Top 10 Neuroscience Summer Research Opportunities for High School Students

Neuroscience is a science (obviously). But it’s also a bridge to understanding the complexities of human behavior, thought, and emotion. Once a subdivision of biology, neuroscience has grown into a dynamic, interdisciplinary field that blends with mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, philosophy, psychology, and medicine.

Neuroscience summer research programs provide high school students with a boots-on-the-ground education to all of these disciplines, and more. But perhaps even more importantly, they go beyond just helping you get into college or pad your resume. 

The hands-on experiences foster critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and time management. These are the transferable life skills future leaders need, regardless of their profession.

Here are our top 20 Neuroscience Summer Research Opportunities for High Schoolers scored on their:

• Affordability (paid internships and free programs score above expensive programs)

• Name recognition or prestige

• Academic rigor

• Social opportunities

• Time commitment (longer programs score higher)

If you’re searching for a virtual research opportunity, you can also consider doing a project through Polygence with one of our neuroscience mentors.

How to Choose the Right Program

Choosing the right neuroscience program can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but here’s the secret—as long as you know what you’re looking for, you’ll have no problem putting the pieces together. 

Start by asking yourself the real questions. 

What excites you? Is it unraveling the mysteries of the brain's inner workings or using neural engineering to tackle real-world health problems? Pin down your interests and look for programs that align with them. 

Next up, think practical—your budget, your location, your schedule. A high-value experience doesn’t have to mean a high-price tag or moving across the globe. Sometimes the right fit is closer than you think! 

Don’t ignore the level of academic challenge either. Are you ready to take on a rigorous program, or are you looking for something that allows you to dip your toes before committing fully? 

Oh, and one more thing—don’t get dazzled purely by “prestige.” A program with a big name isn’t worth much if it doesn’t align with your goals and needs. Instead, focus on how well the program will match your learning style and ambitions. 

Remember, this is your neuroscience adventure—make it truly yours.

What to Expect During a Neuroscience Program

Buckle up, because your neuroscience program is going to be a brain workout like none other. Expect a whirlwind of activities designed to push your neurons into overdrive. 

First up, the lectures. You’ll sit through discussions that take you from the cellular intricacies of synapses to the grand mysteries of consciousness.. 

Then there’s the research. This is where you roll up your sleeves and play detective. You might find yourself peering through a microscope at tiny brain slices or crunching data from an fMRI scan that looks suspiciously like abstract art. Either way, research is your hands-on playground.

Neuroscience thrives on teamwork, so prepare to work closely with peers, professors, and maybe even folks from other disciplines—think computer science, biology, philosophy. It’s a great chance to debate big questions, like “How did that rat learn the maze?” or “Does free will exist?”

And then there’s the grand finale—a presentation or project to show off everything you’ve learned. 

20 Neuroscience Summer Research Opportunities

20. Cognitive Psychology: How the Brain Works

Hosting institution: William & Mary

Cost: $1,495

Dates: June 8-June 22; June 22-July 6; July 6-July 20

Format: Online

Application deadline: None

If you need a very flexible program in terms of scheduling, this is a good one. It requires no transcripts or letters of recommendation and is very broad in its scope covering the origins of brain science to its role in robotics today. You'll also study brain anatomy and physiology. 

Other subjects include positive thinking, memory, decision-making, and cognitive psychology in the fields of health care, law, and education.

19. Psychology & Neuroscience

Hosting institution: National Student Leadership Conference

Cost: $4,295

Dates: June 12- Jun 20; June 24-July 2; July 6-July 14; July 18-July 26; July 19-July 27; July 25-August 2 (availability varies depending on location)

Format: In-person (Durham, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.)

Application deadline: Rolling admissions

This very hands-on, 9-day program helps you explore the relationships between the brain and human behavior. You'll dissect brain tissue and learn to identify abnormal findings. 

You'll do clinical diagnostic simulations and humor behavior workshops, go on field trips to nearby medical facilities, and learn from esteemed guest speakers from the psychology and neuroscience communities.

18. Neuroscience Academy

Hosting institution: Oxford Scholastica Academy at Oxford

Cost: £6,995 ($9,423.87 US)(Dates: 6th July - 19th July 2025; 20th July - 2nd August 2025; 3rd August - 16th August 2025

Format: In-person (Oxford, UK)

Application deadline: Rolling admissions

Held in historic Oxford University, this 2-week course covers a lot of ground, including neuro-imaging, love and attachment, mood, memory, and intelligence.  You’ll work with a team to complete and present a research project that answers a specific Psychology Challenge. 

You’ll also meet successful professionals from the field of neuroscience and discuss pathways to various career options. A great option also if you’re able to travel and want to meet people from all over the world. 

17. Neuroscience STEM Academy

Hosting institution: University of Colorado

Cost: $650.00

Dates: June 23-27; July 28-August 1

Format: In-person (Boulder, CO)

Application deadline: June 13th; July 18th

If you’re more interested in brain physiology and how it controls what we do, this course takes you right into brain anatomy and function. 

You’ll take part in hands-on activities and experiments, take lab tours, and watch guest presentations. Specifically, you’ll explore the topic of brain plasticity in development and the role of genetics in behavior. 

16. Psychology & Neuroscience at Yale

Hosting institution: Summer Springboard

Cost: $3,098-$5,898 

Dates: June 15-27; June 29-July 11; July 13-25

Format: In-person (New Haven, CT)

Application deadline: Rolling admissions

This hands-on program is a blend of psychology and neuroscience topics. You'll visit the Cushing Center at Yale, named after Harvey Cushing, the father of neurosurgery. 

As your final project, you will propose your own psychology theory, run an experiment to test it and give a presentation about your findings to the class. You can commute in or stay on campus. Cost varies on whether you commute or board on-campus.

15. Explorations in Neuroscience Summer Camp

Hosting institution: Ohio State University

Cost: $3,498 ($6,298 for residential tuition) 

Dates: June 15-June 27; June 29-July 11; July 13-July 25

Format: In-person (Columbus, OH)

Application deadline: March 14

For 1 week, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with faculty and graduate students carrying out neuroscience-related research and join discussion groups at the Department of Neuroscience. 

You’ll learn about new techniques that are being used to treat nervous system disorders, such as spinal cord injury and  Parkinson's Disease. You’ll also meet with clinicians from various clinical departments such as Neurology and Neurosurgery and discuss career options and educational paths. 

14. Explorations in Neuroscience: Neurons, Behavior, and Beyond

Hosting institution: University of Chicago

Cost: $8,900

Dates: July 7-July 26

Format: In-person (Chicago, IL)

Application deadline: Rolling admissions 

This on-campus program is a rigorous 3-week immersion into how the electrochemical and circuit activity of the brain create sensation, perception, and behaviors. 

You’ll spend time in the lab learning about the latest experimental methods being used in neuroscience research, including sequence analysis, fluorescence microscopy of nervous tissue, and behavioral assays. During your final week, you will work on a team presentation that will be presented to the entire class. 

13. Neuroscience Institute

Hosting institution: Wake Forest University

Cost: $3,400

Dates: July 6-11; July 13-18

Format: In-person (Winston-Salem, NC)

Application deadline: Rolling admissions

Roll up your sleeves because this 1-week program kicks off by exploring neuroanatomy via a sheep brain dissection. 

You’ll also be learning about neuropharmacology (how drugs affect the brain) and how sensory systems detect stimuli, as well as visiting neuroscience labs to see how human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) work.  

12. Summer Scholars Program

Hosting institution: University of Notre Dame

Cost: $4,475

Dates: June 7-21; June 28-July 12

Format: In-person (Notre Dame, IN)

Application deadline: February 19, 2025

How does the brain change as we age? How does that affect our ability to learn and remember? How does distraction affect our ability to process information? How can we help damaged brains recover their function? 

This 2-week residential program covers these questions and more in a mix of class lectures and hands-on lab activities. You’ll use electroencephalography (EEG) to observe your own neural responses.  

11. Psychology and Brain Sciences Pre-College Program

Hosting institution: Johns Hopkins University

Cost: $1,950 per credit ($562 non-credit)

Dates: Varies depending on the course (all are two weeks)

Format:  Online

Application deadline: Rolling admissions

This 2-week fast-paced session gives you a taste of what a neuroscience program with world-renowned instructors and Johns Hopkins is like. You can choose from courses such as Neurobiology: Cellular and Systems, Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Psychopathology, and more. You can also choose from a host of other medicine and psychology classes to broaden your knowledge and earn academic credit.

10. EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience

Hosting institution: Wellesley College

Cost: $5,995 per session ($3,695 for day attendance only)

Dates: June 29-July 12; July 13-July 26

Format: In-person (Norwood, MA)

Application deadline: None

EXPLO’s Career Concentrations gives students interested in neuroscience the chance to dive deep into highly specific topics. You will dissect a brain, diagnose mental illness in patients, and analyze neurochemical reactions to connect how brain structures and biology deeply impact how humans think and behave. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, one of the most-cited scientists in the world for her research, will be a guest instructor.

9. Neuroscience of Psychiatric Disorders

Hosting institution: Columbia University

Cost: $2,815

Dates: July 7-18; July 21-August 1; August 11-August 15

Format: In-person (New York City, NY)

Application deadline: June 1 

This 1-week course will explore the underlying brain processes of addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia with world-class experts and researchers.

You’ll also study how molecular, cellular, and hormonal changes contribute to how these diseases progress. And you’ll experience this with a supportive group of like-minded global students in one of the world’s great cities. 

8. Neuroscience Camp

Hosting institution: Drexel University College of Medicine

Cost: $2,500

Dates: July 21-August 1

Format: In-person (Philadelphia, PA)

Application deadline: April 4

This 2-week day camp (it’s not residential) is composed of a series of lectures (subjects include brain anatomy, cellular neuroscience, sensory processing, and brain machine interfacing), lab demonstrations, then hands-on lab research. 

You’ll work on a group project that you will present to the faculty. There will also be field trips to brain exhibits at the Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences. 

7. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)

Hosting institution: Stanford University

Cost: $1,595-$2,895

Dates: June 16-June 27; July 7-July 18; July 21-August 1

Format: Online or in-person (Stanford, CA)

Application deadline: March 1st

If you’re primarily interested in medicine, this is a great pick for you. This 10-day program provides you with basic exposure to the study of neuroscience, psychiatry, and brain science in addition to a potential chance to finish a cooperative capstone project. 

You’ll get the chance to work with Stanford professors and researchers and engage in exciting and cutting-edge research in the standards of neuroscience, clinical neuropsychiatry, and other areas within neuroscience research. 

In addition to participating in interactive lectures, you would also work in small teams to design solutions to pressing issues related to psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience. 

6. Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)

Hosting institution: University of California, San Diego

Cost: Free

Dates: June 16-August 8

Format: In-person (San Diego, CA)

Application deadline: March 15

Although it’s billed as a program to increase awareness of computational science, quite a few of the available mentor projects focus on the study of neurological disorders such as autism and Alzheimer’s and the modeling of neurons. 

During this 8-week volunteer program, you will gain exposure to career options, hands-on computational experience, work readiness skills, and mentoring by computational research scientists. 

You'll take part in regular lab meetings and participate in group discussions. At the end of the program, you will create a scientific poster highlighting your research and future career goals. 

5. Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Practicum Track

Hosting institution: Boston University

Cost: $5,700

Dates: June 29-August 8

Format: In-person (Boston, MA)

Application deadline: February 1st

If you want to really hone your research skills in a lab setting before you get to college, this 6-week computational neurobiology program gives you the chance to conduct it in a structured lab setting. 

Your lab work will be combined with lectures and workshops on the scientific process, research ethics, reading a research paper, presenting scientific research, and networking in the scientific community. You’ll also tour biotech companies in the Boston area and get a behind-the-scenes look at how they operate.

4. Secondary School Program

Hosting institution: Harvard University

Cost: $4,050 - $14,950 + $75 application fee

Dates: July 13-August 9 (residential); June 21-August 9 (residential, online, commuting)

Format: In person (Cambridge, MA)

Application deadline: April 9

This rigorous 7-week academic program gives you a true feel for college and the field of neurobiology. You can choose from courses such as Neuroinvesting: Neuroscience and Financial Decision Making, Mind, and Brain: Themes in the History of Neuroscience, Becoming a Brain Scientist: Neuroscience and Psychology Research, and more. 

Needless to say, Harvard is a prestigious institution, and you will be taking real college courses taught by distinguished Harvard professors and visiting faculty. You will also receive college credit. 

3. Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP)

Hosting institution: UCLA

Cost: $5,168

Dates: June 23 – August 1

Format: In person (Los Angeles, CA)

Application deadline: May 1st

While a competitive program with an acceptance rate around 15-20%, it’s a great opportunity for you to experience college life, lectures, workshops, and seminars at a top school. 

For 6 weeks, you’ll have access to courses such as Brain Made Simple: Neuroscience for the 21st Century, Introduction to Neuroscience Methods: Art and Science of Studying Brain, Introduction to Functional Anatomy of Central Nervous System, among others. 

A co-curricular component teaches useful skills to help with college admissions and academic life. Cost depends on the number of classes taken.

2. Summer Research Internship

Hosting institution: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI)

Cost: Full-time paid internship

Dates: Dates not yet announced.

Format: In-person (Jupiter, FL)

Application deadline: March 4

Though we’re aware the pool of eligible students for this program is smaller than most (you must be a junior or senior at a Palm Beach County or Martin County high school in Florida), it’s a great learning experience and students are fully compensated for their work. 

For 6 weeks, you will work directly with MPFI researchers on active projects doing “wet lab” techniques such as genetic engineering, microbiology preparations, histological staining, and microscopy.

1. BRAINYAC

Hosting institution: Columbia University

Cost: Paid a stipend

Dates: June 30-August 15

Format: In-person (New York, NY)

Application deadline: April 1st

BRAINYAC is a niche neuroscience program based solely in New York City, but it provides exceptional mentorship at no cost to the student. The Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships offers New York City high-school students a hands-on summer research experience in a Columbia laboratory. 

Each student is matched with a Columbia neuroscientist who guides the student through a research project for 7 weeks. Participants learn key skills required to work in a research environment, and the experience looks great on a college application.        

The Soft Skills You’ll Build Along the Way

Sure, neuroscience programs will stretch your brain with technical knowledge—but what might surprise you is how many real-life, human skills you’ll walk away with, too. These programs are just as much about growing as a student as they are about growing as a person.

• Communication becomes second nature when you’re presenting research findings or collaborating with teammates from different backgrounds.

• Problem-solving kicks in when you hit a roadblock in your experiment and need to pivot, adapt, or think creatively.

• Time management is tested daily as you juggle lectures, lab work, group projects, and maybe even dorm life.

• Empathy develops as you begin to see how brain science connects to mental health, behavior, and the human experience.

• Confidence builds as you ask tough questions, form your own theories, and share your insights with others.

These soft skills won’t just help you get through a neuroscience program—they’ll help you thrive in college, your future career, and anywhere life takes you.

Why Neuroscience Research Matters in High School - and Beyond

Looking for other types of research opportunities beyond this list of neuroscience summer programs? Read our complete guide to internships for high school students or this one on  research opportunities for high school students in 2023.

If you want a tailored experience that aligns with your passions, you may want to consider Polygence. Here, students take the reins of their education. Our 1:1 mentorship program pairs you with expert research program mentors to create a unique neuroscience research project based on your interests. 

Whether you want to explore neural networks, cognitive science, or biomedical applications, we’re here to help you make your vision a reality.

Equip yourself with skills that will go beyond academics. Start a project, uncover new passions, and become the driver of your educational experience.

Start your neuroscience adventure today with Polygence.