9 Research Programs for High School Students in Indiana
If you’re a high school student in Indiana looking for research opportunities, joining a research program can be a good option! These programs will help you explore industry trends, enhance your skills, and learn about the research process from professionals.
They can also strengthen your college applications by showcasing your ability to tackle advanced material and your commitment to your chosen field.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 9 research programs for Indiana high school students!
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Application deadlines differ by cohort. The deadline for the upcoming winter cohort is December 29, 2024
Dates: The summer cohort runs from June–August, fall from September–December, winter from December–February, and spring from March–June
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides high school students with opportunities to pursue independent research in various fields. You will work with a PhD mentor who will provide one-on-one guidance throughout the program.
Over 12 weeks, you will work with your mentor and a writing coach to select and develop your research topic. The program includes workshops on research methods and culminates in the completion of an independent research paper. Topics available for exploration include economics, data science, psychology, physics, computer science, international relations, engineering, chemistry, and more. You can find more information about the application process here.
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: No cost; participants receive a stipend, but the amount is not specified
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Dates: June 2 – July 25, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors enrolled in a Marion County public high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average
The Future Scientist Program provides a summer research opportunity for high school juniors interested in science and medicine. During the program, you will work alongside university researchers on a specific project, gaining practical research experience. This non-credit summer research experience offers you educational enrichment and employment opportunities.
Location: Laboratories at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI), the Indiana Bioscience Research Institute (IBRI), and Eli Lilly
Cost/Stipend: Participation is free, and eligible individuals may receive stipends of up to $4,000, as determined by the program staff
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Dates: The program lasts 8 weeks, running from early June to late July
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 10–12; in certain cases, students in 9th grade may be accepted
The Indiana CTSI K-12 STEM program aims to support the development of future scientists. This program is closely connected to Project SEED, a long-standing initiative run in partnership with the American Chemical Society.
During the program, you’ll be matched with research faculty mentors and work in laboratories at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI), the Indiana Bioscience Research Institute (IBRI), and Eli Lilly. You will work approximately 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Full participation throughout the program is required.
Location: The Westin Indianapolis | Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research | IU Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications and teacher nomination forms must be submitted by November 8, 2025 (tentative, based on previous years)
Dates: February 23 – 24, 2026 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Indiana high school students in grades 10–12
Molecular Medicine In Action (MMIA) is a free program for high school students exploring science-related careers. It offers hands-on experiences and insights into advanced medical research. If selected, you will spend two days learning about techniques in molecular biology, cytogenetics, and cancer therapy. Activities include analyzing gene expression, using imaging technology, and studying methods to influence cancer cell growth.
The two-day program begins with a welcome orientation, lectures from IU scientists, and interactive sessions, followed by an overnight stay at the Westin in Indianapolis. On the second day, you will visit the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the IU School of Medicine campus in downtown Indianapolis.
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate. High school students receive a $4,000 stipend for the summer program. Undergraduate students receive a $3,500 stipend for the summer program and an extra $1,300 for the fall semester
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
Dates: June 2 – July 25, 2025
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 from public schools in the greater Indianapolis area.
The MPESC-Prep program provides high school and college students with training and mentorship in STEM fields. It aims to prepare you for future careers as physician-scientists, physician-engineers, biomedical researchers, and clinical care providers by offering opportunities for professional development.
The program includes an eight-week summer component focused on research and clinical exposure. You will also receive ongoing support during the academic year, with encouragement to return to the same laboratory each year.
Location: Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Participation is free. Selected participants will receive a stipend.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Dates: EPCR is a two-year commitment, with in-person programs for summer 2025 and summer 2026, each lasting 10 weeks. The first year runs from May 19 to July 25, 2025.
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors entering their freshman year are eligible to apply.
EPCR provides research opportunities for students from underrepresented populations in medicine and cancer-related fields. You will be paired with a research mentor, learn about research methods, and work on a project during the summer. At the end of the program, you will present your findings through poster and oral presentations. Research projects may involve laboratory, computer-based, or clinical research.
You will work 40 hours per week and participate in professional development sessions. You will develop skills in critical thinking, experiment design, data interpretation, and idea generation. You will also engage with cancer center research programs, shared facilities, and over 100 leading investigators
Location: Otterbein University in Columbus, OH | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN
Cost: The program fee is $7,000, which covers tuition, housing, and meals at the Ross Program; need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Dates:
Otterbein University: June 9 – July 19, 2025 (tentative, based on previous years)
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: June 16 – July 26, 2025 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18; in some cases, younger or older students may be considered
The Ross Mathematics Program is a residential summer session for high school students with a solid foundation in high school math who are eager to explore more advanced topics. The program aims to be the first step toward independent mathematical research rather than focusing on math competitions. It promotes collaboration and community building among students.
You will work on challenging problem sets that explore abstract mathematical concepts each day. Studying one subject over several weeks will give you a deeper understanding. Importantly, you will learn to communicate mathematical ideas clearly and write convincing proofs to support your claims.
Location: Multiple locations, including Indiana University in Indianapolis, IN, and Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN
Cost: The program fee is $8,800; need-based financial aid is available to help students from lower-income families attend at a reduced cost
Application Deadline: February 21, 2025
Dates: Programs begin mid-late June
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who will have completed the prerequisites by the summer and will be between 15 and 18 years old during the program
The Summer Science Program provides high school juniors with experience in experimental science. In teams of three, you will work alongside faculty members on a research project, collecting and analyzing original data. In 2024, 12 astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, and synthetic chemistry programs were offered at various universities.
You will also learn about STEM careers and gain practical skills, such as time management, that are useful for college and beyond. The program presents material at a faster pace than typical college courses. However, every student receives individual attention from the faculty. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN
Cost/Stipend: The internship costs approximately $320 for Indiana residents. The fee covers a 1-credit course per semester, with the option to complete up to 4 semesters for a maximum of 4 college credits
Application Deadline: August 1, 2025; applications for the 2025-26 academic year will open in April 2025
Dates: The program runs for an academic year, usually from September to May
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16–17 with a minimum 3.0 GPA; students must be able to commute to the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus
As an intern, you will work 6–8 hours per week under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Completing the internship successfully will earn you 1 college credit per semester.
To find potential faculty mentors, you can explore the faculty and staff pages of the six colleges at Purdue Fort Wayne: the College of Science, School of Education, College of Visual & Performing Arts, Doermer School of Business, College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science, and College of Liberal Arts. You can also review the 14 Centers of Excellence on campus for details about ongoing research projects. Selection is more likely if you can join an existing project team, as interns work on faculty mentors’ existing projects rather than proposing their own.
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.