Science Opportunities for High School Students
Browse 97 verified science opportunities for high schoolers across biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science — with real deadlines and eligibility.
Science opportunities split into exam-style contests, hands-on research placements, and structured programs in fields like biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. The right choice depends less on the subject than on how you like to work: fast problem sets, months on one question, or a taught course with a mentor.
Each of those subjects also has its own page on Pathfind with a shorter, better-matched list — the subject pages below are the place to go once you know whether you're a lab person, a field person, or a competition person.
NASA TechRise Student Challenge
School teams design an experiment that NASA flies on a high-altitude test vehicle in summer 2027. A teacher or school employee submits the team's proposal, and 60 winning teams are chosen.
Regeneron Science Talent Search
The nation's oldest and most prestigious science research competition for seniors, judging original independent research. Top awards exceed $250,000.
Cedars-Sinai Teen Volunteer Program
Session-based hospital volunteering in Los Angeles where teens work alongside patients and staff. You must be 14 to 18 and complete a full session. The volunteer jacket costs $30.
HOSA-Future Health Professionals
Career organization for students interested in health careers, with 70+ competitive events, leadership conferences, and community health service from state to international level. Join through a school chapter.
Research Science Institute
Six-week research program on MIT's campus pairing juniors with a mentor for original STEM research, capped by a formal presentation. Free, including room and board; seniors are not eligible.
GTRI High School Summer Internship
Five-week paid summer internship for Georgia high schoolers (Georgia residents only, 16+ by April 2027) working on real STEM research projects — robotics, drones, radar physics, piezoelectric systems — with GTRI engineers and scientists. Runs June 14–July 23, up to 24 hrs/week; no housing provided.
MIT THINK Scholars Program
Propose a STEM research or engineering project you haven't built yet; finalists get up to $1,000 in funding, weekly MIT mentorship, and an all-expenses-paid trip to MIT. Free to apply, solo or in pairs.
Yale Young Global Scholars
Two-week residential academic session on Yale's campus, with students from over 150 countries and all 50 states choosing one interdisciplinary track. Need-based financial aid is offered.
F=ma Exam & USA Physics Olympiad
Take the F=ma exam at your school in February; top scorers advance to USAPhO and possibly the U.S. Physics Team camp. Your school registers, not you, and there's a school plus per-student fee.
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
Paid summer research internship in an NIH laboratory for students who are at least 17 years old, working alongside scientists on biomedical research in Bethesda or another NIH campus.
CTY Summer Programs
In-person and online summer academic courses for students who qualify through above-grade-level testing. Tuition-based, with financial aid available.
U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
Tiered competition: a local-section exam in late winter, a national exam in April, and a June study camp for top finishers. Register through your local ACS section, which sets its own cutoff.
USA Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad
Three-round astronomy competition starting with a proctored first round in February and a national round in April. Registration is $30 per student, discounted for groups, with financial aid available.
Summer High School Advanced Research Program (SHARP)
Summer research program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for high school sophomores and juniors. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, with a 3.0 GPA, a completed science course, and two recommendation letters considered.
Simons Summer Research Program
Seven-week research fellowship for juniors, working in an active Stony Brook lab in science, math, or engineering under a faculty mentor. Tuition-free, with a $1,000 stipend on completion; commuting avoids the optional housing cost.
COSMOS
Four-week residential program at a UC campus. Students join a research cluster — robotics, AI, marine science, and more — alongside university faculty.
SEP High School Intern Program
Paid eight-week summer research internship at UCSF with a scientist mentor in neuroscience, immunology, or molecular biology, paying $4,500 on completion. Roughly 25 spots, open only to juniors at SFUSD or San Francisco public charter high schools.
Clinical Summer Internship
Two-week program covering clinical medicine through lectures, simulation labs, and hands-on skills practice, on campus or virtual. This is simulation-based instruction, not patient shadowing; fee waivers exist for households under $80,000.
Davidson Fellows
Scholarship competition awarding $25,000 to $100,000 to students 18 or younger for a significant, original piece of work in science, technology, math, literature, music, or philosophy. No fee to apply.
SEES Summer High School Internship
NASA-funded research internship using real mission data in astronomy, planetary science, and remote sensing, with a two-week on-site stay in Austin plus virtual projects. For U.S. citizens in 10th or 11th grade who are 16 by the start. Selected students attend on scholarship or as fee-based participants, and travel scholarships may be available. The 2026 deadline was February 22 and the next cycle is not announced; the program says its future depends on funding.
PhysicsBowl
A 40-question, 45-minute multiple-choice physics exam given at participating schools each spring, split into first-year and second-year divisions and scored individually and by team. Enter through a teacher.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
Eight-week mentored research placement in a Stanford lab spanning immunology, cancer biology, neuroscience, and bioengineering. Free, with special consideration for Bay Area students.
Genomics Research Internship (GRIPS)
Eight-week wet-lab genomics research internship with a Stanford mentor, free apart from a waivable $55 application fee. You must be 16+ with a 3.0 GPA and live in one of six Bay Area counties.
National Youth Science Camp
Three-week residential science camp in the Monongahela National Forest for graduating seniors, with two delegates selected per state. Lectures and field studies run alongside outdoor expeditions; phone service on site is limited.
Young Scholars Program
Six-week residential research program placing about 40 students in UC Davis labs to run original biological, agricultural, or environmental science projects.
Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience
Two-week immersion in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology taught by Stanford faculty, ending in a capstone project. Offered on campus and virtually, with scholarships available.
PITCH Health Careers Program
Three-week summer program at UCSF exploring health and medical science careers through mentored investigations and college-readiness workshops. Prioritizes first-generation and low-income students; 2.5 GPA minimum.
Northeastern Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Free six-week research placement in Northeastern labs in engineering, science, and health sciences for Massachusetts juniors. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and live within commuting distance of Boston.
GENIUS Olympiad
International project competition on environmental topics, with tracks including AI, robotics, and science. Applications open in December 2026, cost $75 per project, and finalists present at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York in June 2027.
Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
On-campus and online summer courses at Stanford open to any qualifying student, not just those enrolled at Stanford OHS. Tuition-based with need-based financial aid.
LINC Summer High School Program
Free summer conservation and leadership program with an environmental-justice community-science track and an outdoor-leadership track including camping and kayaking. Participants receive a completion stipend.
Careers in Science Internship
Multi-year paid internship in Golden Gate Park for SFUSD 9th and 10th graders underrepresented in STEM, doing fieldwork and visitor programs through graduation. Requires a 2.5 GPA and a 2-3 year commitment.
SAGE Summer Camp
Free one-week residential camp at the SLAC and Stanford campuses with job shadowing, hands-on projects, and career sessions led by lab scientists. Ages 14-17 in a set list of Northern and Central California counties.
Experiences in Research
Paid six-week internship ($500/week) working about 30-35 hours a week with Berkeley Lab scientists on real projects in data science, coding, or experimentation. Northern California students who turn 16 by mid-June, with priority near the Berkeley site.
Academic Talent Development Program
Summer enrichment courses at UC Berkeley across the sciences, math, and humanities. Costs several hundred to about $1,250 per course, with a Pathway Scholarship for financial need.
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Tuition-free five-week science, medicine, and public health program admitting a small cohort of juniors. Limited to low-income and/or first-generation students in Northern and Central California.
AI4ALL Summer Internship
Ten-week internship at UCSF Mission Bay working with faculty on biomedical research using data science and AI. Restricted to SFUSD juniors taking AP Statistics or AP Computer Science; unpaid and you commute daily.
Galaxy Explorers
Multi-year Oakland program where teens run museum demonstrations and join inquiry teams in engineering, climate tech, and digital media, with externships at partners like NASA Ames. $1,500 a year, fully covered for students with demonstrated need.
Genes in Space
Design a DNA-based biotechnology experiment addressing a real challenge of space exploration — the winning proposal is actually run by astronauts aboard the ISS. Free, solo or in teams of up to five.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
The world's largest pre-college science fair. You qualify by winning at an affiliated regional or state fair, not by applying directly.
Summer Environmental Interns
Five-day wetland science service internship at Tule Ponds in Fremont, with water sampling, plant surveys, and microbe studies. It is free, and 10 to 15 students are chosen. Applications for 2027 are due April 15.
Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Eight-week summer research internship placing students in a Mason faculty lab. Remote, hybrid and in-person wet-lab placements are offered; wet-lab placements require you to be 16 by the start date, the others 15.
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Submit an original two-minute video explaining a concept in physics, life sciences, or math, competing for a $250,000 college scholarship. Finalists also peer-review at least five other entries.
AEOP Internships and Fellowships
Paid research internships in Army research labs and partner university labs. Positions are competitive.
American Rocketry Challenge
The world's largest student rocket contest: teams of three to twenty-five design, build, and launch a model rocket meeting a specific altitude and flight-time target for a chance to compete nationally.
Beaver Works Summer Institute
Four-week, project-based STEM summer program at MIT. Students complete an online prerequisite course, then take on an intensive team project in autonomy, robotics, AI, or quantum computing. No tuition.
Blue Planet Awareness Contest
Annual creative contest (formerly the Ocean Awareness Contest) asking students to explore an ocean and climate theme through visual art, writing, film, music, or interactive media. Free to enter, with cash awards across divisions.
Clark Scholar Program
Seven-week summer research program pairing high school students with Texas Tech faculty for a mentored original project across the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. No tuition, and a stipend is provided for housing.
EarthEcho Youth Programs
Free environmental action programs and youth councils where students lead water-quality monitoring, coastal restoration, and advocacy projects in their own communities.
eCYBERMISSION
Free virtual STEM competition for teams in grades 6–9. Teams identify a problem in their own community, work through the scientific or engineering method, and compete for state, regional and national awards.
ExploraVision
Team competition in which students pick a current technology, research how it works, and project how it could look twenty years from now — submitting a written description and a set of web pages.
Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)
Summer STEM camp at Army research sites. There is no fee, and students get a small stipend.
Global Youth Institute
Students research a global food-security challenge and write a paper, then present at a multi-day institute alongside scientists and policymakers. Participation is usually through a state or regional youth program.
High School Explainer Program
Paid part-time museum job in San Francisco (about $19.61/hour, ~7.5 hours a week) where teens lead demonstrations and staff exhibits after 60+ hours of training. Ages 15-18, no science background required; postings open in July and March.
High School Research Academy
Five-week non-residential research experience embedded in a UT Austin lab, at roughly 15–25 hours a week. Open to Texas residents who will be rising sophomores, juniors or seniors, with preference for juniors and seniors. The 2027 program runs June 7 to July 14. Tuition is $4,500, and a limited number of need-based scholarships may be available. The 2027 application opens in mid-January, with a deadline in March.
International Brain Bee
Neuroscience competition testing knowledge of the brain and nervous system, running from local and national chapters to a world championship. Study resources are published by the organization.
Junior Ambassadors
Volunteer and philanthropy program for ages 14-18 supporting UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital through fundraising events, bedside activity kits, and cards for patients — not clinical shadowing.
Junior Auxiliary
Hospital volunteer program in Mountain View or Los Gatos for students 14+ who've completed 8th grade, requiring a year-long commitment. Join through an application seminar, typically announced each January.
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
Students present original scientific research — by poster or oral presentation — at regional symposia, with selected students advancing to a national symposium. Free to enter.
KP LAUNCH High School Internship
Paid seven-week summer internship across Northern California Kaiser facilities in non-clinical roles like operations, IT, communications, and finance. Ages 16-19 living in a Northern California KP service area; 2027 applications open in November.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Paid, fully online 1-on-1 research mentorship pairing a student with a PhD mentor over about 12 weeks to produce an independent research paper in a topic of their choosing. Need-based aid is available.
Magee-Womens HS Summer Research Internship
Six-week biomedical research internship in Pittsburgh where each student runs their own project with an investigator. Students must be over 16, and a $1,800 stipend is available to students from households that qualify. Applications for 2027 open in late fall 2026.
MITES Summer
Six-week residential academic enrichment program at MIT for rising seniors, with rigorous coursework in engineering, science, and humanities. Free of charge, including housing and meals.
NASA Internships (STEM Gateway)
NASA's official internship portal lists paid and unpaid opportunities at NASA centers and in virtual projects, with high school eligibility varying by session. Students apply through the portal and must be U.S. citizens.
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
Buzzer-style regional competition on marine biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and ocean policy, with winners advancing to national finals. A coach registers your school or organization team.
National Science Bowl
Fast-paced buzzer competition covering math and all sciences, run by the U.S. Department of Energy from regional events through a national finals in Washington, D.C. Teams register through their school.
NCF-Envirothon
Teams of five test hands-on field knowledge of soils, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a rotating current issue, advancing from area to state to the North American finals. California entries go through California Envirothon.
Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Free virtual summer neuroscience program from UCLA for rising juniors and seniors, with a focus on students at schools with limited access to neuroscience courses. Dates and the application deadline will be posted in December 2026.
Next Generation STEM Internship Program
Seven to ten weeks on site at Oak Ridge working alongside research and professional staff on a STEM project. Open to rising juniors and seniors and to recent graduates who have not yet enrolled in a degree programme.
NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Seven-week unpaid research internship with NIST scientists. You must be a U.S. citizen with at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA.
NYLF: Medicine & Health Care
Eight-day residential pre-college program on host campuses including UC Berkeley, with simulated trauma cases and suturing practice plus optional college credit. Open enrollment rather than competitive admission, and the clinical work is simulation.
Pathways Research Explorers (High School Explorers Program)
Two-week introduction to cancer research at Fred Hutch in Seattle, with hands-on lab activities. It costs nothing to attend, students who finish get a $500 award, and applicants must live in the Seattle area. Applications for 2027 open next January.
Polygence Core Program
Paid, online 1-on-1 mentorship pairing a student with an expert to complete a self-chosen research project, paper, or app over roughly 10 sessions. Need-based aid is available.
Pre-College Scholars
Enroll in real UC Berkeley lower-division courses for college credit over a 6- or 8-week summer session, as a commuter or in the residential track.
President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA)
National EPA award for a student-led environmental project you have already done in your community. Grades 6-12 compete in one category.
Project Pull
Paid eight-week internship placing San Francisco juniors and seniors in city departments like the SF Public Utilities Commission, with weekly STEAM enrichment alongside the paid work.
Red Cross Youth & Young Adult Programs
Volunteer opportunities through local Red Cross chapters, including blood drives, disaster preparedness education, and Red Cross Club leadership. Some roles carry age minimums.
Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
Six-week summer research practicum placing students in Boston University labs to work on an independent project with a faculty mentor, ending in a research paper and symposium presentation.
Science Olympiad (Division C)
Teams of up to 15 prepare for 23 events spanning lab science, study topics, and build-and-test engineering, advancing from regionals to state to nationals. Participate through your school's team.
Science Research Mentoring Program
Multi-year mentored research program where New York City students work on museum research projects in biodiversity, astrophysics, or earth science and present results at a symposium.
Smithsonian Internships
Internship listings across Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo, spanning collections, science, education, and communications. Each posting states its own grade and age requirements.
Solar Car Challenge
Teams of high school students learn to build a roadworthy solar car, then take part in the Challenge.
Stockholm Junior Water Prize (U.S.)
Science fair-style contest for water research projects. State winners go on to the national competition.
Student Conservation Association Programs
Paid conservation crews and internships where students work on trail building, habitat restoration, and park service projects in national parks and public lands. Positions list their own age and session requirements.
Summer Science Program
Five-week residential program where small teams carry out a genuine original research project in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, or synthetic chemistry. Need-based financial aid is available.
Summer Science Research Program
Six-week mentored laboratory research placement in biomedical science at Rockefeller University, with a stipend and a closing research symposium. Open to New York-area students.
Summer Student Research Program
Seven-week full-time program pairing you one-on-one with UCSF researchers and clinicians, ending in a research symposium; high schoolers received a $3,000 stipend. Requires being 16+ and demonstrating economic, educational, or medical disadvantage.
Teen Volunteer Program
Year-round hospital volunteer program for ages 16+, staffing the gift shop, information desks, or administrative areas on a weekly shift. This is a volunteer role, not clinical shadowing.
The Junior Academy
Free online program where you join an international team and work with STEM experts on real-world challenges.
UCSC Scholar Immersion Program (SIP)
Summer research with UC Santa Cruz mentors on open-ended projects. The SIP 2027 application fee is $68, and fee waivers are available.
USA Biology Olympiad
Tiered competition starting with an open online exam in February, then a semifinal exam, then a residential selection camp for the national team. Registration is through your school.
USC Unruh Institute High School Summer Internship
Online summer internship researching and writing a legislative policy memo on a climate or sustainability bill, with mentorship and guest-speaker sessions from USC's Center for the Political Future. Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a 3.5+ unweighted GPA; graduating seniors not eligible. 2027 dates not yet announced — sign up for the program newsletter.
Van Andel Institute HS Graduate Research Program
Eight-week paid lab research program for graduating high school seniors, working full time with scientists on cell biology, genetics, neuroscience, and more. It pays $15 an hour and has 10 spots. U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Applications run January to mid-March 2027.
Volunteer Services Teen Program
Structured, non-clinical hospital volunteer program for 16-17 year-olds at select Northern California medical centers (link goes to Santa Clara; other sites list their own pages). Requires a health screening and a weekly shift commitment. Kaiser's volunteer portal listed teen applications as closed at the last check.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
Paid summer job on a crew in a national park, doing needed work on public lands. Open to U.S. permanent residents ages 15 to 18.
Youth Crew
Five-month, hands-on service-learning program for ages 15-18 at the Center's Sausalito hospital, working alongside staff on animal care and ocean-conservation education. Applications open in fall for the following year.
Youth Stewards
Free, hands-on habitat-restoration program at open space preserves in Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto, doing invasive-plant removal in seasonal cohorts. The next cycle opens in spring.