10 Engineering Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Texas10 Engineering Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
For high school students interested in engineering, a summer research program can be an effective way to explore your future career path. These programs offer hands-on experience in university labs, allowing you to engage in real-world problem-solving, work with advanced technology, and collaborate with faculty and researchers. Whether your interests lie in aerospace, biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, or mechanical design, these experiences can help you refine your passions and build a strong foundation for college and beyond.
In addition to developing technical skills, engineering research programs can enhance your college applications, connect you with pre-college opportunities, and help you network with professionals in the field. However, it can be challenging to find programs that provide meaningful research experiences specifically designed for high school students. To assist in your search, we’ve narrowed down a list of 10 engineering summer research programs hosted in Texas that offer structured research experiences, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge fields.
The High School Research Academy (HSRA) at The University of Texas at Austin provides a five-week non-residential summer research experience in active College of Natural Sciences (CNS) laboratories. You will engage in interdisciplinary research in areas such as biochemistry, environmental science, neuroscience, and genome engineering. The program emphasizes authentic research techniques and includes collaboration with UT faculty, undergraduates, and other high school students.
Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to present your findings at the HSRA Research Symposium, creating a printed research poster. Additionally, completing the program allows you to earn UT extension course credit (NSC309), which can enhance your academic portfolio.
Location: University of Texas at Austin, TX
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Cost: $4,000 (includes a $350 non-refundable deposit; need-based scholarships available)
Dates: June 9 – July 16
Application Deadline: March 23 (late applications accepted but not guaranteed review)
Eligibility: Open to high school students; no housing or transportation provided.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program offers a seven-week summer research experience for high-achieving high school juniors and seniors, focusing on engineering, computer science, physics, and biomedical research. Under the mentorship of faculty at Texas Tech University, you will conduct individualized research projects in areas such as mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and chemistry.
Throughout the summer, you will participate in weekly seminars, social activities, and hands-on lab work while living on campus. At the conclusion of the program, successful participants receive a $750 stipend.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective (12 students per year)
Cost: Free (includes meals, housing, and programming; $25 application fee and travel costs not covered)
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24, 11:59 PM CST
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents; must be 17 years old by program start date.
The Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) offers several summer research programs that introduce you to various engineering disciplines. These programs emphasize technical skill development, faculty-led workshops, research lab tours, and real-world problem-solving.
Opportunities include exploring engineering systems, biomedical engineering, robotics and AI, and aerospace engineering. Some camps feature a make-a-thon challenge, allowing you to develop solutions to real-world issues, while others focus on building and launching rockets or designing autonomous robots.
Location: University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Cost: Varies by camp; scholarships available
Program Dates: Various camps take place between June and July.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots fill
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
The Computer Science Research Internship at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is a selective summer program for high school students interested in computer science, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. You will work in UTD research labs, dedicating 20-40 hours per week to advanced research projects.
Depending on the lab, tasks may include reading research papers, conducting simulations, or developing software applications. This internship is ideal for self-motivated students with strong coding and analytical skills who want to collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and industry experts on innovative computing challenges.
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Cost: $1,000 (discounts available for low-income students)
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots fill
Eligibility: Open to highly motivated high school students (age 16+ required for in-person attendance); students must arrange their own housing if attending in-person
The PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program at Texas A&M University is a three-week residential engineering research internship centered on biomedical engineering and healthcare technologies. You will engage in innovative biomedical research projects while developing skills in scientific writing, literature reviews, and laboratory techniques.
The program features mentorship from faculty and graduate researchers, networking opportunities, and participation in a Virtual Research Symposium with students from Texas A&M, UCLA, Rice University, and Florida International University. Upon completion, you will receive a $2,000 stipend based on milestones such as presenting research and assisting with outreach programs.
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Cost: Free (includes lodging, meals, and travel expenses); $2,000 stipend upon completion.
Program Dates: June to July.
Application Deadline: April 5 (selected applicants notified by April 12).
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; high school sophomores or juniors from Los Fresnos CISD or Sharyland ISD; must be 16 years or older.
The George A. Jeffrey NanoExplorers Program at The University of Texas at Dallas provides high school students with the chance to conduct original research in nanotechnology. After admission, you will be assigned to a faculty research lab aligned with your interests, where you will learn lab skills, conduct experiments, and contribute to funded projects.
As a lab member, you will be encouraged to explore new concepts and develop independent research ideas. Participants present their findings at an annual research symposium and may co-author scientific papers or present at conferences. The program has produced alumni who have gone on to prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and UT Dallas.
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Summer (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: March 28, 5:00 p.m. (Selected students notified by April 25)
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering 10th–12th grade
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern Program at The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research is a NASA-funded research opportunity for high school students. As an intern, you will engage in space and Earth science research, learning to interpret NASA satellite data with guidance from NASA scientists and engineers.
You will explore topics such as astronomy, planetary science, climate research, and space geodetic techniques while gaining hands-on experience in data analysis and mission design. The program includes both virtual research activities and an on-site internship experience at UT Austin, culminating in the SEES Virtual Science Symposium where you will present your findings.
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Center for Space Research
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Cost: Free (includes housing, meals, and local transportation; travel scholarships available).
Program Dates: June to July (virtual research work followed by on-site internship and a virtual symposium).
Application Deadline: February 22, 11:59 PM PT (notifications sent by May 1).
Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in STEM; selection based on academic records, essays, video introduction, and recommendations.
The Hybrid High School Summer Research Program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers virtual engineering research opportunities. This free, three-week program allows you to collaborate with university faculty and students on research projects conducted entirely online.
You'll gain hands-on experience in STEM fields and develop essential research skills. Weekly campus visits are optional, with stipends provided for each visit. The program emphasizes teamwork, virtual learning, and mental readiness.
Location: Virtual, with optional visits to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited; early application is encouraged.
Cost: Free program; stipends available for campus visits.
Program Dates: June 19 to July 7.
Application Deadline: May 22.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents interested in STEM; must be currently enrolled in high school.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program at AFWERX Texas provides stipend-paid summer research internships. These internships are for high school students interested in aerospace, cybersecurity, and advanced engineering technologies.
Interns work alongside Air Force scientists and engineers, gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge defense and space research. This program offers a unique opportunity to contribute to real-world projects in a high-tech research environment.
Location: AFWERX, Texas.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective.
Cost: Free (Paid stipend for participants).
Program Dates: Summer (Exact dates vary by location).
Application Deadline: January 10.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens only; must be at least 16 years old by the application deadline; must be enrolled in high school with a recommended GPA of 3.0; must arrange transportation and pass a background check.
The NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) Program offers Texas high school juniors the chance to engage with NASA scientists and engineers while exploring real-world aerospace challenges. The program starts with a five-month online learning experience focused on space exploration, Earth science, aeronautics, and technology research.
Top-performing students from the online portion are invited to Moonshot, a five-day virtual summer experience where they collaborate on NASA-inspired engineering design projects under the guidance of NASA experts. The highest-achieving teams are then selected for an all-expenses-paid residential experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, participating in team-based problem-solving challenges, facility tours, and interactions with NASA researchers.
Location: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive.
Cost: Free (Fully funded by NASA).
Program Dates: Online coursework from October to April; virtual summer experience in June to July; residential experience at NASA JSC for top performers in late July.
Application Deadline: Early October.
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors who are Texas residents and U.S. citizens.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re a high school student in Texas interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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