospace-related research.
📍 New Brunswick, NJ (statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Supercomputing Challenge Outreach
New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge
A unique research program in New Mexico that places high school students in state-of-the-art laboratories through the Supercomputing Challenge.
📍 Los Alamos, NM⏱ Year-round📅 January 31🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Bioforce
New York Bioforce
Workforce pathway combining roughly 100 hours of biotechnology training with approximately 120 hours of mentored research.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Cornell University (lead institution, NASA Space Grant)
New York Space Grant Consortium
A NASA-funded statewide consortium of colleges, universities, and industry partners that funds K-12 STEM engagement, student project teams, and competitions to prepare New York students for careers with NASA and the aerospace/high-tech workforce.
📍 Ithaca, NY (Cornell University) and statewide partner campuses📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Cooperstown Graduate Program, SUNY Oneonta
New York State History Day
New York's affiliate of National History Day, in which students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as an exhibit, website, documentary, paper, or performance, advancing from regional to state and national contests.
📍 New York (statewide)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYSSEF
New York State Science & Engineering Fair
ISEF-affiliated statewide competition for original student research across science and engineering.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Tulane University / Newcomb Institute
Newcomb Summer Session
A selective pre-college program where rising 9th-12th graders explore gender, feminist thought, and social change through discussion-based seminars, workshops, and collaborative projects, earning Tulane credit.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ohio State CTSI / Nationwide Children's partners
Next STEPP Summer Camp
Week-long immersion introducing high-school students to clinical and translational research, ethics, study coordination, data management and patient perspectives.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
NHLBI Summer Internship Program
A 6-8 week intramural research internship for high school seniors (18+ by mid-June) at NIH's Bethesda campus, working in basic or clinical research labs under an NHLBI principal investigator's mentorship.
📍 Bethesda, MD📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
National Institutes of Health
NIH High School Summer Internship
Paid biomedical research internship at NIH labs.
📍 Bethesda, MD📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
NIH
NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Eight-week paid summer biomedical research internship at NIH labs.
📍 Bethesda, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Northern Illinois University, Office of External Programs
NIU Theatre Arts Camp
Week-long residential theatre camp for students in grades 6-12 featuring daily acting classes, improvisation exercises, and a full stage production, with need-based scholarships available.
📍 Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
NJPAC Summer Arts Programs
Full-day summer arts immersion programs for ages 9-18 combining acting, dance, and vocal music toward original work creation, plus a TD Jazz for Teens intensive covering jazz theory, improvisation, and musicianship with a trip to the Newport Jazz Festival; financial aid is available so no student is turned away.
📍 New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
National Library of Medicine (NIH)
NLM Data Science & Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
An 8-12 week paid summer internship (fully remote or at NIH Bethesda) pairing high school seniors with an NLM research mentor on computational research projects applying data science and informatics methods to biology and health.
📍 Bethesda, MD (remote option available)📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation / NMSU
NM AMP Student Research Conference — High School Participation
NM MESA and TRIO Upward Bound high-school students attend alongside undergraduate researchers for STEM presentations, networking, workshops and panels. Their conference fees are covered by NM AMP.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Mexico State University College of Engineering
NM PREP High School Academy
Students explore engineering through real-world projects involving 3D printing, advanced manufacturing and mathematics while interacting with NMSU faculty and laboratories.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UNC Parr Center for Ethics
North Carolina High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl in which teams of up to 7 students discuss real-life ethical dilemmas collaboratively, aiming for respectful dialogue rather than adversarial debate.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC (UNC-Chapel Hill campus)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCSEF
North Carolina Science & Engineering Fair
ISEF-affiliated statewide fair in which students present original scientific and engineering research after advancing through regional fairs.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NC State University
North Carolina Science Olympiad
School teams compete in laboratory, engineering, biology, chemistry and other STEM events through regional and statewide tournaments.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NC State University / World Food Prize
North Carolina Youth Institute
Students research a global food-security problem, write a policy-style paper and present solutions to experts; top participants can advance to the Global Youth Institute.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines
North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair
Students advance through regional fairs to present original science and engineering research at the statewide ISEF-affiliated fair.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Northwest Science Expo System
Northwest Science Expo
Oregon's statewide ISEF-affiliated science-research competition; regional qualifiers advance to NWSE and top projects to Regeneron ISEF.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Northwestern University Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Northwestern University Research Program for High Schoolers (NURPH)
Rising juniors and seniors from the Chicago/Evanston area spend seven weeks carrying out original materials-science research with Northwestern researchers. The program is paid and does not require previous research experience.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Norwich University
Norwich University Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy
A residential summer week where high school students use interactive coding labs, Raspberry Pi hardware builds and team challenges to design, train and test beginner machine-learning models while exploring AI bias, privacy and ethics.
📍 Norwich University, Northfield, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Norwich University Cyber Institute
Norwich University Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Academy
A week-long immersive camp teaching media literacy, open-source intelligence and cognitive security, with labs in Norwich's War Room, a Vermont Intelligence Center field trip and individual research projects ending in student briefings.
📍 Norwich University, Northfield, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
National Symposium for Debate (NSD), held at Bryn Mawr College
NSD Philadelphia Public Forum Debate Camp
Two-week Public Forum debate camp at Bryn Mawr College for beginners through experienced debaters, with small-group labs, mentor groups, practice rounds, elective seminars and an end-of-camp tournament. The 2026 sessions ran June 28 to July 25 (about $3,000 to $3,600 depending on session and residential or commuter); NSD's site says 2027 camps open for registration in December.
📍 Bryn Mawr, PA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Idaho National Laboratory
Nuclear Science Camp
Students investigate nuclear science and energy through hands-on activities connected to Idaho National Laboratory's research mission.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UMass Amherst
Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Research Intensive
Students work with nucleic-acid-based chemical and biological tools used for sensing, cellular imaging, and molecular engineering.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Nuffield Foundation
Nuffield Research Placements
Fully-funded UK STEM research placements for Year 12 students, prioritized for those from low-income backgrounds; hosted by universities, research institutes, and companies.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 4–6 weeks (summer)📅 March (UK Year 12)🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
National University of Singapore
NUS High School Research
Undergraduate-level research mentorship at NUS for advanced high school students.
📍 Singapore⏱ 12 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Summer Academy
Journalism, filmmaking, and writing courses taught by Times journalists. Limited need-based aid.
📍 NY / Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
NYU Tandon
NYU Tandon ARISE
Free seven-week research program for NYC HS sophomores and juniors in engineering and science.
📍 Brooklyn, NY⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Ocean Lab — Surrounded by Science
High-school students participate in an immersive residential program centered on ocean science, field investigation, scientific practice, and leadership.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant
Ocean STEAM Powered (O-STEAM) Fellowship
A week-long residential fellowship in Woods Hole where Massachusetts high school sophomores and juniors work with WHOI researchers on hands-on ocean science, including building hydrophones, analyzing marine mammal vocalizations, and testing water quality.
📍 Woods Hole, MA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Rhode Island
Oceanography Explorers Camp — High School
Hands-on oceanographic field/laboratory program at URI's Graduate School of Oceanography.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Oceans and You — Bahamas Field Study
Marine-science field program at the Forfar Field Station including snorkeling, tide-pool research, sustainability and marine-conservation career exploration.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Ochsner Health
Ochsner STAR Summer Scholars Program
A free four-week summer program for rising high school seniors to conduct inquiry-based scientific experiments in a dedicated student lab under Ochsner scientists, with training in resumes, presentations, and CPR certification.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Cleveland State University School of Film & Media Arts
Odyssey Program - Summer Filmmaking Intensives
Day and residential summer filmmaking camps for ages 13-18 covering screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design using CSU's professional soundstages and editing labs, plus one-day Saturday workshops.
📍 Cleveland, OH📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Penn Medicine
OER Summer Internship
Seven-week local high-school research experience pairing six weeks of faculty-mentored research with clinical exposure.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Ohio FFA Association
Ohio FFA Agriscience Fair
FFA members conduct and present original agricultural-science research, with finalists competing during the Ohio FFA Convention.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Ohio History Connection
Ohio History Day
Students create research papers, documentaries, exhibits, performances or websites and advance from regional contests to the Ohio state and National History Day competitions.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Findlay
Ohio Regional High School Ethics Bowl
A collaborative (non-adversarial) ethics competition where Ohio high school teams analyze and discuss contemporary ethical issues, judged by University of Findlay's collegiate ethics bowl team, faculty, and staff, with winners advancing to the National High School Ethics Bowl.
📍 Findlay, OH📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Ohio State University Model UN Team
Ohio State Model UN Conference (OSUMUN)
An annual spring conference hosted by Ohio State's Model UN Team for Ohio high school students to gain an in-depth look at international relations and the UN while developing collaboration, debate, and public speaking skills.
📍 Columbus, OH📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ohio State University, CFAES Wooster Campus
Ohio State Research Internship Program (ORIP)
A 10-week paid research internship pairing graduating high school seniors with faculty mentors for lab and field research in agriculture, entomology, plant pathology, food science, and related fields, including weekly seminars and a final symposium.
📍 Wooster, OH (Ohio State University CFAES)📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Ohio Academy of Science / Ohio State University
Ohio State Science Day
Students advance through Ohio Regional Science Days to present original scientific research at the state's highest-level science-day competition, with nearly $300,000 in scholarships and awards available.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ohio State University
Ohio State Young Scholars Program
Free year-round academic + research support for first-gen Ohio students.
📍 OH⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio Academy of Science
Ohio STEP
Students identify a real-world problem, design a STEM-based product or service, conduct market research and develop an entrepreneurial plan/pitch. Students can compete independently or in teams of up to three.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Oregon Health & Science University
OHSU On Track OHSU!
Free pipeline program for Oregon students from rural and underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 OR⏱ Year-round + summer📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oklahoma FFA / OSU
Oklahoma FFA Agriscience Fair
Students conduct and present original agricultural-science research in individual or team divisions with national advancement potential.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma National History Day
Students create research papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites and performances and advance from regional to state/national competition.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State Science & Engineering Fair
ISEF-affiliated statewide research fair; students advance from regional fairs and present original STEM research.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
OKStars Summer Research Program
Six-week mentored research experience placing high-school juniors and seniors in active OSU-CHS research teams in biomedical science, forensics, data analytics, paleontology and athletic training.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New Hampshire Academy of Science
One-Week Introduction to Scientific Research
Week-long introduction to laboratory research using tools such as microscopes, PCR, spectrophotometers and 3D printers across biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The 2027 session is scheduled for July 19–23.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NC State University Global Training Initiative
Online Research Academy
Four-week virtual research experience pairing high-school students with NC State faculty on projects spanning AI, engineering, medicine, genomics, mathematics and sustainability.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia University Pre-College Programs
Online Summer
Dive into the Ivy League experience with Columbia’s world-class instructors and a rigorous and collaborative online experience.
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC San Diego Institute for the Global Entrepreneur
OPALS Research Program
High-school students work in a structured research environment spanning engineering, medicine, science and innovation. Spring is part-time and summer is an intensive four-week primarily in-person experience.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Allen Institute with Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education
Open Science Quest at the Allen Institute
Three-week intensive internship course at the Allen Institute where students run advanced lab activities, generate and analyze biomedical data, and get exposure to neuroscience, cell biology and immunology.
📍 Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Operation Catapult
Students completing grades 10 or 11 spend 11 days conducting engineering and science experiments, using faculty laboratories, and completing a team design project.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Oregon FFA
Oregon FFA Agriscience Fair
Members present original agriculture/STEM research in individual or team divisions.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Pacific University Department of Philosophy
Oregon High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl in which teams of 3-5 students collaboratively analyze real-world ethical dilemmas and respond to judges' questions, winning by rigor and respectful engagement rather than adversarial debate.
📍 Portland area, OR (rotating host high schools)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
JSHS
Oregon Junior Science & Humanities Symposium
Students present original STEM research in a competitive symposium with opportunities to advance nationally.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Oregon Science Olympiad
Oregon Science Olympiad
Teams compete across laboratory, engineering, biology, chemistry, earth science and physics events and can advance nationally.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Oregon State University
Oregon State Environmental Science Internship
A program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in environmental research and data science.
📍 Corvallis, OR⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORNL High School Summer Internship
Paid DOE national lab research at Oak Ridge.
📍 TN⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma
OU Bass Bash
Multi-day double-bass workshop for school-age musicians.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Oklahoma
OU Sooner Health Research
Paid health research at OU for Oklahoma students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 OK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma
OU Summer Jazz Collective
Jazz performance, ensemble and improvisation program.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Oklahoma
OU Summer String Academy
Intensive violin, viola, cello and piano study.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Vermont Department of Health Tobacco Control Program / Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation
Our Voices Xposed (OVX) Vermont Youth Tobacco Prevention Movement
A statewide youth leadership initiative for Vermont high school students who research tobacco advertising, run community events, testify to legislators and attend the annual 802 Youth Leadership Summit with tracks in storytelling, justice and policy.
📍 Vermont (local chapters, summit and Montpelier Statehouse rally)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Urban Ecology Center
Outdoor Leaders High School Internship (Urban Ecology Center)
A paid environmental career internship for Milwaukee high school students, with an eight-week summer intensive for 18 Outdoor Leaders and a September-April school-year cohort of nine, building skills in education, stewardship and research.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Sternberg Museum of Natural History / Fort Hays State University
Paleontology Academy Kansas
Students combine fossil prospecting with laboratory work in anatomy, microfossils, paleobotany, documentation, and museum collections to understand ancient Kansas ecosystems.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)
PARI Summer Camps
One- or two-week camps for high-school-age students on a historic former NASA/DoD campus, using real scientific instruments and professional telescopes to follow the same research processes as working scientists in space science, astronomy and astrophysics.
📍 Rosman, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Liberty Science Center
Partners in Science
An intensive eight-week summer mentorship, running since 1986, that pairs NJ high school juniors/seniors with scientist mentors at regional institutions (NJIT, Princeton, Rowan, Rutgers, Stevens, and more) for hands-on lab research, plus biweekly career workshops at LSC.
📍 Jersey City, NJ (placements statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Health Sciences
PATH Emerging Scholars Program
One-week residential program preparing high-school juniors and seniors for careers in healthcare and health research through STEAM-H learning and leadership development.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
PathMaker Scholars
A 10-week residential summer research experience with laboratory training and an individual cancer research project under faculty mentorship. Targets rural and frontier students of the Mountain West.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Research Apprenticeship Program
Omaha Public Schools students age 16+ work for a semester in an active biomedical research laboratory, learning molecular biology and areas such as cell biology, cancer biology and microbiology. Students are paid hourly, transportation assistance is available, and placements may continue beyond one semester by mutual agreement.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Pathways Research Explorers Program
A two-week, hands-on introduction to biomedical and cancer research at Fred Hutch with lab activities, lab tours and conversations with scientists at different career stages.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Ohio Northern University
Pathways to STEM Camp
Residential multidisciplinary camp with microbiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physics, civil/mechanical engineering, robotics and manufacturing labs.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
PBS
PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
Network of student newsrooms producing stories for PBS.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Penn PREHSS
Five-week mentored laboratory research in biology, chemistry, physics/astronomy, linguistics or psychology, culminating in a presentation.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
PennApps
One of the oldest college hackathons; HS-track sometimes available. Travel stipends offered.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 36 hours📅 Spring/Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pennsylvania FFA
Pennsylvania FFA Agriscience Fair
Original agricultural/STEM research.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Carnegie Mellon University / Commonwealth of PA
Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences
Five-week intensive residential STEM program with advanced coursework and hands-on research. Program expenses are fully funded.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
PJAS
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science
Individual scientific research presentations and awards.
📍 PA🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy
PharmFUTURE
Rising juniors and seniors experience pharmacy-school life, work in a laboratory, explore pharmacist careers, and learn how to prepare for pharmacy admission and success.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New Jersey Department of Health, Public Health & Environmental Laboratories (PHEL)
PHEL STEM Student Outreach Program
A hands-on laboratory outreach program for Trenton-area junior-high and high schoolers, run with Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County and Rutgers 4-H, exposing students to vector-borne disease testing, newborn screening, heavy-metal analysis instrumentation, and pathogen genomics in a working state public health lab.
📍 Trenton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
A free residential summer program at FRIB where high school students explore nuclear astrophysics, conduct their own experiments, and tour a world-leading rare-isotope laboratory.
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UBC
Physics Olympics
Annual lab and theory physics competition for high schools.
📍 Vancouver, BC⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
PICNICS Summer Research Program
High-school students conduct hands-on research in NDSU chemistry, biochemistry, coatings, polymer/materials and engineering laboratories alongside university researchers.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Ohio State College of Pharmacy
Pills, Potions and Poisons
Hands-on pharmacology and biomedical-science camp exploring drug development, disease, pharmacy, medicine and laboratory research.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
PING: Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (FRIB)
Two-week nuclear physics research experience for high school students at FRIB, pairing pre-college students with undergraduate mentors on a research project with possible national conference presentation and year-long continuation. Fully NSF-funded and free to participants; 2026 session ran July 12-25 (applications Jan 15 - Mar 15).
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Academics Research Program
One-on-one online research program with US professors across humanities, social sciences, and STEM; produces publishable paper.
📍 Online⏱ 4-6 months📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Research Institute
The world's first and only fully accredited online research program for high school students. Work directly with leading professors to conduct original research projects and earn four college credits. Participants engage in research group seminars, literature review, and 1:1 mentorship to develop an original, undergraduate-level research paper.
📍 Online, Globally Accessible📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Kamin Science Center
Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair
STEM research competition.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
UMass Amherst
Plant Signal Transduction and Reproduction Research Intensive
Students investigate plant reproduction and growth using molecular biology, genetics, PCR, protein purification, and genetically transformed plants.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) / Willamette University
PNCA Pre-College
Weekend and summer intensives in studio art, design and creative technology; need-based scholarships available.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
PNNL High School Research and Business Internships
PNNL offers high school students academic-year (August-May, up to 4 hours a day) and full-time summer internships in research or business, with elective credit available through school work-based learning programs. Students must be 18 to work in lab spaces.
📍 Richland, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Alabama Writers' Forum (in partnership with the NEA and Poetry Foundation)
Poetry Out Loud - Alabama
A free national recitation competition for high schoolers that builds public speaking skills and confidence, with students reciting published poems (and optionally original or social-issues poetry) through classroom, regional, state, and national rounds.
📍 Regional competitions statewide; state finals at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery, AL📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CHOP PolicyLab
PolicyLab Student Internship
Research placements involving pediatric health-policy and population-health projects.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Polygence
Polygence Core Program
One-on-one online research mentorship with PhDs in any field; produces a tangible project.
📍 Online⏱ 3-6 months📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Polygence
Polygence Press
Symposium and publication outlets for high school student researchers in any field.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Polygence
Polygence Research Mentorship
1-on-1 online research mentorship with graduate students across any field; open globally.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Polygence
Polygence Scholars (Financial Aid)
1:1 research mentorship with PhDs across any field. Full financial aid for qualifying students.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-20 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lewis & Clark College
Portland Speech & Debate Institute
Intensive instruction in competitive speech, debate, research and argumentation.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Portland Urban Debate League (PUDL)
Portland Urban Debate League
A free competitive policy-debate league for Portland-metro high schoolers running tournaments from October through April, paired with student and teacher workshops to build critical thinking, research, and advocacy skills.
📍 Portland metro, OR📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
PPPL Plasma Physics Research
DOE national lab program — fusion and plasma research mentorship.
📍 NJ⏱ 1 week + mentorship📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt Fall and Spring PreCollege Classes
Spend Saturdays developing your skills in classes designed to fit a high school schedule. With both online and in-person options, students collaborate with peers from near and far while receiving expert guidance on their projects.
📍 Brooklyn, New York (and remote)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Butler University
Pre-College Business Track
High-school sophomores through seniors explore marketing, sales, risk, and other business areas, build a team business pitch, and earn one college credit. Need-based assistance is available.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Pre-College Cancer Engineering Summer Institute at Illinois (PRE-CE)
High school juniors and seniors conduct supervised cancer-related research in UIUC laboratories and participate in professional-development activities. Participants receive a $4,000 taxable stipend.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Butler University
Pre-College Healthcare Track
Students explore healthcare careers through laboratories, simulations, and activities related to pharmacy, nursing, respiratory care, and clinical practice.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Fairfield University
Pre-College Nursing Program
One-week primarily online program exploring nursing careers and the profession, with an optional campus visit and nursing-simulation laboratory experience.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Skidmore College
Pre-College Program
Students take real undergraduate courses alongside college students for credit. Residential and commuter options are available; 2027 applications open in January.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia University
Pre-College Program: Intensive Modern Chemistry Laboratory
An intensive three-week, in-person chemistry laboratory course for highly motivated high schoolers, with spectroscopy, chromatography and computer-simulation work plus a small research project and paper. Requires Algebra 1 and 2 and one year of high school chemistry; about $175 for class equipment.
📍 New York, NY (Columbia University)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UC Irvine Institute of Transportation Studies
Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME)
Eight-week research experience where high-school students join a transportation research project and contribute under the mentorship of an ITS research associate. No prior research experience is required.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Pre-College Research Internship for Students from Minority Backgrounds (PRISM)
An eight-week, full-time research experience in which selected high-school juniors work with UAB investigators on surgery- and medicine-related research and receive research training and mentoring.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Pre-College Residential Program
Six-week residential program at Penn in which students take credit-bearing undergraduate courses taught by Penn faculty alongside Penn undergraduates. Current 10th-11th graders; students live in campus residence halls. No scholarships are available for the Pre-College Programs.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ About 6 weeks (June 30 - August 8, 2026)🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Quinnipiac University
Pre-Med Preparation: Medical Microbiology
Students investigate microorganisms, infectious disease and laboratory microbiology while exploring preparation for health and pre-medical study.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
URI Cooperative Extension / PrepareRI
PrepareRI — URI Cooperative Extension Research Placements
Rising seniors complete seven-week projects with URI Extension educators; 2026 projects included public health, medicinal herbs and wind energy.
📍 RI🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland
PRIME-R — Pre-College Research Internships & Mentored Experience in Robotics
Students work 8–10+ hours per week in real UMD robotics laboratories with faculty and graduate researchers on AI, autonomous vehicles, drones, medical robotics, computer vision, and related projects. Program cost is $5,000.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Princeton University
Princeton AI4ALL
A free, three-week residential summer program for about 30 low-income rising 11th graders (with emphasis on underrepresented groups and girls) to study AI research methods and societal impacts through lectures, mentorship, and a Washington, D.C. trip.
📍 Princeton, NJ📅 April🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Princeton University
Princeton Laboratory Learning Program
Free competitive lab research program for HS students in NJ-area Princeton labs.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 5-6 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Princeton University
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Fully free 10-day intensive for low-income rising seniors with strong journalism interest. All travel, room, and board paid. Participants get a 4-year journalism mentor.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Princeton University / Princeton Center for Complex Materials
Princeton University Materials Academy (PUMA)
A three-week, free materials-science and engineering program that has brought Trenton-area and other NJ high schoolers to Princeton's campus every summer since 2002 for inquiry-based labs, faculty-led research projects, and career-path conversations with grad students.
📍 Princeton, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UAB Department of Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine
PRISM (Pre-College Research Internship for Scholarship and Mentoring)
An eight-week, full-time mentored research internship pairing high school juniors from underrepresented or first-generation backgrounds with UAB surgical faculty for hands-on biomedical research, seminars, workshops, and clinical shadowing, ending in a poster symposium.
📍 UAB campus, Birmingham, AL📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Selective
American Chemical Society — North Jersey Section
Project SEED
An 8-week mentored chemistry research internship in a university lab for high schoolers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (family income typically under $34,000), hosted across NJ institutions including Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers-Newark, Seton Hall, Ramapo College, William Paterson, and Fairleigh Dickinson.
📍 Multiple NJ campuses📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
American Chemical Society
Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged)
A paid summer research fellowship placing high school students from economically disadvantaged families in real chemistry labs with scientist mentors for 8-10 weeks, requiring at least one completed chemistry course.
📍 Multiple NY sites (NYU and other participating institutions)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Harvard Medical School
Project Success
Boston and Cambridge juniors and seniors complete paid summer internships in Harvard Medical School and affiliated science laboratories with research mentorship and STEM career programming.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Wildlife Conservation Society / Fordham University
Project TRUE
Bronx students conduct authentic urban-wildlife and ecology research at the Bronx Zoo with scientists and Fordham mentors during summer and fall.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
UMass Lowell
PROPEL (Professional Research Opportunities to Prepare for Engineering and Life Sciences)
A competitive, full-time paid summer internship placing Massachusetts high school students in UMass Lowell labs to conduct research in engineering and life sciences alongside faculty and student mentors.
📍 Lowell, MA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
OHSU-affiliated / Portland-area research institutions
PSI Program (Partnership for Scientific Inquiry)
A 16-week biomedical research introduction course (January-May, two hours weekly) for Oregon sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in medicine or biomedical research, with mentored research and an optional summer internship for students 16+.
📍 Portland, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wake Forest University Pre-College Programs
Psychology Institute
A week-long residential institute for grades 9-12 exploring the brain, emotions, and senses, including a guided sheep-brain dissection, neuroplasticity exercises, and student-led observational research.
📍 Winston-Salem, NC (Wake Forest Reynolda Campus)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Green Bank Observatory / WVU / NANOGrav
Pulsar Science Collaboratory
An out-of-school citizen science project in which, after training, members analyze radio astronomy data from the Green Bank Telescope to search for new pulsars; students aged 13 and up and teachers can join.
📍 Online (with optional Green Bank, WV events)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Penn State College of Medicine
PULSE
Twelve-week medical-science program using lectures, problem-based modules and mentorship from medical students.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Purdue University
Purdue STAR (STEM Academic Research)
Free research immersion at Purdue for Indiana students underrepresented in STEM.
📍 IN⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
OHSU Galbraith Lab
Quantitative Biology / Biophysics Internship
Eight-week laboratory experience involving quantitative biology, biophysics, experiments and data analysis.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Michigan State University College of Engineering
Quantum Motor City
A free NSF-supported summer camp introducing high school students to quantum computing, where participants program a real IBM quantum computer and tour MSU's Laboratory for Hybrid Quantum Systems.
📍 East Lansing, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Physics and Astronomy
QUASAR — Quest for Understanding Astronomy, Science, and Research
Residential space-science camp involving professional telescopes, water rockets, gravitational mechanics, CAD, engineering challenges and the UNK Planetarium. The 2026 three-day program cost $100 including housing and meals.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Queens College / CUNY
Queens College STEM Research Academy
Research preparation and faculty-guided projects emphasizing molecular biology and chemistry.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Queensborough Community College / CUNY
Queensborough STEM Research Academy
Students may work in biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, information security, engineering, environmental science, mathematics or psychology.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 11
Selective
NCSSM-Morganton
Quetzalcoatl
Student humanities research publication featuring work from Morganton's humanities courses and research projects.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Connecticut Bar Foundation
Quintin Johnstone Statewide High School Essay Contest
Connecticut students research a contemporary constitutional/legal issue and write an analytical legal memorandum for statewide judging.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
RADIANT: Research, AI, Data Innovation, and New Technologies
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Green Bank Observatory
Radio Astronomer for a Day (Green Bank Observatory)
Student groups work in research teams to study cosmic objects with the 40-Foot radio telescope, collecting data overnight and reviewing results with a Green Bank educator.
📍 Green Bank, WV📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Political Science Association
Ralph Bunche Summer Institute
Funded political science research for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Scripps Research
REACH High School Summer Internship Program
Seven-week full-time biomedical laboratory internship where students conduct hands-on research under a scientist mentor, attend scientific seminars and professional-development workshops, and present at the Summer Intern Symposium.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
The world's largest pre-college STEM research competition with affiliated fairs in 60+ countries.
📍 USA (affiliated fairs worldwide)📅 Regional fairs Winter–Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising future leaders in STEM. Each year, around 2,600 students enter Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study and full application for holistic review. $3.1 million in awards are distributed annually, including the first place prize of $250,000.
📍 Washington, D.C.📅 2026-11-05T20:00:00 EST🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising future leaders in STEM. Each year, around 2,600 students enter Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study and full application for holistic review. $3.1 million in awards are distributed annually, including the first place prize of $250,000. It is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students.
📍 Washington, D.C. (Finals Week, if selected), Remote (Application)📅 November 5, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Southern Wesleyan University
Region I Science & Engineering Fair
Regional ISEF-pathway science-research competition.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
LSU College of Engineering
REHAMS Engineering
Students live on LSU's campus for a week while exploring engineering disciplines, computer science, and construction management through hands-on design projects, faculty sessions, and laboratory tours.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Sternberg Museum of Natural History / Fort Hays State University
Research Academy Kansas
Returning Sternberg high-school campers work with authentic 3D fossil datasets, scientific literature, anatomical measurements, and geometric morphometrics while developing and testing research questions. Applicants must previously have completed a Sternberg high-school camp.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP)
Baltimore City juniors and seniors enter a two-year biomedical research pathway with a five-week first summer, school-year research rotations, and an applied research experience the following summer. Summer participation can be paid through YouthWorks, with additional research-rotation compensation up to $500.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Carolina A&T State University
Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
Two-week residential research apprenticeship in food, agriculture and environmental sciences where students conduct independent projects with university scientists.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Alabama A&M University
Research Experience for Secondary School Students in Ceramics and Nanostructures
High-school students work in university laboratories on ceramics and nanostructured-materials research with faculty mentors during a summer research appointment.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Michigan Center for Materials Innovation
Research Experiences for Youth (REY)
Michigan 11th graders spend seven weeks doing materials-science research involving semiconductors, 2D materials, sustainable polymers, and computational, statistical, theoretical, or experimental methods.
📍 MI🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Northwestern University CIERA
Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students (REACH)
Students learn astronomy research, Python, and data analysis during a three-week research intensive, with an optional extended research component. Full and partial tuition assistance is available.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Florida CPET
Research Explorations (REx)
Two-week residential program offering biomedical or environmental-science research tracks with advanced laboratory techniques and UF faculty interaction.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Florida CPET
Research Immersion in Science & Engineering (RISE)
One-week residential introduction to research with laboratory activities, faculty talks and tracks in engineering or environmental science/One Health.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 10
Highly Selective
UC Santa Barbara
Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
Seven-week intensive in which students work one-on-one with a UCSB graduate student, postdoc, or faculty mentor on an interdisciplinary university-level research project and participate in research lectures and academic programming.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Stevens Institute of Technology
Research Methods in Biomedical Engineering
Two-week program introducing experimental and research methods used in biomedical engineering.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
CEE × MIT
Research Science Institute (RSI)
The most selective free summer research program in the US. Six weeks of STEM research at MIT with PhD mentors.
📍 MA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-January🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Akron Children's Hospital, Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute
Research Student Programs (Research Internships)
Paid and unpaid research internships placing high schoolers alongside researchers and physicians on real pediatric-health projects spanning pediatric medicine, nursing, allied health, and public health.
📍 Akron, OH (Akron Children's Hospital)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Tu Salud Si Cuenta
RGV Summer Science Internship
A six-week internship exposing Rio Grande Valley high school students to university-level research, with students working about 20 hours per week with mentors and presenting their work to faculty, family and community.
📍 Rio Grande Valley, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
American Chemical Society / Brown / URI / Providence College
Rhode Island ACS Project SEED
Eight-week laboratory-research internships for economically disadvantaged high-school students hosted in university chemistry labs across Rhode Island.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Brown University Department of Philosophy
Rhode Island High School Ethics Bowl
A collaborative (not adversarial) discussion competition in which teams from Rhode Island public, charter, and private high schools analyze real-world ethical cases, hosted annually at Brown University.
📍 Providence, RI (Brown University)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rhode Island Science Olympiad / RIC
Rhode Island Science Olympiad
Team competition across laboratory, engineering, biology, chemistry, earth science and physics events.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Roger Williams University / RI-NEST
RI-NEST High-School Genosensing Training
Biotechnology training connecting high-school students with college researchers in electrochemical genosensing, water-quality and shellfish-disease detection.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Rhode Island College
RIC Dual Enrollment
Campus/online college courses available to qualifying high-school students.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Rice University Office of STEM Engagement
Rice BYTE! (Building Young Tech Engineers) Academy
A one-week summer academy teaching coding, microcontrollers and hands-on engineering with Arduino kits, sensor data analysis and a capstone project, including visits to research facilities such as a cleanroom. No prior experience is required.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rice University Office of STEM Engagement
Rice Sustainable Futures Academy
A free one-week enrichment academy for high school girls (other students may also apply) entering 10th or 11th grade, exploring engineering challenges focused on sustainability through labs and discussions with Rice faculty. Activities include landing capsules, roller coasters and circuits with micro:bits.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
RIMSE Summer Schools — High School Research
Local high-school students develop an independent materials-science "Discovery" project after securing a UCSD research mentor and work alongside the MRSEC research community.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
RISE — Research, Inquiry Skills & Experimentation
Students design and pursue a year-long scientific research project, work with a mentor, and prepare to present at science symposia. The 2026–27 online program runs September through May and costs $1,200, with scholarships available.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rowan University
RISE — Rowan Introduction for Student Engineers
Multi-day engineering workshop with laboratory clinics, hands-on projects, campus tours and mentoring. The 2026 fee was $200; 2027 information is expected later in 2026.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Boston University
RISE Internship/ Practicum
Conduct university-level STEM research in a laboratory setting.
📍 Boston, MA📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rowan University
RISER — Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering
Rising seniors work approximately 20 hours/week for six weeks in Rowan biomedical-engineering or biomedical-science laboratories. The 2026 program was an unpaid research placement.
📍 NJ🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Rockefeller University
Rockefeller Summer Science Research
NYC-area students do paid biomedical research at Rockefeller.
📍 NY⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center
ROOT4NANO
Engages rural Oklahoma high-school students in bionanotechnology through classroom outreach, university visits and summer programming.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
University of Minnesota, College of Science and Engineering
Rooted in STEM
A two-year pipeline program (10th through 12th grade) for Twin Cities students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM, meeting one Saturday per month for CSE faculty presentations, lab tours, and industry-alumni panels, plus summer enrichment. Graduates who enroll in CSE can receive a $40,000 3M scholarship.
📍 Minneapolis, MN📅 December🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Roper St. Francis Healthcare
Roper St. Francis Youth Volunteer Opportunities
Limited youth volunteer roles, with summer/daytime availability depending on facility.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose Accelerate
Academically qualified high-school juniors and seniors take online Rose-Hulman college courses for credit. Summer 2027 offerings include Chemistry with Lab, Film Studies, Software Development, Music Theory, writing, and disability studies.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
RoundPier
RoundPier Networking & Competition Portal
An online platform where students can find curated digital internships, summer courses, and research opportunities specifically for HS.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rowan University
Rowan STEAM Academy — Pathfinders
Advanced residential STEAM experience for high-achieving students with research-focused coursework and university-level exploration.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Retirement Systems of Alabama
RSA Summer Internship Program
Students work full-time temporary summer positions with RSA, including clerical-aide and laborer roles, and receive wages.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)
Free college-prep and research program for rural Alaska Native and rural Alaska students.
📍 AK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rutgers University
Rutgers Future Scholars Research
Free college-prep + research for first-gen New Jersey students.
📍 NJ⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (program-based)🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rutgers School of Engineering
Rutgers Honors Engineering eXperience (RHEx)
One-week residential experience introducing rising juniors and seniors to engineering disciplines through laboratories, workshops and project-based activities.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES)
Two-year cancer-research pathway in which NJ high-school students spend about 10 weeks each summer conducting mentored basic, clinical, or population-science research and presenting their work. Participants are compensated.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ruth Cheatham Foundation
Ruth Cheatham Foundation Scholarship
Supports teen and young adult cancer survivors financially via scholarships to ensure access to higher education, as well as through supportive services to ensure college graduation.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Henry Ford Health
RYSE MED Program
A free, year-long program for underrepresented Metro Detroit high school students combining a six-week summer hospital immersion (shadowing physicians, VR clinical simulations) with academic-year mentoring and a health-equity research project.
📍 Detroit, MI (Henry Ford Hospital)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
S-PREP
Free academic enrichment program for students interested in medicine and STEM, with courses and preparation spanning science, math and health.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SC 4-H
SC 4-H Presentation Contest
Public speaking/research communication contest for 4-H youth.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
MUSC Hollings Cancer Center
SC CHEER YES
Two-year cancer-research mentoring pipeline with summer laboratory projects, professional mentoring and college/career preparation for students at participating Charleston County high schools.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM)
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics - Residential Program
A tuition-free, two-year public residential high school in Hartsville for current 10th graders with strong STEM records, offering advanced coursework, research opportunities, and a boarding-school experience for junior and senior year.
📍 Hartsville, SC📅 February🎓 Grade 10
Selective
SC Academy of Science
SC Junior Academy of Science Annual Meeting
Annual meeting where students present original research through papers, presentations and posters.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
SC Academy of Science
SC Junior Academy of Science Research Competition
Students conduct and present original research through written papers, oral presentations and posters at the annual academy meeting.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the US — writing, visual art, photography, film.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 December-January (regional)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Art Museum
Scholastic Art Awards: Wisconsin Exhibition
Wisconsin students in grades 7-12 submit art through a teacher for regional Scholastic Art Awards judging and a Milwaukee Art Museum exhibition, with scholarships available for graduating seniors who present portfolios.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Writing Awards
Regional and national recognition for student writers in 11 categories. Need-based fee waivers available.
📍 Regional + national⏱ Self-paced📅 Sept-Dec by region🎓 Grades 7–12
Moderate
New York Public Library (Schomburg Center)
Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program
A six-month program for NYC students to examine inequality and social justice through research and advocacy.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 6 months📅 January 15🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
OHSU School of Dentistry
School of Dentistry Research Internship
Summer research experience within OHSU dental/oral-health laboratories.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
School of Science STEM Summer Camp
A four-day camp open only to high schoolers that gives hands-on exposure to all nine departments in the IU Indianapolis School of Science through experiments and access to state-of-the-art labs.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts Pre-College
The SVA Pre-College Program offers high school students an immersive art and design experience. Students can develop their skills, build a portfolio, and earn college credit.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Howard University / Johns Hopkins University
School2Lab
NCI-sponsored summer research fellowship pairing DMV high-school students with university researchers for cancer, medical-physics, computational, biological and biomedical research plus scientific communication and a poster presentation.
📍 DC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
U.S. Navy / Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program — SEAP
High-school students work in Navy research laboratories; Rhode Island students can access placements at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement (SAGE)
One-week day camp connecting students with LLNL scientists and engineers through hands-on STEM projects, job shadowing, laboratory/workplace tours and career exploration.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Ohio State University at Marion
Science Adventurers: Elements of Discovery
A week-long day camp covering biology, chemistry, and environmental technology -- decoding DNA, making molecular gastronomy treats, testing water quality with 3D-printed colorimeters, and learning how AI supports scientific research -- plus prairie fieldwork and the YMCA Cardboard Boat Regatta.
📍 Marion, OH (Ohio State University at Marion)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Department of the Navy / ONR
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Interns work at a Naval laboratory on real-world research under the mentorship of professional scientists and engineers.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University
Science Honors Program (SHP)
A selective Saturday-morning program (10am-12:30pm, September-May) for high school sophomores through seniors living within 75 miles of Columbia's Morningside campus, with courses in the physical, chemical, biological, behavioral and computing sciences taught by active researchers. Starting Fall 2026 the annual program fee is $900 for new students ($700 returning), with hardship waivers possible.
📍 New York, NY (Columbia University, within 75 miles)📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Hudson River Park
Science Leadership Program
Six-week paid marine/ecology research and science-leadership internship for eligible female-identifying students from designated feeder programs.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Science on Saturday
Winter lecture series geared toward high-school students, featuring scientists and engineers discussing current research across physics, fusion, engineering and other technical fields.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Museum of Natural History
Science Research Mentoring Program
Paid year-long authentic research with AMNH scientists in areas such as genomics, evolutionary biology, astrophysics and earth science. Class of 2028 applications are expected in winter 2027.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
City of Cambridge / Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Cambridge Rindge and Latin students undertake a paid, year-long independent astrophysics research project with Center for Astrophysics scientists.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado State University
SciVet Summer Program
Students investigate veterinary science through laboratory and fieldwork involving wildlife research, water quality, native bees, veterinary medicine, dendrochronology and related topics.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
SC Junior Academy of Science
SCJAS Fall Research Workshop
Research-focused workshop for students and teachers covering scientific inquiry, projects and presentation preparation.
📍 SC🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Minnesota State University Moorhead / HealthForce Minnesota / Essentia Health
Scrubs Camp (Minnesota State University Moorhead)
Four-day day camp for students entering grades 9-12 to explore health care careers and experience college life, co-sponsored by HealthForce MN and Essentia Health. A scholarship application is available alongside registration.
📍 Moorhead, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Winona State University
Scrubs Camp (Winona State University)
Week-long residential health care career camp for students entering grades 9-12: participants live in a residence hall and take part in hands-on activities related to health care. Full scholarships are available to students who demonstrate financial need.
📍 Winona, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
South Dakota Mines
SD Mines Summer Tech Academy
STEM camps at SD Mines. In-state aid.
📍 SD⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
San Diego State University
SDSU STARS (Training Astronomy Research Scholars)
A four-week summer astronomy research program pairing local high school juniors and seniors with SDSU faculty for hands-on telescope observation, Python programming, and data analysis.
📍 San Diego State University, San Diego, CA (with a trip to Mount Laguna Observatory)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Gonzaga University School of Engineering and Applied Science
SEAS Summer Immersion Program (SSIP)
A one-week residential camp for rising junior and senior high school students exploring engineering and computer science through robot programming, Python coding, research rotations with Gonzaga faculty and a research symposium.
📍 Spokane, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Seattle Children's Research Institute
Seattle Children's Research Internship
Paid pediatric biomedical research in Seattle.
📍 WA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory / Columbia partners
Secondary School Field Research Program
Six-week summer field and laboratory research experience focused on environmental and ecological sciences for students from participating schools.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Iowa
Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
Five-week research internship for rising 11th/12th graders at U Iowa labs.
📍 Iowa City, IA⏱ 5 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute / Indiana University Indianapolis
SEED/STEM Summer Program
Indiana high-school students spend eight weeks working full-time with a faculty research mentor and finish by presenting their project. Need-based stipends of up to $4,000 are available.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NASA / UT Austin CSR
SEES High School Summer Intern Program
An intensive research-based program where students work on projects in earth and space sciences using NASA satellite data.
📍 Austin, TX⏱ 2 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
SETI Institute
SETI Institute REU
Astrobiology and astronomy summer research.
📍 Mountain View, CA⏱ 10 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Oklahoma
Shannon Self Debate Institute
Intensive policy-debate training in research, evidence, persuasion and argumentation.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
RI-NEST / Rhode Island College
SHORE — Summer High School Opportunities for Research Experience
Five-week mentored scientific-research fellowship. Students work about 20 hours/week alongside RIC researchers on active projects and build laboratory/research skills.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience
SHORE Academy
Students complete hands-on marine-science and research experiences at UF's coastal Whitney Laboratory.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Sam Houston State University College of Health Sciences
SHSU Health Sciences Summer Camp
A residential 3-day camp for rising high school juniors and seniors with workshops and labs across nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, athletic training, public health, nutrition, and healthcare administration. Requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, and space is limited to about 60 students.
📍 Huntsville, TX (SHSU campus; visit to The Woodlands nursing center)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Sacred Heart University, Dr. Susan L. Davis College of Nursing
SHU Nursing Immersion Program
A week-long summer immersion at Sacred Heart's Center for Healthcare Education, in partnership with Nuvance Health, where area high schoolers earn CPR certification, work in simulation labs with the Anatomage Table, and visit a hospital's clinical acute care unit.
📍 Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT; clinical visit at Norwalk Hospital📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Sierra Club
Sierra Student Coalition
Youth-led grassroots environmental network with trainings, fellowships, and campaigns.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stony Brook University
Simons Summer Research Program
Seven-week stipended research program for HS juniors in STEM at Stony Brook labs.
📍 Stony Brook, NY⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
New York University
Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program
A fully-funded, three-week residential program giving rising juniors, seniors, and recent grads college-level coursework and labs across biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology, taught by NYU faculty.
📍 New York, NY (NYU campus)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Simpson College
Simpson College Jazz Combo Camp
Middle- and high-school musicians study jazz improvisation, theory, history, masterclasses, rehearsals, and performance during an intensive six-day camp. The 2026 fee was $625 residential or $525 commuter, with scholarships available.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars Program
Highly selective eight-week biomedical laboratory research experience at OMRF for Oklahoma high-school seniors and college students.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
UNLV
SISTEM (Student Interactions with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
A free, semester-long series of talks and hands-on interactions that lets any Nevada high school student learn about STEM careers and research directly from STEM professionals, with an in-person track for students near UNLV and a remote option for students elsewhere in the state.
📍 Las Vegas, NV (remote option statewide)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alabama, Styslinger College of Engineering
SITE (Student Introduction to Engineering)
A six-day, five-night residential summer camp introducing rising high school sophomores through seniors to engineering and computing disciplines through hands-on labs, an industrial plant tour, and a team design competition.
📍 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (STEM Education Research Center)
SIU STEM Research Academy
Four-week research camp for students in grades 9-12 to conduct authentic research alongside SIU faculty, choosing from 17 projects spanning physics, biology, computing, and environmental science.
📍 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Kean University
SkyLAB
Environmental-science program involving biodiversity, climate, renewable energy, drones, soil/water analysis and fieldwork at Kean Skylands.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rutgers Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
SLAAM Engineering Summer Academy
Two-week academy combining faculty-guided research projects with mechanical and aerospace engineering design challenges. The 2026 fee was $875.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SLC Brain Bee Committee, University of Utah
SLC Brain Bee
Annual neuroscience competition free to Utah high school students, with neuroanatomy and neurological disease questions, Brain Awareness Week modules, a graduate student panel and laboratory tours at the University of Utah Health Sciences campus. The 2026 event was March 21.
📍 University of Utah Health Sciences Campus, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
SMART Summer Program
A free four-week summer enrichment program, established in 1991, that introduces rising 10th-12th graders from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to health science and biomedical research careers.
📍 Newark, NJ📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
URI SMILE
SMILE High School Engineering Challenge
Students collaborate in mixed teams to design, build and test engineering solutions at URI.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Smith College
Smith Summer Science & Engineering Program
Research courses for young women in STEM. Substantial need-based aid.
📍 MA⏱ 2-4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Social Justice Research Academy
The Social Justice Research Academy is a three-week intensive program that gives students the opportunity to explore contemporary social justice issues and conduct research.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Songwriting & Introduction to Music Production
Students write original music while learning recording and digital production techniques.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Coastal Carolina University / National History Day
South Carolina History Day
The state affiliate of National History Day, where students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic and present it as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website, competing to advance to the national contest.
📍 South Carolina (varies by year)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Carolina Academy of Science / Furman University
South Carolina Junior Academy of Science (SCJAS) Annual Meeting
An annual statewide research conference where middle and high school students present original research across categories like biochemistry, environmental science, computer science, and psychology, alongside a day of hands-on STEM activities.
📍 South Carolina (varies by year)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SC Science Olympiad
South Carolina Science Olympiad
Team competition across laboratory, engineering, biology, chemistry, earth science and physics events.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Arts South Dakota / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
South Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A free art and conservation-science contest open to students in kindergarten through high school, who research waterfowl and wetlands conservation and submit an original drawing or painting of a duck, goose, or swan; entries are postmarked by March 15, and the state Best of Show winner advances to the national Junior Duck Stamp contest.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Dakota State Legislature
South Dakota Legislative Page Program
A year-long fellowship for South Dakota high school students to engage in state policy-making and legislative observation.
📍 Pierre, SD⏱ 1 year📅 April 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UC San Diego Stem Cell Program
SPARK — Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge
Eight-week regenerative-medicine research internship where students work in active laboratories, learn about stem-cell and regenerative-medicine fields, and shadow physicians in clinics.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Davis Biotechnology Program / CIRM
SPARK Research Scholar Awards
Eight-week mentored research experience at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures combining an individual stem-cell research project, a certified stem-cell biology course, clinical-medicine exposure and a research presentation.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SPARK SMP
SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Free 1:1 mentorship with industry researchers. Started by WA students, now nationwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vanderbilt University Programs for Talented Youth
Sports Economics: Markets, Strategy, and Culture
A two-week Vanderbilt Summer Institute course for rising 11th-12th graders examining how markets, labor dynamics, and cultural forces shape the sports industry using real sports data and case studies.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf Music Academy
High-school musicians spend a residential week in choir, band, orchestra, chamber groups, private lessons, masterclasses, music theory, conducting, and performances with St. Olaf faculty. Financial assistance is available to Minnesota participants.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford AIM-HI
Free Stanford program for under-resourced Bay Area students interested in health equity careers.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Stanford
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)
Medical research at Stanford labs. Need-based stipend available. Strong focus on accessibility.
📍 CA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Late February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Duke Clinical Research Institute
STAR Program
Students learn clinical-research methodology, scientific writing and data interpretation while contributing to mentored projects with the goal of producing scholarly work.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
UT Southwestern Medical Center
STARS Summer Research Program for Students
An eight-week, non-residential program where high school juniors work side by side with faculty hosts in UT Southwestern research laboratories. Students must be 16 by June 1 and have no prior research experience.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of Colorado Cancer Center
START Summer Research Experience
Students work with a faculty research mentor and graduate researcher to design, conduct, analyze, and present authentic biomedical research while earning college credit.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Florida Foundation for Future Scientists
State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida
Students qualifying through regional science fairs present original research at Florida's statewide science and engineering competition.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Xavier University
STEAM@XU Research Immersion
Students choose a research experience and conduct hands-on STEAM work with Xavier faculty.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
College of Charleston
STEM 360 Pre-College Summer Program
A five-day STEM sampler for rising 10th-12th graders covering biology, marine biology, chemistry, environmental geosciences, engineering, and computer programming, with field visits to the Stono Preserve and Grice Marine Laboratory.
📍 Charleston, SC📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Valley City State University Prairie Waters Education & Research Center
STEM Explorers: Water Research Institute
Students investigate water quality, aquatic invertebrates and fish through field and laboratory research with environmental scientists.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
STEM Fellowship
STEM Fellowship Big Data Challenge
International data science competition with publication in STEM Fellowship Journal.
📍 Online⏱ 8 weeks📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
STEM Fellowship
STEM Fellowship Journal
Peer-reviewed journal publishing student STEM research.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ohio Supercomputer Center
STEM Institute
Two-week residential program where students use supercomputers for team projects in science, engineering, cybersecurity, modeling and computational research.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
CU Science Discovery
STEM Pathfinders — Bioscience
Two-week exploration rotating through molecular biology, ecology/evolution, bio-inspired design and computational biology with labs, faculty interaction and campus activities.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
CU Science Discovery
STEM Pathfinders — Engineering
Students rotate through aerospace, chemical engineering, creative technology/design and integrated engineering while exploring academic and research pathways.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Colorado Boulder / CU Anschutz
STEM Research Experience
Seven-week program pairing students with CU researchers for an authentic project involving literature review, experiments/data collection, analysis, and a scientific poster presentation. Research fields range from chemistry and astrophysics to medicine and engineering.
📍 CO🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Nevada, Reno (Department of Biology)
STEM Sisters
A six-week paid summer research program in which local high school students from backgrounds underrepresented in science are paired with graduate-student mentors in a UNR biology lab, forming their own hypothesis, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting a poster at a university symposium and an international scientific meeting.
📍 Reno, NV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Georgia Tech Research Institute
STEM@GTRI High School Summer Internship
Georgia high-school students work in GTRI laboratories on real science and engineering projects for five weeks, about 24 hours per week.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
OHSU / Distance Learning Center
STEMPrep-OHSU Internship
Eight-to-ten-week hypothesis-driven basic-science research placement with an OHSU lab plus seminars, mentoring and scientific presentations.
📍 OR🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
University of Arizona Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
Steps 2 STEM Summer Research Internship
Students in eligible Pima County JTED programs spend four weeks working in University of Arizona research laboratories, complete science-literacy training, earn three transferable college credits, and present at a research showcase.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Stockholm Water Foundation
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
International youth water-research prize awarded during World Water Week in Stockholm.
📍 Stockholm, Sweden (national rounds worldwide)📅 National rounds Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
StoryLab: The Writing Process Across Genres
Students explore poetry, short fiction, screenwriting and creative nonfiction through reading, journaling, guided writing and peer feedback.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Kansas State University
String Leadership Institute
High-school string musicians receive chamber and large-ensemble coaching together with leadership training, team-building, service, and performances. Scholarships are available.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Student Lecture Series (Intern Mentoring Program)
An intern mentoring program for high school and college students who research a topic tied to the museum's permanent exhibit, such as US history, the American presidency, or public policy. The program ends with student-led presentations to peers, the public, and library staff.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Archives
Student Research Awards
Students create research projects using historical records and primary sources. High-school projects compete for statewide recognition.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Natural Areas Conservancy / CUNY partners
Student Urban Nature Program
Paid summer urban-ecology internship conducting field research in places such as Forest Park and Staten Island's Greenbelt.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Louisiana State Bar Association
Suit Up for the Future High School Summer Legal Institute and Intern Program
Incoming juniors and seniors spend three weeks attending an abbreviated law-school experience, studying legal research and writing, touring courts and law schools, and job-shadowing at law offices, courts, and agencies. Students completing the 2026 program were eligible for up to a $250 stipend.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
St. Norbert College and Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Summer Academy of Medicine (St. Norbert College and MCW-Green Bay)
Residential 3.5-day program for rising juniors and seniors introducing medicine and the biomedical sciences through hands-on lab work, diagnostic exercises with standardized patients and sessions on ethics and teamwork.
📍 De Pere, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Syracuse University
Summer College — On Campus
Rising sophomores through seniors choose one-to-four-week residential courses spanning Syracuse's schools and colleges; credit and noncredit options are available.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Syracuse University
Summer College — Online
Three- and six-week online pre-college courses for rising sophomores through seniors, with both credit and noncredit study.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Honolulu Community College
Summer CTE Academy
Students rotate through career and technical fields including computer networking, automotive technology, welding, fashion, music and early-childhood education through labs and projects.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Samford University Debate
Summer Debate Institute
An immersive debate camp for middle and high school students across Alabama, led and mentored by Samford's nationally recognized debate team, focused on Public Forum and Birmingham Area Debate League-style debate.
📍 Birmingham, AL (Samford University)📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UMass Amherst College of Engineering
Summer Engineering Institute (SENGI)
A two-week pre-college program for rising sophomores through seniors to explore biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering through faculty lectures, labs, and team design projects.
📍 Amherst, MA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
NC State University College of Engineering
Summer Engineering Residential Camps
Rising juniors and seniors spend a week exploring engineering disciplines through university laboratories, design challenges and residential campus life.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Suffolk University Center for Entrepreneurship
Summer Entrepreneurship Program for High School Students (Becoming Entrepreneurial)
A free three-week, three-credit program for rising Boston-area high school seniors covering idea development, customer research, revenue models, and marketing, taught through class work, team projects, and visits to Boston entrepreneurial organizations.
📍 Boston, MA (Suffolk University)📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Summer Filmmaking Workshop
A six-week summer workshop where 12 high school filmmakers collaborate to write, produce, direct, and edit a short film using professional equipment, premiering the finished film at the Institute's theater.
📍 Bryn Mawr, PA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota Hospital Association / Minnesota Department of Health
Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP)
Paid summer internships in Minnesota hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities and home care for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school; employers pay at least minimum wage between Memorial Day and Labor Day for 6-12 weeks, with up to half of wages reimbursed through the program. Students apply to participating facilities.
📍 Statewide (Minnesota)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Summer High School Advanced Research Program (SHARP)
Ten-week bench-research program for sophomores and juniors age 16+. Scholars train in biomedical techniques, analyze data and complete a research poster through participating UNMC research programs, including funded high-school placements such as Travis B. Lewis and H-STAR.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Juniors and seniors living within 50 miles of NIST Gaithersburg spend seven weeks conducting research alongside NIST scientists and engineers. The internship is unpaid; 2027 applications are expected to open in mid-October 2026.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Summer High School Research Program
Eight-week paid research program for Rochester-area students entering senior year, with projects in laser physics, plasma science, optics, materials and related fields.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of Mississippi
Summer Humanities Institute
Rising juniors and seniors conduct faculty-mentored humanities and social-science research around cultural memory and communicate findings through papers, podcasts, documentaries, or screenplays. Participants earn six college credits.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Drexel University
Summer Institute: Engineering and Computing
A summer camp for highly motivated high school students to explore engineering and computing at the college level, taught by Drexel faculty using university labs and Philadelphia resources.
📍 Philadelphia, PA (Drexel University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Art League Houston
Summer Intensive For Teens (SIFT)
A 4.5-week, tuition-free studio art intensive in Houston with six hours of daily coursework in sketching, textiles, ceramics and digital media, plus artist mentorship, a collaborative mural and a gallery exhibition. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
J. Craig Venter Institute
Summer Internship Program
Rising high school students conduct an in-depth, structured 8-week research experience in genomic medicine, synthetic biology, infectious disease, or bioinformatics under faculty mentorship at JCVI's Rockville campus, culminating in a judged poster presentation.
📍 Rockville, MD📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
New Hampshire Teen Institute
Summer Leadership Program
Week-long residential experience covering leadership, civic engagement, conflict resolution, health and wellness, substance-use prevention and community action. The 2027 program is confirmed, with dates forthcoming and scholarships available.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
Summer Marine Mammal Intensive Learning Experience (SMMILE)
Twelve students live at Moku o Loʻe for ten days and train in marine-mammal research involving acoustics, stranding science, field observations, drones and laser-scanning technology.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Delaware
Summer Math Modeling Program for High Schoolers
Students work collaboratively on real-world mathematical modeling problems and interact with UD mathematics faculty.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Utah Department of Mathematics
Summer Mathematics Program for High School Students
A three-week, non-residential program introducing motivated high school students to mathematical biology through collaborative problem solving with faculty and peer mentors. Participants earn three university credits in mathematics.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 May🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Summer Online Research Program
Three-week mentored research program teaching responsible research, evidence-based medicine, medical-literature analysis, scientific writing, and preparation of a research abstract.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Summer Program Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK)
High-school students deepen research skills through hypothesis testing, data analysis, interpretation and use of data software, with emphasis on research readiness and data literacy.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Summer Program for Machine Learning
A two-week, full-day program introducing high schoolers to the computer science, data analysis, and mathematical techniques behind machine learning and AI, taught by NYU Tandon faculty and graduate researchers.
📍 Brooklyn, NY (NYU Tandon)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rutgers University, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Summer Program on Fundamental Physics
A free, two-week intensive summer program at Rutgers' Busch Campus where high schoolers study cutting-edge topics in cosmology, particle physics, quantum computing, and cosmic rays through faculty talks, lab tours, and hands-on cosmic-ray measurement.
📍 Piscataway, NJ📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Santa Barbara
Summer Research Academies (SRA)
Students enroll in an intensive four-week research track, conduct directed research and complete a four-unit university course culminating in academic work and presentations.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Wyoming EPSCoR / University of Wyoming
Summer Research Apprentice Program (SRAP)
A six-week paid summer research program giving qualified high school students hands-on research experience in science, mathematics, statistics and engineering, with priority for Wyoming residents and underrepresented or first-generation students.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Stanford AIMI
Summer Research Internship
Two-week virtual opportunity to explore technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare.
📍 Virtual📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Kentucky Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
Summer Research Training Fellowship
High-school students age 16+ with advanced biology and chemistry training spend eight weeks working 20–25 hours per week in a research laboratory under a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or scientist. Fellows receive $2,500.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi State University
Summer Scholars On Stage — Writers & Technical Theatre Tracks
Writers collaboratively create an original musical's script and songs while technical-theatre participants learn stagecraft and help design and build the production. The three-week residential program culminates in a staged performance.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Smith College
Summer Science & Engineering Program
High-school students complete intensive laboratory-based science and engineering courses with Smith faculty in fields such as genetics, health, physical science, and digital systems.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Emory University School of Medicine
Summer Science Academy
Two-week science program uses lectures, laboratories and field experiences to introduce students to biology, healthcare, biotechnology, engineering and medical research.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM)
Summer Science Institute (SSI)
A residential week-long program for rising 11th and 12th graders from Alabama or Georgia to explore advanced scientific research through hands-on laboratory, field, and medical education experiences alongside Auburn faculty.
📍 Auburn University, Auburn, AL📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UAB Center for Community OutReach Development
Summer Science Institute III — Student Research Internship
Students spend eight weeks conducting full-time mentored research at UAB in biomedical, behavioral, translational, clinical, cancer, or community-based fields.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
SSP International
Summer Science Program (SSP)
Team-based real research in astrophysics, biochemistry, or genomics. Need-based aid covers full tuition.
📍 CA, NM, IN, CO (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 39 days (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
SSP International, Inc. / New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Summer Science Program in Astrophysics - New Mexico Tech
A rigorous five-week residential research program for high school juniors (and exceptional sophomores) hosted on the New Mexico Tech campus in Socorro, where teams of three determine the orbit of a near-Earth asteroid using research-grade telescopes, Python, and vector calculus.
📍 Socorro, NM📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Summer Science Program (SSP)
Summer Science Program in Astrophysics (Lehigh University campus)
A five-week residential research program where students study near-Earth asteroids using telescopes, calculus, and scientific programming, submitting real orbit-determination data to NASA's Minor Planet Center. Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA is one of only seven 2026 host campuses.
📍 Bethlehem, PA (Lehigh University)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Summer Science Program (SSP)
Summer Science Program in Astrophysics (Linfield University campus)
A five-week residential research program where rising high school seniors determine the orbit of a near-Earth asteroid from original telescope observations, working in small teams with professional astronomers as mentors.
📍 McMinnville, OR (Linfield University)📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Summer Science Program (SSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Summer Science Program: Synthetic Chemistry
A 5-week residential summer research program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where high school juniors work in teams to synthesize macrocyclic compounds using organic and inorganic chemistry techniques applicable to drug design, renewable energy, and fragrance production.
📍 Weatherford, OK📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Summer Scrubs
Students explore medicine and health careers through professional lectures and hands-on laboratory experiences; specialized sessions include physician-focused programming.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
North Carolina A&T State University
Summer Transportation Academy
Multi-week academy exposing students to transportation engineering, planning, research and careers through university instruction and extensive field trips.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Denison University
Summer TUTTI Performing Arts Camp
Residential performing-arts intensive in music, dance, theatre and musical theatre with interdisciplinary collaboration and professional artists.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UNC System / NCSSM
Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics (SVSM)
Four-week, state-funded residential research program in which North Carolina students conduct intensive STEM investigations at participating UNC campuses.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa
Summer Writing Online
Students participate in a three-week synchronous writing residency featuring fiction, poetry, screenwriting, seminars, critiques, author talks, and workshops led by University of Iowa writers. Admission is rolling and the program costs $295, with financial aid available.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
IU Indianapolis School of Education
Summer YPAR Institute
A five-day intensive institute where high school youth learn youth participatory action research (YPAR) methodology to investigate and address issues in their own communities, prioritizing students of color and those eligible for free/reduced lunch.
📍 Indianapolis, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Policy Institute
Susan K. Hamill Summer Internship Program
A nine-week internship at a Maine public-policy think tank open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, working in public policy, development, or digital media and gaining research, fundraising, and communications skills.
📍 Yarmouth, ME📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Maine Forest Bioproducts Research Institute
Sustainable Engineering Leaders of the Future (SELF)
Maine high-school students attend a free residential institute involving renewable-energy research, woody biomass, engineering, AI activities, collaborative research, and presentations.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Sustainable Sea — Aquaculture and Fisheries for the Future
Students examine sustainability challenges involving aquaculture and fisheries while practicing environmental science and leadership in an island field setting.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Michigan Technological University, Summer Youth Programs
SYP: Aerospace Engineering
A week-long residential exploration camp for grades 9-11 covering aerospace engineering fundamentals through hands-on labs, classroom instruction, and field experiences on Michigan Tech's campus.
📍 Houghton, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Michigan Technological University, Summer Youth Programs
SYP: Brains & Behavior - Neuroscience 101
A week-long residential camp for grades 9-11 introducing the fundamentals of neuroscience and behavior through hands-on labs and lectures at Michigan Tech.
📍 Houghton, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Michigan Technological University, Summer Youth Programs
SYP: Cybersecurity
A week-long residential camp for grades 9-11 introducing high school students to cybersecurity fundamentals through hands-on labs and exercises on Michigan Tech's campus.
📍 Houghton, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Michigan Technological University, Summer Youth Programs
SYP: Discover Your Future in Healthcare!
A week-long residential camp for grades 9-11 exploring healthcare career paths through hands-on activities and lab experiences at Michigan Tech.
📍 Houghton, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Michigan Technological University, Summer Youth Programs
SYP: Introduction to Computational Physics
A week-long residential camp for grades 9-11 introducing computational methods for solving physics problems through hands-on coding and lab work.
📍 Houghton, MI📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
T.U.R.T.L.E. Research Internship
High-school interns conduct conservation-biology work involving wildlife handling, husbandry, data collection, genetic sampling, telemetry and scientific communication.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Texas Association of Journalism Educators
TAJE Fall Fiesta
TAJE's annual fall convention for student journalists and advisers with workshops, keynote speakers, and competitions including Best in Texas and Journalist of the Year. Student scholarships are available to attend.
📍 San Antonio, TX📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Fermilab (Department of Energy)
TARGET Program
Students engage in cutting-edge research in high-energy physics and accelerator science at a national laboratory.
📍 Batavia, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Concord Review, Inc.
TCR Academic Coaches
Provides academic coaches to help students with their historical writing and research.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UNH Tech Camp
TechLeaders: Frontiers in Regenerative Medicine — Cryopreservation
Students investigate cryopreservation at ultra-low temperatures through wet-lab experimentation covering cells, water, freezing-point depression, proteins, chemistry and biotechnology.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UNH Manchester Tech Camp
TechVoyagers: AI for Models
Students collect real laboratory data with sensors and cell cultures, then create and train AI models to test and verify the data.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
Ted R. Lilley CURE Program
Eight-week cancer-research internship in an OHSU faculty laboratory culminating in a poster presentation.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
New York Civil Liberties Union
Teen Activist Project
Students organize around youth rights, education, health and civil-liberties issues while receiving advocacy/public-speaking training. Participants can receive a stipend or service hours. The 2026–27 cycle includes NYC, Buffalo and Nassau-area participation.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Frist Art Museum
Teen Arts Action Group (TAAG)
A teen leadership program for ages 15-18 who collaborate with Frist educators and professional artists to plan teen programming such as Teen ArtLabs and the Teen Fall Festival, while developing leadership and professional skills; service hours count toward school requirements.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Anchorage Museum
Teen Climate Communicators
Teens meet weekly with museum staff and guest presenters to investigate climate change, create short-term projects, and collaboratively develop a public exhibition about climate action. Participants receive documented volunteer hours and a certificate.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
J. Paul Getty Museum
Teen Gallery Guides @ Getty
Teens research artworks, learn museum-education techniques, work with art professionals and lead gallery experiences for school groups and general visitors at the Getty Center or Getty Villa.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
New York Jewish Week
Teen Journalism Fellowship
NYC-area Jewish teens report and publish professional journalism while receiving editing and mentorship; fellows receive compensation for published stories.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walters Art Museum
Teen Lab
Free teen-focused workshop series offering hands-on art experiences; the fall 2026 series includes multi-session printmaking and pattern-design work.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Shedd Aquarium
Teen Lab Workshops
Free workshops for currently enrolled high-school students ages 14–18 explore aquatic science, conservation, STEAM topics, and related careers through hands-on activities. Workshops are offered on multiple dates and topics.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
826michigan
Teen Leadership Lab
High-school students mentor younger writers, complete professional-development activities, develop and workshop their own writing, and receive support toward publication. Participants who complete the program receive a stipend. Fall 2026 enrollment is open.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana State University
Teen Movie Making Intensive: Story to Screen
Students develop, shoot and edit a narrative short film while learning visual storytelling, production and on-set collaboration.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Teen Research Internship Program — TRIP
Students design and conduct biological research through weekend laboratory sessions and present at a symposium.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
MUSC
Teen Science Ambassador Program
Paid internship exposing high-school students to clinical research, developmental neuroscience, addiction science and professional development.
📍 SC🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
GrubStreet
Teen Summer Writing Fellowship
A three-week intensive fellowship for Boston-area teen writers to generate new work across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting, with daily mentorship, guest author visits, and a culminating public performance showcase.
📍 Boston, MA (GrubStreet)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Aquarium
Teen Volunteer Program
Teens serve as Gallery Guides in guest interpretation, touch pools and engagement activities and complete a collaborative environmental community project.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Science Museum of Virginia
Teen Volunteer Program (Teen Leadership Program) at the Science Museum of Virginia
Teens ages 15-18 (or rising sophomores) learn hands-on guest engagement, mentorship and behind-the-scenes museum skills in a semester-long volunteer cohort, with options in exhibits, labs or administrative work.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Tennessee Historical Society (National History Day state affiliate)
Tennessee History Day
The Tennessee affiliate of National History Day, in which students research and present original historical projects through a multi-level competition of District, Regional, State, and National contests across six Tennessee regions.
📍 Statewide, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas A&M Galveston Sea Camp (High School Programs)
Residential marine science camps for ages 14-18 covering marine biology research, ocean conservation, ichthyology, ornithology, sea turtles, marine engineering, veterinary medicine and pre-medicine. Includes Talented and Gifted tracks for students in GT, Pre-AP or AP courses.
📍 Galveston, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas Debate Collective
Texas Debate Collective Student Institute
A two-week residential debate institute in San Marcos with Lincoln-Douglas and World Schools labs of 12-14 students, covering debate skills plus politics, philosophy and law. The majority of students receive scholarships.
📍 San Marcos, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas State Historical Association (Texas affiliate of National History Day)
Texas History Day
A statewide student research competition where grade 9-12 students present papers, exhibits, documentaries, performances, or websites on a historical topic tied to the annual National History Day theme. Winners advance from regional to state to the national contest.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M Engineering (Texas Science and Engineering Fair)
Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF)
Statewide science fair where regional fair qualifiers in grades 6-12 present research projects across 20+ categories in engineering, biological sciences, and physical sciences. Top high school entries advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair; the 2027 state fair is April 2-3, 2027 at Texas A&M.
📍 College Station, TX (Texas A&M University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
Texas Space Grant Consortium
Texas Space Grant Plant the Moon Challenge
An 8-week team science experiment in which students grow crops in lunar or Martian soil simulant, submit research reports and can present at a virtual symposium with NASA scientists. Teams of 1-5 students participate.
📍 Texas (statewide, team-based)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech Clark Scholars Program
Highly selective seven-week paid research program for 12 high schoolers across all fields.
📍 Lubbock, TX⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
NC State University
TexTEC: Exploring Textile Technology, Engineering and Chemistry
Short intensive where students explore textile engineering, chemistry and technology through laboratories and hands-on demonstrations.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Translational Genomics Research Institute
TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy
Twenty Arizona students spend two weeks studying precision medicine, genomics, experimental design, clinical trials, bioethics, disease research, science communication, and leadership while shadowing laboratory work.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Concord Review
The Concord Review
The only quarterly journal publishing high school history research essays. Students submit 5K-9K word papers; selected essays are printed and indexed.
📍 Online submission⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The Concord Review
The Concord Review Submissions
The Concord Review is the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic research papers of secondary students. Students are encouraged to submit their history papers for consideration.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
College of the Atlantic
The Future of Our Oceans (COA Pre-College Program)
Nine-day pre-college field science program for rising high school juniors and seniors studying marine ecosystems and ocean resilience, including a week at COA's remote Mount Desert Rock research station 25 miles offshore.
📍 Bar Harbor, Maine📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
San Francisco State University
The Great Sunflower Project (Citizen Science)
A massive collaborative project where students collect soil samples and perform data analysis for ecological research. Hybrid model.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Ongoing📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi School of the Arts
The Phoenix Literary Journal
Mississippi School of the Arts students may submit poetry, fiction, memoir, essays, visual art, photography, and collaborative work each spring for publication. Senior Literary Arts students manage submissions, layout, and production.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Vanderbilt University Programs for Talented Youth
The Psychology and Neuroscience of Happiness
A two-week Vanderbilt Summer Institute course for rising 11th-12th graders exploring academic happiness research and testing evidence-based well-being strategies.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
The Young Researcher
The Young Researcher
Peer-reviewed journal for IB Extended Essay and similar research.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George Fox University
Theatre (2027 Pre-College Summer Institute)
Performance, collaboration and full theatrical production; part of GFU's 2027 Pre-College Summer Institute.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 10, 12
Moderate
University of Alabama
Tide to Success
A six-hour, self-paced online college-readiness course for Alabama high-school students covering ACT preparation, majors and careers, scholarships, and college planning.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Auburn University
Tiger Takeoff
Alabama rising seniors spend three days living on Auburn's campus, experiencing sample college classes, leadership activities, university resources, and peer mentoring.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
NYU Tisch
Tisch Summer High School Four-Week Residential Program
This residential program is a commitment of four weeks on campus that encompasses a highly structured class schedule, which include projects, professional training, and collaboration. Tracks include: Animation, Dance, Drama, Production & Design, Dramatic Writing, Filmmaking, Game Design, Photography and Imaging, and Recorded Music. The program is tuition-based and culminates in four to six college credits (units).
📍 New York, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering
Trail Smart: ATV & Road Safety Lab
Students investigate ATV and roadway safety through hands-on scenarios, demonstrations, first aid, emergency response, traffic-safety concepts, and an AI-based safety training tool.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Penn Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology
TREES
Tuition-free environmental-health research experience where students conduct independent projects with Penn mentors.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
OHSU
Tribal Health Scholars
Fourteen-week pathway for American Indian/Alaska Native students with virtual health-care exploration, mentoring and clinical shadowing at tribal facilities.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin Summer
Undergraduate summer courses across humanities and STEM at Ireland's top research university.
📍 Dublin, Ireland⏱ 3 weeks📅 June🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Alabama A&M University
TRIO Upward Bound
Eligible first-generation and/or income-qualified students from participating North Alabama schools receive tutoring, mentoring, ACT and college preparation, financial-literacy instruction, enrichment, campus visits, and a summer residential component.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Tufts University
Tufts Summer Research Experience
High school students have the opportunity to learn from renowned faculty and experience rigorous academics at a leading higher education institution.
📍 Medford, MA📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Tufts University Department of Biomedical Engineering
Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
A free six-week summer research program where high school students from designated Massachusetts cities work full-time in Tufts biomedical engineering labs investigating cells, tissues, and organs alongside faculty and graduate mentors.
📍 Medford, MA📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Tulane University School of Science and Engineering
Tulane High School Summer Research Program
A paid six-week research internship for rising 11th and 12th graders from Greater New Orleans public schools, working with Tulane faculty and graduate students in a research lab, with priority for under-resourced and first-generation students.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Tulsa
TURC Junior Scholars
Tulsa-area high-school students join TU faculty research teams in fields ranging from organic chemistry and biochemistry to nanotechnology, engineering, virology and humanities.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth
Twin Ports Teen Science Cafe
Free monthly program for Twin Ports high school students to explore advances in science and technology through conversations and hands-on activities with researchers and STEM experts at UMD. Registration and a parent permission form are required; upcoming session is an aquarium careers and animal encounter at the Great Lakes Aquarium.
📍 Duluth, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Toronto
U of T Summer Mentorship Program
Summer research and mentorship program hosted by the University of Toronto for high school students.
📍 Toronto, Canada⏱ 4 weeks📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
University of Utah
U of U ACCESS Program
Year-long STEM research program for women entering the U of U from Utah high schools.
📍 UT⏱ Summer + school year📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Arizona
UA KEYS Research Internship
Paid bioscience research at the UA — Arizona students only.
📍 AZ⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS Summer Science Program
Paid biomedical research for Arkansas students underrepresented in healthcare.
📍 AR⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
OHSU Institute on Development & Disability
UCEDD Summer Internship Program
Eight-week placement in disability research, clinical care, information dissemination or community programs plus OHSU professional-development activities.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Chicago
UChicago DATA High School Program
Computational science and modeling fellowship for underrepresented high school students.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grade 11
Selective
UCLA
UCLA Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Paid biomedical research at UCLA for LA-area students.
📍 CA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Central Oklahoma
UCO Jazz Lab Jazz Camp
Daily jazz combos, masterclasses, history instruction and final showcase.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
University of Connecticut, Department of Journalism
UConn Journalism Multimedia Summer Camp
A one-week residential camp at UConn Storrs where high schoolers ages 15-18 get a crash course in news reporting, interviewing, photography, video storytelling, and podcasting, taught by working journalists and faculty, with need-based scholarships available.
📍 UConn, Storrs, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UC San Francisco
UCSF SEP High School Intern
Paid summer research for SFUSD students underrepresented in science.
📍 CA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UCSF
UCSF Summer Research Training Program
Mentored research in basic and clinical science for SF Bay Area students.
📍 San Francisco, CA📅 Not yet announced — official site says 2027 info will be posted later🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
UD Marine Science Summer Camp (Advanced Track)
High school students conduct marine science and oceanography experiments at the University of Delaware's coastal campus.
📍 Lewes, DE⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Washington School of Medicine Office of Healthcare Equity (WIHSE)
UDOC High School Program (UW Medicine)
A free six-week hybrid summer residential program (three weeks virtual, three weeks in person on the UW campus) for Washington high school juniors interested in medicine, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and research, with hands-on activities and mentorship.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
University of Georgia
UGA Young Scholars Program (CAES)
Laboratory-based research for high school students in agricultural and natural resource sciences.
📍 Athens, GA/Tifton, GA⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Illinois Chicago / NCI-Cancer Center
UIC High School Summer Research Program (ResearcHStart)
High school students in Illinois work in University of Illinois Chicago labs on health-related research.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UIUC Worldwide Youth in Science & Engineering
STEM camps at UIUC. Need-based aid for Illinois students.
📍 IL⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Louisiana Monroe School of Allied Health
ULM Healthcare Career Camp
Rising juniors and seniors spend three days exploring kinesiology, medical laboratory science, occupational therapy, radiologic technology, speech pathology, physical therapy, and related health professions through hands-on activities.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
UM Summer Medical Academy
Students explore pharmacy, public health, nursing, nutrition, physical therapy, and other healthcare fields through case studies, science laboratories, CPR training, simulations, and facility tours.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
UMass Amherst
UMass Fusarium Genomics Lab Research Intensive
Students investigate plant-fungal interactions using Fusarium and Arabidopsis models, phenotyping, microfluidics, and bioinformatics.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Maryland, Baltimore
UMB CURE Scholars Program
A year-round pipeline program for 6th-10th graders from West Baltimore offering after-school, Saturday academy, and summer enrichment in biomedical research and public health, with high schoolers completing paid summer internships through Baltimore City's summer employment program.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
University of Maryland
UMD Young Scholars
Pre-college research at UMD. Need-based aid available.
📍 MD⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Missouri-Kansas City
UMKC STAHR Scholars Program
A free, multi-month pipeline program for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in dentistry, medicine, or pharmacy, combining a six-week in-person summer session of clinical observation and research with mentorship and coaching through the following April.
📍 UMKC Health Sciences Campus, Kansas City, MO📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Minnesota
UMN Eureka! and Talented Youth Math
Free STEM enrichment for Minnesota girls and underrepresented students.
📍 MN⏱ Summer + school year📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
United Nations
UN Youth Opportunities Board
Curated board of fellowships, internships, and youth advisory roles across the UN system.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
United Nations Association of Minnesota
UNA-MN Model United Nations
Junior and senior high students form school or community delegations, research UN member countries, and spend three days at a downtown Minneapolis conference debating global issues such as human rights, climate action, and peacekeeping while drafting resolutions.
📍 Minneapolis Marriott, Minneapolis, MN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of North Dakota
UND Summer Healthcare Programs
Free intro programs for North Dakota students, including INMED for Native American students.
📍 ND⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Data Science and AI Hub
Under the Hood: A Data Science & AI Experience
Rising juniors and seniors learn Python, predictive modeling, neural networks, computer vision, generative AI, and ethical AI through hands-on projects and laboratory exposure. The 2026 beginner week cost $125 and the advanced week $175.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute
Undergraduate & High School Research Programs
Places high school students age 16 and up directly in Cleveland Clinic Research laboratories for hands-on biomedical research experience, either through a formal internship application or by contacting principal investigators directly about lab openings.
📍 Cleveland, OH (Cleveland Clinic)📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of New England
UNE NextWave Pre-College Experience
Students in grades 10–12 spend a residential week conducting original research, tackling sustainability-oriented problems with UNE faculty, collaborating in teams, and pitching findings to industry decision-makers.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Nebraska Legislature / University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Unicameral Youth Legislature
Week-long legislative simulation where students act as Nebraska senators, introduce bills, conduct committee hearings and debate legislation inside the State Capitol while learning directly from senators and legislative staff. Full-cost civic scholarships are available.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Iowa / GEAR UP Iowa
University of Iowa Health Sciences Summer Experience
Rising 10th graders spend a free residential week exploring medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, biomedical engineering, and research through hands-on activities, mentoring, and college-readiness workshops. Travel, housing, meals, activities, and one college credit are covered; the next program is planned for July 2027.
📍 IA🎓 Grade 10
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi Department of Mathematics
University of Mississippi Math Tournament
An annual math competition for high school teams from Mississippi and neighboring Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee, consisting of an individual test and a team test held on the Ole Miss campus.
📍 Oxford, MS📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
UNL Young Nebraska Scientists
Free STEM camps at UNL for Nebraska students.
📍 NE⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of New Mexico Department of Music
UNM Summer Music Institute
Intensive professional-level chamber-music training open to qualified high-school musicians through competitive video audition. Full and partial scholarships are available.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of New Mexico Chemistry & Chemical Biology / NM Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
UNM/DVR High School Research Experience
New Mexico high-school students supported through DVR conduct paid university laboratory research, including mosquito/insect collection and analysis connected to public-health monitoring. The program operated in summer 2026.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Oregon / Saturday Academy
UO Saturday Academy ASE
Paid 1:1 research apprenticeships across Oregon. Strong equity focus.
📍 OR⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
UPenn Summer Programs
Pre-college summer programs across business, biomedical research, social justice, and academic.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy
A residential program for high-achieving high school seniors interested in careers in medicine and biomedical research.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 4 weeks📅 Late February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of Akron
Upward Bound Math & Science
STEM-focused program offering tutoring, six-week residential study, polymer science/chemistry and engineering laboratories, mentoring and internship opportunities.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Toledo
Upward Bound Math & Science
STEM-focused TRIO program adding science and mathematics research exposure, computer training and faculty-guided scientific research to the Upward Bound model.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center
Urban Barcode Research Program
Students complete prerequisite training and then conduct year-long independent DNA-barcoding/bioinformatics research. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association
Urban Green
Paid green jobs, including single-day service projects, seasonal work and year-long internships or fellowships in major metropolitan cities.
📍 Various US cities🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Rhode Island
URI Shark Camp
Selective marine-biology experience where students conduct shark/fish field surveys aboard a URI research vessel and explore natural-science majors and careers.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
USABO - Center for Excellence in Education (CEE)
USABO Biology Olympiad
The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is the premiere biology competition for high school students in the United States. USABO provides and oversees a series of challenging exams that identify 20 of the country's most talented high school students in biology and invites them to a residential study center for ten days of intensive training. The top four students are then selected to represent the USA at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO).
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
USC
USC Bovard Scholars
Fully-funded college-prep and academic program for high-achieving, low-income California juniors.
📍 CA⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of South Carolina
USC Region II Science & Engineering Fair
ISEF-affiliated regional science-research competition.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
University of South Florida / Moffitt Cancer Center
USF–Moffitt Explorers Oncology Program
Students explore cancer research, genetics, pharmacy, psychology, clinical medicine and emerging technologies through simulations and activities at Moffitt and USF.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Southern Mississippi / American Chemical Society
USM Project SEED
An 8-10 week summer research fellowship placing high school students side-by-side with USM chemistry faculty on hands-on laboratory research, aimed especially at students who have historically lacked exposure to scientific careers.
📍 Hattiesburg, MS📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin High School Research Academy
Course-based research at UT Austin. Need-based aid.
📍 TX⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UT Dallas Computer Science / K-12 Outreach
UT Dallas Summer Research Program for High School Students
An 8-week summer program offering lab internships in UT Dallas computer science labs, research workshops, and a deep-dive AI workshop. Aimed at advanced students finishing 10th or 11th grade, with in-person and virtual options.
📍 Richardson, TX📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
MD Anderson Cancer Center
UT MD Anderson HS Summer Program
Paid cancer research at MD Anderson for Texas students.
📍 TX⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UT Tyler Center for Ethics
UT Tyler Regional High School Ethics Bowl
High school teams discuss real-life ethical problems and moral dilemmas before judges, building critical thinking and collaboration. The winning team advances to the National High School Ethics Bowl.
📍 Tyler, TX📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC Minority Pre-Science Program
An eight-week summer program pairing high school seniors through college seniors with healthcare clinicians, basic science researchers, or biomedical research technologists to build familiarity with scientific method and technical language.
📍 Memphis, TN📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Texas National Institute in Forensics (UT Austin)
UTNIF Speech and Debate Camp
A residential summer forensic education camp for high school students focusing on debate, speech, and individual events, established in 1994. Daily schedule includes morning lectures, afternoon lab sessions, and evening practice.
📍 Austin, TX📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT San Antonio Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design
UTSA Klesse College Engineering Summer Camps
A series of week-long high school camps including Engineering Overview, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering, and an Architecture and Interior Design career academy. Camps feature hands-on challenges, faculty talks and research lab tours with day and overnight options.
📍 San Antonio, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Virginia
UVA Summer Medical Leadership Program
Free medical exposure program at UVA for Virginia students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 VA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories
UW / Friday Harbor Labs Young Investigator's Prize
Awarded each year to a high school junior with exceptional promise in science and mathematics, who spends the summer as a full-time research assistant in a UW lab at Friday Harbor Laboratories. Past winners have worked on marine biology, ecology, biomechanics and engineering projects.
📍 Friday Harbor, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Selective
University of Washington Materials Science & Engineering
UW ASM Materials Camp (High School)
A materials science summer day camp with mini-demonstrations, field trips and lab work that ends with team-based problem solving led by Materials Mentors.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 March🎓 Grade 10
Selective
University of Washington Bothell
UW Bothell Research Experiences
Local UW Bothell faculty research opportunities — great for North Seattle students.
📍 WA⏱ Variable📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Washington Foster School of Business
UW Foster Business Startup Bootcamp
A one-week program where students develop a product-based startup concept into a prototype, covering design thinking, market research, business strategy and investor evaluation, ending in a pitch competition.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Washington
UW Genome Sciences Summer Bridge
Seattle-area paid genomics research. Strong support for first-gen and low-income students.
📍 WA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Washington Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center
UW INSIGHT High School Program
Four-week summer program introducing high school students to public health, biomedical research and medicine, with seminars, group work and a capstone project on injury and violence prevention presented at a symposium.
📍 Online (University of Washington, Seattle)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery
UW Neurological Surgery Neuroscience Summer Student Program
Eight-week NIH-funded summer program placing students in a UW neuroscience lab with clinical shadowing, observation of neurosurgical procedures and a final research presentation.
📍 University of Washington, Seattle, Washington📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Washington School of Nursing
UW Nurse Camp
Free week-long day camp for Washington high school sophomores and juniors interested in nursing, with nurse shadowing at UW Medical Center, CPR training, simulation lab sessions and mentoring by UW nursing students.
📍 University of Washington, Seattle, Washington📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
University of Washington School of Pharmacy
UW School of Pharmacy STEP Summer Program (Students Exploring Pharmacy)
Four-day summer program for students in grades 9-12 (priority to rising juniors and seniors) with hands-on activities, labs, presentations, tours and workshops exploring pharmacy as a career.
📍 University of Washington, Seattle, WA📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
UW Youth Programs: High School Entrepreneurship - Startup Lab
Two-week in-person course where students learn entrepreneurial thinking, idea development, budgeting and marketing, work in teams and give a final pitch.
📍 University of Washington, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
UW Youth Programs: Introduction to Math Modeling
A course on how math is used in science, business and research, with lectures, hands-on exercises and a final modeling project; students meet professionals from different fields.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison PEOPLE Program
Free year-round college-prep + research for Wisconsin students of color and first-gen.
📍 WI⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming
UWyo High School Institute
Free residential STEM camps at UWyo for Wyoming students.
📍 WY⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
George Mason University College of Science (Virginia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation / VALHEN)
VALHEN STEM Academy
A free three-day pre-college STEM program at George Mason's Fairfax campus for selected rising high school juniors, with university lectures, hands-on STEM challenges and a team research project on a global STEM or sustainability problem.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grade 10
Highly Selective
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt Summer Academy
Pre-college research at Vanderbilt. Need-based aid available.
📍 TN⏱ 1-3 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth
Vanderbilt Summer Institute (VSI)
Two-week precollege courses for rising 11th and 12th graders covering topics like neuroscience, AI applied to engineering, cryptography, nanomaterial microscopy, and Med School 101, taught through classroom instruction, labs, and guest lectures.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Veritas AI (Harvard alumni)
Veritas AI
AI research mentorship and publishing program. Financial aid available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8-15 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vermont Historical Society
Vermont History Day
Annual National History Day affiliate contest where students research a historical topic and present it as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website; top finishers advance to nationals.
📍 Colchester, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
VetCAMP
Students explore veterinary medicine through laboratories, clinical activities, animal-health instruction and exposure to veterinary careers.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine
VETCAMP
Students explore veterinary medicine through laboratories, clinical activities and exposure to veterinary specialties.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
VetMed ROCKS
High-school students participate in hands-on veterinary laboratories, interact with teaching animals, and explore veterinary careers with faculty and veterinary students.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
VIMS Marine Science Governor's School (Summer Residential)
Four-week residential Governor's School in which each student apprentices with a VIMS faculty sponsor on an authentic marine research project and delivers a paper and presentation.
📍 Gloucester Point, VA (housed at Christopher Newport University)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Virginia Space Grant Consortium / NASA Langley
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS)
Free online STEM course on NASA-related topics for Virginia juniors and seniors; top performers attend a six-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center working with scientists and engineers.
📍 Hampton, VA (online course plus NASA Langley academy)📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
Virginia Campus Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE Camp)
One-week STEM-H camp for rising juniors and seniors in a cadaver lab and simulation center with clinical experiences such as suturing, simulations, microscope work, basic epidemiology and a small-group research project.
📍 Blacksburg, VA📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Virginia Tech Dept. of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education
Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture (Summer Residential)
Month-long residential Governor's School at Virginia Tech for able rising juniors and seniors, integrating science, technology, engineering and math through research, lab work and field trips on agriculture and natural resources.
📍 Blacksburg, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Virginia Department of Education / University of Lynchburg
Virginia Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (Summer Residential)
Three-week residential Governor's School for gifted high school juniors and seniors with classroom and laboratory work, field studies, research, individual and group projects, and seminars with scholars and professionals.
📍 Lynchburg, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Virginia Academy of Science
Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS) Research Symposium
Student science organization sponsored by the Virginia Academy of Science since 1941; members can submit papers to a juried research symposium and compete for awards and scholarships, with the top achiever invited to the national AJAS.
📍 Virginia (symposium held at a Virginia college)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
U.S. Department of Energy / Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl (DOE National Science Bowl)
A buzzer-style quiz competition on math and science (including biology, chemistry, physics and earth and space science) in which high school teams from across Virginia compete at Jefferson Lab; the winner earns a trip to the National Science Bowl.
📍 Newport News, VA (Jefferson Lab)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech C-Tech²
Free cybersecurity and tech camp for high school women.
📍 VA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Louisiana State University Department of Mathematics
Virtual Math Research Circle
High-school students work remotely with university mentors on authentic mathematics research projects in areas such as probability, mathematical biology, fluid modeling, statistics, and computational mathematics, ending with research-style presentations.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Jacksonville State University
Visual Art — Gamecock Arts & Sciences Program
Students explore techniques including printmaking, collage, digital illustration, and collaborative artmaking.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Visual Arts Institute
Intensive studio-art experience emphasizing portfolio development and multiple media.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Vocal Intensive
Advanced vocal training, musicianship and performance preparation.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Zoo Atlanta
Volunteen Program
Teens serve as conservation educators, interpret animal habitats, assist with enrichment and events and can later qualify for advanced animal-care and research-related assignments.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
Twenty-five one-week residential institutes span AI, biology research, business, engineering, entrepreneurship, filmmaking, finance, law, medicine, neuroscience, politics, psychology, regenerative medicine, screenwriting and other fields.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rutgers University
Waksman Student Scholars Program
Authentic molecular-biology and bioinformatics research beginning with a summer institute and continuing during the school year through participating high schools. The 2026–27 research cycle is active.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walters Art Museum
Walters Art Museum Teen Advisory Council (WAMTAC)
Teens receive paid professional museum experience, collaborate with museum staff, advise on projects, and design programming for other teens.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Washington History Day
Washington's National History Day affiliate: students in middle and high school research historical topics and compete at eight regional contests and a state contest, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📍 Washington (regional contests statewide; state contest each spring)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), Washington region
Washington Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Regional symposium where Washington students in grades 9-12 present original STEM research to judges and peers, with top presenters advancing to the national JSHS.
📍 Washington State (host and dates to be posted fall 2026)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington State Mathematics Council (WSMC)
Washington State Mathematics Council High School Math Contest
Regional and statewide math contest for Washington high school students, with team problem solving, a team project, individual events and a Math + Art contest in a collaborative setting.
📍 Regional sites across Washington; state contest at Central Washington University, Ellensburg📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Washington State Science & Engineering Fair
Washington State Science & Engineering Fair (WSSEF)
Statewide science and engineering fair where students in grades 6 to 12 present research projects judged by scientists, with the Washington team attending the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
📍 Bremerton, WA📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Washington University in St. Louis
WashU High School Summer Institutes
Two-week residential pre-college institutes for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to experience undergraduate-level curriculum without a letter grade, through lectures, small-group collaboration, and final projects.
📍 Washington University in St. Louis, MO📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Washington University in St. Louis
WashU Young Scientist Program
Paid biomedical research for St. Louis-area students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 MO⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Raritan Headwaters Association
WatershedU
Day-long summer environmental-science workshops for high schoolers (grades 9-12) covering stream monitoring, stewardship projects, foraging, kayaking, and nature-based art, led by environmental educators, with financial aid available.
📍 Bedminster, NJ📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Belmont University (Watkins College of Art)
Watkins Teen Art & Design Program
A week-long program for teens to cultivate technical skills in art and design, choosing two studio courses plus seminars led by industry professionals, with access to a figure-drawing studio, photography lighting studio, and fabrication lab with 3D printers and laser cutters.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Institute of the North
We the People of Alaska
A statewide civics competition in which Alaska Studies students form teams of three to five, research constitutional and Alaska governance topics, and present in simulated legislative hearings judged by community members.
📍 Statewide, with finals before the Alaska Legislature in Juneau📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation
We the People: Indiana Competition
A constitutional-law simulated congressional hearing competition where student teams research constitutional principles and defend their positions before a panel of judges, reaching more than 10,000 Indiana students a year.
📍 Indianapolis, IN (Crowne Plaza Union Station) and regional sites statewide📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Center for Civic Engagement (NVCCE)
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution — Nevada State Invitational
A year-long constitutional studies program culminating in a simulated congressional hearing where student teams present researched testimony on constitutional principles to panels of volunteer legal and civic judges.
📍 University of Nevada, Reno📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Connecticut Democracy Center
We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Connecticut)
Connecticut's affiliate of the national civics program has student teams research six units of constitutional curriculum, then present testimony before a simulated congressional committee at a statewide hearing competition held at Yale, with winners advancing to nationals in Washington, D.C.
📍 Yale University, New Haven, CT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Utah Law Related Education / Utah Valley University Center for Constitutional Studies
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Utah)
Students prepare for and present a mock constitutional hearing before judges, building writing, collaboration and public speaking skills. The state winner advances to the national finals.
📍 Utah Valley University, Orem, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Welch Foundation
Welch Summer Scholar Program
A five-week summer residency where Texas high school sophomores and juniors conduct real chemistry research under experienced research chemists at UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, University of Houston, or Texas Tech. Selection is competitive and based on academics and recommendations.
📍 UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, University of Houston, or Texas Tech (TX)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Wave Hill
WERM — Wave Hill–Riverdale Mental Health Association Ecology Research Mentorship
Fourteen-month urban-ecology research program combining three college courses with mentored research and an approximately $3,500 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, West Virginia region
West Virginia JSHS (Junior Science and Humanities Symposium)
High school students present original STEM research at a university-held regional symposium and can compete for scholarships and recognition.
📍 West Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Leadership in the Business World
Wharton business program. Need-based aid available.
📍 PA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
University of Maryland
WIE Aspire! Explore Engineering
Rising ninth and tenth graders explore UMD's engineering disciplines through hands-on projects, laboratory tours, and conversations with faculty and students. The 2026 commuter program cost $650; 2027 information arrives in January.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
University of Maryland
WIE RISE! An Introduction to Engineering Research
Rising grades 9–12 virtually explore eight engineering disciplines, research laboratories, scientific papers, and home-friendly experiments. The 2026 fee was $25 and 2027 applications open in January.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
William & Mary Model UN
William & Mary High School Model United Nations (WMHSMUN)
A three-day high school Model UN conference at William & Mary welcoming delegates of all experience levels, with financial aid available through WMHSAid.
📍 Williamsburg, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Emory University School of Medicine
Winship Cancer Institute Summer Program (Winship Win)
Program at Emory focusing on cancer research, providing hands-on laboratory experience and professional development.
📍 Atlanta, GA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UNC-Chapel Hill (WinSPIRE)
WinSPIRE Summer Research Program
Paid six-week immersive mentorship program pairing high school students who identify as a historically marginalized gender in STEM with women/non-binary research mentors in UNC labs, including hands-on research, career development, and college-prep workshops.
📍 Chapel Hill, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Wisconsin Labor History Society
Wisconsin Labor History Society Kenneth A. Germanson High School Essay Contest
An annual essay contest for Wisconsin students in grades 9-12 who write about 750 words on how unions have been important to their family, community and nation, using interviews or independent research on labor history.
📍 Wisconsin (email submission)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin National History Day
Students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic and compete in school, regional and state contests leading to the National History Day finals.
📍 Madison, WI (state contest)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UW-Madison CALS and The World Food Prize Foundation
Wisconsin Youth Institute (World Food Prize)
Grade 9-12 students write a research paper on a country and a food security topic and present their recommendations in speeches and small-group discussions with agriculture experts at UW-Madison; participants earn Borlaug Scholar recognition.
📍 Madison, WI📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras
Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO)
Audition-based youth orchestras in the Madison area, including Philharmonia and Youth Orchestra for older students, with scholarships available for tuition and private lessons.
📍 Madison, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (NSTA / U.S. Armed Forces; regional host UW-La Crosse)
Wisconsin/Upper Peninsula Michigan Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Regional research symposium where grade 9-12 students present original research in oral or poster format in STEM fields; top presenters earn scholarships and a trip to the national JSHS.
📍 Tomahawk, WI (recent years)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Wistar Institute
Wistar High School Program in Biomedical Research
Intensive biomedical-research training with laboratory work and professional-development activities.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Wonderworks Houston / University of Houston
Wonderworks: Moving Pictures (Filmmaking)
An introduction to filmmaking covering production, editing, screenwriting, and cinema analysis, where students collaborate on short narrative projects using digital technology. Includes daily film screenings with faculty discussion.
📍 Houston, TX📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The Success Foundation with Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce
Workforce Discovery Lab
Two-week summer program for Highline Public Schools and Tukwila School District high school students with career tours, masterclasses and networking with local employers across the Seattle Southside cities.
📍 Seattle Southside region (Highline and Tukwila), WA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Philadelphia Youth Network
WorkReady Philadelphia
Free paid summer work experience for Philadelphia youth ages 12-24.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
World Food Prize Foundation
World Food Prize Global Youth Institute
Research and conference program on global food security for high schoolers.
📍 Des Moines, IA⏱ 3 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Demidec
World Scholar's Cup
Team academic tournament — debate, collaborative writing, quiz bowl, and scholar's bowl — with regional, global, and Tournament of Champions rounds at Yale.
📍 Regional rounds worldwide⏱ 2–3 days per round📅 Rolling · regional dates🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Idaho College of Engineering
World-Changers in Engineering (WIE) Day
A free one-day engineering workshop on U of I's Moscow campus where 5th-12th grade students do hands-on engineering, computer science, and design activities, tour labs, and meet current students and faculty.
📍 Moscow, ID (ICCU Arena, University of Idaho)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI Launch
Rising grades 9–11 spend a week using university technology, laboratories, and research tools to explore areas such as aerospace, robotics, programming, and other applied STEM disciplines.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
University of New Hampshire
Writers Academy
High-school students develop original writing through intensive instruction and peer collaboration. UNH offered separate high-school Writers Academy sessions in summer 2026.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania (Penn Summer / Penn LPS)
Writing and Research in the Age of AI Academy
An immersive three-week academy introducing high schoolers to research-informed writing and responsible AI use in preparation for university-level study, with daily drafting, peer feedback, and a completion certificate.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
Writing Arguments That Matter (UW Youth & Teen Programs)
Teaches high school students to build persuasive arguments, from choosing a topic and forming a research question to finding sources and writing a compelling essay.
📍 UW Seattle campus, Seattle, WA (one session online via Zoom)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
Writing for College Readiness (UW Youth & Teen Programs)
Builds high school students' college-level writing skills through frequent practice in research, argument, revision and portfolio creation.
📍 UW Seattle campus, Seattle, WA (one session online via Zoom)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Writing for Film
Students develop screenplay concepts, characters, dialogue and film narratives. 2026 tuition was approximately $1,200.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Writing for Researchers Online Seminar
Three-week online seminar on Zoom exploring how researchers in the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities plan, conduct and present their work, with practice in argument structure and use of evidence. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
📍 Online⏱ 3 weeks (July 20 - August 7, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Weber State University
WSU Medical Academy
An overnight summer program helping high school juniors and seniors decide whether a healthcare career is right for them through faculty-led discussions, hands-on lab activities, and meetings with healthcare professionals.
📍 Ogden, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
West Virginia University
WVU Health Sciences Summer Camp
Free health-sciences exposure for West Virginia students from rural communities.
📍 WV⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Wyoming Speech and Debate
Wyoming Forensics Institute
A summer debate camp at UW open to high school students nationwide, with policy, Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum labs for beginners through experienced debaters.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Game and Fish Youth Conservation Camps
Week-long overnight Boys and Girls Conservation Camps at Whiskey Mountain near Dubois for ages 12-15, with career exploration alongside game wardens and biologists, animal identification, scientific research, archery and watersports.
📍 Dubois, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
Wyoming History Day
Wyoming's National History Day affiliate: students complete year-long research projects (papers, documentaries, exhibits, performances, websites) on an annual theme and advance from regional contests to a state contest at UW.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming Life Sciences Program
Wyoming Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Regional JSHS symposium for Wyoming and Northern Colorado in which high school students submit an abstract and research paper and present original STEM research to judges. Top presenters win scholarships and expenses-paid trips to the National JSHS.
📍 Online (Wyoming and Northern Colorado region)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Wyoming
Wyoming State Science Fair
A statewide science, technology, engineering and math research fair administered by the University of Wyoming for students in grades 6-12 who qualify at a regional fair; the fair is an ISEF-affiliated fair.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy
Xavier Center of Excellence Summer Enrichment Program
Rising freshmen through seniors explore pharmacy and health-science careers through experiential laboratories, health projects, guest speakers, field trips, and ACT preparation.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Yale School of Medicine
Yale Discovery to Cure High School Internship
A competitive program where students engage in biomedical research with world-class investigators at Yale.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 7 weeks📅 February 28🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Yale School of Medicine
Yale Neuroscience Summer Scholars
Eight-week program providing New Haven public-high-school students with neuroscience coursework, laboratory-technique training and a supervised research project.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Yale University
Yale Pathways Research Internships
Seven-week, full-time laboratory research program matching New Haven-area public high-school students with Yale labs in neuroscience, astronomy, genetics, materials science, physics, biomedical engineering and other fields.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Yale Center for Clinical Investigation
YCCI Exposures Program
Four-week virtual internship introducing high-school students to healthcare, medicine, clinical research and data science through Yale faculty and research staff.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Peking University
Yenching Academy Scholars Program
Master's fellowship at Peking University in China Studies for outstanding international graduates.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1-2 years📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
U.S. State Department
YES Abroad
Fully-funded year-long high school exchange to countries with significant Muslim populations.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Academic year📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center
YES Oklahoma — Native American Youth Enjoy Science
Intensive mentored laboratory research program for Native American high-school students, with scientific writing, career preparation and final research presentations.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas
YMCA Youth and Government (Virginia Model General Assembly)
A teen program that teaches speech, debate and policy research, with students bringing a mock bill or amendment to the Model General Assembly at the Virginia State Capitol each spring.
📍 Hampton Roads and Richmond, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
York College / CUNY
York College STEM Research Academy
Spring preparation and summer research in engineering, biology and chemical technology.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Arizona State University / Central Arizona Writing Project
Young Adult Writing Program (YAWP)
Young writers develop poetry, short stories, autobiographical pieces, comics, argument writing, and other forms in collaborative workshops and can publish work in the annual camp anthology.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Gettysburg College
Young Civil War Historians Conference
Residential historical research/interpretation focused on the Civil War and Gettysburg.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Georgia
Young Dawgs Program
High-achieving juniors and seniors complete at least 110 hours in internships across UGA laboratories, departments and community organizations.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Telling Room
Young Emerging Authors (YEA) Fellowship
Four Maine young writers are selected for a free, paid 15-month fellowship to write, revise, and professionally publish their own books with one-on-one mentorship from published authors.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce / Loudoun Economic Development Authority
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Loudoun
A seven-month after-school program in which students develop business ideas, write business plans, do market research, get mentored by local business owners and pitch to a panel of investors, aiming to launch a real company.
📍 Loudoun County, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Young Founders Lab (YOFO)
Young Founders Lab
A Maryland nonprofit's fully virtual accelerator for middle and high schoolers covering venture building, financial literacy, AI coding and digital prototyping, and pitch coaching, culminating in a Demo Day.
📍 Odenton, MD (serves multiple MD counties)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arizona Global Health Institute
Young Global Leaders Program
Students investigate real public-health problems through laboratory experiments, data analysis, team research, faculty instruction, and a final research showcase.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Nebraska EPSCoR / University of Nebraska
Young Nebraska Scientists (YNS) High School Research Program
Current 10th and 11th graders spend eight weeks as paid researchers embedded in a university science laboratory team, gaining hands-on experience beyond a typical camp.
📍 University of Nebraska campuses statewide📅 May🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Nebraska EPSCoR / University of Nebraska
Young Nebraska Scientists (YNS) High School STEM Camps
Current 9th-11th graders attend residential or commuter STEM enrichment camps on Nebraska university campuses, such as Explorations in Biology at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Biodiversity at Cedar Point Biological Station, with need-based scholarships available.
📍 Various University of Nebraska campuses statewide📅 May🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Tulane University / School of Liberal Arts
Young Public Scholars Program
A selective residential summer program for rising 9th-12th graders focused on social justice, where students research issues like climate change and inequality and produce media (writing, photography, video) to communicate a public-impact project.
📍 New Orleans, LA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Northeastern University Center for STEM Education
Young Scholars Program
Rising seniors from the Greater Boston area spend six weeks working in Northeastern research labs with faculty and graduate mentors and finish with posters and presentations.
📍 MA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Young Scholars Program
Penn's academic-year program lets high-achieving juniors at nearby high schools take college-level courses in the fall and spring semesters. In-person only. Students at City of Philadelphia public and charter schools get one tuition-free course per semester; all students pay other fees such as textbooks and lab fees.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ Fall and spring semesters, 2026-27📅 December 1, 2026🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Florida State University
Young Scholars Program
Six-week residential STEM program where Florida students take advanced science/math courses and complete an independent research project with FSU researchers.
📍 FL🎓 Grade 11
Selective
UC Davis
Young Scholars Program (YSP)
A high-level research internship where students work in labs at UC Davis on environmental and biological projects.
📍 Davis, CA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Yale Center for Analytical Sciences
Young Scholars Summer Program in Biostatistics and Clinical Research
Intensive program teaching biostatistics, clinical research design, R programming and analysis of real health-science datasets; teams complete a research project and presentation.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Young Scientist Research Workshop
Free, selective week-long biomedical-research workshop teaching hypothesis formation, experimental design, data analysis and laboratory techniques through insect physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology experiments. Only five high-school places were available in 2026.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nebraska Writing Project, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Young Writers Camp
Students write fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and other forms alongside writers and educators, with participant work compiled into the program's annual anthology. The 2026 camp cost $50 and scholarships were available.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center / CWRU
Youth Engaged in Science — YES
Seven-week cancer-research experience with a science bootcamp followed by full-time work in Case cancer laboratories and an end-of-summer research presentation.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Youth Entrepreneurs CT
Youth Entrepreneurs CT Programs
A Hamden-based nonprofit offering in-school and after-school entrepreneurship programming for Connecticut students in grades 7-12, including single workshops, semester-long Entrepreneurship Labs, a year-long College & Career Pathways cohort, and the Money Moves personal-finance module.
📍 Hamden, CT and partner schools statewide📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana Discovery Foundation
Youth Forest Monitoring Program
Six-week summer internship in which students train with scientists and then conduct field monitoring, stewardship, data collection and a culminating research presentation on national-forest lands. The 2026 cohort received a $1,200 stipend.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mass General Neurology / Mass General Brigham
Youth Neurology Education and Research Program (YNEP)
A paid, 40-hour-per-week mentored neurology research internship for Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds, including a lab-skills bootcamp, an INSPIRE speaker series, and final research presentations.
📍 Boston, MA📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Seattle Children's Research Institute
Youth Voice Research Liaison Program (Seattle Children's)
A hybrid, paid program in which high school students learn research methods, ethics and data analysis, then consult with Seattle Children's research teams on study design, outreach and recruitment for youth-relevant projects.
📍 Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UMass Amherst
Zhou Lin Group in Quantum Chemistry Research Intensive
Students participate in computational quantum-chemistry research involving electronic structure, quantum dynamics, and data-driven molecular methods.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Maryland Zoo
Zoo Teen Volunteer Program
Teens ages 14–17 complete a week of training and then volunteer at least four shifts monthly for one year, beginning as Zoo Guides and later accessing conservation, research, and education opportunities.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Zooniverse
Zooniverse Citizen Science
Free crowdsourced research platform. Contribute to active university research projects in any field from your laptop.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Adler Planetarium / Zooniverse
Zooniverse Citizen Scientist Volunteer
Research and tag images for academic science projects. High schoolers can contribute to NASA or university data sets from home.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective

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