7 Research Programs for High School Students in Tennessee
If you're a high school student in Tennessee, participating in a research program before college can be a valuable academic opportunity. These programs allow you to explore real-world scientific research beyond what you might learn in the classroom. Working alongside university faculty or industry professionals, you’ll develop essential data collection, analysis, and critical thinking skills.
The mentorship and guidance you'll receive through these experiences can give you a clearer understanding of potential career paths, helping you make more informed decisions about your future. By the time you apply to college, you'll have a solid academic foundation and a research project that can enhance your academic portfolio.
In this blog, we will look at the top 7 research programs for high school students in Tennessee, highlighting opportunities that provide hands-on learning, exposure to scientific methods, and mentorship from professors and industry experts.
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.
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 Governor’s School for the Sciences and Engineering at the University of Tennessee is an enrichment program for high school juniors and seniors in Tennessee. The program offers an advanced curriculum in sciences, mathematics, and engineering. It provides a blend of theoretical instruction and practical application across various disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, physics, industrial engineering, and mathematics. This program offers laboratory experience and research opportunities. Around 120 students are selected yearly, making it a fairly competitive program. Selected participants are awarded five college credit hours upon successful completion, which can serve as elective credits at UTK or potentially transfer to other universities.
Location: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Full and partial scholarships are available; partial scholarships include participation fees, covering housing, meals, instructional materials, and activities.
Dates: June 1 – 28
Application Deadline: December 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (current sophomores and juniors) attending high school in Tennessee.
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: 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.
The Discover Biomedical Research Summer Program at Vanderbilt University offers high school students an introduction to biomedical research and medical science careers. The two-week program combines hands-on lab training with mentorship from Vanderbilt Biomedical Graduate Students. You will discuss STEM topics like evidence-based decision-making and academic science culture while gaining insight into graduate school experiences and the professional world of medical research. Program highlights include one-on-one mentoring, a focus on cultural awareness, and a closing ceremony where you will present your research.
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Cost: Free.
Dates: Typically in June.
Application Deadline: Generally closes in April; check the program’s website for specific dates.
Eligibility: Open to 10th–12th-grade students aged 16 or older; no prior lab experience required.
The REHSS program at Vanderbilt University is a six-week, hands-on research internship for rising high school seniors. As a participant, you will work closely with research faculty from various fields, such as environmental science, biomedical research, and engineering. Throughout the program, you'll gain experience in conducting independent research. The program allows you to contribute to real-world projects, develop critical thinking skills, and explore potential career paths in STEM. You’ll be fully integrated into the research lab, making this a valuable experience for those considering a future in scientific research.
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Cost: The program fee is not explicitly listed on the website. You can inquire directly by writing to REHSS@vanderbuilt.edu.
Dates: The program runs for six weeks, typically during the summer.
Application Deadline: The application deadline is generally in early spring, but you should check the program page for the most accurate date.
Eligibility: High school seniors with an interest in STEM fields.
The St. Jude Research Immersion Program is a summer initiative to provide high school students in the Memphis area with hands-on experience in biomedical research. It offers an eight-week research internship where you will foster peer relationships and develop mentorship bonds. You will be paired with a research team for mentorship and collaboration. You will work with your mentor to set expectations for your internship and decide on constructive feedback mechanisms. The program aims to increase diversity within biomedical research.
Location: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
Cost: Free for selected students.
Dates: The program is an eight-week summer internship, typically held from June to August.
Application Deadline: The application deadline generally falls in the spring, in April.
Eligibility: High school students in the Memphis area interested in biomedical sciences.
The Tennessee Junior Science and Humanities Symposium is a competitive forum for high school students to showcase their original scientific research. As a participant, you will present your findings to an audience of peers, educators, and professionals while competing for scholarships. The event includes hands-on workshops, career exploration panels, and research lab visits. TJSHS nurtures a deeper understanding of STEM disciplines, encourages ethical research practices, and offers exposure to academic, industrial, and government career opportunities.
Location: University of Tennessee Student Union, Knoxville, TN.
Cost: No registration fee. Travel or accommodation expenses will be applied.
Dates: February 14 – 15
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school students passionate about STEM fields who can present original research or attend as non-presenting participants. An approved teacher mentor must accompany all students.
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.