9 STEM Programs for High School Students in Florida
STEM programs for high school students build skills critical for success in college and future careers. These programs often include hands-on projects and give you access to advanced technology. Whatever major you want to pursue in college, participating in a STEM program can develop useful skills like critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
Many STEM programs have a component on careers in engineering, healthcare, technology, environmental science, and more. Exploring career options early can be helpful as you think about your college applications. STEM programs can also foster collaboration with peers, giving you interpersonal skills that will be useful in any higher education or professional setting.
For high school students in Florida, here are 9 STEM programs worth checking out!
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.
2. Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge (SPARK) (Florida) - Non-Clinical Education
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Stipend: Unpaid
Application Deadline: December 31
Internship Dates: Early June to late July
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns County schools in Florida. Applicants must have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5 and be committed to a minimum of 25 hours per week during the summer. A personal statement, transcripts, and a letter of recommendation from a science teacher are required.
The SPARK Program at Mayo Clinic provides high school students with an opportunity to engage in biomedical research under the guidance of mentors. You will gain hands-on experience in various research areas. You will develop critical thinking skills and understand the research process. The program includes a weekly "Lunch and Learn" series, lab meetings, and one-on-one mentor interactions. The program ends with presentations and a poster session to showcase your research findings.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Various NASA centers across the United States
Stipend: Competitive and varies based on location and program
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the program, typically in February or March
Internship Dates: Summer dates vary, generally from May to August
Eligibility: Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must submit transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation.
NASA's Internship Programs give students the opportunity to engage in research and development projects in various STEM fields. You will work with NASA scientists and engineers on cutting-edge projects in space exploration, technology, and science. Geared toward students at all academic levels, this program provides access to careers with one of the world's most esteemed space agencies. For tips on how to get a NASA internship, check out our full guide here.
Location: Various locations across the United States
Stipend: $3,000
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Internship Dates: Early June to early August
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors. Applicants must submit a statement of interest, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a program aimed at promoting diversity in fisheries science careers. It pairs you with a mentor to work on projects in fisheries biology, aquatic resource management, and conservation. The program aims to encourage you to pursue a career in environmental science and natural resources. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL
Fee: Free
Application Deadline: April 14
Program Dates: June 15 – 27
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
The FGCU STEM Academy is a summer program at Florida Gulf Coast University that allows high school students to build skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The academy combines lessons with hands-on activities. You will work in groups, solve problems, and understand real-world applications of STEM concepts. The program aims to inspire an interest in careers involving STEM.
Location: Virtual
Application period: TBA
Internship dates: August to May
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
The Teen Academic Year Program at Nicklaus Children's Hospital allows high schoolers to gain experience in the healthcare industry. As an intern, you will have exposure to various departments within the hospital, where you will observe and assist healthcare professionals in their daily tasks. This will familiarize you with different medical specialties, whether pediatric or surgery. The program emphasizes developing professional skills such as communication, teamwork, and empathy, all necessary for a successful medical career. Every student is matched with a mentor for guidance and support throughout the program.
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students. Minor students should have a work permit
Deadlines: Varies based on the internship
Internship period: Year-long dates available
Stipend: Varying
The American Psychological Association offers internships in policy, research, communications, and financial services. Summer internships give you an introduction to professional psychology at a nationally recognized organization. The psychology intern can accomplish tasks according to his or her interests and skills. Tasks include conducting research, writing reports, working on web-based projects, and supporting the administration.
9. 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 is a summer program that introduces high school students to biotechnology and neuroscience. The program includes lab work, lectures by scientists, and workshops on topics like genetic engineering, neural circuitry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. The research experience involves working under mentors on real-world projects. Camp ZON emphasizes scientific communication, and you will report your findings to peers.
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.