Top 10 Medical Summer Research Opportunities for High School Students
4 minute read
The field of medicine is a broad topic with wide-ranging specialties and young people with a curiosity for “medicine” may not know how broadly or narrowly they want to study it. A medical research program can help refine a student’s interest, providing focus and direction. Many students ask us where they can go to get hands-on with a medical research opportunity over the summer - you asked and we listened! With access to invaluable student resources, our prospective students can explore their interests and develop skills through summer research opportunities in medical research.
Here is a list of 10 Shortlisted Medical Research Opportunities for High School students listed in order of application deadlines. If you’re searching for a virtual research opportunity, you can also consider doing a project through Polygence.
1) High School Senior Summer Internship Program
Hosting Institution: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cost: paid internship: $13/hour; 20 hours/week
Format: In person (Cincinnati, OH)
Application deadline: February 1, 2024
This eight-week paid medical research internship for high school students is for Cincinnatii-area 2024 graduating seniors. It offers the opportunity to work closely with a mentor in one of the multiple pediatric clinical specialties. This competitive program also offers students an opportunity to learn more about careers in Medicine and Clinical Research.
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2) Summer Child Health Research Internship
Hosting Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Cost: $3,500 stipend offered
Format: In person (Boulder, CO)
Application deadline: August 2, 2024
This is a paid internship for rising high school seniors. After a summer of hands-on experience, students will provide a 2-3 page written summary and an oral summary of their research. Students and mentors will also be encouraged to produce abstracts for submission to local, regional, and national meetings.
3) Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Hosting Institution: The National Institutes of Health
Cost: None
Format: In person (Bethesda, MD)
Application deadline: February 16, 2024
HS-SIP invites high school juniors and seniors (17 years old) in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, area to do eight weeks of biomedical research at the NIH offices, working alongside experts in the field. The program requires a two-month commitment and may provide a stipend.
4) Rady Children's Medical Academy
Hosting Institution: Rady Children’s Hospital
Cost: $2,800
Format: In person (San Diego, CA)
Application deadline: February 24, 2024
These two-week sessions are designed for students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare: physician assistant, nurse, and mental health. Designed for commuters with proximity to San Diego, these programs feature hands-on skills & interactive learning opportunities.
5) Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Hosting Institution: Stanford University
Cost: $500-1,500 stipend is offered
Format: In person (Stanford, CA)
Application deadline: February 24, 2024
This eight-week program, occurring from June to August, brings together high school students from diverse backgrounds to perform basic research on a medically-oriented project. The program aims to increase interest in biological sciences and medicine in high school students, helping students to understand how scientific research is performed, and increasing diversity of students and researchers in the sciences.
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6) CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Hosting Institution: CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cost: None
Format: In person (Atlanta, GA)
Application deadline: March 31, 2023
While topics vary year to year (i.e.: public health interventions, global health, infectious disease, chronic disease, injury prevention, data analysis, etc.) these one-week sessions are both fast paced and academically demanding. Participants are expected to fully immerse themselves, work together, and become a diverse team of disease detectives!
7) Georgetown Summer High School Science and Medical Program
Hosting Institution: Georgetown University
Cost: $2,500-3,225
Format: In person (Washington, DC)
Application deadline: May 15, 2024
The 1-Week Medical Academy in June or July introduces students to the field of medicine. Participants explore topics ranging from human anatomy and physiology, to cancer and biomedical ethics. Learning occurs via hands-on labs, using a patient simulator, and focuses on current medical concerns like COVID-19, preventative medicine, heart disease, and HIV.
8) Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA)
Hosting Institution: Alameda Health Systems, Samuel Merritt University, and private clinicians
Cost: $1,400
Format: In person (Oakland, CA)
Application deadline: None
This 5-day program is designed to give pre-med high school students the opportunity for hands-on experience. MISA offers experiences in a variety of healthcare settings by partnering with local health institutions and clinicians.
9) Medicine Institute: Wake Forest Summer Research Program
Hosting Institution: Wake Forest University
Cost: $3,000
Format: In person (Winston-Salem, NC)
Application deadline: None
This week-long opportunity will help students gain a better understanding of what being a healthcare professional is really like. Offering hands-on experience in the medical field and insight into the many career opportunities available within the various disciplines of medicine, participants visit healthcare facilities in Winston-Salem, participate in simulations and labs, and learn basic skills like taking blood pressure and suturing.
10) AIM: Introduction to Medicine
Hosting Institution: Boston University
Cost: $5,131 + room/board
Format: In person (Charles River, MA)
Application deadline: None
In this three-week program, prospective students explore a broad introduction to the field of medicine, combining coursework in related sciences with experiential learning activities and explorations of the various career possibilities that exist within the field.
Interested in a more customized medical research program for high school students? At Polygence, we offer students the opportunity to get 1:1 project mentorship from expert mentors and researchers. Students are in the driver’s seat of their education here, and whatever project you want to do, we will help you make it happen! Whether you are seeking research experience through a training program or looking for additional student resources, Polygence has the research program resources and support to guide you. Additionally, check out our STEM competitions for middle school students for younger students looking to get involved in science and technology.
Register now to get matched with one of our expert mentors.
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