Summer Science Research Programs: 5 Amazing Opportunities for High School Students
There are an immense number of summer programs for students of all ages. Universities, corporations, state and federal departments, and more offer internships, research programs, and summer camps for students interested in STEM.
Programs like these not only look great on resumes and college applications - especially if they are competitive or prestigious - but also act as a way for students to gain knowledge and experience in topics they are interested in during their break.
What Are Some Popular Programs?
Some very competitive summer programs include RSI (hosted at MIT), Simons Summer Research Program, the RISE internship, and more. These are very selective and require interested students to apply months in advance. After completing the programs, students are invited to conferences and fairs to present their work and go on to win many awards.
Best Programs to Apply to Now
Research programs for the summer of 2024 have either already opened their application windows, or are going to soon. We have compiled information for 5 research programs below. Students can gain access to mentors and experienced professionals to expand their knowledge.
Summer Science Research Program at Rockefeller University
The applications window for SSRP is currently open and ends January 5, 2024. Only high school juniors or seniors at least 16 years old are eligible to apply. Starting on June 24 and ending on August 8, students have the opportunity to conduct research in a lab under student mentors.
Dates: June 24 - August 8, 2024
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (at least 16 years old)
Cost: None
Applications: Due Jan. 5 (Ongoing)
Research in the Biological Sciences
RIBS at the University of Chicago is a 4-week residential program for high school sophomores and juniors. The program requires at least one year of biology prior as it is centered on biological research.
Dates: June - July 2024 (dates have not been released)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Cost: $13,600 (summer 2023)
Applications: TBD
Inspirit AI 1:1: AI + X Research Project Mentorship Program
Although the 1:1 AI + X Project Program is not exclusively a summer program, the summer is a great time for students to use their programming and machine learning skills to create their own personal project with the help of experienced and knowledgeable mentors from prestigious universities like Stanford, MIT, etc. Students will have help creating a project and research paper they can submit to science fairs or journals.
Dates: Throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $2,400 (10 hour course)
Applications: Open throughout the year
Neuroscience Institute Summer Immersion Program
Taking place at Wake Forest University, this summer program focuses on neuroscience and introduces students to various experiments, labs, hands-on experiences, field trips, projects, and more. It is open to all high school students and participants will be awarded a certificate upon completion.
Dates: Weeks of July 7-12 and 14-19
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $3,000
Applications: Open, on a rolling basis
Rice University Online STEM Programs
Rice University offers multiple online courses throughout the year focusing on Genome Engineering, Physiology, Space Exploration, etc. Unlike other science research programs, this course is completely online. At the end of the program, students create a capstone project with the help of their mentors.
Dates: Throughout the year
Eligibility: Students 13+
Cost: Up to $1,495
Applications: Open, throughout the year
Other Programs
This is a very short list of some accessible summer and year-round programs open to students. Others are far more competitive, and if students have prior experience and background knowledge, they should be encouraged to apply. Students should also branch out and explore more programs for the topics that they are interested in.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
