7 Research Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
High school research programs allow students to explore their fields of interest in greater depth than the standard curriculum allows. If you’re a high schooler looking for an intellectual challenge, a research program is worth considering. These programs simulate the structure and rigor of professional research and let you work closely with mentors and experts.
You can focus on areas in science, technology, engineering, the humanities, and social sciences. Participating in a research program can develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that are useful in academic and professional fields. This experience also strengthens college applications by showcasing your commitment to your field and ability to handle complex academic tasks.
Here are 7 great research programs for high school students in Massachusetts!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (includes travel, room and board, and research supplies)
Application deadline: December 11
Internship dates: June to August
Eligibility: Rising seniors/high school juniors
The Research Science Institute is a six-week summer program hosted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It allows you to participate in university-level research. RSI offers you the chance to explore cutting-edge research in scientific and engineering fields. Under experienced scientists and engineers, you will work individually on projects, combining campus coursework with hands-on research. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: Various locations across the United States
Stipend: $3,000
Application Deadline: January 19 (applications typically open in November and close in January)
Internship Dates: Early June to early August
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a national program aiming to promote diversity in fisheries science careers. As an intern, you will work with a mentor on projects in fisheries biology, aquatic resource management, and conservation. This program focuses on introducing students to careers in environmental science and natural resources. To read more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $3,600; includes partial reimbursement for transportation
Application Deadline: January 22
Internship Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering their senior year
The Broad Summer Scholars Program places high school students in a biomedical research environment under the guidance of Broad Institute researchers working on cutting-edge projects. The program provides lectures and seminars. It also includes networking opportunities in genomics and bioinformatics. This program is designed to motivate students to pursue science-related careers.
6. Camp ZON
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Not specified
Application period: January – April
Internship dates: July
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
Camp ZON offers summer opportunities for students in biotechnology and neuroscience. The camp includes hands-on lab work, lectures by leading scientists, and workshops. It provides you with a comprehensive introduction to the latest in biotechnology and neuroscience, with real-world projects. You will have the opportunity to present your research findings, gaining experience in scientific communication. This program is ideal for those who want to explore careers in biotechnology and neuroscience.
7. CURE Program
Location: Online
Fee: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Summer (specific dates vary annually)
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students
The CURE Program is a leading research training initiative designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds. You will participate in a structured research experience at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, mentored by scientists working on innovative cancer research. The program emphasizes academic growth and health equity. Additionally, you will participate in workshops, seminars, and networking events. Funded by an NIH initiative, CURE promotes diversity in biomedical careers. The program has no costs and offers stipends to participants.
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.