8 Research Programs for High School Students in Vermont
High school is a great time to explore your interests and new subjects. Research programs are an academically rigorous way to do that, and if you’re an ambitious high schooler, you should consider participating in one. Vermont offers various research programs for high school students that can help you learn about fields from environmental science to engineering.
In addition to the learning experience, these programs allow you to discover potential career options, improve your problem-solving skills, and better understand the research process. Participating in such opportunities can demonstrate your initiative and intellectual curiosity, which stand out in college applications, particularly for competitive STEM programs.
In this blog, we’ll look at 8 research programs in Vermont for high school students!
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont STEM Programs allow Vermont high school students to spend 1–2 weeks exploring engineering, environmental science, technology, and mathematical sciences. These residential programs are held on college campuses across Vermont. In addition to receiving expert guidance and access to advanced facilities, you’ll engage in hands-on projects to build valuable skills. This program extends beyond traditional classroom instruction.
Location: Various college campuses in Vermont
Cost: Sliding scale tuition to ensure accessibility for all Vermont students; some attend for as little as $10
Application Deadline: Applications open on January 3
Program Dates: Summer (specific dates vary by program)
Eligibility: Vermont high school students, primarily rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
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 University of Vermont Pre-College Program offers high school students the opportunity to experience college-level academics and earn transferable credits. For the Spring 2025 session, students can choose from various courses, including environmental science, wildlife biology, and art history. These courses provide a valuable chance to explore advanced topics not typically available in high school. Vermont students can use dual enrollment vouchers to cover tuition costs for up to two courses.
Location: On-campus at UVM in Burlington, VT, and online
Cost:
Vermont residents: $339 per credit (50% discount); tuition fully covered with dual enrollment vouchers
Out-of-state students: $890 per credit (50% discount)
Application Deadline: January 6
Program Dates: Spring courses begin on January 13; Summer: May 19
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
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.
Vermont State University’s campus hosts a two-week program for high school students who want to address climate change, the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains. This program allows you to learn about the latest climate science, have meaningful discussions regarding the planet's future, and work collaboratively on practical solutions. The program is led by faculty and researchers from the Columbia Climate School. You’ll explore critical topics such as climate justice, decarbonization, energy transitions, and communication through interactive seminars, field-based research, and small-group projects. Aside from developing essential skills like critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving, you’ll also connect with like-minded peers.
Location: Vermont State University, VT
Cost: $6,890 + travel fees
Application Deadlines: Applications are currently open for 2025
Program Dates: June 29 – July 11
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (including rising 9th graders)
Northern Vermont AHEC (Area Health Education Center) provides several programs to help Vermont high school students explore careers in healthcare and health sciences. The Governor's Institute on Health and Medicine program is a week-long residential course. You will engage in hands-on lab activities and clinical skills workshops as well as explore careers under the guidance of graduate students and college faculty. Additionally, you will earn certifications through practical training. During the fall semester, Northern Vermont AHEC runs the HERO Mentoring Program, which offers one-on-one mentorship with medical students from UVM Larner College of Medicine. Through weekly online coaching sessions, you will learn about STEM education, human biology, healthcare career, and goal setting.
Location: Northern Vermont (various locations and online)
Cost: Free
Application Deadlines:
HERO Mentoring Program: TBA
Governor’s Institute on Health & Medicine: Applications typically open in January
Program Dates:
HERO Mentoring Program: Weekly online sessions from October to December
Governor’s Institute on Health & Medicine: 7-day, 6-night residential program in the summer
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (minimum age 15)
The 3D Technology Summer Institute at Vermont State University is a summer program that gives high school students and recent graduates with creative and practical skills in 3D technology. The program offers hands-on training and real-world application of 3D technology over multiple disciplines. You will also receive an industry-recognized certificate in 3D technology. Along with cutting-edge technical skills, you will earn three college credits per two-week session.
Location: Vermont State University, Randolph, Lyndon, and Castleton campuses, VT
Cost: Free (covered by a legislative grant)
Application Deadlines: TBD
Program Dates: Three two-week sessions during the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates (ages 16–18)
Champlain College’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer a two-week residential experience for high school students to explore careers through experiential learning. One of the programs is the Champlain Game Academy, where you can learn programming, design, and animation to make original game prototypes. The Indie Game Studio Academy is for students with prior experience who want to run their own game studio, develop concepts, and pitch ideas. At the Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity, you can learn how to detect and prevent computer crimes through the Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Academy. Lastly, under the direction of acclaimed filmmakers, the Filmmaking & Media Production Exploration Academy provides experience in producing content for movies, television shows, and streaming services.
Location: Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Cost: $4,500 (financial aid available)
Application Deadlines: TBD
Program Dates: July 7 – 18
Eligibility: High school students
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.