Summer Research Programs for High School Students: 15 STEM Programs for 2026
Key Points
15 STEM summer research programs for high school students, spanning AI, biology, physics, engineering, chemistry, and data science.
Each program is led by a faculty advisor from a top research institution.
Rolling admission is open now. Several programs are waitlist-only or down to their last spots.
Summer 2026 is shaping up to be a serious one for student researchers. Scholar Launch is offering 15 advanced summer research programs for high school students in STEM, covering everything from machine learning and quantum mechanics to cancer biology, molecular biophysics, and mechanical engineering. Each program is designed for students who want to go deeper than what a classroom can offer, learning university-level research methodology, working directly with faculty advisors, and producing original work they can put their name on.
A quick note on timing: we're now in rolling admission, and a handful of these programs are already waitlist-only or down to 1-2 spots. If something below catches your eye, it's worth applying sooner rather than later.
Here's the full STEM lineup.
STEM Research Programs for High School Students
Fundamentals of Cancer Biology(Waitlist only)
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis
Using breast cancer as the central case study, students learn the fundamentals of cancer biology, including how cancer initiates, progresses, and metastasizes, along with the experimental techniques researchers use to investigate it.
Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning with Python(Limited spots)
Faculty Advisor: Professor, Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Students build a working foundation in Python and machine learning, then design and train their own ML models. This is a strong launching pad for anyone considering a future indata science, AI, or quantitative fields.
Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessments: Safeguarding Digital Assets
Faculty Advisor: Research Fellow, Microsoft; Former Visiting Associate Professor, Stanford University
A hands-on introduction to vulnerability assessment, one of the most critical practices in modern cybersecurity. Students learn how to identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate vulnerabilities across applications, APIs, and cloud and network infrastructure.
Human-Machine Teaming: Applications, Issues, and Case Studies(Limited spots)
Faculty Advisor: Distinguished Professor, Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science
Students explore how machines can complement human work by scaling expertise, reducing risk, and reshaping how decisions get made. The program builds a foundation for critical, data-oriented thinking in an increasingly automated world.
Transforming Healthcare with Data Science and Machine Learning(1 spot left)
Faculty Advisor: Adjunct Associate Professor of Computer Science, UCLA
Students learn the core concepts of data science, machine learning, and statistics by applying them to healthcare data. The program covers capturing, collating, interpreting, and adapting data patterns to solve real problems.
AI and Exoplanets: Exploring New Worlds with Artificial Intelligence
Faculty Advisor: Independent researcher; Post-doctoral researcher, UCLA and CSUN; Ph.D., Astronomy and Astrophysics, Harvard
A new direction for one of our most popular astronomy programs. Students learn how AI techniques are reshaping exoplanet research, from detection to characterization, and dig into questions about what makes a planet potentially habitable.
Using Satellite Data to Map, Monitor, and Assess Our Changing Environment from Space
Faculty Advisor: Research Associate Professor, Boston University
Students work with web-based tools that monitor changes happening on Earth's surface in near real time. The program covers the principles of earth science and climate change while asking practical questions: How are humans physically reshaping the planet? What factors accelerate environmental change? How do we measure it?
Brains and Machines: The Neuroscience of AI(Limited spots)
Faculty Advisor: Postdoctoral Fellow, Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, Brown University
A program for students who want to understand both sides of the comparison. We explore how the biological and computational aspects of neuroscience inform AI design, and how studying AI, in turn, sharpens our understanding of human cognition.
Quantum Mechanics and Programming: Theory and Applications(Limited spots)
Faculty Advisor: PhD Researcher, University of Cambridge
Students learn the mathematical principles of quantum mechanics and explore its real applications, from art generation to financial portfolio optimization. The program builds toward an understanding of how quantum mechanics underpins state-of-the-art technologies.
Big Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling: Using RStudio to Predict Game Outcomes
Faculty Advisor: Technical Consultant for DoD; Former Professor, Systems Engineering, United States Military Academy
Using sports as the dataset, students learn RStudio (an environment for the R statistical programming language) and gain hands-on experience with data loading, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling.
Molecular Biophysics: Understanding How the Arrangement of Atoms in Protein Gives Rise to its Shape and Function(Limited spots)
Faculty Advisor: Data Scientist; PhD, Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Rooted in organic chemistry and biochemistry, this program teaches students how to use a molecule's three-dimensional structure to understand its function in the body. We also cover how structural biologists collect experimental data and how computational methods now build 3D structures without it.
Mechanical Engineering Applications: Planes, F1 Cars, and Rockets(Waitlist only)
Faculty Advisor: Research Fellow, Phutung Research Institute; Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University
Students examine three of the most exciting platforms in modern engineering (aircraft, Formula 1 cars, and rockets) and learn the mechanical principles that make each one possible.
Chemistry: Studying the Conformation of Organic Molecules to Analyze its Effect on Reactivity
Faculty Advisor: Clinical Assistant Professor, New York University
A focused program in organic chemistry. Students learn how the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule shapes its reactivity, and explore how chemists use that knowledge to predict and design reactions.
Applied Mathematics and Python in Real World Applications(2 spots only)
Faculty Advisor: Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Students bridge the gap between mathematical theory and real implementation. The program covers core applied math concepts and uses Python to model and solve problems in finance, engineering, and the sciences.
Admissions Status
Summer 2026 is now in rolling admission. Students may be placed in a program other than their first choice depending on availability, so applying soon gives you the best shot at your preferred program. Several are already waitlist-only or down to their final spots.
All programs target students in grades 9-12, start in June 2026, and run 10-12 weeks. Each program includes 6 group sessions with the faculty advisor, 6 one-on-one TA sessions, 3 recorded methodology courses, and weekly office hours with our Education Team.
Choosing the Right Summer Research Program
A note worth saying out loud: the best program for any given student isn't the one with the most impressive-sounding title. It's the one that connects to a question they actually want to spend a summer answering. Admissions officers can tell the difference between a student who chose a program because it sounded prestigious and one who chose it because they had a real reason to be there.
If you're not sure which direction fits, our Research Interest Exploration Program is built for exactly that: helping students figure out where their interests actually lead before committing to a specific program.
Ready to apply? Start your application here, or reach out with questions about which program might be the best fit.
