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11 Summer Research Programs for High School Students in California
If you’re a high school student interested in research, you should consider pursuing a summer research program in your chosen field. Participating in a summer research program will allow you to improve your skills, gain practical experience, work with state-of-the-art technologies and facilities, and learn about the research process from seasoned experts.
Many universities and organizations in California offer fully-funded summer research programs, some of which also offer stipends, allowing you to save up during the summer! Not to mention, such programs are usually highly selective and renowned, so getting into one of them can add considerable prestige to your portfolio and applications.
To get you started, we have curated a list of 10 summer research programs for high school students in California including both virtual and in-person options
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Subject Areas: Multidisciplinary
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. students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Application Deadline : Varying deadlines based on cohort. The main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15. The final deadline for the upcoming summer cohort is June 2, 2024.
Dates : The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, and the Spring cohort from March to June. Applications for the summer cohort are now open! (The program options range from 12 weeks to 1 year) .
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 !
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship
Subject Areas: AI, ML, Computer Science
Location : Virtual
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 deadline : The applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The upcoming deadline for the summer cohort is June 23, 2024.
Dates : Varies according to the cohort.
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
(Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here ).
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. 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 have students pursue their independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the fields of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! This program is moderately selective and requires interested candidates to fill out an application form answering a few questions about their background and coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here .
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location : Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
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 .
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidancre of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here !
4. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Subject Areas: Medicine, biotechnology, diseases, and genomics. Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged at least 16 with U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 10 - August 1, 2024 (8 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, although there is an application fee. All students receive a minimum stipend of $500 for the program. Students from underrepresented groups will receive a minimum of $1,500. Housing and meals are not provided.
The SIMR is a prestigious and competitive summer research program that allows around 50 high school students to work on a medically-oriented research project with Stanford faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers. You will learn how to undertake the scientific research process under the support of a one-on-one mentor at a cutting-edge lab within the Institutes of Medicine.
Applicants can choose from eight research institutes—stem cell and regenerative medicine, bioengineering, immunology, neurobiology, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics, cardiovascular biology, and cancer biology. Programming includes safety training, lectures, lab work, and a final poster session where you will deliver a presentation.
5. Stanford STaRS Internship Program
Subject Areas: Biomedical and biological sciences, healthcare, and regenerative medicine.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Eligibility: High school and community college students who are at least 16 years old
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in November.
Dates: June 17 - August 2, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, but students may need to pay for their housing, meals, and transport. This is an unpaid program.
The Stanford Science Technology and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Internship Program is a summer research program for students interested in healthcare. If selected, you will work under the direct supervision of accomplished scientists and clinicians on a research project that you and your mentor will design. Note that this is an extremely selective program, with only around 20 students making the cut each year.
Throughout this research program, you will primarily work in one of Stanford’s cutting-edge laboratories using their advanced technologies and resources, for which you will initially receive safety training. One day of the week (usually Wednesday) will be devoted to out-of-lab learning experiences.
6. UCSD’s Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)
Subject Areas: STEM, with a focus on the scientific process
Location: San Diego, CA
Eligibility: All high school students who reside in San Diego or can acquire housing there are eligible to participate.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024
Cost: Program with research project: $1,500 | Program without research project: Free.
(Financial assistance is available for participating in the program with the research project. In addition, students who qualify for free and reduced lunch will be exempt from the program fee).
The UCSD Research Experience for High School Students (REHS) offers an opportunity to contribute to an ongoing research project over an eight-week volunteer period. The program is designed to immerse you in the scientific process, encompassing everything from hypothesis formulation and testing to conducting computational experiments and making conclusions. You will take part in regular laboratory meetings and group discussions, becoming an integral member of the research community.
To date, REHS has hosted 680 students from 73 different high schools, with a remarkable 70% of these alumni pursuing college majors in computer science and engineering. Furthermore, 65% of REHS alumni have progressed to attend colleges and universities ranked among the top 20 worldwide. The program includes software training, scholarly readings, and discussions with your mentor and their graduate student team, requiring a commitment of 15-20 hours per week. This internship provides a rare opportunity for direct mentorship and insight into advanced scientific research.
7. Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI)’s Student Research Internship Program
Subject Areas: Translational science research, medicine, and healthcare
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 3 - August 9, 2024 | June 17 - August 23, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, but students may need to pay for their housing, meals, and transport. Funding is yet to be determined.
SRTI’s Student Research Internship Program aims to make students adept in translational medical research. This competitive program accepts only 40 students comprising not only high school students but also undergraduates, graduates, and professionals. If selected, you will be assigned a mentor who will guide you during your program and offer advice regarding your career.
You will work in a dry or wet lab wherein you will learn about translational science and mobile technologies in healthcare, understand study design and analysis procedures, present scientific concepts, and observe the steps involved in clinical trials. The program further requires regular seminar attendance, developing a research project, and presenting the project at a meeting as well as a final poster symposium.
8. UC Irvine’s 2024 Math ExpLR: Summer Research Program for High School Students
Subject Areas: Computational biology
Location: UC Irvine, Irvine, CA
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores and juniors
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: June 17 - July 25, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, but students may need to pay for their housing, meals, and transport. Information about the stipend is not available.
Hosted by the NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research at UC Irvine, the Math ExpLR Summer Research Program divides selected students into small groups and allows them to work on a research project in computational biology under the direct mentorship of qualified professors and researchers . The program includes Matlab programming, mathematical modeling, delivering research presentations, and writing a research paper.
You will also get to attend courses, meetings, trips, and other activities during this program. Note that project descriptions for 2024 will be updated soon on this page , using which you can get an idea of what to expect for the 2025 program. You can take a look at 2023’s offerings here .
9. Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars Program at Salk Institute
Subject Areas: STEM fields
Location: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA
Eligibility: San Diego County high school students who are at least 16 years old, have a minimum 2.75 GPA, and have completed at least one year of high school biology and chemistry
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for 2024 and will reopen in late 2024/early 2025 for the 2025 program.
Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, although students will need to arrange their housing, meals, and transportation. Stipends are provided, but the amount is not specified. Transportation options and public transit stipends are available for students who cannot secure transportation.
The Salk Institute’s Heithoff Brody High School Summer Scholars Program is a chance for high school students to receive one-on-one mentorship from a Salk scientist to tackle, execute, and complete a research project.
You will attend seminars to learn about data analysis, wet lab techniques, bioinformatics, and science communication alongside workshops, seminars, and events to network with peers and members of the institute. The program will conclude with the Summer Scholars Research Symposium where you will present your final research project through a scientific poster or oral presentation.
10. Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (BAIR) High School Summer Program
Subject Areas: AI, machine learning, programming, robotics.
Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley (San Francisco Bay Area), CA
Eligibility: Bay Area high school youth entering grades 10–12 can apply.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in April.
Dates: July 8 - July 12, 2024
Cost: Free
In this free program, students entering grades 10–12 will explore cutting-edge AI technologies, concepts, and ethics as they learn about ongoing artificial intelligence research from Berkeley scientists and experts. You’ll get to work with UC Berkeley researchers across the areas of computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, planning, control, and robotics.
The entire program will take place on campus at BAIR Lab, where students participate in daily guest lectures and activities guided by BAIR Lab researchers, and select visits to research labs. Participants experience life on a college campus, including lunch provided daily at UC Berkeley dining halls and a campus tour. You can access the application here .
11. Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) Summer Science Intensive: iCLEM
Subject Areas: Microbiology
Location: Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA
Eligibility: Economically disadvantaged high school sophomores and juniors studying and residing in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County
Dates: June 10 - July 26, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, although students will need to arrange for their own transportation. Students will receive a stipend of $3,000.
JBEI’s iCLEM (Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology) allows high school students to complete a hands-on research project in microbiology while being mentored by scientists and researchers at JBEI. As a research student, you will receive knowledge about the fundamental concepts in microbiology, biofuels, molecular biology, biochemistry, and synthetic biology.
You will further receive guidance in career exploration, professional development, and college application preparation. Visits to local biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are also included. You can check out the students’ past experiences and projects here .
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard 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.
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For additional camps, see the Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) list of summer camps here .
Advanced Science Exploratory Program
Advanced Science Exploratory Program is a non-profit 501(c)(3) offering educational seminars aimed to ignite excitement about science, scientific research, and scientific career paths. Each series offered aims to equip students with the knowledge to incite their curiosity, and make informed decisions as they take their next steps in their education towards their career pursuits. A number of different types of seminars are currently open for enrollment, including 1) Mentorship Series such as "think like a scientist" (equip students with the knowledge, insight and skills required for success in their career pursuits); 2) Foundations Series such as "how scientists study the brain" (inspire interest, and both inform and expand student’s scope of career opportunities through exposure to various fields) 3) Focused Series such as "understanding emotion and its relationship with the brain" (use specific topics as a vehicle to exemplify the range of methods and approaches one can use to study within a field).
See available seminars here! https://www.asciencepro.org/upcomingseminars
A significant part of our mission is to actively diversify the field of scientific research by extending opportunities to students whom wouldn’t otherwise have the resources required to pursue transformative scientific opportunities. Please contact us if you are interested in an income-based scholarships for one of our seminars.
AI in Medicine Summer Programs (by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging)
Applications for Stanford AIMI's Summer Programs for high school students are now live! Explore healthcare's future through our AI in Medicine Summer Research Internship and Bootcamp! During the two-week virtual programs, we aim to spark interest and empower the next generation of AI leaders in medicine. Our hope is to inspire students to develop innovative AI solutions to advance human health for all.
Summer Research Internship: Dive into AI's impact on healthcare through expert-led sessions, a hands-on project, & mentorship from Stanford researchers. Open to ambitious high school students entering 9th-12th grade in Fall 2024 who want to apply their technical skills to real-world clinical problems. Learn more and apply here: https://aimi.stanford.edu/education/summer-research-internship
Summer Bootcamp Program: Designed for high school learners of all technical levels, this free virtual bootcamp offers a curated curriculum that covers the fundamentals of machine learning in healthcare settings. Discover the intersections through this series of virtual lectures led by Stanford’s leading health AIexperts. Learn more and apply here: https://aimi.stanford.edu/education/aimi-summer-bootcamp
Key Dates: Applications Due: March 31, 2024, 11:59pm PT Program dates (internship & bootcamp): June 17-28, 2024 (Mon-Fri,9am-12pm PT)
Campus Walking Tours
The Stanford Visitor Center offers a range of no-cost tours, exploring the highlights of Stanford’s beautiful campus.
Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Internship
This two-week course is designed to educate high school students considering careers in science and medicine in cardiothoracic surgical anatomy and physiology. It is an intensive course that will provide knowledge of and exposure to basic and advanced cardiothoracic surgery and technical skills (e.g., knot tying, tissue handling, suturing, and coronary artery bypass and valve replacement surgery). Lectures and skills sessions are conducted by Stanford University faculty and surgical residents. Currently, we are planning two virtual on-line sessions during Summer 2024. There is a program fee, and financial assistance is available for applicants in need. Check the program page for detailed information: https://med.stanford.edu/cssec/summer-internship.html . Please check the website for the application due date.
Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP)
The Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP) offers high school students the unique opportunity to explore anatomy and health careers in a week-long, non-residential, in person program. Summer program students engage with virtual modalities of learning anatomy, hands-on suturing and dissection workshops, and the opportunity to interact with human cadaveric specimen! In 2024, CASP is offering both an in-person and virtual program. For more information, please visit: https://med.stanford.edu/anatomy/education/virtual-casp.html . The last day of registration for this program is April 19, 2024.
Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is an intensive summer program that generally follows a student’s sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school. During a two-week session either online or on the campus of Stanford University, participants are exposed to the breadth of research found in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Three sessions will be offered in 2024: Session 1 (June 17- June 28) will be held virtually via Zoom. Sessions 2 (July 8-July 19) and 3 (July 22-August 2) will be held in-person at the Stanford campus. There is a program fee and financial assistance is available for applicants in need. Learn more and apply on the website: https://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/special-initiatives/CNIX.html . Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2024.
Educational Studies Program/Splash!
ESP/Splash! offers a Saturday or Sunday on campus full of academic and non-academic classes taught by Stanford students. ESP invites students to attend classes that could vary from completely “non-academic” stuff like cookie baking and origami, to complicated and challenging classes on machine theory or quantum mechanics.
Farm to Table Summer Camp
Our Farm to Table Camp, offered for the 12th summer in collaboration with Santa Clara Unified School District, provides students in kindergarten through 8th grade with engaging and empowering learning experiences on our organic 11-acre suburban farm located in Santa Clara.
Future Advancers of Science and Technology
FAST is a program in which Stanford University graduate students mentor Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST) toward achieving their goals of answering open questions in science and engineering clever solutions to problems in their society. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors of Andrew P Hill High School and James Lick High School meet with Stanford PhD students during afternoons of two Saturdays each month. The goal is to brainstorm projects and carry out experiments / build prototypes between September and February. In late January through March, high school students present their work at local science fairs, state science fairs, and at a Symposium at Stanford University. FAST also offers a series of online workshops to help high school students navigate the college process.
Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
The Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS) brings summer internship opportunities in computational genetics and genomics to Bay Area high school students. GRIPS offers highly talented high school students a unique research experience, professional development, and community building opportunities. GRIPS is a twenty hour, eight week long research intensive experience for high school students. Program participants will be placed in a research laboratory for the summer and conduct genomics research under the supervision of a lab mentor. Application deadline is February.
Health Career Collaborative (HCC)
The Health Career Collaborative is a student-driven health career exposure & mentorship program that connects 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students from East Palo Alto Academy to undergrads, medical and graduate students, and faculty at Stanford. The HCC's goal is to expose students from disadvantaged and/or underrepresented backgrounds to the exciting field of healthcare in aims of making the future workforce of medicine more representative, and its delivery more equitable. If you are interested, please reach out to the contacts listed on the HCC webpage .
High School Chemistry Outreach
Beginning in 2009, the Stanford Chemistry department teamed up with American High School in Fremont to bring in novel hands-on guided inquiry lab experiences. In these labs, students work together in small groups to carry out an exciting activity that would otherwise not be possible with the minimal equipment and supplies available to most high schools. The lab topics fit within the California Curriculum Standards, presented with an emphasis on how these concepts apply in the real world.
Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS)
IFSS is a two-week program hosted each summer by the chemistry department to give rising juniors and seniors in high school an opportunity to experience cutting edge chemical research while shadowing a graduate student mentor as they work in the laboratory.
Introduction to Logic High School Summer Camp
The Introduction to Logic High School Summer Session is a two-week, non-residential program offering an introduction to logic from a computational perspective. With applications in mathematics, science, engineering, business, law, a Stanford Computer Science professor and logician and an award-winning high school instructor jointly teach this workshop. The 2024 session will take place on the Stanford campus. Scholarships are available. For more information, see http://intrologic.stanford.edu/studentcamps/logicisfundamental.html .
MRS Outreach Ambassadors
MRS Outreach Ambassadors are graduate students in the Stanford Chapter of the Materials Research Society who offer in-class demonstrations and lectures on the materials of our world, materials of the future, and careers in science and engineering. Teachers may request a school visit at no charge.
Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a 6-week program in which high school students from diverse backgrounds are invited to learn about science, medicine, and research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and researchers on a medically-oriented project. The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in Bay Area high school students, helping students to understand how scientific research is performed, and increasing diversity of students and researchers in the sciences. Students will spend 30 hours per week in the program (Monday through Friday, approximately 6 hours/day) .There is no cost associated with participation in this program – priority will go towards students underrepresented in medicine (racial/ethnic minority, first-generation college, low-income, etc)
Pre-College Opportunities within Energy Research (POWER)
POWER is a Stanford Energy Club program that offers hands-on workshops to introduce local high school students from historically marginalized communities to topics in sustainability and energy research. We are motivated by the goal of diversifying the pipeline of future energy leaders. To find out more about POWER’s past workshops, please visit https://www.stanfordenergyclub.com/past-workshops
Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics Courses
These online courses are designed for motivated and academically advanced high school students to explore their intellectual passions, develop analytic reasoning and creative thinking, and study directly with expert instructors. Courses are offered for credit throughout the summer and academic year, and give students the opportunity to take a broad offering of math and physics courses not typically offered in secondary schools.
Science Accelerating Girls' Engagement (SAGE)
SAGE (Science Accelerating Girls' Engagement) is a one-week summer camp for public high school students (age 14-17) hosted by scientists and engineers to share what life is like in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professions.
This program aims to foster innovation, grow the STEM community, and engage intelligent, creative, and passionate young women in the everyday life of scientists and engineers. Throughout the week, students will participate in job shadowing, hands-on projects, professional development, networking activities and more!
Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Summer Internship Program
Each year, the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery hosts 15-30 talented high school and undergraduate students in our research laboratories. The program is free to participants. STARS interns spend 7 weeks mastering basic lab techniques, participating in research projects, and presenting their work all under the mentorship of experienced researchers. Typically the internship begins in late June and extends to the first week in August, exact dates to be determined.
Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change partners Stanford undergraduates in technology disciplines with high school students interested in advancing the participation of women and girls in STEM, and provides an integrated curriculum of mentoring, training and skills development. The program’s goal is to establish and retain young women in technology fields, and create future women STEM leaders.
SHTEM Summer Internship Program
The Stanford Compression Forum hosts its annual SHTEM internship program every summer. This internship is intended to provide early exposure to research transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students will be grouped to multifaceted projects that will benefit from their existing interests and strengths, while exposing them to new areas. Projects will be mentored by students, faculty and staff of the Stanford Compression Forum and its affiliated organizations. Themes will span and combine the science of information and communication, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design, among other areas. There is no fee to participate, but students must commit to attending the duration of the program. The 2024 program will be virtual. Applications are being accepted until February 23rd, 2024.
SIMR - Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
SIMR is for high school juniors and seniors interested in hands-on research in immunology, stem cell, cancer, neuroscience, bioinformatics or cardiovascular medicine. This eight week program enables students to take part in research, attend introductory lectures and present their work at a poster session open to the Stanford community. There is no cost to participate; interns earn at least a $500 stipend.
SMASH Academy on Stanford Campus
SMASH is a state of the art Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) summer enrichment program for high school students at Stanford, and other colleges. High potential Black, Latino/a, Native American, Southeast Asian or Pacific Islander high school students participate in this three-year 5-week summer math and science enrichment program. There is no cost to participate.
SLAC Summer Internship Program
Participants in this program include high school (ages 18 and older), undergraduate and graduate level college students. Our internship programs are designed to provide students with stimulating, real-world work experiences. Interns can work up to twelve weeks from May until September, depending upon department needs and student school schedules. All students must be authorized to work in the U.S. and must pass a basic background check.
Stanford AI4ALL
Stanford AI4ALL aims to increase diversity in the field of Artificial Intelligence. During this three-week online program, students are immersed in AI through a combination of lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring activities. Participants engage with professionals in the field to learn about cutting-edge ideas, such as how AI can be applied in medicine, disaster response, and combatting poverty. The program also aims to build a close-knit community and encourage interest among underrepresented populations in the field.
Stanford Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Sumer Internships
This program is designed for high school (rising juniors and seniors) and pre-medical undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, STEM, medical research and development, or health care design, with a specific focus on Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine. Three sessions will be offered in 2024: Session 1 June 24 - July 5, 2024, Session 2 (Clinical Skills) July 15-July 19, 2024, Session 3 (Virtual) July 29-August 9, 2023. Tuition varies depending on session.
Stanford Clinical Summer Internship
The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship brings together curious learners from differing backgrounds to actively engage in the exploration of the art and science behind world-class medicine. Discover, contribute, and make meaningful connections and friendships while working alongside dedicated and dynamic Stanford medical students, residents, and faculty, who are all eager to share the joy they have found in medicine.
Stanford High School Summer College
High School Summer College allows high-achieving students between 16-19 years to access undergraduate courses at Stanford University. This eight- or nine-week experience provides academic, social, and intellectual opportunities not found in a high school classroom. Rolling admission is open until May 1st for Summer 2024.
Stanford EXPLORE: A Lecture Series on Biomedical Research
The Stanford Explore Lecture Series covers the basic fundamentals and current research areas in Immunology, Neuroscience, Regenerative and Stem Cell Medicine, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering and Bioinformatics. Students must be in 9th-12th grade at the time of registration. This will be a 3-week virtual program in July.
Stanford Math Circle
Math circles are weekly online gatherings of high school, middle school, and elementary school students working on problems involving complex and advanced mathematical topics, guided by mathematicians and educators.
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program offers five weeks of intensive science and health training each summer. Participants are mentored throughout the five-week program by medical professionals, faculty, and college students with a passion for science. There is no cost to participate. The program is open to low-income, underrepresented high school juniors who live in Northern and Central California.
Stanford Medicine Art & Anatomy Summer Program
The Art & Anatomy Program is a 2-week summer immersion in visual storytelling. We offer both an in-person, and a virtual program. The program will include a speaker series from leading anatomists, physicians, and creatives whose work blend art and medicine. This will be followed by a week of drawing mentorship to develop a resolved final illustration. Students will present their final projects to a panel of artists, museum curators, and physicians. The program will take place June 17-28, 2024. No prior drawing or anatomy experience is required. Apply by March 18, 2024.
Stanford Medicine Clinical Summer Internship (MEDCSI)
MEDCSI is a rigorous 2 week program in Medicine that is open to highly motivated high school rising juniors and seniors, and premed students. Workshops and sessions are taught by Stanford faculty and include hands-on experiences such as performing bedside ultrasounds, dissections, suturing, splinting and visits to the Stanford emergency life flight station and free clinics. There are two identical sessions each summer, and both virtual and in-person sessions are available. There is a fee to participate. Applications are due February 25, 2024.
Stanford Online
Stanford Online offers free online courses taught by Stanford faculty to lifelong learners worldwide, and a variety of professional education opportunities in conjunction with many of the University’s schools and departments.
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies (SPCS)
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies offers online and residential academic enrichment opportunities for academically motivated youth, both in the summer and during the academic year.
Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics
Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics offers 13 courses throughout the year, giving students an advanced offering of math and physics courses not typically available in secondary schools.
These online courses bring motivated and academically talented high school students together to allow them to explore their intellectual passions, develop analytic reasoning and creative thinking, and study directly with expert instructors. Courses in the University-Level Online Math & Physics programs are largely self-paced. Expert instructors are available for optional office hours to meet with students online and offer assistance as they progress through the course material. All courses carry Stanford University Continuing Studies credit, and students earn a Stanford Continuing Studies transcript.
Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP) is a virtual summer outreach program hosted by the Stanford Physics Department, designed to get high-school girls excited about physics. This 3-week program is completely free to participants, and is held through video chat. First-generation students and students from underrepresented backgrounds in physics are particularly encouraged to apply. Absolutely no prior knowledge of physics or coding is required.
Students will learn about cutting edge research in physics in fields such as quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology. They will learn how to code in Python, and then apply their coding skills to physics-based projects. Students will attend lectures by Stanford professors and researchers and work in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates, as well as attend college planning and career development workshops. Students will have the opportunity to form mentorship relationships with Stanford students and professors. Applications will be accepted until May 1, 2024
Stanford seeME
Stanford seeME is an outreach event to introduce young students to engineering! The Mechanical Engineering (ME) department at Stanford opens its doors to high school and middle school students in Spring 2022, where they will learn hands-on engineering from current Stanford students. By connecting middle- and high-school students with little or no background in Engineering, to diverse graduate students who are passionate and eager to teach it, we hope to create meaningful experiences that encourage every participant to explore a potential academic or professional career in Engineering. seeME lets students explore hands-on classes such as: wind energy, driverless cars, predicting the spread of disease, industrial engineering, fire, and data science.
Stanford School of Medicine Art & Anatomy Summer Program
This is a 2-week virtual program for rising 9th to 12th grade students that will combine lectures and drawing mentorship, led by Stanford Lecturer Lauren Toomer, who is jointly appointed in the Clinical Anatomy and Art & Art History Departments. For more information, visit our website . Applications for this program are open until until March 18th, 2024.
Stanford Science Penpals
Stanford Science Penpals connects 6th-12th graders across the U.S. to Stanford scientists. The goal is to expose kids to diverse scientific careers, answer science questions, and share a love of science! Penpal exchanges start in September and end in June. We encourage students to get in touch with us.
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a summer enrichment program where rising high school juniors and seniors explore the big questions at the heart of the humanities in seminars led by distinguished Stanford professors.
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
SUMaC leads participants on a journey in advanced mathematics through lectures, guided research, and group problem solving. In an environment centered on mathematics, participants explore current lines of mathematical research, the historical development of important areas of mathematics, and applications across scientific disciplines. Online and residential options are available.
Stanford ValleyCare Clinical Academy Program
The Stanford ValleyCare Clinical Academy Program is a two-week program in Pleasanton, CA for high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in medicine as a career. Students will participate in an enriched curriculum consisting of hands-on activities, interactive lectures, and simulation experiences . Students must be 16 years old to participate. There is a $50 application fee and a $4,000 fee to participate. Applications close March 8, 2024.
Stanford Young Investigators
At the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, high school scholars spend the summer working in research groups and laboratories on the main Stanford campus. Since 2004, over 300 high school students have worked in our research labs and learned about the process of science first hand. We offer several different options , with different areas of focus and time commitments. Students are supervised directly by graduate scholars, post docs and lab managers. Once a week we have talks, lab tours, and field trips as a group.
Unpaid Internships for High School Students
In addition to formal internship programs for high school students, Stanford labs sometimes host high school interns on an informal basis, usually in unpaid internships. The Office of Community Engagement is not able to help individual students identify a host lab or project, but if you click on the red title above, you will find some information and tips.