Neuroscience Opportunities for High School Students

For high school students with an interest in science, medicine, or psychology, neuroscience summer programs and research opportunities provide a chance to explore the fascinating world of the brain. Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses the study of the nervous system, particularly the brain's impact on cognition and behavior. It combines elements of psychology, physiology, molecular biology, developmental biology, chemistry, statistics, computer science, physics, and mathematics, offering a diverse range of topics to explore.

Why Explore Neuroscience in High School?

Participating in neuroscience programs as a high school student offers numerous benefits:

Practical Insight and Exposure: Research programs allow you to gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the field.
Collaboration and Networking: You'll have the opportunity to collaborate on projects under the guidance of experts and interact with like-minded peers.
Career Exploration: These programs can help you explore potential career options in neuroscience.
College Application Enhancement: Research experience in neuroscience can strengthen your college applications by highlighting your work experience, skillset, and commitment to your chosen field.
Skill Development: Early exposure to neuroscience builds critical thinking, data literacy, and ethical decision-making skills.
Mentorship: Mentorship helps clarify academic and career goals.

Featured Neuroscience Programs for High School Students

Here are some notable neuroscience programs and opportunities available for high school students:

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program-Neuroscience Track

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote (global participation).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with 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, personalized research opportunity. It pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project, culminating in a research paper at the end of the 12-week program. Research topics can be chosen from a broad range of subjects, including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. Stephen, one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate, established the program during his Ph.D. studies at Harvard Business School.

2. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)

Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD or Virtual
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply. In-person internship applicants must attend a high school in Baltimore.
Application Deadline: Applications close on March 1 every year.
Dates: June-August (8 weeks in person) | July-August (5 weeks for the virtual experience)
Stipend: Hourly wages and transportation funds are paid to in-person interns, while virtual interns receive a fixed stipend of $500.

JHIBS is a summer research program offering students a chance to explore a career in the neurological sciences. The program provides two internship options:

Read also: Navigating UCLA Neuroscience PhD

In-Person Experience: A total of 8 students are selected for this experience to conduct a research project under the mentorship of faculty, staff, and students. Apart from research and lab work, you will participate in clinical rotations with neurologists, scientific seminars, educational and professional development sessions, meetings with faculty, and a final oral or poster presentation.
Virtual Experience: The virtual research experience includes a larger cohort and features educational presentations, mentorship training, professional development training, learning basic laboratory techniques and experiments, and more.

3. Stanford Institutes of Medical Research (SIMR)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in February.
Dates: June 10-August 1 (8 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend, although there is a $40 application fee that can be waived based on financial need. Housing and meals are not provided. All students are given a $500 minimum stipend. Stipends of $2500 and above are given on a needs-based system from special grants.

SIMR allows high school students to work on biomedical research projects with Stanford faculty, students, researchers, and postdoctoral fellows. One of the research areas includes neurobiology, allowing students to work at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford University on research themes like neuro-discovery, neuro-health, and neuro-engineering.

4. University of Pennsylvania’s Neuroscience Research Academy

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9-11 can apply. Students must have completed one year of high school biology and one year of high school chemistry to apply.
Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall.
Dates: July 6-July 27
Cost: $9,700 (includes tuition, housing, meals, trips and activities, and more). Students who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be eligible for a Penn Summer Scholarship.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Neuroscience Research Academy explores the biological foundations of the brain, including the cellular functions of neurons, high-order cognitive functions (like memory, morality, and emotion), and sensory systems. You will learn about the field in terms of research and medicine while staying on campus and getting a taste of the college experience. The research academy includes lectures, discussions with faculty and peers, journal clubs, lab activities, films, readings, and trips and tours. You will participate in a neuroethics club to debate current ethical dilemmas within the neuroscience field. Dr. Kelly, a lecturer and neuroscience program coordinator in Penn’s undergraduate Neuroscience Program, directs the Neuroscience Research Academy. Dr. Kelly has worked in undergraduate neuroscience education for over 10 years at both Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania.

5. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship

Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or those with work authorization can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications open in January.
Dates: June 17-July 26 (6 weeks)
Stipend: $12.5 per hour

The MPFI Summer Research Internship allows high school students to experience working in a laboratory with researchers and neuroscientists. If selected, you will receive mentorship, learn about brain structure and development, and gain an understanding of advanced imaging techniques and technologies. You will participate in research projects alongside MPFI scientists and prepare a written scientific abstract based on your research project. During the program, you will work in wet labs, learning techniques like genetic engineering, histological staining, microbiology preparations, and microscopy.

6. Stanford University’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA or Virtual
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in early March.
Cost: $1,495 (virtual) | $2,795 (in-person). Scholarships are available for qualified applicants.

The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University exposes students to introductory concepts in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience. This 2-week program will introduce you to the diverse research conducted by the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. You will attend seminars with faculty and researchers and explore professional and career possibilities. The highlight of this program is the capstone research project in which you will work in groups of 8-10 to develop innovative solutions in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

7. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program

Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school juniors (or rising seniors) or recent high school graduates can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in March.
Dates: July 1-August 9
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital exposes high school students to neuroscientists and neurologists, mentored research, and publication and presentation opportunities. The initial part of the program will focus on a boot camp involving research and clinical training, building networks, improving your laboratory skills, and beginning a one-on-one mentorship. You will be paired with an undergraduate student and a faculty member with whom you will complete a research project in the laboratory.

8. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Eligibility: NYC students (preference is given to students in upper Manhattan and South Bronx) in grades 10-11 nominated by the program’s partner programs and schools can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications open in October.
Dates: June-August (5 weeks)
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

BRAINYAC provides high schoolers with a summer research experience in a Columbia laboratory. This program offers you the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and acquire essential research skills. You will be paired with a mentor from Columbia's neuroscience department, who will oversee your involvement in a specific research project. BRAINYAC application is exclusive to students nominated by their partner organizations, including S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical Program, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, and BioBus.

9. Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program at Ohio State University

Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in high school can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in April.
Dates: June 17-August 2 (7 weeks)
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

This program is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), providing a paid opportunity for high school students to gain research experience in neuroscience, neurological injury, and neurodegeneration. You will conduct research in an active laboratory while receiving mentorship and access to the facilities of the laboratory and university.

10. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or legal residents can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in March.
Dates: June 10-August 2 (8 weeks)
Stipend: A stipend (amount not specified) is provided along with daily lunch. Students will need to commute every day as housing is not provided.

DUNE provides an opportunity for local high school students to engage in research at one of the university’s neuroscience laboratories. You will be matched with a lab and professional mentor and conduct research for a project of your choice.

11. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Neurology High School Scholars Program

Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 16 years old and can commute to the hospital for 5 days of the week are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: July 7-August 9 (5 weeks)
Stipend: $1,000

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Neurology High School Scholars Program offers an opportunity to work with a neuroscientist or neurologist on a basic science or clinical research project. During the internship, you will shadow physicians in clinics, attend weekly education sessions, and deliver poster presentations at the final conference.

Additional Programs and Opportunities

UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program: This program supports high school students in exploring careers in neuroscience, with a special emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). It prioritizes outreach to public, inner-city high schools where students often have limited access to neuroscience coursework, laboratory experiences, or career guidance. The program provides education, research experiences, community awareness activities, outreach, prevention and treatment information, and mentorship to foster student learning and career development.

Read also: Neuroscience Advancements at UCLA
- UCLA Neuroscience High School Grand Rounds: A monthly virtual seminar program where students engage in real-world clinical scenarios and explore key neuroscience topics. The program hosts virtual meetings to provide a collaborative space where students can share ideas, discuss outreach strategies, brainstorm educational events, and learn from one another’s experiences.
- 6-Week Program: A program designed for high school students with an interest in science, medicine, or psychology, this program offers a chance to explore neuroscience through a mix of interactive and hands-on experiences. Students take part in live seminars on key neuroscience topics, conversations with guest speakers, Neurology Grand Rounds, a journal club, virtual lab activities, and a final research project. The program takes place from June 15 to July 23, 2026, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Rising Juniors and seniors only are invited to apply. The application deadline is February 9, 2026.
NeuroCamp at UCLA: NeuroCamp is a free summer outreach program at UCLA that introduces high school students to neuroscience. The program brings together a group of highly motivated high school students in an instructional course introducing them to neuroscience. Students learn the fundamentals concepts of neuroscience and basic lab techniques in Molecular Neurobiology, Neurophysiology and Neuroanatomy. The overall goal of the program is to provide an exciting and rewarding introduction to research in neuroscience to a broad range of high school students from the Los Angeles area. The program lasts for two weeks, during which students attend lectures on brain structure and function, and apply their knowledge to hands-on brain and spinal cord dissections. They also conduct experiments and learn about cutting-edge research. Participants have expressed that being part of the UCLA Neurocamp made it very tangible to attend a university studying neuroscience.

Tips for Applying

When preparing to apply for neuroscience programs, consider the following tips:

Prepare Responses: Be ready to answer questions like "Why are you interested in neuroscience?" and "Write a brief autobiography that captures your journey, passions, and defining moments."
Letter of Recommendation: Obtain a strong letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor who can speak to your abilities and interest in science. For example, NeuroCamp requires a letter of recommendation to be submitted by the application deadline.
Transcripts: While some programs may not require transcripts, having a strong academic record is essential.
Personal Clearances: Be prepared to undergo personal clearances such as immunizations, FBI fingerprinting, and other background checks, if required by the program.

The Impact of Neuroscience Programs

Experiences in neuroscience programs can be transformative for high school students. Participants often report:

Increased Knowledge: A deeper understanding of how the brain works, along with neurological diseases.
Hands-on Experience: Opportunities to work in a hands-on lab setting, dissecting brains, and performing cutting-edge research.
Inspiration: A renewed passion for neuroscience and a desire to pursue further research.
Networking: Connections with peers, professors, and researchers in the field.

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