12 STEM Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you’re a high school student looking for research opportunities in Texas, consider participating in a STEM research program! Many prestigious universities and research centers in Texas offer STEM research programs that will allow you to engage with complex scientific concepts.
Whether you’re interested in engineering, medicine, computer programming, or earth science, participating in a research program will allow you to gain practical experience, work with the latest tech, and learn from experts. These programs can also boost your profile for college applications by showing that you can work with advanced material and are dedicated to your field. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Here’s our curated list of 12 STEM summer research programs for high school students in Texas!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
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 and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
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: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will receive a $750 stipend upon successful completion of the research project report. Participants are responsible for their travel and medical expenses.
Program Dates: June 16–August 1
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at least 17 years old, either entering their senior year of high school or recently graduated.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University allows 12 high school juniors and seniors to participate in a 7-week summer research internship in their chosen subject. This program is highly selective and stands out for its well-rounded approach to academic exploration. As a scholar, you will work with faculty on your research project. The program also includes weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. You will have an opportunity to develop your critical thinking abilities and career interests with faculty and other like-minded peers. You can find a detailed list of research areas here.
3. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: 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 focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. 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 allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: Session 1: June 10–June 27 | Session 2: July 8–July 25
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are residents of the Houston area can apply. Prior programming experience is not required.
The Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program is a free 3-week summer program that introduces students to digital circuitry, computer science, physics, and engineering research at Rice University. Through this program, you will build a network of peers and learn about potential college pathways. You will study programming and digital design and their relationship to healthcare through practical simulations. You'll work with pulse oximeters, accelerometers, GPS devices, speakers, and microphones. This program selects only 12 students, and the application requires the involvement of a school representative.
Location: UT Health Lozano Long Campus, San Antonio, TX
Cost: The total cost of attendance is $750. Registration fees include all course materials including success packs, meals on T-TH, supplies and lab materials, a souvenir T-shirt, and a farewell reception on the last day.
Program Dates: July 8–July 12
Application Deadline: June 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors can apply.
The BEAT (Biomedical Excellence and Academic Training) Academy at UT Health San Antonio aims to expose high school students to medical and biomedical research. Subjects will include ongoing biomedical research occurring at the UT Health Science Center in anatomy, physiology, medicine, molecular biology, aging, neurodegeneration, and other contemporary topics. You will visit the human anatomy lab, interact with real and simulated patients, learn about the latest advances in biomolecular technology, and conduct biomolecular experiments. You’ll also attend a college prep session to learn more about careers. The program is limited to 20 students, with preference given to high school juniors and seniors.
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: The exact amount is not specified but the cost of the program includes room, board, and camp activities. Need-based scholarships are available. There is also a non-refundable $35 application fee for this camp.
Program Dates: June 2–June 6
Application Deadline: Applications are likely to open in January.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with an interest in aerospace engineering.
Camp SOAR is a five-day summer program at Texas A&M University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. You’ll engage in design projects and tours of research facilities, exploring three tracks: airplanes, helicopters, and space. You will develop projects within your chosen track, learning the engineering design process and enhancing your critical thinking and teamwork skills. This on-campus opportunity will allow you to visit cutting-edge facilities including the Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory, Land Air and Space Robotics Laboratory, and the hypersonic wind tunnels of the National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonics Laboratory. You will interact with faculty and current aerospace engineering students.
Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: The program typically takes place during 3 Saturdays in January
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in November of the previous year.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 can apply.
The Office of Student Empowerment and Engagement at the UT Southwestern Medical Center hosts the Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program annually for high school students across the DFW Metroplex. HPREP is an enrichment program that exposes high school students to medicine and science through workshops and activities. You will participate in a college fair and mentoring group, with students from the UT Southwestern Medical School, School of Health Professions, School of Public Health, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences serving as mentors. You will participate in workshops on CPR, cow eye dissection, DNA extraction, prosthetics and orthotics, suturing, colorimetric assays, infectious diseases, and more. You will also learn about a wide variety of health careers.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $6,800 for the 10-week program ($6,120 if participating for nine weeks).
Program Dates: June 3–August 9
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Eligibility: High school seniors who are Texas residents and are at least 18 years old by the start of the program can apply.
Hosted by the University of Texas and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, this is a highly selective 10-week summer program for students interested in biomedical sciences. This program offers students an opportunity to participate in a research project under the guidance of a full-time MD Anderson faculty member. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental principles of scientific investigation, and seminars supplement the laboratory experience. This program is especially beneficial for high school students interested in the medical field. The program admits up to 10 students each year.
Location: Hybrid (on-site experience at the University of Austin, TX campus)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid (Upon completion of the internship, both virtual and on-site interns will receive a NASA certificate of completion).
Program Dates: July 27–August 4 (10th graders) | July 7–July 20 (11th graders).
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early January and close by mid-February.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) at least 16 years old who are US citizens can apply. It's important to note that applicants who have previously participated in an on-site SEES internship are ineligible to apply.
SEES is a highly competitive program for high school students hosted by UT Austin in collaboration with NASA. This is a national-level internship program where you will work with NASA experts. The program is focused on Earth and space research and tasks interns with analyzing and visualizing data – foundational knowledge for aerospace engineering. All project teams will present their research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium. The program has a virtual learning component and then an onsite experience on campus at the University of Texas, Austin. The program is highly selective, accommodating only around 50 students on-site, resulting in an on-site internship acceptance rate between 4-5%.
10. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
Location: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Program Dates: June 24–June 29
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in March and close in May.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are interested in medicine can apply.
The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) includes a range of activities that allow you to experience what it's like to work in healthcare. You’ll learn how to perform basic medical procedures, such as suturing and administering injections, and practice your skills in a simulated clinical environment. You’ll work in teams to diagnose and treat simulated patients, developing problem-solving and teamwork skills. SEP includes sessions on career exploration and professional development. You’ll explore different medical specialties and hear from healthcare professionals about their career paths. The program also includes workshops on topics such as medical ethics, communication, and healthcare policy.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks between June and August.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: High school seniors who are 18 years or older in good academic standing
The DACCPM (Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine) Summer Research Program is a highly selective 10-week summer program. As a trainee, you will develop laboratory and clinical research skills, conducting medical literature reviews, handling data, and more. Other academic and professional development programming opportunities are available on topics such as applying to graduate school and the different career tracks the faculty have pursued. You will work with a faculty member on an assigned research project, which you will present at a poster symposium at the end of the program. The abstract of your research will be included in the CATALYST Summer Program abstract book.
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $3,500. Need-based scholarships are available.
Program Dates: June 10 — July 17
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors during the academic year and 15 years or older by the program start date to be considered.
UT Austin’s High School Research Academy (HSRA) provides high school students with a five-week interdisciplinary research experience at the University of Texas at Austin campus. If you’re interested in medicine, you can deepen your understanding of biomedical sciences and enhance your medical school applications with laboratory experience. During the program, you’ll 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. You will learn research techniques while gaining valuable insights through interaction with UT students and faculty in CNS undergraduate research groups.
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.