A first-time researcher's shortlist — mentored research programs, lab internships, and writing-a-paper programs.
Programs in this collection (10)
Polygence Research Mentorship: Polygence. Research, Worldwide. High school students work one-on-one online with a mentor on an original project such as a research paper, app, or podcast. The Core Program includes ten one-hour Zoom sessions over about three to six months plus feedback from a Writing Fellow, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Horizon Academic Research Program: Horizon. Research, Worldwide. High school students work one-on-one with a professor or PhD mentor for a trimester, choosing a subject track and a quantitative or qualitative focus, and write a research paper. Admission starts with an online application, and shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
Lumiere Research Scholar: Lumiere Education. Research, Worldwide. Independent online research mentorship with PhD scholars from top universities, ending in an independent research paper. Lumiere admits several cohorts through the year rather than on one annual deadline, so check the application page for the cohort currently open.
Pioneer Research Program: Pioneer Academics. Research, Worldwide. Online research program where high school students in grades 9 to 12 from any country design their own research question and write an original research paper with guidance from a university professor. Admission is competitive and requires an interview. Tuition is charged, with need-based aid.
Indigo Research: Indigo Research. Research, Worldwide. Indigo Research runs one-on-one virtual research programs in which high school students are matched with a mentor and complete a research project on a flexible timeline of 3 to 12 months. Tiers include Explorer (10 hours, about 3 months), Researcher (20 hours, about 6 months) and Innovator (45 hours, about 12 months), which includes two credits from UCSB Extension. Tuition starts at $3,900, and no scholarships are currently offered.
Immerse Education Research: Immerse Education. Research, Worldwide. Immerse Education's online research program pairs students aged 13 to 18 one-to-one with a tutor from Oxford, Cambridge or an Ivy League university to complete an assessed research project in one of over 20 subjects. The Classic version runs 10 hours, while 15-hour accredited versions are open to students 14 and older and can carry UCAS points or US college credit. A group version for up to 10 students and a publication version are also offered.
Science Research Mentoring Program: American Museum of Natural History. Research, Manhattan, New York, USA. NYC 10th and 11th graders who live and attend school in the city do a year-long research project with an AMNH-affiliated scientist, meeting after school twice a week. Participants earn a free CUNY Lehman College credit and a $2,500 stipend on completion.
Science Leadership Program: Hudson River Park. Internship, Manhattan, New York, USA. A paid six-week summer research program at Hudson River Park for New York City high school students from communities underrepresented in STEM. Students do field science, such as studying plastic in gull droppings, work with mentors from CUNY City College, and present research posters at the American Museum of Natural History. The program mixes remote days with in-person field days.
Applied Research Innovation in Science & Engineering (ARISE): New York University. Research, Brooklyn, New York, USA. A free seven-week summer research program at NYU Tandon for New York City high school students in 10th and 11th grade who show interest in STEM. Students spend five weeks in a participating NYU faculty lab with mentoring from a graduate or postdoctoral student, plus two weeks of workshops and college advising, and receive a stipend. Applicants must live in one of the five boroughs and apply to the program as a whole rather than to a specific lab.
Brookhaven HSRP: Brookhaven National Lab. Internship, Upton, New York, USA. Students who have completed 11th grade and are at least 16 join a mentored team at Brookhaven National Laboratory for a six-week onsite research program, Monday through Friday. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and projects are team-based, not independent.