Summer Research Programs for High School Students at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins university is a world-renowned research institution with particularly strong departments in STEM fields, including biology, medicine, and engineering. Founded in 1876 and located in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins is also home to a diverse list of summer research opportunities that are open to high school students. For those of you who are itching to explore the beautiful historic campus while engaging in a rigorous academic research experience, read on to see what you could be doing this very summer!

If you're interested in remote research opportunities, explore what Polygence has to offer.

Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins University 

The Center for Talented Youth is perhaps one of the most renowned summer programs offered by JHU. It is a a non-profit academic center affiliated with the university founded in 1979, and offers a diverse list of both online and in person courses for learners between grades 2-12. Many of their courses require advanced testing in order for candidates to be eligible. I did CTY as a child and really loved my experience - it was what introduced me to the joys of learning ancient languages!  

Cost: dependent on the course 

Location: for their in person courses, CTY hosts them in a variety of locations. Be sure to check which courses are offered at which locations.

Deadline:

• For on-campus courses, the final application deadline is May 19, 2023

• For online courses, applications are due in April 4, 2023 

• For self-paced courses, applications are rolling

Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs

Are you excited to explore engineering as a potential college major or future career?  Are you an intellectually curious high school student with a strong background in math and science? This might be just the right program for you!  JHU offers a number of in person as well as online engineering-related pre-college programs. Click here to learn more about the detailed breakdown of pricing for each of these programs.

There is the Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI): In-Person program, which is a 3-credit course covering material in civil, chemical, electrical/computer, and mechanical engineering, as well as materials science. It is a college-level course where you will surely be intellectually challenged and where you will learn to think critically like an engineer.

Dates: July 3-28

Cost: ~$8000

Prerequisites: 

• A/B grades in high school math and science classes

• Algebra II

• Experience with trigonometry

• Full year of high school chemistry/physics

A similar program is the Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE): In-Person program. This is a new program that gives students fundamental overview of the challenges and opportunities in sustainable energy engineering. It is a project-based learning class, and you will get the chance to grapple with questions such as: what will happen when fossil fuels run out? How do we design environmentally sustainable renewable energy sources?

Dates: July 3-28

Cost: ~$8000

Prerequisites: 

• A/B grades in high school math and science classes

• Algebra II

• Experience with trigonometry

• High School science course with a lab

As for their online options, there is the Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI): Online program. This is a college-level summer program similar to the first program mentioned above - but virtual. This is a mostly synchronous online course, and participants will complete the same lab activities as those who participate in the in-person course.

Dates: June 26 – July 28, 2023

Cost: $3350

Application fee: $85

Last but not least, there is the Biomedical Engineering Innovation : Online (BMEI) course, which is designed for students who are fascinated by the intersection of biology, medicine, and engineering!  This is a three-credit course where students will learn to model biological systems and design experiments to test these models. Note that this is not a self-paced course and contains real-time study sessions that are held twice a week. The class then culminates in an independent project that requires at least three virtual design review meetings with your instructor.

Dates: Summer Session: June 26 – August 4, 2023

Cost: $3350

Application fee: $85

Prerequisites: 

• A/B grades in high school math and science classes

• Algebra II

• Experience with trigonometry

• Full year of high school chemistry/physics

• Computer with access to Arduino software

Discover Hopkins (In-Person)

Cost: Course dependent

Application deadline: course dependent (some courses fill up faster than others!  Be sure to sign up early!)

Location: Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus

College Credits: students have the choice between 1, 2, 3, and 4-credit courses

Eligibility: All pre-senior applicants

If you’re curious about other subject areas offered at Johns Hopkins University, you might want to take a look at the Discover Hopkins (In-Person) Program. This program offers a rigorous pre-college experience that is held on campus. It’s a great way to get a sense of campus life while taking intellectually challenging and academically demanding courses. 

Here are some of the subject areas and courses that are available: 

• Calculus I (Physical Sciences and Engineering)

• Anatomy, Physiology, & Disease: Core Systems

• Exploring the Universe with Space Telescopes

• Differential Equations with Applications

• Introduction to Digital Photography

• Gateway Computing: Java

• Introduction to Laboratory Research

• Introduction to Neuroscience

• Linear Algebra

• Introduction to Surgery

Classes are offered in three sessions

• Session 1 (June 26-July 7)

• Session 2 (July 10-July 21)

• Session 3 (July 24-August 4)
  

The general class schedule is such that they typically run for 2-4 weeks, with classes during the 5 weekdays. However, there are exceptions and be sure to check out their detailed descriptions here. 

Discover Hopkins (Online)

Cost: Course dependent

Application deadline: course dependent (some courses fill up faster than others!  Be sure to sign up early!)

Location: Virtual

College Credits: students have the choice between 1, 2, 3, and 4-credit courses

Eligibility: All pre-senior applicants

If traveling is not an option for you but you’d still like to experience college-level classes at JHU this summer, Discover Hopkins (Online) might be a good choice for you. They offer courses in over 25 different subject areas - ranging from languages, to the humanities, to STEM. 

Like the in-person version, Discovery Hopkins Online) has three sessions:

• Session 1 (June 26-July 7)

• Session 2 (July 10-July 21)

• Session 3 (July 24-August 4)

In these courses, you’ll get the chance to interact with world-class faculty members as well as like-minded high school students from all around the world joining from the comfort of their homes. For the complete catalogue of available courses, click here. Here is a non-exhaustive list of courses that are on offer righ tnow:

• Advanced Spanish

• Anatomy, Physiology, and Disease

• Creative Writing

• Data Analytics Workshop

• Applications of Chemistry in Medicine

• Differential Equations with Applications

• Elements of Micro/Macroeconomics

• Calculus I/II/III

• Elementary Number Theory

• Bootcamp: Python

• Advanced Spanish I/II

• Anatomy, Physiology, & Disease

JHIBS: The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program 

Cost: Free with stipend (depending on whether it’s virtual or in-person) 

Location: Virtual/JHU Campus

Application Deadline: March 1, 2023

Program Dates: June 2023 - August 2023 (in-person); July 2023 - August 2023 (Virtual program) - 8-week program

Eligibility: Virtual program - Juniors / seniors from the US are eligible for the 5-week online program; In-person program - Juniors / seniors residing inBaltimore City from underrepresented backgrounds who have a strong passion and interest in science and medicine are eligible for the in-person program

The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program is an 8-week summer research program aimed at increasing inclusivity and diversity in the field of neurological sciences. It is fully funded and open to high school students from underrepresented communities. During the program, participants will conduct research under the guidance of leading researchers, participate in hands-on projects, attend seminars and development sessions, and interact with top neuroscientists at JHU. The program is available both in-person and virtually and offers a stipend, transportation costs, and the opportunity to present research at the end. A limited number of 5-6 students are accepted into the program each year. Visithere to get a sense of some of the research projects and topics that past scholars have been engaged in!

ASPIRE High School Mentoring Program

Cost: none

Location: In-person, Johns Hopkins University Campus

Application Deadline: February 15, 2023

Program Dates: The program begins in the last week of June 2023 and goes on for 6-9 weeks.

Eligibility: High-school juniors and seniors residing in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area and a minimum GPA of 2.8

This program is hosted by JHU’s APL - Applied Physics Laboratory and is designed for high school juniors and seniors who want to explore various areas of STEM before committing to a major. ASPIRE interns work on projects and solve problems with staff mentors to learn technical and interpersonal skills in a hands-on, professional environment. The program is open to all students regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, and the primary goal is to provide a supportive environment for learning about STEM careers. The selection process for ASPIRE is competitive, but not based solely on GPA, STEM experience, or resume. The acceptance rate is approximately 15-20%. The program aims to provide an inclusive and supportive space for students to develop their skills.

School of Medicine Summer Internship Program 

Cost: none, stipend of $3000 

Program Dates:Sunday, May 28th – Saturday, August 5th

Housing: Provided free-of-charge

Application deadline: February 1

The Summer Internship Program (SIP) is for students who are interested in exploring medicine or public health as a potential career. It offers learners a rigorous, hands-on experience in biomedical and/or public health research. SIP students are introduced to both theoretical knowledge as well as practical research skills. They are also exposed to professional and career development opportunities, networking events, and large-scale research discussions. In the past, SIP students have gone on to present their summer research at national conferences throughout the year.

SIP interns can expect an experience that is similar to that of a first-year graduate student who is doing a three-month rotation in a laboratory.

The deadline for this year has unfortunately already passed, but if this is something of interest, please keep it in mind for next year! 

Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE)

Cost: none (stipend included)

Location: JHU Campus

Program Dates: 8 weeks

Eligibility: Motivated students from underrepresented backgrounds

Application Deadline: December 16, 2022

The Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE) at Johns Hopkins University, directed by Doug Robinson, aims to develop high school students from Baltimore by introducing them to academic research in STEM and health-related fields. SARE provides students with exposure to modern scientific research and tutoring to improve their academic skills, with the goal of creating an environment where critical thinking and academic achievement are valued. SARE works particularly with adolescents at a critical age and has a significant impact on their lives, especially in Baltimore where 34% of children grow up in poverty. SARE provides disadvantaged students with the skills, network, and opportunities to succeed academically and professionally. Scholars are introduced and exposed to scientific research methodology, lab skills, critical thinking skills, and offered a strong community in which to foster their passions. 

The deadline for this year has unfortunately already passed, but if this is something of interest, please keep it in mind for next year! 

If none of these programs seem exciting to you, despair not!  JHU is a large research institution with tons of other summer research and internship opportunities for high school students. Check out some of these other programs: Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens, JHU’s School of Advanced International Studies Summer Programs, JHU’s STEM Academy.