Research programs in California.
19 local programs run in California, 14 of them free or paid, and 3 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 46 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.
Local to California
- SelectiveCalifornia Water ServiceA Splash of Creativity
Students submit original artwork addressing water conservation and local California water issues for statewide recognition and awards.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUPenn Wharton Global YouthAI Leadership
A location-based program in San Francisco, CA, focused on AI leadership.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAspiring Scholars Directed Research ProgramASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveOrange County Community FoundationAVID Scholarship Fund
Graduating Orange County AVID students can receive donor-funded scholarships supporting college attendance and completion.
🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryBiotechnology Summer Experience
Students conduct an authentic molecular-biology and bioinformatics project involving DNA purification, PCR, restriction digestion, gel electrophoresis and analysis of gene sequences using professional bioinformatics tools.
🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveLA County Department of Arts and CultureBloomberg Arts Internship — Los Angeles County
Students work at arts and cultural organizations while completing intensive college-readiness training, professional development, mentorship and career preparation.
🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveArt of Problem Solving InitiativeBridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)
Free intensive math programs for underserved middle schoolers in NYC and LA.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 6–8 - SelectiveCalifornia Water ServiceCal Water Scholarship Program
Students in Cal Water service areas compete for college or vocational-school scholarships based on academics, service and financial need.
🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateCalifornia Academic DecathlonCalifornia Academic Decathlon
High-school teams compete in ten academic disciplines through exams, essay, speech, interview and Super Quiz, with state champions advancing to nationals.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveForestry ChallengeCalifornia Forestry Challenge
California's premier natural resource competition for high school students, similar to Envirothon.
⏱ 1 week📅 April 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateCalifornia Science & Engineering FairCalifornia Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF)
Students qualifying through affiliated county or regional science fairs present original science and engineering projects at California's statewide competition.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCalifornia State Board of EducationCalifornia State Board of Education Student Member
One California public-school senior is appointed as a full voting member of the State Board of Education, participates in state education policymaking and represents student perspectives at board and advisory meetings.
🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateCSSSA FoundationCalifornia State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)
Multi-disciplinary arts sessions for young artists to collaborate and learn from professionals.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveMathcampCanada/USA Mathcamp
Five-week summer program for mathematically talented teens at rotating universities.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUC San DiegoCardiovascular Institute Summer Research Program
Eight-week mentored cardiovascular-science research experience with clinician-scientists, a core lecture series, research training, and clinical-shadowing opportunities.
🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCalifornia Academy of SciencesCareers 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.
🎓 Grades 9–10 - SelectiveCalifornia Coastal CommissionClimate Storytelling Contest
Middle- and high-school students communicate their experiences and feelings about climate change through a podcast, photo essay or personal narrative essay.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCoro Northern CaliforniaCoro Youth Fellows
Civic leadership fellowships for young people exploring careers in public affairs.
⏱ Varies📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of CaliforniaCOSMOS
UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Nationwide programs open to California students
- SelectiveArmy 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.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmerican Foreign Service Association (AFSA)AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityAI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAI4ALLAI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMathematical Association of AmericaAIME
Invitational round for top AMC scorers. 15-question, 3-hour exam that gates the USAMO. No fee for invited students.
⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveFreedom ForumAl Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
An all-expenses-paid journalism conference for one student from every US state and DC.
⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAmazonAmazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateMathematical Association of AmericaAMC 10/12
The entry-level American Mathematics Competition. Top scorers qualify for AIME and the path to the USAMO. Open to all US high schoolers; school registration required.
⏱ 75 minutes📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateACSLAmerican Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmgen FoundationAmgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveApple Inc.Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateBerklee College of MusicAspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive
The world's premier summer performance program for contemporary music, including jazz, rock, and pop.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveNCWITAward for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateBard College at Simon's RockBard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop
A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveMIT Lincoln LabBeaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveELASH / Bebras USBebras Computing Challenge (US)
An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.
⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBennington CollegeBennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBlack Girls CODEBlack Girls CODE Workshops
Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.
⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBlue Ocean Strategy / variousBlue Ocean Student Entrepreneurship Competition
Free global pitch competition with cash prizes. Teams pitch a novel business idea via video; finalists present live.
⏱ 3 months📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBreakthroughBreakthrough Collaborative
Free summer and school-year academic program for first-generation, low-income middle schoolers; high schoolers can serve as teaching fellows.
⏱ Multi-year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
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