More

Hello, this is GIRE, a consulting agency for prestigious American universities.
Are you doing well in this hot summer?
Today, we will introduce a program that can develop a 'research' experience among summer programs for high school students. Research is becoming increasingly important as one of the most important ways to spend time during the summer. Research experience has gained distinction in the college admissions process and has become an important activity in college applications. 

In this article, we introduce the Summer Research Program that high school students can apply for every summer. Some of these are free and some charge tuition. In particular, Top Summer Research Schools often require a variety of research papers and such, so you need to prepare in advance, not just as summer approaches.  

[Research programs for high school students offered by American universities]

1. Research Science Institute (RSI)

RSI is generally considered the most selective program of study for high school students in STEM fields. The program is held at MIT and selects approximately 80 students each year. In the program, students work on independent projects with researchers in the Boston area. At the end of the program, students present their research to the wider community in a conference format.

In 2019, there were approximately 1600 applicants for 80 positions, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 5%.

Cost: None

2. Simons summer research program

The Simons Research Program, which ran from June 27 to July 29 this year, provides high school students with the opportunity to conduct easy research in a variety of fields, from science and mathematics to engineering. Students participate in research teams, collaborate with faculty, learn laboratory equipment and methodologies, and fully experience life at a research university.

To apply, you must be 16 years of age or older and two letters of recommendation are required.

This program has an acceptance rate of approximately 8%.

Students will receive a stipend (money or reward) for their participation.

Cost: None

3. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)

Spark SIP, a program for students interested in computer science and related fields, provides students with the opportunity to conduct real-world research through an internship program in a real-world setting.

This program requires students to be eligible to work 30-40 hours per week for 8-12 weeks during the summer.

This program offers a stipend of up to $500.

Cost: None

4. Boston University Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE)

RISE is a six-week, non-credit program for academically-connected upperclassmen interested in scientific research. Two tracks are offered to students: Internship and Practical Studies. The RISE internship track provides students with the opportunity to conduct a research project with a faculty mentor.

Internship students spend 40 hours per week conducting research under the guidance of a professor, postdoc, or graduate student mentor, gaining valuable technical and analytical skills in their chosen field.

The RISE practical track provides the opportunity to conduct group research in the field of computational neurobiology.

Practicing students conduct collaborative research in a university setting under the guidance of Boston University instructors.

Cost: $8,558 (dormitory accommodation); $5,570 (commuter)

5. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)

The program combines university-level workshops and laboratory research in a variety of topics, including civic and urban engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, and robotics. Open to 10th and 11th-grade high school students.

Students are mentored by a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering for seven weeks. Students will also receive presentation and public speaking training from ARISE's partners in the Irondale Ensemble Project and will present their research findings in front of NYU faculty and graduate students, ARISE fellows, other academic professionals, family, and friends at the program's culminating colloquium.

Each participant will receive a stipend of at least $750.

Cost: None

6. California Academy of Sciences Careers in Science (CiS) Internship Program

Launched in 1996, this long-term program provides San Francisco students from underrepresented populations in STEM fields with learning opportunities in science and sustainability while receiving mentorship, professional skill building, and compensation in return. During this program, students also participate in seminars and conferences.

Cost: None

7. UC San Diego Academic Connections Research Scholars

This summer program selects 25 students and provides them with the opportunity to individually collaborate on research with UCSD faculty researchers in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or nanotechnology. Students have access to on-campus laboratories. The program is aimed at students in grades 10, 11, and 12 and lasts six weeks.

Cost: $4200

8. Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) (University of Iowa)

Designed for sophomores and juniors, the program is highly selective and offers research opportunities in fields ranging from biochemistry to religious studies and the opportunity to work in laboratories on the University of Iowa campus.

The program duration is 5 weeks, and applications for this program close on February 18th.

Cost: $6395

9. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

The Clark Scholars Program is a comprehensive six-week study program that provides opportunities to study almost any field, from accounting to dance. Students will receive a curriculum that includes academic study, weekly seminars, discussions, and field visits. Only 12 students are selected each year, and applicants must be 17 years of age or older at the start of the program. The program offers a stipend of $750. This year's application deadline is February 16th.

Cost: None

10. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)

PROMYS offers a six-week program for mathematically competent students. The program is open to all high school students ages 14 and older and offers a curriculum that includes lectures, advanced seminars, mathematical studies, and group or individual problem-solving work. Each year, a select group of approximately 80 applicants are selected. The application deadline for PROMYS every year is in March.

Cost: $5,150

(Financial assistance available for families earning less than $60,000)

11. University of Illinois High School STEM Research Program

This program is designed for rising 11th and 12th-grade students. Students are provided with research experiences in a variety of STEM fields, such as cancer immunology, pharmacogenomics of cancer drugs, physics, biophysics, bioengineering, and electrical engineering. Students in this program will work with other students and teachers in their chosen field.

The program lasts 6 weeks and requires a commitment of 30-35 hours per week.

Cost: None

12. The Summer Science Program (SSP)

SSP has been in operation since 1959 and is a research-oriented program managed and maintained by alumni. Students participate in lectures, laboratory sessions, guest lectures, and field trips, choosing from one of three programs: Astronomy, Biochemistry, or Genomics. Admission to SSP for Years 10 and 11 students is competitive with an acceptance rate of 10%.

Cost: $7,450

(Financial assistance available for families earning less than $70,000)

13. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

SIMR students collaborate with Stanford academics and researchers to conduct medical research. Students choose one of eight research areas and are then assigned to a laboratory where they will receive one-on-one mentoring. The program is currently open to students in grades 11 and 12 and lasts eight weeks. Approximately 50 students are selected each year. Program participants will receive a minimum stipend of $500.

Cost: None

14. Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program

Memorial Sloan Kettering's Human Oncology and Pathobiology Program (HOPP) provides students with the opportunity to conduct independent research projects and engage in recreational activities, training, and other possibilities.

Students are supervised by a postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, or research technician during the eight-week program. At the end of the program, students present their projects at a poster symposium.

Applications for the 2023 program will be accepted through January 6.

Cost: None

15. Research in Materials Science Program (RIMS)

RIMS is hosted at the City University of New York's Advanced Scientific Research Center (ASRC) and provides students with the opportunity to conduct research at ASRC facilities. During the eight-week program, students participate in professional development workshops, students are compensated for participation and selection is very competitive.

Cost: None

16. The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program

The Jackson Laboratory Student Summer Program is a 10-week genetics and genomics research program open to high school and college students who are 18 years of age or older and have completed the 12th grade (current 12th-grade students are also eligible to apply).

Approximately 40 people, or approximately 3% of applicants, are selected each year. Students engage in an independent research project under the guidance of a mentor and aim to present their results at the end of the program.

Cost: None

17. Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)

ISSYP is a summer program for current 11th and 12th-grade students interested in theoretical physics. Students participate in lectures and short courses, major lectures, and mentoring sessions on cutting-edge theoretical physics topics by Perimeter Institute experts. ISSYP is a very competitive program with only 30 to 40 students selected each year. Previously held at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, it has now transitioned to a fully online program.

Cost: $195

18. Carnegie Mellon University Academy of Mathematics and Science (SAMS)

SAMS is offered at Carnegie Mellon University and is currently a program for 10th and 11th-grade students that provides an opportunity for students from typically underrepresented backgrounds to “acquire advanced college-level math and science fundamentals” while earning college credit. Classroom training, hands-on research projects, and professional and academic development courses are all part of SAMS. The program lasts six weeks, and students will undergo a rigorous curriculum led by Carnegie Mellon University faculty.

Cost: None

19. National Institutes of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)

HS-SIP provides high school students the opportunity to conduct full-time biomedical research with world-class experts in an NIH facility.

Applicants must be in grade 11 or 12 at the time of application and be 17 years of age or older at the start of the program.

HS-SIP is very competitive and only about 15% of applicants are selected.

The program duration is 8 weeks.

Cost: None

20. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program

The Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship is an eight-week, full-time internship program for rising high school seniors. This program is specifically designed for students from underrepresented communities who are interested in biomedical fields. Students will practice laboratory safety skills and techniques in the Fred Hutch Training Room, attend research training seminars and professional development workshops, and receive mentoring from the Fred Hutch Research Group.

Cost: None

21. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)​

This summer program is held at Rockefeller University and is a full-time, in-person study program that typically runs from late June to mid-August. Students must be 16 years of age or older when applying for the program and must be current 11th or 12th-grade students in high school.

The program requires letters of recommendation.

Applications for this program close early the summer before the program begins, so apply early!

Cost: None

22. Coriell Institute for Medical Research Summer Experience

Coryell Institute for Medical Research is a leader in stem cell research and genetic discovery. A select group of students will spend four weeks working with world-class scientists and researchers. Students attend staff lectures, conduct independent research, learn data analysis, participate in resume writing sessions, and present their research findings in a final presentation. Students must be 17 years of age or older before starting the program.

Cost: None

23. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Jump Start Program

This STEM program focuses on biomedical research. Students have the opportunity to participate in seminars and professional development sessions. Eleventh and twelfth-grade students who have taken the AP Biology and Chemistry curriculum are eligible to participate in the program. A transcript, a letter of recommendation from a science teacher, and a personal essay about an event or person that sparked the student's interest in science are required.

Cost: $250

24. City of Hope Cancer Center Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy

This 10-week program selects 100 students from over 2000 applicants each year. While participating in seminars and laboratory sessions with staff, students can create their research biology projects under the guidance of City of Hope educators. The program concludes with the writing of a research paper, which will be presented at the end of the program. Students must be 16 years of age or older on their first day on campus and must have already completed high school chemistry and biology classes.

Cost: None

Bonus options:

The BioResearch Academy is a fully residential program held at Emerson University in Boston (July 5 - 18). The program is designed for high school students with an interest in biology and was developed by Dr. Samuel Koons, a professor of cell biology and neuroscience at Harvard University for 30 years.

Cost: $5,500 (includes lodging, meals and other activities)

[*How do I find research program opportunities?]

In fact, in most cases, support like that is needed to conduct research. This way, you can apply to multiple research programs, contact faculty by email, or call them for a research project.

The key is to search widely with an open mind in various fields. Lastly, as another option, you may want to consider applying to the GIRE Fellowship Program or Virtual RA Internship.