15 Best High School Summer Research Programs in Texas
Have you been finding it hard to narrow down on some great summer research opportunities in Texas which are open for high school students? We have you covered!
In this article, we list 15 of the best research-oriented programs in Texas that provide an immersive learning experience and enrich you as a scholar. The opportunities range from highly selective to fairly welcoming, and while some have a fee associated with them, others provide a stipend. There is something here for everyone.
Not seeing something you like? You can also look at the opportunities we’ve curated in psychology research, medical research, biology research, and virtual research. You can also check out our research program – Lumiere – which had 2100 students apply this past year!
15 Best High School Summer research Programs in Texas
Subject areas: Biology
Location: Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
Fee/ stipend: The program provides a $750 tax-free stipend and a $500 meal card along with room and board
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 open on January 2, 2023, and close on February 13, 2023
Program dates: June 18, 2023, to August 3, 2023
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate in 2023 or 2024. There are no exceptions to this rule
This intensive, 7-week program gives highly gifted students the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with outstanding faculty on the general academic campus and the Health Science Center. While the program is research-intensive, it also includes weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: University of Texas, Austin (Austin, TX)
Fee / stipend: Fee- $3,500 per student (+ $5 Application Fee). Need-based scholarships are available.
Application deadline: March 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program dates: June 13, 2023 - July 20, 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program selectivity: Open enrolment
Eligibility: Applicants must be 15 years old by June 15 to be considered.
This 5-week program provides high school students with an immersive and hands-on interdisciplinary research experience. Students 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.
Subject areas: Business
Location: University of Texas, Austin (Austin, TX)
Fee/stipend: None
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 are open now till January 31,2023
Program dates: June 2023
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Applicants must be a junior or senior in high school (underrepresented backgrounds preferred)
This 6-day program offers students the chance to learn and interact with McCombs students, faculty, and corporate representatives with a focus on understanding the skill sets required for business-oriented careers. There are 3 programs that students can choose from: McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA), The Academy for Rising Leaders and Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: Varies, depending on the program
Fee/stipend: The program provides a stipend, but amount is not known.
Application deadline: December 15, 2022 - February 28, 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program dates: Varies depending on the program
Program selectivity: Open enrolment
Eligibility: Applicants must be a high school student.
In collaboration with universities and U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers, the AEOP offers summer apprenticeships for high school students throughout the United States. Apprentices will receive formal mentorship from a professional scientist or engineer. In addition to this, there will be multiple opportunities to learn from STEM practitioners of varying levels of experience.
The programs available in Texas will be notified when applications for 2023 open.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: University of Texas, Dallas (Dallas, TX)
Fee/stipend: Not known
Application deadline: Application is yet to open for 2023
Program dates: To be announced with the opening of the application
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores, juniors or seniors.
This 7-week program aims to inspire high school students to become productive scientists and engineers by enabling them to do original research work. Students join a faculty member’s research lab based on their interest and are taught the skills needed to test their ideas, teamwork, and about innovation and new concepts. The work undertaken is associated with funded programs at the university and students will work to deliver real results.
Subject areas: Architecture, visualization, construction science, and urban planning
Location: Texas A&M (College Station, TX)
Fee/stipend: Fee - $1,200
Application deadline: April 2023 (based on previous year’s schedule)
Program dates: July 11, 2023 –July 16, 2023 (based on previous year’s schedule)
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores, juniors or seniors. Students graduating in Spring 2023 are ineligible to attend this program.
This 1-week program hosted by the School of Architecture at Texas A&M is for high-achieving high school students. Camp ARCH combines academic instruction with social activities to create an immersive pre-college experience focused on research.
Subject areas: Biology, medicine
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX)
Fee/stipend: The program offers a $6,000 stipend for a 10-week participation and a $5,400 stipend for a 9-week participation.
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 open on December 3,2022 and close on January 20, 2023
Program dates: June 2023 - August 2023 (based on previous year’s schedule)
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors with demonstrated academic excellence.
Hosted by University of Texas and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, students selected for the program are given a rare opportunity to participate in a research project in one of the biomedical disciplines under the guidance of a full-time member of the MD Anderson faculty. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the basic principles that form the foundation for scientific investigation. The laboratory experience is supplemented by seminars.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: Texas A&M (College Station, TX)
Fee/stipend: Fee - $1499 for the 1-week program; $2,599 for the 2-week program. Both programs also charge a $500 deposit. Scholarships are available to individuals based on financial need.
Application deadline: March 2023 (based on previous year’s schedule)
Program dates: Will take place in 3 sessions across June-July 2023
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students
This program has 1- and 2-week durations and is perfect for rising high school students who are looking to deepen their understanding across STEM subjects. Students will have the opportunity to explore more deeply topics in discrete mathematics, statistics, coding, atmospheric science and engineering design.
Subject areas: Arts and humanities
Location: Various program locations across Houston, TX
Fee/stipend: Depends on the program. Scholarships are available.
Application deadline: March 2023 (based on previous year’s schedule)
Program dates: Will take place in 3 sessions across June-July 2023
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores, juniors or seniors.
Wonderworks is a non-profit organization that provides pre-college summer learning experiences in arts and humanities, primarily for Houston-area and Texas high school students through various partner organizations. The programs are geared towards enabling students to learn key academic and interpersonal skills before entering college.
Subject areas: Biology, medicine
Location: Various program locations across Houston, TX
Fee/stipend: None. Scholarships are available to cover room and board.
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 open on December 2, 2022, and close on January 27, 2023.
Program dates: The program will begin on May 30, 2023, and end on August 4, 2023.
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 or older by the start of the program on May 30, 2023. Must be enrolled in high School or undergraduate studies. Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or Foreign National who holds a legal visa status (F-1, J-1, EADs).
*The Kadoorie and Fields Rosenberg programs do not accept High School students.
This 9-week program exposes high school students to training in a translational research lab and has a professional development curriculum that provides tools on college selection, scholarship applications and scientific writing. Students have access to Houston Methodist's renowned faculty mentors who help guide them through proper lab techniques, as well as assigning each intern with their own study or focus area on an active research project.
Subject areas: Journalism
Location: Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX)
Fee/stipend: Fee - $2,000
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 are now open but the deadline is not known.
Program dates: June 4, 2023 – 16, 2023
Program selectivity: Open enrolment
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students.
This 2-week journalism program provides high school students an intensive college readiness program. Students develop their critical thinking and writing skills while generating story ideas, which they then report and develop into news stories, produce content for a newscast and write for a website. Media professionals from Fort Worth and Dallas volunteer their time to share their expertise and experiences with students. They talk about changes in media and discuss media careers with students.
Subject areas: Biology, medicine
Location: University of Houston (Houston, TX)
Fee/ stipend: This program provides a $2,000 scholarship
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 will open in June 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program dates: June 20,2023 - August 5, 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be juniors or seniors in the fall 2023 semester and have an interest in pursuing science degrees. An interest in infectious diseases and/or microbiology is also highly suggested. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 4.0 scale. Math/Science cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 4.0 scale
This 8-week program in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy gives students hands-on training in the generation, analysis, and rigor and reproducibility of research data under the direct supervision of a program mentor. Hands-on research training includes basic lab skills, literature reviews, biological sample processing, running PCR assays and plating bacteria onto plates practicing assays analysis and basic microbiological methodology.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: University of Texas, Austin (Austin, TX) along with on-line coursework components
Fee/ stipend: Housing, meals, and local transportation will be provided for those selected. A limited number of travel scholarships to Texas are available
Application deadline: Feb 21, 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program dates: March - August 2023 with the onsite component in July 2023 (based on previous year's schedule)
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores or Juniors in High school. Must be 16 by July 1, 2023, and have a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Ability to complete on-line requirements prior to the on-site intern program. Must be a U.S. citizen.
This is a nationally competitive STEM program for high school students where students work beside NASA subject matter experts analyzing and visualizing data. The program is focused on Earth and space research. All project teams will present their research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium.
Subject areas: Art and design
Location: University of Texas, Austin (Austin, TX)
Fee/ stipend: Fee - $7,175. Scholarships are available.
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 open in February, but the deadline is not unknown.
Program dates: June 2023 - July 2023 (based on previous year’s schedule)
Program selectivity: Open enrolment
Eligibility: High school students
This 4-week pre-College invites emerging student artists to explore their artistic process, style and voice through ridiculously engaging programs in Art + Design. Students further develop skills and generate new artworks in one area of focus through concentration studio sessions, build their portfolio and get expert as well as peer reviews.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: Rice University (Houston, TX). Virtual camps are also available.
Fee/ stipend: Fee - $1,495 for the commuter program; $595 for the virtual program. Scholarships are available.
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 are open now, but deadline is not known.
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 11 with a great degree of familiarity with coding and other technology concepts.
This is the competitive pre-college engineering summer program for high school students. The program contains a vigorous technology track, supplemented by college readiness and engineering leadership preparation components. Students will participate in intensive science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning activities, while learning to apply the engineering design process to solve real world problems.
If you're looking for a real-world internship that can help boost your resume while applying to college, we recommend Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective program equipping students with virtual internship experiences at startups and nonprofits around the world!
The startups range across a variety of industries, and each student can select which field they would most love to deep dive into. This is also a great opportunity for students to explore areas they think they might be interested in, and better understand professional career opportunities in those areas. The startups are based all across the world, with the majority being in the United States, Asia and then Europe and the UK.
The fields include technology, machine learning and AI, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, media and journalism and more.
As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship - the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding you through the internship and helping you navigate the startup environment.
Cost: $1490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: April 16 and May 14
Program dates: 8 weeks, June to August
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students!
Additionally, you can also work on independent research in AI, through Veritas AI's Fellowship Program!
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests.
The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship.
These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship.
The AI Fellowship program will have students pursue their own independent AI research project. Students work on their own individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3, 2023.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Program selectivity: Moderately selective
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions pertaining to the students background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are passionate about research, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
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.