High School Opportunities

Some of the brightest minds in science teach at Boston University, making the university's Research in Science & Engineering program a top choice for ambitious students looking for just the right summer science program. Over the course of six weeks, students can take part in either an internship (tackling research projects under the mentorship of a BU faculty member) or a practicum (conducting group research under the guidance of a BU instructor). With either choice, students can be sure they are participating in one of the best summer science programs available for high school students.

University of Chicago's Research in the Biological Sciences is an intensive four-week pre-college summer program designed to introduce students to a variety of research techniques in the fields of molecular biology, microbiology, and cellular biology. The whole program revolves around lab time and projects, though some lectures are included in the curriculum to provide background and introduce exciting new concepts. Each course ends with the students presenting results of their independent project.

The Garcia Center at Stony Brook University in New York hosts an intensive seven-week pre-college summer program that combines formal instruction with independent research opportunities. Students design an original research project, then work closely with Garcia Center faculty and staff who provide necessary guidance and mentorship. Unlike most programs, which end after a certain amount of time, this unique program encourages its students to continue work on their projects even after the official end of the summer program by entering their research projects in national competitions, writing and publishing about their work, and even seeking patents.

It is not often high school students get to experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. But that's exactly what participants do during the five-week Research Science Institute that is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education and held each year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition to hands-on research with accomplished professors, students will read up on the most current literature in their field, draft detailed research plans, and deliver a conference-style oral report.

Yale Young Global Scholars invites students from over 125 countries and all 50 U.S. states to spend two weeks at Yale University attending an academic session of their choice. Our STEM sessions cover topics in physics, astronomy, engineering, immunology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, . Participants experience university life through Yale faculty lectures and small-scale seminars, all while meeting students from around the world.

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) is an opportunity to conduct one year of research under the mentorship of an AMNH scientist.

$50,000 per year covers teacher stipends (@$5,000), student stipends (@$1,500), equipment, laboratory supplies, transportation, etc. ($10,000 per summer) for approximately 5 teachers and 10 students

Stanford's Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery hosts the Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) internship each summer free-of-cost to 15-30 selected undergraduate and high school students. The interns spend 7-weeks mastering basic lab techniques, participating in research projects, and presenting their work all under the mentorship of experienced researchers.

OSAA is a NSF-funded initiative seeking to increase the number of students with disabilities that earn STEM degrees and enter the STEM workforce. Wright State leads a coalition of Ohio State University, Sinclair Community College and Columbus State Community college in implementing programming to recruit high school students and other persons with disabilities to STEM college majors. OSAA also provides college students with academic and personal support aimed at maximizing STEM retention and graduation rates, as well as extracurricular enhancements to increase the quality of their degrees and competitiveness for positions in high quality graduate programs and the STEM workforce.

OSAA is a NSF-funded initiative seeking to increase the number of students with disabilities that earn STEM degrees and enter the STEM workforce. Wright State leads a coalition of Ohio State University, Sinclair Community College and Columbus State Community college in implementing programming to recruit high school students and other persons with disabilities to STEM college majors. OSAA also provides college students with academic and personal support aimed at maximizing STEM retention and graduation rates, as well as extracurricular enhancements to increase the quality of their degrees and competitiveness for positions in high quality graduate programs and the STEM workforce.