10 STEM Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you’re a high school student looking for research opportunities in Texas, consider participating in a STEM research program! Many prestigious universities and research centers in Texas offer STEM research programs that will allow you to engage with complex scientific concepts, all before you join college!
Whether you’re interested in engineering, medicine, computer programming, or earth science, participating in a research program will help you gain practical experience, work with the latest tech, and learn about the research process from experts. These programs can also boost your profile for college applications by showing that you can work with advanced material and are passionate about your chosen field.
Here’s our curated list of 10 STEM summer research programs for high school students in Texas!
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will receive a $750 stipend upon successful completion of the research project report. The program covers on-campus meals, room and board, weekend activities, and programming but the participants are responsible for their travel and medical expenses.
Program Dates: June 16–August 1, 2024; the exact dates for summer 2025 are to be announced.
Application Deadline: Closed for 2024. Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at least 17 years old, either entering their senior year of high school or recently graduated.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University offers a valuable opportunity for 12 exceptionally-qualified high school juniors and seniors to participate in a comprehensive 7-week summer research internship, in their chosen subject. While this program is not a traditional internship, it is highly selective and stands out for its well-rounded approach to academic exploration and research. As a scholar, you will delve into research projects, working closely with experienced faculty members for valuable hands-on experience.
The program also includes weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. You will have an opportunity to develop your critical thinking abilities and career interests with faculty and other like-minded peers. You will be selected based on your academic accomplishments, teacher recommendations, and career objectives. You can find a detailed list of research areas here.
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: Session 1: June 10–June 27, 2024 | Session 2: July 8–July 25, 2024. Dates TBA for 2025.
Application Deadline: April 10, 2024; TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are residents of the Houston area can apply. Prior programming experience is not required.
The Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program is a free 3-week summer program that introduces students to digital circuitry, computer science, physics, and engineering research at Rice University. In addition to learning their practical applications in the healthcare field, you will build a network of peers through this program and learn about various potential college pathways.
As a part of this program, you will study programming and digital design and their relationship to healthcare through practical simulations and working with instruments such as pulse oximeters, accelerometers, GPS devices, speakers, and microphones. However, this is a highly selective program that only selects 12 students, and the application requires the involvement of a school representative. You can learn more about the program and the application form on the website.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks between June and August.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: High school seniors who are 18 years or older, in good academic standing, or graduating are eligible to apply.
The DACCPM (Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine) Summer Research Program is a highly selective 10-week summer program. As a trainee, you will get practical experience developing laboratory and clinical research skills, conducting medical literature reviews, techniques to handle data, and more. Other academic and professional development programming opportunities are also available on topics such as applying to graduate school and the different career tracks the faculty have pursued.
You will work with a faculty member on an assigned research project, which you will present at a poster symposium at the end of the program. The abstract of your research will be included in the 2024 CATALYST Summer Program abstract book. You can apply by filling out this form and providing transcripts, a resume, recommendations, and a personal statement. Other academic and professional development programming opportunities are also available on topics such as applying to graduate school and the different career tracks the faculty have pursued.
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $3,500. Need-based scholarships are available.
Program Dates: June 10 — July 17, 2024. Dates TBA for 2025.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March. Dates TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors during the academic year and 15 years or older by the program start date to be considered.
UT Austin’s High School Research Academy (HSRA) provides high school students with an immersive and hands-on five-week interdisciplinary non-residential summer research experience at the University of Texas at Austin campus. If you’re interested in medicine, you can benefit from this program by gaining practical research skills, deepening your understanding of biomedical sciences, and enhancing your medical school applications with firsthand laboratory experience.
During the program, you’ll get to participate in research projects in active College of Natural Sciences (CNS) laboratories related to the exciting fields of biochemistry, biology, environmental science, genetics, neuroscience, genome engineering, data analytics, ecology, and more. You will also learn cutting-edge research techniques while gaining valuable insights and experiences through interaction with UT students and faculty in CNS undergraduate research groups.
Location: UT Health Lozano Long Campus, San Antonio, TX
Cost: The total cost of attendance is $750. Registration fees include all course materials including success packs, meals on T-TH, supplies and lab materials, a souvenir T-shirt, and a farewell reception on the last day.
Program Dates: July 8–-July 12, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: June 16, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors can apply.
The BEAT (Biomedical Excellence and Academic Training) Academy at UT Health San Antonio aims to expose high school students to medical and biomedical research and provide them with guidelines for a successful future in a health career of their choice. The curriculum is based on an interaction between the medical and biomedical faculty through seminars and hands-on activities in these fields. Subjects will include ongoing biomedical research occurring at the UT Health Science Center such as anatomy, physiology, medicine, molecular biology, aging, neurodegeneration, and other contemporary topics.
During the program, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes view of the science and health professions including visits to the human anatomy lab, interactions with real and state-of-the-art simulated patients for medical training, a glimpse of the latest advances in biomolecular technology, student-based biomolecular experiments, and more! You’ll also get to attend a college prep session to gather more information on the career of your choice and ways to achieve this goal. The program is limited to 20 students with preference given to high school juniors and seniors.
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: The exact amount is not specified but the cost of the program includes room, board, and camp activities. Need-based scholarships are available. There is also a non-refundable $35 application fee for this camp.
Program Dates: June 2–June 6, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Closed for 2024. Applications for 2025 are likely to open in January.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with an interest in aerospace engineering can apply.
Camp SOAR is a five-day summer program at Texas A&M University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, designed for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in aerospace engineering. During the camp, you’ll engage in hands-on design projects and tours of research facilities, exploring three tracks: airplanes, helicopters, and space. You will get to develop projects within your chosen track, learning the engineering design process and enhancing your critical thinking and teamwork skills.
This on-campus opportunity will allow you to visit cutting-edge facilities including the Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory, Land Air and Space Robotics Laboratory, and the hypersonic wind tunnels of the National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonics Laboratory. You will also engage directly with faculty and current aerospace engineering students, reside in the campus residence halls, and enjoy access to university recreational facilities, library resources, and computer labs.
Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: The program typically takes place during 3 Saturdays in January. The 2024 program took place on January 6, 13, and 20.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in November of the previous year.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 can apply.
The Office of Student Empowerment and Engagement at the UT Southwestern Medical Center hosts the Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program annually for high school students across the DFW Metroplex. HPREP is an enrichment program that exposes high school students to medicine and science through a variety of workshops and hands-on activities. During the program, you will get to participate in a college fair and mentoring group, with students from the UT Southwestern Medical School, School of Health Professions, School of Public Health, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences serving as mentors.
You will gain first-hand experience by participating in workshops on topics such as CPR, cow eye dissection, DNA extraction, prosthetics and orthotics, suturing, colorimetric assays, infectious diseases, and more. You will also get to learn about a wide variety of health careers and job responsibilities including physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $6,800 for the 10-week program ($6,120 if participating for nine weeks).
Program Dates: June 3–August 9, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school seniors who are Texas residents and are at least 18 years old by the start of the program can apply.
Hosted by the University of Texas and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program is a highly selective and prestigious 10-week summer program for students interested in biomedical sciences. This program offers selected students a rare opportunity to participate in a research project in one of the biomedical disciplines under the guidance of a full-time MD Anderson faculty member.
Emphasis is placed on the fundamental principles of scientific investigation. The laboratory experience is supplemented by seminars. This program is especially beneficial for high school students interested in the medical field, as it provides hands-on research experience, a deeper understanding of biomedical sciences, and the chance to learn directly from leading experts, all of which will enhance their preparation for medical school. The program admits up to 10 students each year and will give you an insight into the career of a biomedical researcher and increase your awareness for your college term.
Location: Hybrid (on-site experience at the University of Austin, TX campus)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid (Upon completion of the internship, both virtual and on-site interns will receive a NASA certificate of completion).
Program Dates: July 27–August 4, 2024 (10th graders) | July 7–July 20, 2024 (11th graders). Dates TBA for 2025.
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early January and close by mid-February. Application dates for 2025 are to be announced soon.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) at least 16 years old who are US citizens can apply. It's important to note that applicants who have previously participated in an on-site SEES internship are ineligible to apply.
SEES is a highly competitive program for high school students hosted by UT Austin in collaboration with NASA. This is a national-level internship program, where you will get to work with and learn from NASA subject matter experts. The program is focused on Earth and space research, and tasks interns with analyzing and visualizing data – key aspects of moving a project faster and foundational knowledge for aerospace engineering. All project teams will get an opportunity to present their research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium.
There is a virtual, learning component to the program and then an onsite experience on campus at the University of Texas, Austin. You are also expected to present your research at the program's concluding symposium. The program is highly selective, accommodating only around 50 students on-site, resulting in an on-site internship acceptance rate between 4-5%. You will engage in hands-on research with CSR scientists, analyzing and visualizing NASA satellite data to gain insights into Earth and space science. This immersive experience includes field investigations and data analysis, offering invaluable exposure to authentic NASA research practices.
10. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
Location: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Program Dates: June 24–June 29, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May. The SEP application for Summer 2025 will open in March 2025.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are interested in medicine can apply.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine hosts its annual Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in medicine. This residential program includes a range of hands-on activities that will allow you to experience what it's like to work in healthcare. You’ll get to learn how to perform basic medical procedures, such as suturing and administering injections, and get to practice your skills in a simulated clinical environment.
You will get to participate in clinical simulations, where you’ll work in teams to diagnose and treat simulated patients, helping you develop your problem-solving and teamwork skills. In addition to hands-on activities, SEP includes sessions on career exploration and professional development. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about different medical specialties and hear from healthcare professionals about their career paths. The program also includes workshops on topics such as medical ethics, communication, and healthcare policy, helping you develop a well-rounded perspective on the medical field.
One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also 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 4000 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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