Research programs in Mississippi.

Local to Mississippi

1. 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.

   🎓 Grades 9–11

   Highly Selective
2. Mississippi State University

   AgriSTEM Summer Camp

   Students explore precision agriculture and emerging agricultural technologies through hands-on projects, field trips, agricultural and biological engineering, and plant and soil science. Lodging and meals are provided at no cost.

   🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
3. 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.

   🎓 Grades 11–12

   Moderate
4. Mississippi State University Extension Service

   Art Doing Its Part

   Mississippi high-school students create artwork, slogans, and short reflections explaining connections between litter and waterway pollution. The statewide contest highlights regional environmental challenges and uses winning work in public-awareness campaigns.

   🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
5. Mississippi State University College of Business

   ASAP — Accelerating Students into the Accounting Profession

   Rising seniors explore accounting careers, professional development, teamwork, and leadership through seminars and an industry field trip while living on campus.

   🎓 Grade 12

   Moderate
6. 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.

   🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
7. Mississippi Scholastic Press Association / University of Mississippi

   Best of Mississippi Student Media Competition

   Students at MSPA-member publications compete for individual and publication awards in newspaper/magazine/site, yearbook, broadcast, and literary-magazine categories. All MSPA contests are free to enter.

   🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
8. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks

   Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest

   Mississippi students depict native fish or wildlife species through original artwork. Winners receive gift cards, publication in Mississippi Outdoors, and display on MDWFP platforms.

   🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
9. Mississippi State University

   Bug & Plant Camp

   Students ages 12–17 collect, identify, and preserve insects while learning entomology, botany, biodiversity, and field-collection techniques.

   🎓 Grades 9–12

   Highly Selective
10. Mississippi State University

    Bulldogs in Industrial Technology & Entrepreneurship

    Students explore manufacturing careers and industrial technology through welding, CNC programming, coatings, and related hands-on technical activities.

    🎓 Grades 9–12

    Moderate
11. Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center

    Catherine Coleman Literary Arts, Food, and Social Justice Summer Program

    Mississippi high-school writers spend a residential week studying poetry, fiction, screenwriting, Southern foodways, and social-justice history with professional writers. Students completing the program receive a $300 stipend.

    🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
12. University of Mississippi

    College 101

    Need-eligible students spend two residential weeks experiencing college classes and dorm life while exploring majors, financial aid, careers, ACT preparation, and college-application skills.

    🎓 Grades 10–12

    Moderate
13. Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center

    Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival

    High-school students submit and present essays, poetry, spoken word, fiction, performing arts, or visual art before audiences of students and professors during this annual interdisciplinary festival.

    🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
14. Mississippi State University School of Architecture

    Design Discovery

    Students experience the intensity of architecture school through drawing, modeling, full-scale construction, structural studies, product design, field sketching, and a residential-design project. Summer 2027 is confirmed to return.

    🎓 Grades 10–12

    Moderate
15. 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.

    🎓 Grade 9

    Highly Selective
16. Delta State University Delta Music Institute

    DMI Summer Camp

    High-school students ages 14–18 choose audio engineering, performance, or singer-songwriter tracks and work in professional studios with faculty and music-industry professionals before a final recording session and showcase.

    🎓 Grades 9–12

    Moderate

Nationwide programs open to Mississippi students

1. 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.

   ⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
2. American 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

   Selective
3. Carnegie Mellon University

   AI Scholars at CMU

   Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.

   ⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11

   Selective
4. AI4ALL

   AI4ALL Open Learning

   Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.

   ⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
5. Mathematical Association of America

   AIME

   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

   Selective
6. Freedom Forum

   Al 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

   Selective
7. Amazon

   Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

   Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.

   ⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12

   Selective
8. Mathematical Association of America

   AMC 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

   Moderate
9. ACSL

   American Computer Science League (ACSL)

   A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.

   ⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12

   Moderate
10. Amgen Foundation

    Amgen Scholars Future Track

    Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.

    ⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
11. Apple Inc.

    Apple Swift Student Challenge

    Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.

    ⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
12. Berklee College of Music

    Aspire: 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

    Moderate
13. NCWIT

    Award 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

    Selective
14. Bard College at Simon's Rock

    Bard 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

    Moderate
15. MIT Lincoln Lab

    Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)

    Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.

    ⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11

    Selective
16. ELASH / Bebras US

    Bebras 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

    Selective
17. Bennington College

    Bennington Young Writers Awards

    A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.

    📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
18. Black Girls CODE

    Black Girls CODE Workshops

    Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.

    ⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12

    Selective
19. Blue Ocean Strategy / various

    Blue 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

    Selective
20. Breakthrough

    Breakthrough 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

    Selective

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