interesting research projects for high school students

101+ Research Project Ideas For High School – (2024 Updated)

Post author By admin
February 2, 2024

Starting high school isn’t just about books and tests. It’s a time for trying new things, finding out cool stuff, and getting better at things that aren’t always taught in regular classes. One awesome way to get creative, think smart, and enjoy learning is by doing interesting projects.

With all their energy and new ways of thinking, high school students can dive into exciting projects that match their schoolwork and make them curious about the world.

In this blog, we’ll look at many project ideas made to make high school students think in fun ways. Whether about science, technology, arts, or helping the community, these projects want to make education a complete experience.

Let’s see how these projects can make school lessons more interesting and give a good feeling of success and a love for learning that stays with you forever. Get ready to start a journey of being creative, trying new things, and getting better at what you love. We’ll share project ideas for high school students who want to leave their mark on the world.

Table of Contents

Importance Of Research Project Ideas For High School

Here are some reasons why coming up with good research project ideas is important for high school students:

Explore Interests In-Depth

It allows you to explore an area of interest more deeply. Research projects allow you to learn more about a topic you’re curious or passionate about. This can be very rewarding.

Develop Key Skills

It develops important skills. Conducting research builds skills like critical thinking, analyzing sources, writing literature reviews, collecting and interpreting data, and presenting findings. These skills are useful in college and careers.

Demonstrate Curiosity

It shows colleges your intellectual curiosity. Good research projects demonstrate academic interests and passions that can help your college applications stand out. They show your motivation to learn.

Prepare for College Courses

It prepares you for advanced coursework. Classes like AP Research require you to conduct an independent research project. Other college courses will too. Doing one in high school helps prepare you.

Enable Creativity and Independence

It allows creativity and choice. Unlike most assignments, you pick the research topic for projects. This fosters independence, creativity, and task commitment.

Facilitate Networking

It facilitates professional networking. Research projects, especially in fields like STEM, enable you to connect with professors or experts who can advise you and open future opportunities.

NOTE: Also read our Blog on this Topic, “ 191+ Descriptive Research Topics for High School Students [2024] “

Selecting Topics for High School Research Papers

You may be confused as you review over 50 ideas for your high school research paper. Knowing how to pick the best topic to avoid that is important.

The most crucial thing to consider is how much time you have for your paper. Topics that are too big can be tough, and you might not finish on time. Stick to topics that are not too big and are clear.

Since you’ll spend time researching and writing, think about what interests you. Picking a topic you like will make researching and writing your paper easier. If things get tough and your deadline is close, you can always find a research paper for sale to help you get a good grade.

Interesting Research Project Ideas for High School In Education

Examine the advantages of having diverse students in schools.
Evaluate the effectiveness of charter schools within the national education system.
Explore the impact of modern technology on the teaching methods used in schools.
Consider the positives and negatives associated with standardized testing.
Investigate the perks of taking a gap year between finishing high school and starting college.
Assess which types of funding allocations provide the most advantages for students.
Analyze whether homeschooling adequately prepares students for success.
Debate whether universities and high schools should mandate student vaccinations.
Examine the influence of increasing college tuition on high school students.
Investigate whether students achieve better outcomes in single-gender educational settings.
Explore and evaluate the influence of a well-known musician on the genre of pop music.
Examine the transformations in pop music over the last ten years.
Investigate the shifts in the media’s representation of women in the music industry during the past decade.
Understand the functioning of a synthesizer.
Explore the development of music to incorporate diverse instruments and vocal styles.
Examine the impact of advancements in sound effect technology on the music business.
Analyze the advantages of including music education in high school curricula.
Do places that help people recover work better than prisons?
Can taxes for busy areas be helpful?
Does affirmative action support minority groups?
Can a system where businesses are privately owned make things more equal?
Is a government with three main parts a good way to run things?
What makes people in politics strongly disagree with each other?
Is the U.S. government fair to people of all races?
Pick something important from the past and discuss how it still affects us today.
Choose a leader from history who lost their power and figure out why it happened.
Look at how your country has changed significantly over the last hundred years.
Think about the biggest thing that happened in the history of the U.S. and talk about its impact.
Check if the government has gotten better or worse at dealing with big problems throughout history.
Talk about what happened when America was in charge of Iraq in the past.
Explain the long story behind the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Does reading books matter in today’s world?
Talk about how made-up stories can sometimes be used to spread certain ideas.
How do stories help us learn about how people live in our world?
Explain how the stories we read as kids can affect us when we grow up.
Look at how books talk about relationships between people attracted to the same gender.
Do TV and newspapers show different kinds of people like they are?
Do TV shows and news stories keep showing the same ideas about certain groups of people?
Why do lots of people like to listen to podcasts now?
Will watching shows online make regular TV less popular?
Do TV and news show different types of people like they are?
Do TV and news stories keep showing the same ideas about certain groups of people?
What does it mean to be a patriot?
What are the good and not-so-good things about being a citizen of the whole world?
Why do people bully, and what happens because of it?
Why are fewer people getting divorced in the U.S. nowadays?
Is it better to do what everyone expects, or what your religion says is right?
Are there certain rules that should be followed when deciding about abortion?
How does a big machine like an MRI work?
Would it be good for the U.S. if everyone shared healthcare?
Think about how using medical marijuana affects old people, health, schools, and taxes.
How do people who don’t like vaccines affect the country’s health?
Look at the good and bad sides of the culture around diets.
Should workers be allowed to exercise while they’re at work?
How much exercise should a grown-up do each week, month, or day?
Talk about what happens to the U.S. when a lot of people are overweight.
Do students know more things now that the internet is around?
How is the internet different from how it was first made?
Did getting music online help the music industry?
Talk about the good and bad things about making internet rules stricter.
Think about what the internet has done to newspapers.
What happens if the internet stops working?
What will happen to us because of artificial intelligence (AI)?
What are the good and not-so-good things about cryptocurrency?
How did social media change how people talk to each other?
Should only some people be allowed to use social media?
Why is open software important?
What’s more important now: apps on phones or websites?
How will cars that can drive by themselves change what we do?
How does sending text messages affect how well young people read and write?

Mental Health

Why is it good to exercise every day?
How did social media change how people feel inside their heads?
What makes people not feel good in their minds and bodies?
Think about how people talk about feeling okay in movies, music, and TV.
Talk about the good and not-so-good things about having more people to talk to in high school.
What happens to the body when it feels stressed out?
How do animals that give comfort help people feel better?
What are black holes, and how do they work?
Talk about the good and not-so-good things that the EPA did.
How did Flint’s water problem change how people live in Michigan?
Can science do something to help animals that might disappear?
Can scientists do something to stop cancer from happening?

Environment

What happens to the weather when we cut down a lot of trees?
Can we make the changes to the weather go back to the way they were?
How did the sickness that happened around the world make the weather different?
Do the things people buy to be kind to the Earth work or are they just for show?
Is using special power from tiny things safe and good for the Earth instead of using old stuff?
Do cars that use both electricity and gas help make the air cleaner?
How is throwing away plastic stuff hurting the Earth?
Can anyone be good at starting businesses, or is it something you have from the start?
Is it fair for the person in charge of a big company to get much more money than every one else working there?
Can you make your own business even if you don’t have money?
Should the smallest amount of money people get for their work be more?
Why is it good for a business when the people who work there feel happy?
How much does a business need to have a well-known name and look?
Is it easy or hard to find a job today?
How does playing games for a big audience affect money in the country?
Do people who play sports for a job get more money than they should?
Should guys and girls who play sports get the same amount of money?
How can people who are transgender play sports in high school in a fair way?
Why is it good to play games with a team of people?
Which professional game has the most dishonest things happening in it?

5 Reasons High School Students Should Do Research

For many students, research seems like something only brilliant people or scientists do. But that’s not true! In today’s world, research helps students understand things better and gets them excited about discovering new stuff.

Even if many students already know about doing research, they still enjoy trying out new things and learning more.

If you want to become good at research and understand why it’s important, here are some cool reasons that will surprise you.

This is Fascinating

When high school students do research, it helps them see things differently. It makes them think hard, solve problems better, and learn more about different subjects.

It Can Set You Apart

Schools now use a mix of teaching called blended learning , where teachers and students work together. Students research projects and present their skills online or in regular classes. This helps students stand out from others.

Expand or broaden the Knowledge

In high school, students often feel lost about what classes to take and which college to choose for their future. But if they’re good at researching, they can solve these problems easily. Research helps them think better and find new chances to learn and use in their life.

Updated information

Some students love asking many questions; it’s good because they like staying updated on what’s happening. Doing research helps them learn more, find accurate facts, and understand how things are changing. With research, students can share their thoughts with friends and groups.

Meet New Idea

Ideas never come in the blink of an eye; they require proper knowledge and understanding of a specific topic. Students can generate ideas only if they have effective research skills. Good research skills are only possible when students read a lot, make notes, and put their thoughts into it.

Doing a research project lets high school students study stuff they care about more deeply. Coming up with a good idea that fits the assignment and still sounds fun can seem tricky. But there are many great topics—from looking into social problems to analyzing books and plays to doing science experiments.

The key is finding something you’re curious about that excites you enough to stick with it. Whether you want to spread awareness about stuff teens are dealing with or discover new things through hands-on projects, the right research topic is out there waiting!

With an open mind and some help from teachers, you can find an interesting subject to research that will be engaging and teach you something.

How do I balance the depth and scope of my high school research project?

Striking a balance is key. Ensure your project is neither too broad nor too narrow. Clearly define your research question to maintain focus while allowing in-depth exploration within the specified scope

Can my high school research project have real-world implications?

Absolutely! Many impactful projects start at the high school level. Consider how your findings or solutions can address real-world challenges or positively impact your community.

Can I integrate multiple subjects into my high school research project?

Absolutely! Many intriguing research ideas span multiple subjects. Look for topics that allow you to connect different disciplines, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

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129 Most Insightful Research Topics For High School

Discover engaging research topics for high school. Spark curiosity with diverse subjects. Find the perfect topic for your academic exploration!

Feb 13, 2024

students adding topic on wall - Research Topics For High School

High school can be an exciting time for students, as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and academic exploration. One aspect of this journey is the infamous research paper. While it may seem daunting at first, choosing the right research topic can make all the difference. In this blog, we will delve into the realm of Research Topics For High School, providing you with a curated list of engaging and thought-provoking subjects that will surely captivate your interest. From the wonders of astrophysics to the mysteries of ancient civilizations, we will explore a wide range of topics that will not only impress your teachers but also fuel your curiosity. So, let's dive into the world of research and uncover the secrets of Research Paper Structure together!

What makes a great research topic, otio: the ultimate ai research and writing partner for efficient workflows, benefits of engaging in research projects during high school, challenges you may encounter during the research process & how to overcome them, how to effectively manage your time while conducting research, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.

man writing down new Research Topics For High School

A great research essay topic possesses certain characteristics that make it engaging, relevant, and impactful. Here are the key characteristics that make a research essay topic great:

1. Relevance

A great research essay topic is one that is relevant to the subject or field of study. It should address a current issue or explore a significant concept or idea within the chosen discipline.

2. Originality

A great research essay topic should be original and unique. It should offer a fresh perspective or approach to the subject matter, avoiding overused or clichéd themes .

3. Depth and Complexity

A great research essay topic delves into the complexity of a subject, allowing for an in-depth analysis and exploration. It should provide ample opportunities for critical thinking and analysis.

4. Feasibility

A great research essay topic is one that is feasible to research and write about within the given time and resource constraints. It should have accessible sources and available data for investigation.

5. Controversy or Debate

A great research essay topic sparks controversy or debate within the field of study. It addresses a topic that has multiple viewpoints or conflicting perspectives, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of different arguments.

6. Interest and Engagement

A great research essay topic captivates the interest of the reader and the researcher. It should evoke curiosity and enthusiasm, motivating the researcher to explore the topic in depth and engage the reader throughout the essay. By incorporating these characteristics into the selection of a research essay topic, students can ensure that their writing is impactful, meaningful, and contributes to the body of knowledge in their chosen field of study.

Otio: Revolutionizing Research Workflows with AI-Native Workspace and Content Management

Knowledge workers, researchers, and students today suffer from content overload and are left to deal with it using fragmented, complex, and manual tooling. Too many of them settle for stitching together complicated bookmarking, read-it-later, and note-taking apps to get through their workflows. Now that anyone can create content with the click of a button - this problem is only going to get worse. Otio solves this problem by providing one AI-native workspace for researchers. It helps them:

A wide range of data sources, from bookmarks, tweets, and extensive books to YouTube videos.

2. Extract key takeaways

With detailed AI-generated notes and source-grounded Q&A chat.

Draft outputs using the sources you’ve collected. Otio helps you go from a reading list to a first draft faster. Along with this, Otio also helps you write research papers/essays faster. Here are our top features that are loved by researchers: AI-generated notes on all bookmarks (YouTube videos, PDFs, articles, etc.), Otio enables you to chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, just like you chat with ChatGPT, as well as AI-assisted writing. Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today!

1. Development of Critical Thinking Skills

Research projects require students to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and draw conclusions based on their findings. This process enhances critical thinking skills, enabling students to become more discerning and analytical in their approach to problem-solving. By learning to ask meaningful questions and think critically, students develop a valuable skill set that can be applied to any academic or professional field.

2. Enhanced Understanding of Subject Matter

Engaging in research projects allows high school students to delve deeper into a particular subject and gain a comprehensive understanding of it. By conducting extensive research, students can explore different perspectives, theories, and methodologies related to their chosen topic. This deep understanding provides a solid foundation for future academic pursuits and helps students develop a broader knowledge base.

3. Acquisition of Research Skills

Research projects provide an opportunity for high school students to acquire essential research skills. These skills include conducting literature reviews, formulating research questions, designing methodologies, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting findings. By engaging in research projects, students become familiar with research processes, methodologies, and ethical considerations, which are valuable skills for future academic and professional endeavors.

4. Exposure to the Scientific Method

Research projects often follow the scientific method, which involves formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. By engaging in research projects during high school, students become familiar with this structured approach to problem-solving. This exposure to the scientific method cultivates a systematic and evidence-based approach to decision-making, which is applicable to various academic and professional settings.

5. Development of Presentation and Communication Skills

Engaging in research projects often entails presenting findings to peers, teachers, or at academic conferences. This experience provides high school students with an opportunity to develop their presentation and communication skills. By effectively conveying their research findings, students learn to articulate complex ideas, organize information, and engage with their audience. These skills are valuable for future academic presentations, job interviews, and professional collaborations.

6. Exploration of Personal Interests and Passions

Research projects allow high school students to explore their personal interests and passions in depth. By choosing a research topic that aligns with their interests, students can further develop their knowledge and expertise in a specific area. This exploration not only enriches their academic experience but also helps them discover potential career paths and pursue further studies in a field they are passionate about.

7. Preparation for Higher Education

Engaging in research projects during high school provides valuable preparation for higher education. Research experience enhances college applications and demonstrates a student's commitment to academic excellence. The skills acquired through research projects, such as critical thinking, research methodologies, and effective communication, are highly sought after in college and can contribute to success in higher education. Engaging in research projects during high school offers numerous benefits for future academic and professional development. From the development of critical thinking skills to the acquisition of research methodologies and presentation skills, research projects provide a valuable learning experience. By engaging in research, high school students gain a deeper understanding of subjects, explore personal interests, and prepare themselves for future academic pursuits.

student helping friend to find Research Topics For High School

1. Finding a Suitable Research Topic

Choosing a research topic can be a daunting task for high school students. They may struggle to find a topic that aligns with their interests, is relevant to their academic goals, and has enough available resources for in-depth research. To overcome this obstacle, students can start by brainstorming their interests, exploring current events, and consulting with their teachers or mentors for guidance. They can also use online resources like topic generators or databases to discover potential research ideas.

2. Limited Access to Resources

High school students often face limitations in accessing reliable and comprehensive resources for their research. School libraries may have limited collections, and online access to scholarly articles and databases may require subscriptions or fees. To overcome this challenge, students can utilize their school libraries, request interlibrary loans for specific resources, or explore open-access databases and websites. They can also reach out to local universities or community organizations that may offer resources for student research.

3. Developing Effective Research Skills

Many high school students lack the necessary research skills to conduct thorough and efficient investigations. They may struggle with evaluating sources for credibility , organizing information, and synthesizing findings. To address this obstacle, students can participate in research workshops, seek guidance from their teachers or librarians, and practice using research tools and databases. They can also learn about citation formats and ethical considerations to ensure their research is academically honest.

4. Time Management and Procrastination

Time management is a common challenge for high school students, and it can significantly impact the research process. Students may procrastinate, leaving them with limited time to gather information, analyze data, and write their findings. To overcome this obstacle, students should create a research plan with specific deadlines for each phase of the project. Breaking the research process into manageable tasks and utilizing time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique, can help students stay organized and focused.

5. Dealing with Information Overload

In the digital age, high school students can easily become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available for research. They may struggle to filter relevant content, leading to information overload and confusion. To tackle this challenge, students can develop effective search strategies using keywords and advanced search operators. They should also learn to critically evaluate sources, prioritize information based on relevance and reliability, and take concise notes to avoid information overload.

6. Writing and Citations

Writing a research paper or essay can be intimidating, especially for high school students who may have limited experience in academic writing. They may struggle with structuring their work, incorporating citations, and maintaining a coherent argument. To overcome this obstacle, students can utilize writing resources and guides provided by their schools or online platforms. They should also practice paraphrasing and citing sources correctly, ensuring that they adhere to the required citation style (e.g., MLA or APA). High school students may encounter various challenges and obstacles during their research process, ranging from topic selection to time management and information overload. By utilizing available resources, seeking guidance, and developing essential research skills, students can overcome these challenges and enhance the quality of their research projects.

Otio: Revolutionizing Research and Writing with AI-Powered Workspaces

AI research and writing partner: Knowledge workers, researchers, and students today suffer from content overload and are left to deal with it using fragmented, complex, and manual tooling. Too many of them settle for stitching together complicated bookmarking, read-it-later, and note-taking apps to get through their workflows. Now that anyone can create content with the click of a button - this problem is only going to get worse. Otio solves this problem by providing one AI-native workspace for researchers. It helps them:

Draft outputs using the sources you’ve collected. Otio helps you to go from reading list to first draft faster. Along with this, Otio also helps you write research papers/essays faster. Here are our top features that are loved by researchers: AI-generated notes on all bookmarks (YouTube videos, PDFs, articles, etc.), Otio enables you to chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, just like you chat with ChatGPT, as well as AI-assisted writing. Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today!

man holding clock for managing time while researching Research Topics For High School

Effective time management is crucial for high school students conducting research. With the demands of classes, extracurricular activities, and social lives, it can be challenging to find the time and focus needed for thorough research. By implementing strategies and tools, students can optimize their time and ensure successful research outcomes.

1. Set Clear Goals and Prioritize Tasks

By setting clear research goals and breaking them down into smaller tasks, high school students can stay organized and focused. Start by outlining the research objectives, identifying the main research questions, and creating a timeline. Prioritize tasks based on deadlines and the importance of each component.

2. Create a Schedule

A well-structured schedule is essential for effective time management. Allocate specific time slots for research, ensuring that it is a regular and consistent part of your routine. Consider your personal energy levels and concentration peaks when scheduling your research sessions. Maintaining a balance between research and other responsibilities will help prevent burnout and promote overall well-being.

3. Utilize Technology and Research Tools

Technology can be a powerful ally when it comes to managing time effectively. There are numerous digital tools available that can streamline the research process. For example, using an AI research and writing partner like Otio can help students collect and organize information from various sources, generate AI-generated notes, and facilitate efficient writing. Otio's features, such as chat-based Q&A and AI-assisted writing, can significantly enhance the research workflow.

4. Stay Organized

Maintaining an organized workspace is essential for efficient research. Keep track of your sources, notes, and references using tools like citation management software. Create a system for organizing digital files and documents, ensuring easy access and retrieval. This will save valuable time when it comes to compiling research findings and writing papers.

5. Avoid Procrastination

Procrastination is the arch-nemesis of effective time management. High school students must develop strategies to overcome this tendency and stay on track with their research. Break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps, use tools like time-tracking apps to monitor progress, and hold yourself accountable by setting deadlines and rewarding progress.

6. Seek Help and Collaboration

Don't be afraid to seek help and collaborate with others during the research process. Discuss your ideas with classmates, teachers, or mentors who can provide guidance and support. Collaboration can help generate fresh insights, provide different perspectives, and lighten the workload. Effective time management is crucial for high school students conducting research. By setting clear goals, creating schedules, utilizing technology and research tools, staying organized, avoiding procrastination, and seeking help when needed, students can optimize their time and achieve successful research outcomes.

Otio: Simplifying Research Workflows with an AI-Powered Workspace

Draft outputs using the sources you’ve collected. Otio helps you go from a reading list to the first draft faster. Along with this, Otio also helps you write research papers/essays faster. Here are our top features that are loved by researchers: AI-generated notes on all bookmarks (Youtube videos, PDFs, articles, etc.), Otio enables you to chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, just like you chat with ChatGPT, as well as AI-assisted writing. Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today!

• Research Paper Outline Template • Research Paper Introduction Example • Research Paper Conclusion Example • How Long Should A Research Paper Be • How To Quickly Write A Research Paper • Tips For Writing Research Papers • 7 Steps In Writing A Research Paper

In the world of research, staying organized and maintaining clarity amidst the sea of information is paramount. Otio offers a solution to this problem by providing a unified workspace for researchers. It empowers you to collect diverse data sources, extract key takeaways effortlessly, engage in source-grounded Q&A chat, and create draft outputs with ease. With Otio, researchers can navigate the content overload and embrace a more efficient and effective approach to knowledge management and research paper writing.

Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner —try Otio for free today!

• Ai Research Paper Generator • Ai Generated Research Paper • Ai Research Tools

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Biology Research Projects for High School Students: 20 Ideas To Try This Summer

By János Perczel

Co-founder of Polygence, PhD from MIT

16 minute read

Biology and biomedical research are two of the most popular academic disciplines among high schoolers. If you’re someone who’s interested in those fields and you’re looking for research opportunities this summer, you’ve come to the right place! With the study of biology, not only can you gain a better understanding of the natural world, but your research can have practical applications in fields like medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Whether you’re just starting out in your exploration of biology, have taken a biology class in school, or you’re looking to do some advanced research to submit to your state’s science fair , we have level-appropriate ideas for you!

With a variety of topics like cancer treatment, genetics, neurodegenerative diseases, and marine life, we’ve got you covered. Here is a curated list of 20 different research project ideas to get those creative juices flowing. If you’re hungry for more, head over to our comprehensive Project Ideas database here and browse over 2800 more ideas!

Research YOUR fave areas of Biology and Medicine

Polygence pairs you with an expert mentor in to create a passion project around biology and medicine. Together, you work to create a high quality research project that is uniquely your own. We also offer options to explore multiple topics, or to showcase your final product!

Human Body Project Ideas

Rate of cognitive decline in different elevations.

Oxygen partial pressure decreases with altitude, challenging blood oxygenation which may affect brain function. If you’ve ever felt some altitude sickness, then this is exactly what’s happening. This is because the atmospheric pressure decreases at higher elevations, leading to a decrease in the partial pressures of the gasses in the air, including oxygen. And of course, oxygen is needed for us to function. What is the effect on brain health/ cognition in sudden increased elevation: say, climbing Mount Everest? Does chronic exposure to high elevations increase the likelihood of dementia? In this project, a meta-analysis of published works examining the effects of altitude on cognition would be conducted.

Idea by mentor Alyssa

Building a Blood Vessel

Use online graphics to illustrate how a blood vessel forms. Blood vessels are structures that carry blood and are responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. There are three main types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries. For this project, complete a literature search to understand what is known about blood vessel growth. Then, utilize this information to generate a graphic with no words to demonstrate how the vasculature (network of blood vessels) forms. The goal of this project is to explain science without using text and therefore make it more available to a larger community.

Idea by mentor Natalie

Examining the bacterial profile of various households

As of late, bacterial microbiomes have been a huge and interesting topic in the field of bacteriology as they play an important role in human health. Bacterial microbiomes are communities of bacteria that live on or outside organisms. They’re found in various parts of the human body, and help us to digest food and regulate our immune system. In this project, you will seek to understand how skin microbiomes can differ between different individuals of different households. This project will require making different bacterial media that can be made at home selecting for various microorganisms. If you’re new to preparing bacterial media, check out this resource here!

Idea by mentor Hamilton

Regulation of Circadian Clocks

Sleep is known to be governed by two distinct processes: a circadian clock that aligns sleep and wakefulness to the solar day and the sleep homeostat that encodes for sleep debt as a compensatory mechanism against sleep loss. You’ve most likely heard about circadian rhythm and our body’s internal clock, and circadian regulation of sleep is a fundamental process that allows animals to anticipate sleepiness or wakefulness consistently every day. These mechanisms can be regulated in multiple ways: at the gene, protein, gene, and clock neuronal level. In this project, we will focus on 1) how to efficiently digest primary and review articles to compile and condense information, 2) investigate how circadian clocks are regulated at these different genetic levels, and 3) try to effectively summarize the information we've gathered. We can present this information in a variety of ways, and what the final product looks like is up to you.

Idea by mentor Oscar

The Biology of Aging

Aging is the number one risk factor for a variety of diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and loss of hearing/sight. We are only now beginning to truly understand the process of aging and have even started to uncover ways that we could stop, or potentially reverse, the effects of aging. What are the hallmarks/signs of aging? How do researchers study 'aging'? How does human lifespan and aging compare to the rest of the animal kingdom? Is it possible to stop or reverse the effects of aging? What advancements are being made related to this? We could explore these questions or brainstorm others you might have about the biology of aging.

Idea by mentor Emily

Animals, Plants, and Nature Project Ideas

How genetically engineered mosquitoes are reducing rates of vector-borne diseases such as zika.

Many countries are already releasing millions of genetically engineered mosquitoes into the wild every week. These mosquitoes have been modified to reduce their ability to transmit disease-causing pathogens like dengue fever, Zika, and malaria, and are sent into the wild to mate with disease-carrying mosquitoes. However, this is still controversial as some people are concerned about the unintended consequences on the environment. What could be the potential pros and cons for this? The project will mainly focus on doing meta analysis of articles and watching informative videos to understand how/why genetically engineered mosquitoes can be used to reduce rates of different diseases. Students will have the chance to use critical thinking and do in-depth research on genetic engineering techniques, how scientists determine breeding rates and number of insects released, and epidemiology of different bloodborne diseases.

Idea by mentor Vanessa

Efficacy of Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are areas of ocean or coastal waters that are set aside for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. These areas are established by governments, NGOs, or other organizations, and they can take different forms, from fully protected "no-take" zones to areas with regulated fishing or other activities. Marine protected areas have the potential to guide sustainable resource management and protect biodiversity, but have a host of reasons for why they are not currently effective. Explore reasons for why MPAs may not be effective. Then develop a framework for mapping, modeling, and implementing an effective Marine Protected Area.

Bioinspiration: Do animals hold the answers?

Can the toxins produced by frogs help us fight antibiotic resistant bacteria strains? How can understanding how lizards and newts regrow their limbs help us improve wound treatment? Why do tilapia skins help with burns? Discover the role of animals in the development of modern medicine as well as its potential. Are there any ethical concerns with these developments and findings? If so, what are they and do they matter? Share your findings in a research proposal, article, or presentation.

Idea by mentor Cheyenne

How Climate Change Can Affect Future Distributions of Rare Species

Climate change, such as global warming and longer drought, can threaten the existence of some of the rarest plants on earth. It is important to understand how future suitable habitats will change for these rare species so that we can target our conservation efforts in specific areas. In this project, you will identify a rare species that you like (it can be animals, plants, or fungi!), and gather the data online on its current occurrences. Then you will learn how to perform species distribution modeling to map its current and future suitable habitat areas. To get you started on learning species distribution modeling, check out this Youtube resource here. The changes in the amount or location of future suitable habitats can significantly affect the destiny of a rare species. By doing this project, you will not only learn skills in data analyses but also become the best ambassador for this rare species that you love.

Idea by mentor Yingtong

A Reef’s Best Frenemies

Coral reefs are in global decline. A primary cause of this is "coral bleaching" which results in the white reefs we often see in the news. Coral bleaching is actually the breakdown in the partnership between the coral animal and tiny, symbiotic algae that live within its cells. Corals and algae have a variety of thermal tolerances which are likely decided by genetic and environmental factors. However, despite how important this relationship is, it's currently very poorly understood. This project would review existing literature on the symbiotic partnernship and try to identify factors that predict bleaching and thermal resilience.

Idea by mentor Carly

Dive in to BioMed NOW!

Register to get paired with one of our expert mentors and to get started on exploring your passions today! You have agency in setting up your schedule for this research. Dive in now!

Diseases and Treatments Project Ideas

The understanding of a new and upcoming treatment: immunotherapy.

Immunotherapies have been growing in the past few years as alternative treatments for many types of cancer. These treatments work by boosting the patient's immune system to fight the disease, however it is not always effective. There are many types of immunotherapies with various nuances, but they all work to attack specific cells that are causing the disease. For this project, pick one of a few types of immunotherapy and deeply understand the mechanism of action and what is the current effectiveness against the cancer it treats.

Idea by mentor Hannah

Exploring The Cancer Genome Atlas data

There has been an explosion of publicly available data for cancer. The Cancer Genome Atlas was a research program with the purpose of creating a comprehensive catalog of genomic and molecular information about different types of cancer, with the aim of improving our understanding of the disease and developing new treatments. The dataset has been used to identify new cancer subtypes, develop diagnostic tests, and discover potential targets for new cancer therapies. Explore the implications and impact of The Cancer Genome Atlas data, and why it’s become so important.

Idea by mentor Hersh

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Physiological Benefits of Fasting-induced Autophagy

Autophagy, meaning "self-eating", is a cellular process where damaged or unwanted components are disposed. Autophagy has been linked to various diseased pathologies, including cancer and heart disease. Fasting or specific dietary lifestyles may induce levels of autophagy in the human body. In this project, we will perform and systematic review and meta-analysis of fasting or diet-induced autophagy and its benefits on the body. You will gain skills in 1) searching and reviewing primary literature, 2) computational skills for performing data analysis (R language), and 3) writing your scientific findings.

Idea by mentor Jose

The Amyloid Hypothesis: Sifting through the controversy

For many years, scientists have thought that amyloid beta was the protein responsible for a patient developing Alzheimer's Disease symptoms. This "Amyloid Hypothesis" is now being questioned in light of current clinical data. Recently, drugs have been developed that reduce amyloid beta in patients. Surprisingly, the drugs worked in reducing amyloid beta, but it did not result in the slowing of disease pathology. Does this mean that the amyloid hypothesis is incorrect? Is amyloid beta less important in the progression of disease then what we once thought? This research project aims to explore the issues with the amyloid hypothesis and to assess where we stand in our understanding of amyloid beta's contribution to Alzheimer’s.

Idea by mentor Patrick

How do vaccines work?

During the COVID pandemic, vaccines have been all over the news! But how do they actually work? What’s the science behind them? Through this project, you will explore how vaccines work and the history of science behind vaccine development. While the final product of the projectwill be up to you, the ultimate goal of this project is for you to be a true public health advocate for vaccines and to be able to communicate why vaccines are so important in a way that the general public can understand.

Idea by mentor Helen

Sleep Disruption Profiles in Various Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been studied for decades but we are no closer to understanding the mechanisms of the disease. Because of the vast number of researchers studying AD, there are numerous models used to study the disease. All these models have different sleep profiles, phenotypes, disease onsets, sex differences etc. Therefore, in this project we will compile a document based on extensive literature review about the various models there are. We will focus on sleep profiles in these animals with an emphasis on male and female differences. This information is valuable because it is important to know which model is best to use to answer your scientific questions and there is a lot of criticism (by other scientists) that can be brought on by the model chosen so you need to be able to justify your choice. This project will also introduce you to the world of AD research and some of the gaps in knowledge in the field.

Idea by mentor Shenee

Rethinking The Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. They are conditions that affect the nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord, and examples include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. While billions of dollars have been spent trying to find treatments for the disease, very few drugs and therapies have had a meaningful impact on slowing down disease progression. This is often because by the time someone is diagnosed with a disease, it has progressed too far for a treatment to have a substantial effect. Some recent approaches to treatment have turned to looking for early indications of the disease (termed "biomarkers") that can occur before the onset of symptoms. By diagnosing disease and beginning treatment before symptoms arise, these treatments could have a more profound effect in slowing down the progression of disease. Students could review the recent progress being made on identifying biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, and either write a paper or even record a podcast on their findings!

Idea by mentor David

Genetics Project Ideas

Height and genetics: nature or nurture.

How much do your genes determine your height? How much do nutrition and environmental factors play a role? What gene variants are implicated in height differences and what is the role of epigenetics? Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes can be influenced by diet and lifestyle. We will access and analyze an open dataset on twins to estimate the correlation between monozygotic twins (who have the exact same DNA) and height. You will learn to use R to open a dataset, analyze data with statistical methods such the student’s t-test, and display your data as graphs and charts. Finally, you will learn how to make a research presentation on height and genetics, describe the research methods, and present the data in a compelling and thorough way.

Idea by mentor Adeoluwa

The World of Personalized Medicine

Similar to our fingerprints, our genetic code is also unique to each individual person. Our genetic code is what determines our hair color, height, eye color, skin tone...just about everything! For those that develop diseases such as cancer, their genetic code found inside the malignant cells that comprise a tumor may also be unique to them or to certain groups of people with similar mutations (the drivers of disease). So why is it that we treat each person the same way even though the genetic drivers of that disease may be disparate? The world of Personalized Medicine is new and exciting and looks to circumvent this problem. Personalized Medicine (also known as precision medicine) uses the genetic code of a patients disease to guide treatment options that prove to be highly efficacious. Together, lets write a review on a disease of your choice that could benefit from Personalized Medicine based on current literature and research.

Idea by mentor Somer

General Biology Project Ideas

Teach a biology concept two ways: to your fellow students and to the general public.

One of the best ways to learn is to teach. Choose a biological concept that interests you and prepare a lesson and or demo on it. The format should be a video recording of yourself teaching (a la Khan Academy or a Zoom class), but the other details are up to you. Consider incorporating a demonstration (e.g. how can you use items from your kitchen to illustrate properties of mixtures?) or animation (e.g. to illustrate molecular motion). Also consider how you will check that your students understand the concept(s) and/or skill(s) you have taught them. Prepare and record two versions of your lesson: one intended for your peers and one for the general public. How will the versions differ to reflect these different audiences? You will learn what it's like to teach, gain a much greater understanding of your chosen concept(s)/skill(s), and learn how to communicate science to different audiences.

Idea by mentor Alexa

Once you’ve picked a project idea, check out some of our resources to help you progress with your project! Whether you’re stuck on how to cite sources , how to come up with a great thesis statement , or how to showcase your work once it’s finished , we’ve created blog posts to help you out. If you’re interested in doing one of the biology research projects with the help of an amazing mentor at Polygence, apply now ! If you would like some help with coming up with your own idea, book a complimentary consultation call with our admissions team here ! For more biology and science research information, check out our comprehensive list of research opportunities for high school students .

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Interested in doing an exciting research project? Click below to get matched with one of our expert mentors!

151 Good Research Topics For High School Students

In this blog, we have discussed the research topics for high school students. Research papers allow high school students to explore academic subjects in-depth and learn how to find and analyze information.

Selecting a good research topic can be challenging for students, as it needs to be engaging, relevant, and manageable within a school term. Current issues, science and technology, and social topics impacting teens make ideal subjects.

Research also provides excellent opportunities for students to improve skills needed for college, such as critical thinking, sourcing quality information, and writing academic papers. Whether selecting famous historical figures, environmental issues, or teen psychology topics, students should choose research questions that excite them.

The process teaches valuable research skills and lets students explore issues they care about. In this blog, we will discuss engaging research topics for high school students and tips to help them select the best subject for their research papers.

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Importance of Research Topics For High School Students

Table of Contents

Here are some key reasons why research topics are essential for high school students:

Develop Research And Critical Thinking Skills

Doing research allows students to learn how to find reliable information, analyze and evaluate sources, and synthesize information effectively. These skills are invaluable for college and career readiness.

Explore Passions and Interests

Research papers allow students to fully immerse themselves in a topic they care about or are curious to learn more about. This can increase engagement and inspiration to learn.

Learn Time Management and Responsibility

Completing a long-term research project requires planning, organization, and discipline. Students learn to manage their time and take responsibility for their learning.

Build Knowledge

Deep diving into a topic through quality research allows students to build knowledge and become mini-experts. Retaining this knowledge can benefit them in the future.

Practice Academic Writing

Research papers require students to present information in a scholarly, well-structured format. This is an excellent writing experience that prepares students for college-level writing.

Develop Presentation Skills

Many research projects culminate in a presentation of findings. This allows students to practice public speaking and build confidence.

Gain Credibility and Recognition

High-quality research projects allow students to be recognized in their school community and beyond. This can build self-esteem.

In summary, research projects provide immense value for high school students on both academic and personal levels, making them an essential part of a well-rounded education.

Elements of a Strong Research Paper

Here are some key elements that contribute to a strong research paper:

Relevant, focused research question – The research question should be specific, original, and clearly stated early in the paper. It sets the direction for the whole project.
Strong thesis statement – The thesis presents the main argument or position of the paper. It should be concise, arguable, and supported by evidence.
Organized structure – The paper should follow a logical flow, starting with an introduction, body paragraphs discussing evidence, and a conclusion. Effective transitions connect ideas.
Reliable sources – Research studies, expert analysis, and reliable facts support claims. Varied perspectives are included.
Critical analysis – The paper should analyze and interpret research findings rather than just describe them. Connections to key concepts are made.
Clear writing style – Precise language, smooth transitions, topic sentences, and appropriate word choice improve readability. Active voice and varied sentence structure engage readers.
Proper formatting – Following the required style guide for citing sources and formatting elements like page numbers, headings, and title page.
Meticulous editing – Checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, ambiguity, and formatting errors polishes the paper.
Compliance with guidelines – Adhering to all requirements set by the instructor such as word count, formatting, and submission procedures.

Students can craft excellent research papers with thoughtful research, clear writing, and meticulous editing. The process requires time and diligent work but yields valuable skills.

151 Research Topics For High School Students

Here’s a list of 151+ research topics for high school students to explore across various subjects. Feel free to modify them to suit your interests or combine different ideas:

Science and Technology

The impact of technology on education.
Advancements in renewable energy technologies.
Effects of climate change on biodiversity.
Nanotechnology applications in medicine.
The role of genetics in predicting diseases.
The future of artificial intelligence.
Cybersecurity: Challenges and solutions.
The impact of the social media on the mental health.
Robotics and automation in various industries.
Space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.
CRISPR gene editing and its ethical implications.
The human microbiome and its influence on health.
Evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Effects of different diets on human health.
The major role of stem cells in regenerative medicine.
Impact of pollution on aquatic ecosystems.
The connection between sleep patterns and academic performance.
Effects of various types of exercise on cardiovascular health.
Genetics of taste preferences.
Environmental conservation and endangered species protection.
Applications of nanomaterials in everyday life.
Green chemistry and sustainable practices.
The chemistry behind food preservation.
Analyzing the chemical composition of household products.
Investigating the pH levels of local water sources.
Chemical reactions in the human body.
The science behind the taste of different foods.
Synthesis and properties of biodegradable plastics.
Chemical analysis of air pollutants in urban areas.
Chemistry of cooking: Effects of different cooking methods on food.
The physics of sports: Analyzing the mechanics of different sports.
Quantum mechanics and its applications.
The concept of time: Physics and philosophy.
The physics of music: How musical instruments produce sound.
Applications of electromagnetic waves in daily life.
The science behind roller coasters.
Investigating the physics of climate change.
The relationship between mass and gravity.
Einstein’s theory of relativity: Understanding its principles.
The physics of renewable energy sources.

Environmental Science

Impacts of deforestation on local ecosystems.
Water pollution in urban areas.
The role of wetlands in ecological conservation.
Sustainable agriculture practices.
Plastic pollution in oceans: Causes and solutions.
The results of air pollution on the respiratory health.
Urban heat islands: Causes and mitigation.
Impact of invasive species on local biodiversity.
Analyzing the environmental footprint of different diets.
The significance of the biodiversity in supporting ecosystem balance.

Social Sciences

The influence of social media on political opinions.
Effects of bullying on mental health.
Gender stereotypes in the media.
The impact of video games on behavior.
Teen mental health: Identifying risk factors.
Cultural diversity in schools and its effects on education.
The role of family dynamics in shaping personality.
Impact of social isolation on well-being.
Analyzing the effectiveness of anti-drug campaigns.
The connection between socioeconomic status & academic achievement.
The effects of music on mood and cognition.
Sleep patterns and their impact on mental health.
The psychology of decision-making.
Factors influencing academic motivation.
Impact of social media on body image.
The role of nature vs. nurture in personality development.
Effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction.
The psychology of laughter: Why do we laugh?
The impact of positive affirmations on self-esteem.
Analyzing the placebo effect in medical treatments.
The impact of World War II on international geopolitics.
Civil rights movements and their legacy.
The role of women in historical revolutions.
The effects of colonialism on indigenous cultures.
Historical analysis of pandemics and their aftermath.
The Industrial Revolution and its social consequences.
The history of human rights movements.
The legacy of ancient civilizations on modern society.
Causes and consequences of the Cold War.
Historical development of democracy around the world.

Literature and Language Arts

Analysis of symbolism in a specific literary work.
The evolution of language and its impact on communication.
The portrayal of mental illness in literature.
The influence of science fiction on technological innovation.
The major role of folklore in shaping cultural identity.
Shakespearean plays: Themes and contemporary relevance.
Gender representation in literature.
The impact of censorship on literary works.
Analyzing the use of metaphors in poetry.
The influence of literature on social change.

Mathematics

The history and applications of fractals.
Cryptography: The mathematics of secure communication.
Mathematical modeling of population growth.
The role of mathematics in computer programming.
Analyzing the geometry of famous landmarks.
The mathematics behind music: Patterns and rhythms.
Game theory and its applications in decision-making.
Fibonacci sequence and its occurrences in nature.
Analyzing the statistics of a specific real-world phenomenon.
The concept of infinity in mathematics.
The impact of globalization on local economies.
Income inequality and its consequences.
The economics of climate change mitigation.
The role of small businesses in economic development.
The effects of automation on employment.
Consumer behavior and the psychology of spending.
Economic analysis of a specific industry.
The relationship between education and economic success.
The impact of government policies on economic growth.
Analyzing economic systems: Capitalism, socialism, and communism.

Political Science

The role of political parties in shaping procedures.
The impact of lobbying on political decision-making.
The history and consequences of political revolutions.
Electoral systems: A comparative analysis.
The influence of media on political opinions.
Human rights and their enforcement on the global stage.
The role of diplomacy in international relations.
Political corruption and its impact on society.
The concept of political ideology: Origins and evolution.
The role of grassroots movements in political change.

Health and Nutrition

The impact of fast food on health.
The benefits of a plant-based diet.
Exercise and its effects on mental health.
The role of core microbiota in digestion and immunity.
The psychology of eating disorders.
The relationship between stress and physical health.
Analysis of different diet trends.
The impact of sleep on overall well-being.
Effects of advertising on food choices and nutrition.
Public health initiatives: Successes and challenges.
The effectiveness of online learning platforms.
The impact of standardized testing on education.
The role of teachers in student motivation.
Inclusive education and its benefits.
School uniforms: Pros and cons.
The effect of parent’s involvement on academic success.
The importance of arts education in schools.
Analyzing the benefits of extracurricular activities.
The role of technology in modern classrooms.
Homeschooling: Factors influencing its success.

Art and Music

The evolution of hip-hop music and its cultural impact.
The role of art treatment in mental health treatment.
Cultural influences on visual arts.
Exploring the use of color in famous paintings.
The impact of technology on music production.
The intersection of art and technology in contemporary society.
Cultural appropriation in the arts.
The influence of political events on artistic expression.
The history and significance of a specific art movement.
Analyzing the symbolism in a particular piece of artwork.
The relationship between music and memory.

How to Pick the Right Research Topic

Here are some tips for picking the right research topic as a high school student:

Choose a topic that genuinely interests you. Researching and writing about something intriguing will make the process more enjoyable and rewarding.
Make sure the topic is narrow and focused enough to be manageable. Don’t pick subjects that are too broad or vague.
Consider your research resources – access to primary sources, scholarly articles, experts to interview, etc. Pick a feasible topic.
Select a topic that is original and where you can offer a new perspective or angle. Avoid overdone topics.
Ensure the topic is relevant to your class objectives or allows you to demonstrate core skills. Consult your teacher.
Pick a topic that challenges you intellectually but is still within your capability. Balance ambition with practicality.
Look for available research topics that provide enough evidence and detail to support your thesis.
Consider topics that connect to your personal experiences, background, or community. These can offer passion.
If allowed, pick something enjoyable like music, sports, technology, or pop culture. Interest keeps you motivated.
Bounce ideas on your teacher or librarian for feedback. They can help assess research viability.

With the right topic, you’re off to an excellent start on your research paper! Allow time to refine your direction as the work progresses.

Final Remarks

In conclusion, selecting the right research topic is crucial for high school students. It engages them in academic exploration and cultivates essential skills for their future. Research enhances critical thinking, source evaluation, and practical information synthesis – all valuable for college readiness.

Exploring personal interests boosts engagement and inspiration while instilling time management and responsibility. A solid research paper requires a focused question, a robust thesis, an organized structure, and critical analysis. Students also learn the art of clear writing, proper formatting, and meticulous editing.

The journey offers a chance to become mini-experts, practice academic writing, develop presentation skills, and gain recognition. The significance of research topics extends beyond the classroom, contributing to a well-rounded education and preparing students for future challenges.

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62 Best Research Opportunities for High School Students

June 2, 2024

Hands-on laboratory-based research experiences are coveted by just about every STEM-oriented teenager on the planet. Of course, this level of demand renders research opportunities for high school students a valuable and rare commodity. Fortunately, there are a number of reputable summer programs run by universities, government agencies, and private research laboratories that afford young scientists this highly sought-after experience. Research opportunities during the actual school year are more challenging to locate as colleges are, at that time, catering to their own students, and the rigidity of the high school calendar makes participation a further challenge.

What type of research opportunities can a high school student have, anyway?

Research opportunities for high school students can range from introductory to highly advanced. Some programs focus on teaching students the fundamental skills required for research while others place students with a real working research group and allow them to contribute to legitimate experiments and papers. Your level of involvement will depend on the university or organization’s policies, your mentor, your lab team, and the type of research being conducted.

What types of research experiences look best on college applications?

Authentic, laboratory-based research experiences that you get paid for are the hardest types of positions to nail down, primarily because very few of these spots are available. Moreover, such research groups are conducting serious work—consequently, they’re looking for serious, high-achieving students who will positively enhance their dynamic. Additionally, these positions typically require a longer time commitment, with students working full-time (or close to full-time) hours for several months or even years. As such, accepting one of these positions may limit the other types of summer opportunities that you can participate in. Finally, due to safety concerns and restrictions, you will likely need to be at least 16 years old to participate in many types of lab-based research.

On the flip side are research opportunities that you pay to be involved in, with some being more selective than others. Many families wonder if these programs offer legitimate research experience or are simply another way to capitalize off of the college admissions craze, and the answer is that you have to do your homework.

Although some research opportunities offer little in the way of experience, others are truly authentic opportunities to work with a mentor and delve into an area of interest for academic enrichment—no different than any other cost-based summer program. In these cases, the fact that a student prioritized their intellectual curiosity and spent several months seriously pursuing a topic of interest will be an excellent addition to their application. We’ve gone ahead and done the hard work for you—any one of the opportunities listed below is legitimate and worthy of investing your time and resources into.

How do I decide what types of research opportunities to apply for?

If conducting research is important to you, we recommend applying to a mix of highly selective and lesser selective programs to maximize your chances of being accepted to at least one. Beyond selectivity, it’s important to consider additional several factors:

Time commitment —Some programs may require a multi-week, full-time commitment over the summer. Others may require nights and weekends during the school year.
Time frame —Some programs are only available in the summer while others run year-round (sometimes for multiple years).
Cost/stipend —Do you have to pay for the program, or does the program pay you? Research whether the program will be a good fit for your financial situation, including how much it costs and if you’ll receive compensation for your work, either via academic credit or a paycheck. Note that many residential programs are cost-based while commuter programs that only accept local students are more likely to be fully funded and/or offer a stipend.
Location —Evaluate whether you’d like to attend a local program, are willing to travel to a residential program, or would prefer a virtual option.
Level of mentor interaction —During some programs, you’ll be closely supported by PhD faculty members, while others may be run by graduate or postdoc students and require students to be more independent.
Opportunity to publish or enter research competitions —If publishing research or submitting your project/paper to a research competition is important to you, you’ll want to look into whether the program prepares you for that venture.

Our list includes a bevy of summer program choices as well as year-long internships and apprenticeships. We’ve divided the list into three sections: Virtual, Residential/Multi-Location, and Location-Specific.

For each entry, we list the geographic location of the program, the time frame and length of the program, any associated costs or stipends, and the eligibility criteria for participation.

Virtual Research Opportunities for High School Students

Virtual research opportunities for high school students offer ultimate flexibility, in regard to time commitment as well as subject matter.

1) Polygence

Location : Virtual
Timeframe : Academic year and/or summer
Length: 2-6 months
Cost : $495-$3,695
Eligibility: No age restrictions

For high school students who want to showcase authentic passion on their college applications, Polygence offers the most personalized and flexible online research program that helps students turn their interests into unique research projects. Accordingly, they pair intellectually curious students with PhD-level mentors to design experiments, build robots, create podcasts, write original screenplays, and publish in peer-reviewed journals in all fields from the humanities to STEM. All 1:1 programs include ten meetings with a mentor in your chosen field as well as a self-selected project topic and outcome, which could include a research paper, a prototype, or a creative piece of work.

A multitude of personalized options are available, including additional brainstorming sessions, time with a specialist who will guide the student through the publishing or research competition process, and academic credit through UCI x GATI. Moreover, Polygence’s Pods program allows students to work with like-minded peers in a group setting.

Sound like a good fit? College Transitions readers can save $50 on their Polygence package.

Research areas available include:

Computer science, engineering, AI, & game design
Biology, biotech, chemistry, neuroscience, and physics
Medicine, surgery, dentistry, and public health
Business, finance, and economics
Math, statistics, sports analytics, and quantitative analysis
Psychology, psychiatry, cognitive science, and social sciences
Creative writing, history, philosophy, and literature
Animation, the arts, fashion, photography, and dance

Residential/Multi-Location Research Programs

In the following section, we’ve outlined programs that are residential or offer opportunities in multiple locations, making them more accessible to a wider array of students.

Programs are organized alphabetically by discipline.

Biology Research Opportunities for High School Students

2) university of chicago research in the biological sciences (ribs).

Location : Chicago, IL
Timeframe : Summer
Length: 4 weeks
Cost : $14,000
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors

In UChicago’s highly selective RIBS program, students practice a range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological research techniques. The goal? To prepare them to work in a research laboratory. Accordingly, for the first two weeks, students undergo basic training in lab skills and techniques. Then, they spend the final two weeks of the course immersed in an independent research project. At the end of the course, they present the project during a research forum. Moreover, students can expect weekly writing assignments and seminars. To be competitive, students should have a demonstrated interest in science as well as top grades in those classes.

Biomedical Research Programs for High School Students

3) rosetta institute of biomedical research molecular medicine workshops.

Location : Berkeley; San Diego; Columbia; London; virtual
Length: 2 weeks
Cost : $3,580-$4,180 (residential); $2,280-$2,480 (commuter); $430-1,050 (online)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18

Curious about biomedical research but not ready to pursue a full-blown lab internship? Rosetta Institute offers a number of residential and online two-week programs that introduce high schoolers to topics in medicine, drug development, pharmacy, and nursing. For example, current workshops include Medicinal Chemistry, Neurological Bioinformatics, and Molecular Biology of Cancer. All students are taught by PhD-level instructors and complete an original research project.

Chemistry Research Opportunities for High School Students

4) american chemical society — project seed.

Location : Multiple
Length: 8-10 weeks
Cost : Free, and students receive a $4,000 stipend
Eligibility: All high school students whose families meet annual income requirements, but preferably current sophomores, juniors, or seniors

Having been operational for more than fifty years, Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged) runs programs at over 350 institutions and has served over 12,000 students. The goal of the program is to empower a diverse cohort of high school students to conduct hands-on research experience in the chemical sciences. Accordingly, all students work full-time on meaningful independent or small group projects, are closely guided by a mentor, and either write a report or do a poster presentation at the end of their fellowship.

Genetics Research Opportunities for High School Students

5) jackson lab summer student program.

Location : Bar Harbor, ME or Farmington, CT
Length: 10 weeks
Cost : Free, and students receive a $6,500 stipend plus funded room, board, and travel
Eligibility: High school seniors can apply to the Bar Harbor program, while eligible undergrads can apply to either program.

Hoping to design and execute an original independent research project? You’ll be able to do just that through Jackson Lab’s Summer Student Program, which immerses students in one of seven areas: bioinformatics and computational biology, cancer, developmental biology and aging, genomics, immunology and infectious disease, metabolic diseases, and neurobiology and sensory deficits. Moreover, students are closely guided by a mentor and present their research at the end of the summer. Finally, the application process is intense and competitive, requiring two letters of recommendation, a transcript, a resume, evidence of a strong interest in genetics and genomics, and four essay responses.

Pre-Health Research Opportunities for High School Students

6) national institutes of health high school summer internship program.

Location : Research groups are available at many of NIH’s 27 institutes and centers , including the main campus in Bethesda, MD
Cost : Free; all students receive a stipend
Eligibility: High school seniors age 17+

Through their HS-SIP Program, the National Institutes of Health places high school students in full-time research positions within their many active research groups. Subject areas include biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, and are geared toward students who are interested in pursuing research and healthcare. Moreover, students can take part in Summer Poster Day, where they present their research to the NIH community. They also have access to professional development programs and educational/career advising.

Note that this research opportunity for high school students is extremely competitive; approximately 7% of applicants are ultimately accepted. Finally, if you are under the age of 18 when you participate in the program, you will need to live within 40 miles of the campus that you’d like to intern at.

STEM/Humanities Research Opportunities for High School Students

7) army educational outreach program—high school internships.

Location : Various
Timeframe : All Year
Length: 3 months
Cost : Free, and all interns receive a stipend
Eligibility: All current high school students. Some sites may have additional eligibility requirements.

With programs currently available in twenty states, the Army Educational Outreach Program places high school students in university research labs or at a US Army Research Laboratory/Center. Each site has its own technical focus, from biology and materials science to cybersecurity and AI. Regardless of specialty, all interns receive formal mentorship from a professional scientist or engineer, have access to high-tech equipment, and work on relevant research that addresses a current major challenge.

8) Boston University RISE

Location : Boston, MA
Length: 6 weeks
Cost : $5,350 plus room & board
Eligibility: Current high school juniors

A residential program located on the Boston University campus, RISE offers high school students the opportunity to conduct laboratory research in one of two tracks: Internship or Practicum. Students in the Internship track work full-time on a research project that aligns with their interests, and are mentored by a faculty member, postdoc fellow, or grad student. 15 subject areas are available, including astronomy, mechanical engineering, medical laboratory research, and nutrition. Alternatively, Practicum students work in small groups on structured research related to systems neuroscience and neurobiology.

Research Opportunities for High School Students—Continued

9) michigan state high school honors science, math and engineering program.

Location : East Lansing, MI
Length: 7 weeks
Cost : $4,000

HSHSP is a highly selective, residential program where students can pursue research opportunities in science, engineering, and mathematics. After learning more about the research process, students deeply explore a problem of interest while engaging in an authentic (not “fail-proof”) research experience. Along the way, they’ll work with professionals and peers in their field of interest. Finally, many students have gone on to publish their work or be recognized at prestigious research competitions.

10) MIT Research Science Institute

Location : Cambridge, MA
Cost : Free
Eligibility: High school juniors

With a combined focus on academic coursework and hands-on research, RSI students first take one week of STEM coursework with MIT professors. Here, they’ll learn about current research topics in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, and the humanities. Then, for the remaining five weeks, students “experience the entire research cycle start to finish.” During this time, they participate in an intensive, mentored individual project experience that culminates in a written and oral presentation.

The program looks for students who are exceptionally academically talented. As such, the application process is quite intensive. PSAT Math scores must be over 740 and ACT Math scores must be over 33. In addition, students must write several essays, acquire teacher recommendations, and provide transcripts. Ultimately, only 100 students are accepted.

11) NASA Internship Programs

Location : Various; there are 15 centers and facilities in the US. Remote opportunities may also be available.
Timeframe : Available during the fall, spring, and summer
Length: 10-16 weeks, depending on session
Cost : Free; the majority of interns receive a stipend, but some are unpaid
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers a number of internship opportunities for high school students. Available projects change each year and are location-specific, and not every NASA center will offer internship opportunities every session. That said, current projects span a range of subject areas, including Climate Change in the Hudson Estuary and Characterizing the Urban Land Surface Temperature. During the research internship, students will be closely mentored by a research scientist, engineer, or other professional. Note that you will need to make your own housing arrangements if you are not a local student.

Are you an undergraduate student? Check out NASA Pathways , which can provide a direct transition into full-time employment at NASA.

12) Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program

Location : Northampton, MA
Length: 2-4 weeks
Cost : $4,745 (2 weeks); $8,082 (4 weeks)
Eligibility: Female high school students in grades 9-12; some programs have specific prerequisites

Fun fact: Smith was the first women’s college to create a program in engineering science. As such, their summer programs are an excellent place for young women to participate in hands-on, introductory research experiences. Two-week sessions are offered, and students can take one or both. Each session offers six distinct course choices. For example, the first session offers Chemistry of Herbal Medicine, Designing Intelligent Robots, and Novel Bacteriophage Discovery. Second session courses include Where the Body Meets the Mind, Supercontinents, Rocks, and Fossils, and the Art and Science of Microcontrollers. Students spend five days a week in class, attending lectures and conducting experiments & fieldwork. Additionally, the program is team-based, allowing students to learn from each other’s ideas and perspectives.

13) Stony Brook University Garcia Center Research Experience for High School Students

Location : Stony Brook, NY
Timeframe : Summer (with possible academic year continuation)
Cost : $4,000 plus room & board

At the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, high school students can design an original research project in polymer science and technology during an intensive seven-week summer program. Uniquely, the research can then be continued during the academic year under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students should be highly motivated and high-achieving, with at least three upper-level science courses under their belt. Finally, past participants have regularly published their research and won recognition in national competitions.

14) Stony Brook University Simons Summer Research Program

Cost : Students need to cover transportation costs (if commuting) or room/board (if residential). Room/board is $2,781. Stipends are also awarded at the end of the program.

After being matched with a mentor and research team, students are fully immersed in the research process. Placement availability varies from year to year, but typically about thirty projects are available across over a dozen disciplines. These include biochemistry, computer science, geosciences, and pharmacological sciences, among others. Moreover, some have prerequisites, such as specific AP courses or previous programming experience.

All students participate in weekly faculty research talks, workshops, events, and a culminating poster symposium.

15) Summer Science Program

Location : Astrophysics: UNC Chapel Hill, University of Colorado, Georgia College & State University, New Mexico State University; Biochemistry: Purdue, Indiana University; Genomics: Georgetown, Purdue, New Mexico State; Synthetic Chemistry : Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Cost : $8,800 max; all program fees are scaled according to what each family can afford
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and exceptional sophomores

The Summer Science Program offers four different immersive research programs that take place on different college campuses around the country. These include programs in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, and synthetic chemistry. Each program has its own research focus. For example, astrophysics students will dive into Asteroid Orbit Determination while genomics students explore Antibiotic Resistance and Directed Evolution.

Students spend six days a week in class deeply investigating their research topics and learning more about general experimental science. They also take part in guest lectures and other special programming.

16) Texas Tech University Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

Location : Lubbock, TX
Cost : Free; all students receive a $750 stipend upon completion of their projects
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 17+ by the start of the program

The Clark Scholars Program is one of the only programs on this list with research disciplines in the sciences as well as the humanities. For example, current research areas include everything from nutritional sciences and mechanical engineering to history. Over the course of seven weeks, students work closely with a faculty member to complete a research paper in their discipline. They also participate in weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips.

17) University of California Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program

Location : Santa Barbara, CA
Cost : $11,874 (residential); $4,975 (commuter)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors

During this intensive program, students work 35-50 hours per week on an interdisciplinary research project of their choice. Nearly thirty research areas are available in both the STEM disciplines and humanities; current topics include biochemistry, computer science, history, music, and anthropology, among others. Over the course of the program, they also take two courses: Introduction to Research and Presentation Techniques. Finally, students occasionally continue their research remotely during the academic year, depending on their mentor’s availability.

18) University of California Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies

Cost : $8,224 (residential); $2,575 (commuter)
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Running for four weeks, the UCSB Summer Research Academies allow students to earn up to four credits. While taking a university-level course that teaches fundamental research concepts, students spend the first two weeks of the program developing a research question & framework via hands-on labs. They’ll then spend the final two weeks of the course analyzing their results and building presentations. Overall, they’ll spend about 25-40 hours per week working. Finally, twelve different tracks are available; each involves multiple disciplines. For example, “Bionic Creatures” combines mechanical engineering, materials science, soft robotics, biomanufacturing, and collective motion.

19) University of California Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)

Location : Santa Cruz, CA
Length: 9 weeks (two weeks virtual, seven weeks in-person)
Cost : $4,750 plus room & board
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+, although some research groups require students to be 16+

UCSC’s SIP Program offers a wide range of research focus areas, including science and engineering as well as social science, humanities, and art. For example, over 100 projects are currently offered that include everything from “Eating Insects in Silicon Valley: Cultural Gaps Between Food-Tech and Tradition” and “Future Projected Changes in the Distribution and Variability of Ocean Chlorophyll in Climate Simulations.” Before you dive in, you’ll spend two weeks doing online research prep (this part is conducted remotely) followed by seven weeks of in-person, mentored research. Students get to engage in authentic, open-ended projects that fully immerse them in the academic research experience. Moreover, they’ll present their findings at a symposium at the end of the program.

20) University of California Davis Young Scholars Program

Location : Davis, CA
Cost : $6,750
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who will be 16+ by the start of the program

Interested in biological, agricultural, environmental, or natural sciences? If so, UC Davis is a stellar place to explore those interests through research. All students have the opportunity to work on independent, original projects while receiving one-on-one faculty mentorship. Moreover, they each produce a journal-quality paper and symposium presentation. In addition to research, students also participate in a lecture series presented by UC Davis faculty; past topics have included forensic entomology and nutrition, among others. Finally, field trips to educational facilities like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory round out the experience.

21) University of Florida Student Science Training Program

Location : Gainesville, FL
Cost : $5,200
Eligibility: Rising seniors aged 16+

Thinking about a career in science, medicine, math, computer science, or engineering? UF’s Student Science Training Program could be the right fit. For thirty hours per week, you’ll work with a faculty mentor and lab team on university-level, ongoing research. Moreover, you’ll participate in a science lecture series as well as a UF Honors Program seminar class. Over the course of the program, you will write a research paper, present a poster, and give two oral presentations. Finally, social programming is included.

22) University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program

Location : Iowa City, IA
Cost : $7,500

During this intensive and competitive program, students conduct research within small groups that are supported by a University of Iowa faculty member. There are twenty current active research areas, including chemistry, geography, neurology, orthopedics & rehabilitation, and religious studies. You’ll be working on your project approximately seven hours per day, attending classes in the evenings, and participating in structured activities on the weekend. Moreover, all groups will create and present a poster at the culmination of the program.

23) University of Massachusetts Amherst Summer Programs

Location : Amherst, MA
Cost : $3,636 (residential); $2,167 (commuter)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors

UMass Amherst offers two introductory, research-focused opportunities for high school students. These are Antibiotic Resistance: A Global Health Crisis, which allows students to join the Department of Microbiology in researching new antibiotics, and Energy Without Borders, which delves into climate change, infrastructure, and green energy. In both courses, you’ll learn research methods, complete multiple lab experiences, and present a research poster. Finally, students can earn two college credits upon successful completion of the program.

Location-Specific Research Opportunities for High School Students

The following programs are not residential and only offered in a specific location. Many also only accept local students, although some do allow out-of-state students to apply. If that’s the case, you will need to secure your own living accommodations and transportation. Moreover, if you are under the age of 18, you will need to be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Programs are organized alphabetically by state.

24) California Academy of the Sciences—Careers in Science Intern

Location : San Francisco, CA
Focus: STEM
Length: Multi-year (2-3 years)
Eligibility: 9 th or 10 th grade student enrolled in an SFUSD school with a GPA of 2.5 or higher

25) Cedars Sinai INSPIRE High School

Location : Los Angeles, CA
Focus: Pre-Health
Cost : Free; all students are paid
Eligibility: High school students age 16+

26) City of Hope Summer Student Academy

Location : Duarte, CA
Focus: Biomedicine
Cost : Free; all students receive a stipend of $4,000

27) Sandia National Laboratories—Internships

Location : Livermore, CA
Focus : STEM
Timeframe : Academic year and summer internships available
Length: Academic year or 10-12 weeks (summer)
Cost : Free; all positions are paid

28) Scripps Student Research Internship Program

Location : La Jolla, CA
Focus : Translational science/genomics
Cost : Free; stipends are typically offered

29) UCSF SEP High School Intern Program

Focus : Biomedical research
Length: 8 weeks
Eligibility: High school juniors enrolled in an SFUSD high school, SF charter school, or College Track San Francisco

30) UCSF Summer Student Research Program

Location : Oakland, CA
Length: 9 weeks
Cost : Free; all students are given a stipend between $3,000-$4,300
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, aged 16+

Connecticut

31) jackson lab academic year fellowships.

Location : Farmington, CT*
Focus: Genetics
Timeframe : Academic year
Length: 1 school year
Cost : Free; students must be able to receive academic credit for their work
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors age 16+ within commuting distance of the lab

*Some fully remote opportunities are available

32) Yale School of Medicine Discovery to Cure High School Internship

Location : New Haven, CT

33) Yale University Social Robotics Lab High School Internship

Focus: Robotics and human social behavior
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16+

34) Argonne National Laboratory — Exemplary Student Research Program

Location : Lemont, IL
Focus: Engineering
Eligibility: Application must be completed by participating teacher

35) Chicago EYES on Cancer

Focus : Biomedicine
Timeframe : All year, with two 8-week summer research experiences
Length: 2 years
Cost : Free; all students receive $3,100 stipend
Eligibility: High school sophomore, junior, or senior aged 16+

36) University of Kansas Biotech Research Apprentice Program

Location : Overland Park, KS
Focus : Biotech
Length: Semester

37) Jackson Lab Academic Year Fellowships

Location : Bar Harbor, ME*

38) National Cancer Institute Werner H. Kirsten Student Internship Program

Location : Frederick, MD
Timeframe : Academic year & summer
Length: 1 year
Cost : Free; academic credit available during school year, stipend provided in summer
Eligibility: High school junior age 17+ who attends an eligible school located within a 30-mile radius of campus

39) University of Minnesota Lillehei Heart Institute Summer Research Scholars Program

Location : Minneapolis, MN
Focus: Cardiovascular medicine
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors age 16+ as well as undergraduate students

40) Coriell Institute for Medical Research

Location : Camden, NJ
Eligibility: High school student aged 17+

41) Princeton Laboratory Learning Program

Location : Princeton, NJ
Focus : Natural Sciences or Engineering
Length: 5-6 weeks

42) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory High School Internship

Location : Princeton, NJ*
Focus : Physics
Eligibility: High school seniors (program takes place summer after graduation)

*Remote projects may be available.

43) Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science Summer Research Program (RITMS)

Location : Rutgers, NJ
Focus : Translational medicine/science

44) Rutgers Waksman Institute Summer Experience Program

Location : Piscataway, NJ*
Focus : Molecular biology/bioinformatics
Cost : $2,000
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a high school-level biology course

*Online version of the program is also available

45) Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship Program

Location : Los Alamos, NM
Length: 11 weeks
Eligibility: New Mexico high school seniors aged 16+

46) Sandia National Laboratories—Internships

Location : Albuquerque, NM

47) Baruch College STEM Research Academy

Location : New York, NY
Timeframe : Spring/summer
Cost : Free, but all students receive a stipend of $1,575
Eligibility: Must be a NYC public high school sophomore junior to apply

48) Burke Neurological Institute NeuroAcademy

Location : White Plains, NY
Focus: Neuroscience
Eligibility: Completion of NYS Regents Living Environment or equivalent Biology class; cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher

49) City Tech College STEM Research Academy

Length: Two semesters (January-August)
Eligibility: NYC public school sophomore or junior

50) Columbia Zuckerman Institute—BRAINYAC Program

Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors from select partner programs/schools in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx

51) HOPP Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Focus: Biomedical or computational research
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+

52) University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics Summer High School Research Program

Location : Rochester, NY
Focus: Laser energetics
Eligibility: Rochester-area high school students who have completed their junior year

53) Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute

Location : Cleveland, OH
Timeframe : Varies; depends on lab
Length: Varies; depends on lab

54) OHSU School of Medicine Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI)

Location : Portland, OR
Focus: Biomedical research
Timeframe : Academic semester + summer
Length: 16+ weeks
Eligibility: Oregon-based high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors aged 16+

Pennsylvania

55) fox chase cancer center high school research programs.

Location : Philadelphia, PA
Timeframe : During school year
Length: 2-3 months; depends on program
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students; students must be 16+ for some programs

56) Penn State College of Medicine Research Internships

Location : Hershey, PA
Length: Varies; could be weeks to months depending on lab
Cost : Paid and unpaid internships available

57) University of Pennsylvania GRASP Lab High School Internships

Focus: Robotics
Cost : Free; stipend typically available
Eligibility: Rising high school senior

58) George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location : Fairfax, VA*
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ or 16+, depending on program

*Some fully remote and hybrid opportunities are available, depending on the lab.

59) Jefferson Lab High School Summer Honors Program

Location : Newport News, VA
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ who live within 60 miles of the lab

60) Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Summer Research Program

Location : Roanoke, VA
Focus: Health behaviors research
Cost : Free; all students receive a stipend of $4,800
Eligibility: Rising high school junior or senior in the Roanoke Valley

61) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory High School Research Programs

Location : Richland, WA
Timeframe : Summer & academic year programs available
Length: Academic year or 10 weeks (summer)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+; some labs may require students to be 18+

62) Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Training Program

Location : Seattle, WA
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors within commuting distance of downtown Seattle

Final Thoughts—Research Opportunities for High School Students

If gaining research experience is important to you, it’s in your best interest to explore a number of different programs, evaluating whether their structure, length, cost, and outcomes are in line with your goals. Finding the right opportunity may take some time, but it will be well worth the effort required.

Research Programs

Kelsea Conlin

Kelsea holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Tufts University, a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her short fiction is forthcoming in Chautauqua .

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Madeleine Karydes

Lead admissions expert, table of contents, start your search for your dream research opportunity, 40 incredible research opportunities for high schoolers, 1. research mentorship program, 2. aspiring scholars directed research program (asdrp), 3. quarknet summer research program, 4. student research institute, 5. student research internships, 6. simons summer research program.

7. Summer Research Experience Program

8. WYSE Summer Engineering Camp

9. WYSE Young Scholars Summer STEMM Program

10. Biomedical Research Academy

11. Chemistry Research Academy
12. Experimental Physics Research Academy
13. Neuroscience Research Academy
14. Social Justice Research Academy

15. Medical Sciences Summer Institute

16. high school summer research experience, 17. summer science research experience, 18. medical institute summer research program (simr), 19. grips program, 20. summer student research program, 21. educational pathways for cancer research, 22. future scientist program, 23. kimberly querrey summer research program, 24. student research apprentice program, 25. summer experience for students, 26. research in the biological sciences (ribs), 27. high school summer internship program, 28. summer high school research program, 29. biomedical research workshops, 30. college now stem research academy, 31. bioengineering research programs, 32. life sciences research program, 33. marine science research program, 34. school of medicine research program, 35. business research program, 36. summer research program, 37. high school internships with aspirnaut, 38. student volunteer program, 39. student scholars program, 40. full research programs.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

40 Incredible Research Opportunities for High School Students

Why are research opportunities for high school students in 2024 so exciting? Well, there are a few reasons. Firstly, teenagers in the 21st century are coming of age during a thrilling era of cutting-edge scientific development. Technology advances exponentially every day, breaking down barriers to interdisciplinary knowledge. What’s more, high school students have unprecedented access to research opportunities that can significantly enhance their academic and professional futures. Under the right guidance, research experience can add a serious competitive edge to a young student’s resume.

It’s true. Engaging in research not only cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills for young adults, but also provides a platform for today’s students to contribute to real-world advancements and innovations. As we step into 2024, the breadth and diversity of research opportunities available to high school students are more varied than ever, encompassing fields from the sciences and engineering to the humanities and social sciences.

Are you excited yet? Let’s dive into what options are available.

This article explores the myriad of incredible research opportunities accessible to high school students this year, detailing programs, internships, and competitions that can help aspiring scholars gain invaluable experience and make meaningful contributions to their chosen fields .

Whether your interest lies in laboratory research, social science studies, or interdisciplinary projects, there is an opportunity waiting to help you unleash your potential and prepare for the future. Let’s get this research party started!

Next up we have a list of some of the best research opportunities out there for high school students in 2024, presented for you to browse. These options are presented in no particular order.

Along with their mentor, students will learn about research techniques, gain insight into professional research-based opportunities, and mature their academic goals. The GRIT talks lecture series will connect students to some of the best minds within the UC Santa Barbara research community as they present their ground-breaking research and innovative technology.

Apply to : University of California, Santa Barbara
Age Eligibility : Freshman (9th), Sophomores (10th), and Juniors (11th)
Location : Santa Barbara, California

Students participate in research projects across various subjects in STEM, including chemistry, biology, computational modeling, computer science, and much more. Students publish and present their work as well in venues within and outside of ASDRP. Research in ASDRP is supervised by highly skilled scientists and engineerson the research faculty, who are clustered under one of three departments—Biological/Human/Life Sciences, Chemistry/Biochemistry/Physics, or Computer Science & Engineering.

Apply to : Olive Children Foundation Engineering Research Laboratory
Age Eligibility : All high school students (9th-12th)
Location : Fremont, California

QuarkNet offers summer research opportunities in science and technology for students who have demonstrated a strong interest in and aptitude for science and mathematics. Students work with scientists for seven weeks on projects related to the Fermilab research program.

Apply to : Fermilab Research Alliance
Age Eligibility : Sophomores (10th), Juniors (11th), and Seniors (12th)
Location: Fermilab campus in Illinois

Projects will focus on using Python, Java or other programming languages for interesting applications such as in cryptography or in global data trend evaluations. Computational science projects will utilize molecular modeling and drug design methods for biological or medicinal applications (cancer and other diseases).

Apply to: Quest SRI
Age Eligibility: Sophomores (10th), Juniors (11th), and Seniors (12th)
Location: Virtual meetings

The Student Research Internship Program is a 10-week summer program designed for high school, undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The primary goal is to equip students interested in health sciences, statistics, and computational/computer science to become future leaders in the realm of translational medical research.

Apply to: Scripps Research Institute
Age Eligibility: All high school students (9th-12th)
Location: San Diego, California

The Simons Summer Research Program gives academically talented, motivated high school students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research in science, math or engineering at Stony Brook University. Simons Fellows work with distinguished faculty mentors, learn laboratory techniques and tools, become part of active research teams, and experience life at a research university.

Apply to: Stony Brook University
Age Eligibility: Juniors (11th)
Location: New York campus

7. Summer Research Experience Program

Computer Science and Informatics Summer Research Experience Program (CSIRE) is a 6-week research experience program on computer science and informatics for high school students. The program assumes the participant already has good skills in programming or data analytics. Since launching in 2017, the program has become increasingly competitive.

Location: New York campus OR virtual meetings

These summer camps are designed to allow students to experience authentic & challenging projects & activities, world-class instructors, and a collegiate experience from one of the best engineering schools in the world. Camps provide exposure to different areas of engineering through demonstrations, lab tours, classroom presentations, hands-on activities, and interactions with various students, staff, and professors in those fields.

Apply to: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Age Eligibility: All high school students (91th-12th)
Location: Urbana-Champaign, Illinois campus

9. WYSE Young Scholars Summer STEMM Program

Participate in an authentic STEMM research experience at a world-class research university for 6 weeks during the summer. Students will gain hands-on experience in areas at the forefront of various STEMM fields, such as cancer immunology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, electrical engineering, and more!

Location: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin

Aerial view of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Biomedical Research Academy introduces the experimental basis of cellular, molecular, and genetic aspects of biology, focusing on relevance to diseases. Fusing daily lectures, faculty research talks, laboratory experiments, and small group investigations into current research topics, students gain insight into the core of biomedical research.

Apply to: The University of Pennsylvania
Age Eligibility: Freshman (9th), Sophomores (10th), and Juniors (11th)
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11. Chemistry Research Academy

Penn Chemistry is a leading center for molecular research and instruction, whose researchers are at the frontier of modern chemistry, tackling a wide variety of important societal challenges. The Chemistry Research Academy provides students with the foundational knowledge to understand this cutting-edge research, while providing opportunities to hear and learn directly from several of the research professors and students.

Age Eligibility: Sophomores (10th) and Juniors (11th)

12. Experimental Physics Research Academy

The Experimental Physics Research Academy focuses on current physics, specifically mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum dynamics, and astrophysics. Through lectures, activities, projects, and discussions with their instructors, students move past memorized equations to gain an understanding of cause and effect, and ultimately an appreciation of physics on a higher level.

13. Neuroscience Research Academy

The Neuroscience Research Academy explores the biological foundations of the brain, progressing from the cellular foundations of the neuron to an understanding of the sensory systems, and culminating with higher-order cognitive functions such as memory, emotion, and morality. Taught by members of Penn’s Biological Basis of Behavior program, the Neuroscience Academy introduces students to this cutting-edge field in both research and medicine, which has provided important insights into understanding the mind in both health and disease.

Age Eligibility: Freshman (9th), Sophomores (10th)s and Juniors (11th)

14. Social Justice Research Academy

The Social Justice Research Academy brings students from around the world together for three weeks to dive deep into the past, present, and future of social justice. Designed to encourage discussion and critical thinking about the political, historical, and cultural context of inequality and resistance, the program welcomes students with a variety of academic interests across the social sciences, humanities, and arts. Topics vary from year to year but include a selection of significant historical struggles as well as those that define our recent past and present.

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine has created a summer workshop for those who are at least 16 years old, interested in careers in medicine, or other healthcare related fields, and wish to gain some experience in medical research in a state-of-the art laboratory. Students will learn to formulate hypotheses, design experiments, analyze data and communicate their conclusions at a research symposium at the end of the course.

Apply to : University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

In addition to lab work, you’ll have classroom instruction on cancer basics, seminars with invited speakers, and professional development opportunities. At the end of the summer, you’ll give a poster presentation at a research conference just like our graduate students and post-doctoral scholars do.

Apply to: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Location: Buffalo, New York

SSRP Scholars will participate on a research team designed and guided by Rockefeller trainees. SSRP teams mirror the structure of a Rockefeller laboratory, where one trainee serves as team lead with support from dedicated scientist-mentors. Each team will have their own space in the RockEDU laboratory.

Apply to: The Rockefeller University
Location: New York City, New York

This is an eight-week program in which high school students with a broad range of experiences, interests and backgrounds are invited to perform basic research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and researchers on a medically-oriented project. The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in high school students and helping students to understand how scientific research is performed.

Apply to: Stanford University
Age Eligibility: Juniors (11th) or Seniors (12th)
Location: Palo Alto, California

GRIPS is a twenty hour, eight week long research intensive experience for high school students. Program participants will be placed in a research laboratory for the summer and conduct genomics research under the supervision of a lab mentor.

Location: Palo Alto, California (with hybrid meetings)

This summer program provides one-on-one mentorship with health care providers and researchers, along with access to unique workshops, seminars, training, simulations, and networking opportunities. The program culminates in a formal research symposium in which each student presents their project findings to the scientific community, many of which continue on as future grants, publications, and advances in healthcare.

Apply to: University of California, San Francisco
Age Eligibility: Juniors (11th) and Seniors (12th)
Location: San Francisco, California

Video: An Opportunity Awaits

The EPCR summer program provides mentored, high-quality, cancer-focused research experiences for graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students. Participants will develop skills to think analytically and critically; design, perform and troubleshoot experiments; interpret research data; formulate new ideas; and propose meaningful strategies for testing those ideas through experiments with guidance from mentors.

Apply to: Indiana University
Age Eligibility: Seniors (12th)
Location: Bloomington, Indiana

The Future Scientist Program at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is a summer science program for high school juniors at Indianapolis and all Marion County public schools, providing the opportunity to spend eight weeks on a research project under the mentorship of a university researcher.

The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care’s Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program offers a six- to eight-week paid, competitive research experience at Northwestern University for rising high school seniors and undergraduate college/university students interested in the biological sciences. Our program combines intensive research training with support for students’ academic and professional development.

Apply to: Northwestern School of Medicine
Location: Evanston, Illinois

This is a five-week summer program that provides students with a research experience in one of the basic science or clinical laboratories.

Apply to : University of Connecticut Health
Location: Storrs campus in Connecticut

This is a paid opportunity for high school and college students to work alongside world-renowned scientists and researchers and gain insights into careers in science or related areas. Through our four-week Summer Experience program, we offer a limited number of students an exclusive opportunity to be a part of the day-to-day research activities in dynamic research and biobanking environments, and we offer the possibility to experience biobank operations.

Apply to: Coriell Institute for Medical Research
Location: New Jersey

This four-week intensive training program is designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research laboratories. Students are immersed in the research experience, giving them a taste of ‘life at the bench.’

Apply to: T he University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Our program provides students with the opportunity to participate in basic, translational, or clinical scientific research with the goal of stimulating interest in biomedical research as a potential career. During the 6-week, 240-hour program (holidays included) each student will have the opportunity to work on their own research project under the guidance of an investigator and their staff at MWRI or Magee-Womens Hospital.

Apply to: Magee Womens Research Institute
Location: Southwest Pennsylvania region

Students are selected from a pool of applicants for a five-week full-time summer research experience. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and be recommended by their high school science teacher and/or science chair. Students are assigned to Einstein research labs and will join the lab team under the guidance of the laboratory director (or principal investigator) who will serve as a mentor.

Apply to: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Our online workshops include Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Bioinformatics. Intro to Cellular and Molecular Medicine is our entry-level workshop that is only two hours/day. Students in the Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Bioinformatics workshops learn how to use online tools to analyze biochemical data. For students interested in doing research or working on a project for a science fair, this is a great way to get started.

Apply to: Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research

This is a two-part program designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop the essential skills to be strong scientific thinkers by engaging in authentic enquiry based research activities. The first component of the program is a high school credit scientific investigative course (DNA Detectives) offered during the spring semester, and the second component is a six week college credit course (BIO189, 1 credit) that meets during the summer, in which students work in research labs under the supervision and mentorship of Lehman College faculty and their graduate students. Students are selected to participate in the summer mentorship based upon successful completion of the spring semester DNA Detectives course, and meeting additional eligibility criteria.

Apply to : Lehman College

The UC San Diego Department of Bioengineering and UC San Diego Extended Studies are pleased to offer courses to high school students who are excelling in scholarship and would like to explore Bioengineering. The course offerings are based on fun, experiential, remote, at-home, hands-on lab activities.

Apply to: The University of California, San Diego
Age Eligibility: Sophomores (10th), Juniors (11th), or Seniors (12th)
Location: San Diego, California (or hybrid meetings)

In partnership with Boz Institute, we will offer a unique science research learning experience. Our programs will involve field work, fundamental molecular biology topics, modern laboratory techniques, and relevant bioinformatics and statistical applications. Learn to synthesize life science fundamentals, review literature, formulate hypotheses and design experiments, collect and process samples, execute experiments, analyze data, and showcase your work through poster presentations attended by local scientists and industry leaders.

The following programs are designed to empower high school students to share learning, network with peers, and become environmental advocates. The goal of this program is to develop problem solving, organization, creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and leadership skills that will support future career goals and aspirations.

The following programs are designed with faculty from UC San Diego School of Medicine and are designed for high school students who wish to go into fields of medicine.

The following course is designed to prepare students for careers and advanced education in business innovation, entrepreneurship, and management with a solid grounding in fundamentals. While learning about topics of business innovation, design, venture financing, and growth strategy, students will gain the knowledge necessary to build an innovative business proposal and gain economic acumen.

Location: Virtual Meetings

For eight weeks in the summer, student interns usually work with the mentors in laboratories or clinics. Interns learn techniques used in the health sciences laboratories, gain research study skills, and experience professional development and career preparation through weekly program seminars. Additionally, they receive training in presentation skills, including how to prepare a presentation for a scientific meeting. At program end, all interns present their research findings at a poster session or oral symposium.

Apply to: Louisiana State University
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

High school students are embedded in a biomedical research laboratory for six weeks as a member of a team of researchers (chemists, biologists, physicians, mathematicians, engineers) working on diabetes, cancer and regenerative biology projects. Students conduct their own research and gather results that contribute to the data and goals of the larger research team. At the conclusion of the experience, students present their research to peers and mentors through both oral and poster presentations.

Apply to: Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, Tennessee

NRL seeks volunteers that are currently enrolled in high school or college and possess an interest in science and engineering. Volunteer service is limited to services performed by a student as part of an agency program established for the purpose of providing educational experience for the student. The work is done strictly on an uncompensated basis.

Apply to: US Naval Research Laboratory
Location: Based in Washington, D.C.

The selected interns gain valuable hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology and are able to contribute to unique, research-based projects.

Apply to: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Location: Several locations across the United States

Our student-driven research programs teach the process of science through the creation of a field research project. By studying locations near your school campus, students strengthen their connection to the ecosystems in your community. In addition to delivering increased academic confidence, better social skills, and building science and language skills, all of our programs are designed in a fun and engaging way.

Apply to: Headwaters Science Institute
Location: Multiple locations in California

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There you have it, folks. That’s our roundup of incredible research opportunities for high school students in 2024. Nonetheless, if none of these options strike your fancy, there are more out there. Check out this article for more tips on STEM academic programs for high schoolers. You can also consider a more customized program like Empowerly’s Research Scholar Program . No matter your academic interest area, there’s a project out there for your student!

When it comes to your education, there’s no need to compromise. Work with the experts to ensure you’re on the right track for academic success.

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College apps can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. empowerly college counseling is in it with you., related articles.

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A Guide to Pursuing Research Projects in High School

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Most common high school pursuits and interests can be fit fairly neatly into the academic or extracurricular categories. There are of course required courses that you take, and then there are the activities that you pursue outside of school hours, usually for your own enjoyment. You may play on a sports team, participate in a service project, or pursue visual arts. In most cases, even if your interests are somewhat untraditional, you can somehow package them in a way that neatly qualifies them as an extracurricular activity.

But what if your interests outside of school are more academic in nature? What if you’ve long been fascinated by the potential that carbon sequestration holds to limit the effects of climate change? What if you’re interested in the history of civil disobedience, or the ability of exams to measure actual comprehension? Whatever the case may be, there are some topics of interest that just don’t fit neatly into any extracurricular club or activity.

If you find yourself longing to pursue an interest such as this, you might consider conducting your own research project. While the concept may seem daunting at first, if you break it down into smaller, manageable tasks, you’ll quickly find that you probably already have the skills necessary to get started.

In this post, we will outline the process for conducting a long-term research project independently, including several avenues for pursuing recognition of your work and a step-by-step guide to completing your project. If you’re interested in pursuing an independent research project during high school, keep reading.

Why Pursue an Independent Research Project?

An independent research project is a great way to explore an area of interest that you otherwise would not get to learn about outside of school. By undertaking a research project on your own, not only will you explore a personal area of interest in more depth, but also you will demonstrate your dedication to pursuing knowledge for the sake of learning and your ability to work independently over a prolonged period.

Independent research projects, when conducted well and presented appropriately on a college application, can be a great advantage to you on your college admissions.

How to Choose a Topic for a Research Project

If you’re interested in pursuing a research project, you probably already have a topic in mind. In fact, the desire to conduct a research project usually stems from an existing interest, not just from the idea to conduct research on a vague or undetermined subject matter.

You should aim to narrow your research project to something that has some academic relevance. Perhaps it is related to your existing coursework. Maybe it reflects work you hope to pursue in the future, either academically or professionally. Try to fine-tune your project enough that you can easily explain the driving force behind it and its relevance to your future career path.

While you don’t need to decide on your exact topic or thesis quite yet, you should have a general idea of what your project will entail before moving forward.

Are There Existing Avenues for Undertaking a Research Project At Your School?

While you could certainly conduct your research project completely independently from your school, it is usually easier and more productive to conduct it in a way that is somehow connected to the rest of your schooling.

If the project is STEM-oriented, think about whether it would fit into a science fair or other STEM competition in which your school already competes. Also consider the AP Capstone Program if your school offers it. The second course in this sequence is AP Research , and it requires an in-depth research project as its culminating assessment.

If neither of these formal avenues are available, or neither provides a good fit, look into the possibility of pursuing your project as an independent study. If your school offers independent studies for credit, you can usually get information about them from your adviser. These types of projects usually require an extended application process that must be followed closely if you want to gain approval.

Finally, even if you can’t take advantage of one of the options above, if you have achieved advanced standing or enough credits, your school might still allow you to undertake an extended individual research project through some type of formal arrangement. Talk with a teacher, mentor, or adviser to learn what your options are. Clearly communicate your innate desire to learn more about this specific topic and be prepared to give some background on the issue that you want to research.

Steps for Undertaking the Research Project

1. find a mentor or adviser.

You will need someone to help guide and advise your work, so finding a willing and able mentor should be one of your first steps. This should ideally be a person with existing expertise in the subject area you wish to pursue. In the least, this person should share your interest and passion for the topic.

A teacher at your school who can also serve as an adviser is ideal, and may even be a requirement if you are formally pursuing the project as an independent study for credit. If that is not possible, you can certainly find a mentor somewhere else, even remotely if necessary.

Find out if your subject matter pertains to any local industries or companies, or if there are any scientists or professionals nearby who specialize in it. Consider checking the instructors of local summer programs or judges from past science fairs at your school. Also consider a professional who has written an article that interested you in the field.

Before you approach a mentor to request their help, familiarize yourself with his or her work. Be able to speak articulately about what has drawn you to him or her specifically. Put some thought into informed questions you might ask him or her. Be upfront about your needs if you are going to require any specific guidance or extended time or energy from your mentor. It might be difficult to find someone at first, but keep trying. Finding a mentor for your project is an important step.

2. Set a Timeline and Stick to It

Once you’ve found a mentor, you can get started laying out the timeline for your project. When you do this, list each step of your project as specifically as possible. These will include at a minimum: background research, writing a thesis statement, in depth research phase, outlining your final paper, drafting your paper, editing your paper, and publishing your paper.

You will probably have a completion date in mind, whether it’s required by the school or simply the end of the semester or school year. Work backwards from your completion date to set a realistic timeframe for each of these steps.

It helps to have a calendar displayed prominently with your deadlines listed clearly on it to keep you on track. Also be sure to put your deadlines into your school assignment book or Google calendar so that you can see how they overlap and affect your other commitments.

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3. Conducting Research

After you’ve completed your deadline calendar, you’re ready to get started with the fun stuff: the actual research. There are many sources for finding high quality research materials. You can use your school library, your local library, and sometimes even the library at local colleges or universities. Sometimes the libraries at colleges are open only to registered students and faculty, but if you contact a library official or a member of the department related to your research project, you might be able to gain access for research purposes.

You may also take advantage of online research tools. Google Scholar is a good place to find peer-reviewed, high quality publications. You may also find out if your school has a subscription to any online research databases like Ebsco , or JSTOR . These databases provide digital compilations of hundreds of research journals, both current and archived.

Be careful what you choose to use as sources, though. You need to ensure that every source you rely on is high-quality and fact-based. Many internet resources now are not as accurate as they might appear. Some are outdated and some are just wrong. Remember that just about anyone can publish something online these days, so you can’t rely on information that you find on just any old website. Be particularly wary of pages like Wikipedia that look like fact-based resources but are actually drawn from unfiltered user submissions.

As you research your topic, take careful notes to track your work. Choose a system to organize your notes, such as writing on notecards that can be easily organized, or using different colored pens to color code different subtopics of your research. By carefully organizing your notes, you’ll be better set up to organize your paper.

4. Organize Your Paper

Once you’ve completed the research phase of your project, you’re ready to organize your paper. Go through your notes carefully to see how they support your thesis. If they don’t, be prepared and open to changing your thesis. Always allow the research to guide the direction of your paper, and not vice versa.

Organize your notes into the order that makes most sense in your paper. Use them to guide an outline of your paper. Once they are in order, write out a rough outline of your paper.

Prewriting is an important step to writing your paper. It allows you to go into the drafting phase with as much preparation as possible so that your writing will have a clear direction when you begin.

5. Write Your Paper

After your organization and prewriting, you’re ready to draft your paper. Try to break this phase up into smaller pieces so that you don’t burn out. Your final product will probably be one of the longest papers you’ve ever written, usually ranging from 15-30 pages depending on your subject, so you’ll want to pace yourself.

Break up your writing deadlines into more specific sub-deadlines to help guide your work. Set goals for completing the introduction, various sections of the body, and your conclusion.

6. Edit Your Paper

There will be multiple stages of editing that need to happen. First, you will self-edit your first draft. Then, you will likely turn a draft of your paper in to your mentor for another round of editing. Some students even choose to have a peer or family member edit a draft at some point. After several rounds of editing, you will be prepared to publish your work.

7. Publish Your Work

Publication sounds like a very official completion of your project, but in reality publishing can take many different forms. It’s really just the final draft of your project, however you decide to produce it.

For some students, publication means submitting a draft of your project to an actual journal or formal publication. For others, it means creating a polished draft and a display board that you will present at a school or public event. For still others it might just be a polished, final draft bound and turned into your mentor.

However you decide to publish your work, be mindful that this should be a reflection of an entire semester or year of work, and it should reflect the very height of your learning and abilities. You should be proud of your final product.

If you’re a high school student with in-depth interests in a subject area that doesn’t fit neatly into any of your existing extracurriculars or academic courses, you should consider pursuing a research project to reflect your interest and dedication. Not only will your pursuit allow you to further explore a subject that’s interesting to you, but also it will be a clear example of your independence and commitment on your college applications.

Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Download our free guide for 9th graders and our free guide for 10th graders . Our guides go in-depth about subjects ranging from academics , choosing courses , standardized tests , extracurricular activities , and much more !

For more information about research and independent projects in high school, check out these posts:

Ultimate Guide to the AP Research Course and Assessment
How to Choose a Project for Your AP Research Course
How to Get a Research Assistant Position in High School
An Introduction to the AP Capstone Diploma
How to Choose a Winning Science Fair Project Idea
How to Plan and Implement an Independent Study in High School

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30 Innovative Research Ideas in Psychology for High School Students

A good research project starts with a good idea. A solid research idea is key because it determines the direction and sets the tone for the scope of the study.

What are the elements of a good research idea / research question?

If you are looking to solve a problem through research, then make sure you pick something that is relevant . What we mean by relevance is that it solves a significant problem or addresses an existing knowledge gap. Originality and innovation will enhance this!

The research you choose to undertake should also be feasible and you should try to find that ‘sweet spot’ between challenging yourself and still being comfortable enough to add value through your research.

Of course, there’s more and you should understand the fundamentals of Research before you start thinking of ideas. Once you have a clear research question, you would have addressed relevance, innovation, feasibility and significance. Then, it’s time to think through the methodology, ethics and reporting style.

How a research program can help in college admissions

A good research program, especially one with a mentor, can help you by adding some much-needed structure to the research and identifying providing frameworks through which you upskill yourself.

Ambitious high school students who are selected for the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs work on a research area of their interest and receive 1-1 mentorship by top PhDs. Below, we share some of the research ideas that have been proposed by our research mentors – we hope they inspire you!

1. The relationship between mental health and physical health

The complex and interconnected relationship between mental and physical health offers plenty of scope for research projects at a high school level. By studying the interconnectedness, your research can provide input on the assessment and diagnosis of various health issues or lead to the development of new treatments (for instance, can cognitive behavioral therapy improve physical health?).

A few examples in this area of research are examining the effects of mental health on a specific part of physical health such as the immune system, reproductive health, and HIV prevention and treatment.

To make it more nuanced, you could:

Explore the effect of stress on puberty and menstruation in youth from developing countries.

Study the impact of certain professions on the immune system or the role of discrimination on mental health in marginalized communities.

Assess impact of physical health on a particular area of mental health such as stress, PTSD, or phobias.

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at Duke University.

2. Human learning and memory

This is a fascinating area of research in psychology, and its importance has only grown with things like tech innovations, awareness around neurodivergence and instances of dementia, Alzheimer’s. From understanding the types of memory to memory encoding, retrieval cues, forgetting, and memory strategies — the possibilities for impactful research are plenty.

Your research could focus on specific topics like:

The changing capacity of memory with aging,

The impact of memory on decision-making biases

The questionable reliability of eyewitness testimony in courts (this is a widely discussed topic in law and law enforcement!)

An exploration of cognitive neuroscience within addiction frameworks .

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at University of Chicago.

3. Create innovative methods to study online behavior

As online behavior becomes more and more relevant, so does the need to study it. From anthropologists to economists, subject experts have focused keenly on the impact of online behavior. The field of psychology is no exception!

Methodology research projects, for example, can offer new tools to analyze and interpret online behavior. You could evaluate current research methods, develop new techniques for specific areas like data collection, or provide guidelines for a niche area of research like online behavior on Twitter.

You could also bring your computer science knowledge to the fore by using computational methods. These could include the use of machine learning to analyze online behaviors like how individuals react online to key events, or a mobile app that tracks digital activities can also be considered.

Your research can also intersect with media studies by looking at the effect of media on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. A topic relevant to current public discourse could be the effect of media portrayals of masculinity on public perceptions of men as well as their perceptions of themselves. The end goal of research projects in this field could be to assist a social scientist in their study of online behaviors, honing in on facets of behavior like moral or political behavior, biases, online identity, and more.

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at Yale University.

4. Sensation and perception

Research in sensation and perception would study how sensory stimuli are detected, processed, integrated and how they give rise to our perceptions of the world. Research projects in this subject can be applied in a number of fields including design, communication, education, and clinical intervention. A lot of innovations in music and art therapy are grounded in this area.

If you’re interested in the arts then this field is a great way to explore topics like:

The influence of multisensory parameters on musical listening

The impact of artistic practices on cognitive abilities

The use of neuroimaging techniques to study how the brain responds to different art forms.

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at University of California, Los Angeles.

5. Neuroscience-related research

Neuroscience draws from a lot of other science subjects but focuses on studying the nervous systems and organs / physiological processes that support it. It is a rapidly growing field with great potential for independent research projects, with its impact extending into AI and robotics. Two broad pathways are available here.

Investigating the neural correlates of a particular cognitive process such as memory, attention, or decision making. A deep dive into decision making, for example, would look at neural pathways that underlie risk-taking behavior or the role of the prefrontal cortex in executive control.

Examination of state-of-art brain imaging or brain stimulation methods. The end result would look at trends or patterns, inconsistencies or limitations, and offer suggestions for future research.

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at California Institute of Technology.

6. Consumer behavior

If you have an interest in both, economics and psychology, then this is where it comes together. Psychological factors play a key role in influencing consumer behavior when it comes to purchase, use and disposal of products. Research in this field can lead to more effective marketing strategies, promotion of sustainable consumer behavior, more informed public health campaigns, to name a few things.

Some examples of specific topics include studying:

The impact of social media influencers

The effect of online reviews

The influence of product packaging on consumers’ perception and decision making behaviors

The drivers of consumer financial decision-making (i.e., debt)

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, San Diego.

7. Workplace psychology

As 4-day workweek experiments gain traction across the world, research in workplace psychology has become more relevant than ever. Employee motivation, job satisfaction, leadership, and teamwork — there are numerous subsets of research in this field.

The psychology of technology at work, for example, can explore:

The influence of virtual work conditions

Employee reactions to electronic performance monitoring.

The study of employee selection techniques, what biases can be involved

The impact of virtual reality and machine learning on the process.

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at Purdue University.

8. Depression, anxiety, and suicide

Understanding the causes, prevention, and treatment of mental illnesses such as these can form a broad area of research for you. Examples of specific research topics include research that looks into:

The development of culturally appropriate treatment approaches , which could be done by partnering with marginalized or oppressed communities.

Issues of diagnostic measurement. Such projects can analyze existing diagnostic tools and test their accuracy across different sections of society or focus on developing new diagnostic measures that are more comprehensive in nature.

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at University of Michigan.

9. Psychopathology and psychiatry

Psychopathology and psychiatry are two important areas of inquiry in the field of psychology and are deeply intertwined with other science subjects such as biology and chemistry. Not only does it introduce you to sophisticated methods of research, but work in this field can have far-reaching effects on those who live with debilitating mental disorders.

Research projects in this field of study can look at:

The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. For example, your passion project could study the genetic predispositions for certain neurodevelopmental disorders.

Exploring brain and cognitive changes in people with severe psychopathology.

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at University of California, Los Angeles.

10. Positive psychology

Positive psychology is a flexible field of research that can be applied to a broad spectrum of domains in life. Research projects can constitute examining the approach, its current applications, recent findings, and future potential. A few examples of more specific research areas within the field are:

The role of group identity in well-being

The effect of positive emotions on social cognition

The effect of social support on trauma victims.

If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs !

This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper in a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far, and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.

You can find the application link here

One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you are passionate about psychology and want to do advanced research, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image source: AI generated image (Deep AI)

30 Best Science Experiments & Projects for High School

Welcome to our round-up of top science fair projects and science experiments tailored specifically for curious high school students.

Science fair is not just about the glitz and glamour of a first-place trophy; it’s about the passion, the inquiry, and the insatiable curiosity that drive every scientist, young and old. Hopefully, our curated list of the best hands-on science fair projects for high school students will ignite that curiosity in you.

Each project on this list offers a unique opportunity to dive deep into scientific inquiry and present findings with both clarity and flair.

Let’s dive in and make learning an unforgettable adventure!

1. Burn Calories

Don’t miss this opportunity to unravel the mysteries of energy transformation and uncover the scientific secrets hidden in the simplest of substances!

Learn more: Science Buddies

2. Extracting DNA from Strawberry

By following a series of simple yet insightful steps, students will witness the magical moment of DNA extraction, fostering a deeper appreciation for the fundamental building blocks of life.

Learn more: Extracting DNA from Strawberry

3. Build a Simple DIY Newton’s Cradle

As students assemble the materials and witness the rhythmic dance of swinging spheres, they will witness the scientific principles they’ve learned in the classroom come to life before their eyes.

4. Make a Monster Dry Ice Bubbles

Unleash your inner mad scientist and learn how to make Monster Dry Ice Bubbles with this high school science experiment!

Get ready to be captivated as you create giant, spooky bubbles that dance and swirl with the mysterious power of dry ice.

Learn more: Wonder How To

5. Soil Erosion Experiment

As stewards of our environment, it’s crucial to comprehend the impact of natural processes like soil erosion.

Through this experiment, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of soil conservation and sustainable land management practices.

Learn more: Life is a Garden

6. Candle Carousel

This experiment combines the wonders of physics with the art of crafting, making it an enriching experience that ignites curiosity and fosters a deeper appreciation for the elegant dance of energy in our world.

7. Find Out if Water Conducts Electricity

In this captivating activity, students will explore the conductive properties of water and unlock the secrets of how electrical currents flow through different substances.

Learn more: Rookie Parenting

8. Roller Coaster Stem Experiment

By experimenting with various designs and track configurations, students will refine their problem-solving skills and gain valuable insights into the practical applications of physics and engineering.

Learn more: STEM Project

9. Lemon Battery

Engaging in this experiment not only teaches the basics of electrical circuits but also sparks curiosity about the natural world and the science behind it.

Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons

10. Watering Plants Using Different Liquids

Discover the wonders of plant hydration with the intriguing high school science experiment – “Watering Plants Using Different Liquids.” In this captivating project, students explore how various liquids impact plant growth and health.

Learn more: Lemon Lime Adventures

11. Measure Electrolytes Found in Sports Drinks

By conducting a series of tests and analyses, students will quantify the electrolyte content present in various sports drinks.

12. Relight the Flame Without Directly Touching It

This captivating project challenges students to learn about the intriguing properties of heat transfer and combustion.

By exploring different methods to reignite a candle flame without physical contact, students will uncover the secrets of heat conduction, convection, and radiation.

Learn more: Stevespangler

13. Conduct Fingerprint Analysis

This captivating project immerses students in the intriguing world of crime scene investigations, where they will uncover the uniqueness of fingerprints and their role in forensic science.

14. Separate Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Using Electrolysis

This electrifying project allows students to explore electrolysis and the decomposition of water into its elemental components.

Learn more: Navigating by Joy

15. Simple Color Detection Circuit

This experiment not only introduces fundamental concepts in electronics and circuitry but also opens up endless possibilities for real-life applications, from automated sorting systems to color-sensitive devices.

16. Carbon Sugar Snake

This enchanting project allows students to witness a dazzling display of science as they combine common household ingredients to create a dark, coiling “snake” made of carbon.

Learn more: Kiwi Co

17. Build a Hydraulic Elevator

This captivating project invites students to learn about engineering and fluid mechanics. By constructing a working model of a hydraulic elevator, students will explore the principles of Pascal’s law and the fascinating concept of fluid pressure.

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

18. Brew up Some Root Beer

This enticing project invites students to explore the fascinating world of chemistry and fermentation while creating their own delicious and bubbly concoction.

Learn more: Home School Creations

19. Extracting Bismuth From Pepto-Bismol Tablets

This hands-on experiment not only sheds light on the principles of chemistry and lab techniques but also highlights the real-world applications of bismuth in medicine and various industries.

Learn more: Popscie

20. Solar-Powered Water Desalination

By designing and building a solar-powered water desalination system, students will learn how to harness the sun’s energy to purify saltwater and make it safe for consumption.

21. Applying Hooke’s Law: Make Your Own Spring Scale

By designing and constructing their very own spring scale, students will uncover the principles of Hooke’s Law and the relationship between force and displacement in a spring system.

22. Homemade Hand Warmer

By creating their own hand warmers using safe and easily accessible materials, students will witness the magic of heat generation through chemical processes.

Learn more: Steve Spangler

23. Explore the Concept of Symbiosis Involving Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria.

Delve into the concept of symbiosis involving nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

By investigating how certain plants form a mutually beneficial bond with these bacteria, students will gain insights into the essential role of nitrogen fixation in the ecosystem.

Learn more: Education.com

24. Center of Gravity Experiment

This fascinating project invites students to explore the concept of the center of gravity and its role in determining stability.

25. Power up Homemade Batteries

This captivating project invites students to learn about electrochemistry and energy generation.

Learn more: 123 Homeschool

26. Film Canister Explosions

Prepare for a blast of excitement and chemistry with the high school science experiment – “Film Canister Explosions!” This project teaches students about chemical reactions and pressure build-up.

27. Investigating Osmosis with Potato Slices

This hands-on experiment not only provides a practical understanding of osmosis but also highlights its relevance in everyday life, from understanding plant hydration to food preservation techniques.

28. Make Homemade Fly Trap

This captivating “Make Homemade Fly Trap!” project invites students to explore the principles of pest control and observe the behavior of flies.

29. Hydroponics: Gardening Without Soil

This exciting project invites students to explore innovative agricultural practices that harness water and nutrient solutions to grow plants.

By setting up their hydroponic system and nurturing plants through this method, students will witness the fascinating dynamics of root development and nutrient absorption.

30. Clothespin Airplane

As they test and modify their creations, students will learn about the principles of lift, thrust, and drag, gaining a deeper understanding of how these forces come together to keep airplanes soaring through the skies.

Learn more: Steamsational

70 Best High School Science Fair Projects in Every Subject

Fire up the Bunsen burners!

Collage of high school science fair projects, including 3D printed cars and a DIY vacuum chamber

The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.

Note: Some of these projects were written as classroom labs but can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom activity into a true scientific method experiment!

To make it easier to find the right high school science fair project idea for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:

Difficulty:

Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Biology and Life Sciences High School Science Fair Projects

Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects

Physics high school science fair projects, engineering high school stem fair projects, biology and life science high school science fair projects.

Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.

Extract DNA from an onion

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.

Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium ADVERTISEMENT

Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Try your own cross-pollination experiments with fast-growing plants like peas or beans.

Make plants move with light

By this age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So high school science fair projects on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.

Test the 5-second rule

We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).

Find out if color affects taste

Just how interlinked are all our senses? Does the sight of food affect how it tastes? Find out with a fun food science fair project like this one!

See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced

Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit , bacillus cereus and rhodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.

Learn more: Antibiotics Project at Home Science Tools

Witness the carbon cycle in action

Test tubes filled with plants and green and blue liquid

Experiment with the effects of light on the carbon cycle. Make this science fair project even more interesting by adding some small aquatic animals like snails or fish into the mix.

Learn more: Carbon Cycle at Science Lessons That Rock

Look for cell mitosis in an onion

Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes. Adapt this lab into a high school science fair project by applying the process to other organisms too.

Test the effects of disinfectants

Petri dish divided in half with bacteria and paper disks on the surface

Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.

Learn more: Effectiveness of Antiseptics and Disinfectants at Amy Brown Science

Pit hydroponics against soil

Growing vegetables without soil (hydroponics) is a popular trend, allowing people to garden just about anywhere.

More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects for High School

Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:

Explore ways to prevent soil erosion.
What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
What’s the best way to prevent mold growth on food for long-term storage?
Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water, etc.).
Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
Devise a way to desalinate seawater and make it safe to drink.

Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry is such a popular topic for high school science fair projects!

Break apart covalent bonds

Break the covalent bond of H 2 O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?

Learn more: Covalent Bonds at Teaching Without Chairs

Measure the calories in various foods

Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.

Detect latent fingerprints

Fingerprint divided into two, one half yellow and one half black

Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!

Learn more: Fingerprints Project at Hub Pages

Use Alka-Seltzer to explore reaction rate

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Easy

Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.

Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ

Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools .

Turn flames into a rainbow

You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.

Discover the size of a mole

Supplies needed for mole experiment, included scale, salt, and chalk

The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.

Learn more: How Big Is a Mole? at Amy Brown Science

Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations

Aluminum foil bowl filled with bubbling liquid over a bunsen burner

This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!

Learn more: Candy Chemistry at Dunigan Science on TpT

Make soap to understand saponification

Colorful soaps from saponification science experiments for high school

Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.

Learn more: Saponification at Chemistry Solutions on TpT

Uncover the secrets of evaporation

Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.

Learn more: Evaporation at Science Projects

More Chemistry Science Fair Projects for High School

These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:

Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?

When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.

Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber

DIY vacuum chamber made from a jar and large hypodermic needle

You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool high school science fair projects, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.

Learn more: Vacuum Chamber at Instructables

Put together a mini Tesla coil

Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!

Boil water in a paper cup

Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.

Build a better light bulb

Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb. You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.

Measure the speed of light—with your microwave

Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment. By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven and, in turn, the speed of light.

Generate a Lichtenberg figure

Lichtenberg figure generated on a sheet of Plexiglass

See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.

Learn more: Lichtenberg Figure at Science Notes

Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!

Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation

Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.

Measure the effect of temperature on resistance

A beaker with a tungsten rod, connected to a multimeter

This is a popular and classic science fair experiment in physics. You’ll need a few specialized supplies, but they’re pretty easy to find.

Learn more: Temperature and Resistance at Science Project

Launch the best bottle rocket

A basic bottle rocket is pretty easy to build, but it opens the door to lots of different science fair projects. Design a powerful launcher, alter the rocket so it flies higher or farther, or use only recycled materials for your flyer.

More Physics Science Fair Projects for High School

Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.

Determine the most efficient solar panel design and placement.
What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
What’s the best way to soundproof an area or reduce noise produced by an item?
Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.

Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs, to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science fair projects start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!

Construct a model maglev train

Maglev model train built from magnets and wood craft sticks on green felt

Maglev trains may just be the future of mass transportation. Build a model at home, and explore ways to implement the technology on a wider basis.

Learn more: Maglev Model Train at Supermagnete

Design a more efficient wind turbine

Wind energy is renewable, making it a good solution for the fossil fuel problem. For a smart science fair project, experiment to find the most efficient wind turbine design for a given situation.

Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine

Da Vinci flying machine built from a paper cup and other basic supplies

Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.

Learn more: Da Vinci Flying Machine at Student Savvy

Design a heart-rate monitor

Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But do they work any better than one you can build yourself? Get the specialized items you need like the Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.

Race 3D printed cars

Simple 3-D printed race cars with vegetables strapped to them (Science Experiments for High School)

3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library. Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)

Learn more: 3D Printed Cars at Instructables

Grow veggies in a hydroponic garden

Vertical hydroponic garden made from PVC pipes and aluminum downspouts

Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair STEM engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.

Learn more: Hydroponics at Instructables

Grab items with a mechanical claw

KiwiCo hydraulic claw kit (Science Experiments for High School)

Delve into robotics with this engineering project. This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions. Once you’ve built the basic structure, tinker around with the design to improve its strength, accuracy, or other traits.

Learn more: Hydraulic Claw at KiwiCo

Construct a crystal radio

Homemade crystal radio set (Science Experiments for High School)

Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch. This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.

Learn more: Crystal Radio at Scitoys.com

Build a burglar alarm

Simple electronic burglar alarm with a cell phone

The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.

Learn more: Intruder Alarm at Instructables

Walk across a plastic bottle bridge

Students sitting on a large bridge made of plastic bottles

Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!

Learn more: TrussFab Structures at Instructables

Looking for more science content? Check out the Best Science Websites for Middle and High School .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and tricks when you sign up for our newsletters .

Explore high school science fair projects in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and more, from easy projects to advanced ideas.

The Big List of Science Fair Project Ideas, Resources, and More

Options for every age, interest, and skill level! Continue Reading

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Home > ETD > Doctoral > 5985

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Investigating high school students' engagement and presence in foreign language learning using virtual reality: a quasi-experimental study.

Nibras Clapp , Liberty University Follow

School of Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Laura Mansfield

engagement, presence, virtual reality, foreign language learning, language immersion

Disciplines

Recommended citation.

Clapp, Nibras, "Investigating High School Students' Engagement and Presence in Foreign Language Learning Using Virtual Reality: A Quasi-Experimental Study" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects . 5985. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5985

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group study was to determine if a statistically significant difference existed in the engagement and presence of high school foreign language learners who used virtual reality in their language learning and those who used traditional methods. This study seeks to add to the existing literature by bridging the gap of understanding related to increasing the proficiency of foreign language learners. A convenience sample of 158 high school students was drawn from a school district in the southeast of the United States. The study utilized the user engagement scale and the presence questionnaire, with a selected sample consisting of a treatment group (using virtual reality) and a control group (using traditional methods). The researcher conducted a one-way multivariate analysis of variance to assess the presence and engagement scores in the control and treatment groups. However, the results were inconclusive due to assumption violations. To overcome these limitations, future research should include performing a prolonged study, exploring different virtual reality applications, using appropriate instruments to the age group of ample used, and collecting qualitative data to better understand students' and teachers' opinions.

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30 Economics Research Ideas for High School Students

By Eric Eng

Exploring economics research ideas can be a thrilling adventure for high school students. These topics not only spark interest but also deepen understanding of how economies work. It’s also a great way to get a head start on college-level concepts.

Let’s explore different economic aspects, from individual behaviors to global market trends. We’ll help you choose exciting topics, ask the right questions, and connect theories with the real world. Ready to dive into economics? Let’s find research ideas that will expand your knowledge and analytical abilities.

Economic Research Area #1: Technology and Labor Markets

The impact of technology on labor markets is crucial for high school students exploring economics research ideas. Understanding how automation and artificial intelligence reshape jobs prepares students for future challenges.

This knowledge is vital for those planning to major in economics or related fields, offering a foundation to navigate and influence the evolving job market.

programmer working on mobile phone and laptop with binary, javascript computer code, big data on virtual screen

Here are specific topics you can explore:

1. Analyze the effects of automation on employment rates in the retail sector of a local community over the past decade.

This topic is relevant because it shows how technological advancements can shift job availability. Students can compare historical employment data before and after automation’s introduction.

2. Investigate the relationship between the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and changes in average wages among manufacturing workers in a specific industry.

This research can reveal how AI influences wage patterns. By analyzing wage data pre and post AI adoption, students can uncover the economic impact of technology.

3. Conduct a survey to assess how technological advancements have influenced job preferences among high school students in terms of pursuing careers in traditional versus emerging industries.

This topic helps understand the changing career aspirations due to tech advancements. Surveys can provide insights into students’ perceptions and career plans.

4. Examine the impact of gig economy platforms (e.g., Uber, TaskRabbit) on labor market dynamics and income inequality among young workers in a particular city.

Exploring this area can uncover how gig work affects job stability and income distribution. Analyzing earnings and employment patterns offers a glimpse into the gig economy’s role.

5. Compare the job displacement rates and reemployment prospects of workers in different age groups following the introduction of automated systems in a specific industry.

This research is important to understand how automation impacts workers across age groups differently. By focusing on displacement and reemployment, students can propose solutions to mitigate negative effects.

Economic Research Area #2: Environmental Economics

Environmental economics offers a rich field of research for high school students interested in economics ideas. It blends economic theory with environmental policies to assess their impacts on communities and industries.

For students eyeing a major in environmental science or economics, diving into these topics provides a practical understanding of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.

6. Evaluate the economic benefits and costs of implementing renewable energy initiatives (e.g., solar panel installations) in a local community over a five-year period.

This analysis highlights the financial implications of sustainable energy solutions. Students can assess how these initiatives affect local economies and energy costs.

7. Analyze the economic effects of implementing a carbon tax on businesses in a specific industry and its implications for competitiveness and emissions reduction.

This research can uncover the trade-offs between environmental policies and business performance. By examining financial data, students explore the policy’s effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions.

8. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of conservation efforts (e.g., reforestation projects) on biodiversity and local tourism revenues in a natural reserve.

This topic investigates the economic value of preserving natural habitats. Students can analyze how conservation impacts tourism and the local economy.

9. Investigate the economic impact of extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes, droughts) on agricultural production and property values in a particular region.

Understanding these effects is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate economic losses. This research involves analyzing agricultural yields and real estate prices.

10. Assess the economic feasibility of transitioning to sustainable farming practices (e.g., organic farming, agroforestry) for small-scale farmers in a rural community.

This study examines the viability of eco-friendly agriculture. By evaluating costs and benefits, students can propose ways to support sustainable farming.

Economic Research Area #3: Behavioral Economics

Behavioral economics is a fascinating area for high school students keen on economics research ideas. It examines how psychological, cognitive, emotional, cultural, and social factors affect economic decisions.

Delving into this field equips students interested in psychology or economics with insights into human behavior, enhancing their ability to predict and influence decision-making processes.

11. Examine how framing effects influence consumer choices between branded and generic products among high school students at a local supermarket.

This research sheds light on marketing’s power over consumer decisions. Students can conduct surveys or experiments to see how product presentation changes buying habits.

12. Investigate the impact of default options on high school students’ savings behavior in a school-sponsored retirement savings program.

Understanding default effects can reveal much about passive versus active decision-making. By analyzing savings rates before and after program changes, students can assess the influence of defaults.

13. Conduct a field experiment to study the effect of social norms and peer pressure on high school students’ spending habits.

This topic explores the social aspects of economic decisions. Through experiments, students can observe how peer behavior affects individual spending choices.

14. Analyze how present bias affects high school students’ decisions to invest in long-term education versus immediate employment opportunities.

This research is important for understanding short-sightedness in decision-making. By surveying students’ preferences and plans, insights into the impact of present bias on future planning can be gained.

15. Investigate the role of financial literacy education in mitigating irrational investment decisions among high school students.

This study assesses the effectiveness of financial education in improving decision-making. By comparing the investment choices of students with and without financial literacy training, the benefits of education can be evaluated.

Economic Research Area #4: Global Trade and Tariffs

Global trade and tariffs are critical for high school students interested in economics research ideas. This topic allows students to understand the interconnectedness of global markets and the impact of policy decisions on economies.

For those considering a major in international business or economics , exploring these areas can provide a practical grasp of trade dynamics and policy effects on businesses and consumers.

16. Analyze the economic consequences of recent trade tariffs on imported goods (e.g., steel, aluminum) on local manufacturing businesses in a particular city.

This research helps understand tariffs’ impact on production costs and pricing. Students can look into local businesses’ financial reports before and after tariffs were imposed to assess their effects.

17. Investigate the impact of trade agreements (e.g., USMCA, CPTPP) on the export competitiveness of agricultural products from a local farming community.

By examining these agreements, students can evaluate how international policies influence local economies. Analyzing trade data and interviewing local farmers can provide insights into these effects.

18. Conduct a survey to assess consumer preferences for domestically produced goods versus imported alternatives following changes in trade policies.

This topic explores nationalism’s role in consumer behavior. Surveys can help gauge shifts in preferences due to policy changes and their economic implications.

one person holding a pen to point and the other person typing on a wireless keyboard plus an inlay art of line and bar graphs

19. Analyze the effects of trade disputes (e.g., U.S.-China trade tensions) on the profitability and employment levels of multinational corporations headquartered in a particular country.

This research can uncover how geopolitical tensions affect global businesses. Students can study financial statements and employment data of affected corporations to understand these disputes’ impacts.

20. Investigate the economic implications of trade liberalization on the textile industry in a specific developing country.

This study assesses how reducing trade barriers impacts developing economies. By focusing on a specific industry, students can analyze changes in production, employment, and exports resulting from liberalized trade policies.

Economic Research Area #5: Healthcare Economics

Healthcare economics is a vital field for high school students looking for impactful economics research ideas. It examines the efficiency, effectiveness, value, and behavior in the production and consumption of healthcare and health-related services.

Students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare , public policy, or economics can gain valuable insights by exploring how economic principles apply to healthcare systems, influencing policy decisions and individual health outcomes.

21. Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of preventive healthcare interventions (e.g., vaccination programs, smoking cessation campaigns) in reducing healthcare expenditures in a local healthcare system.

This topic assesses the financial benefits of preventive measures. By analyzing healthcare cost data before and after interventions, students can determine their economic impact.

22. Analyze the impact of health insurance coverage on healthcare utilization patterns among high school students in a specific school district.

Understanding insurance’s role in healthcare access offers insights into policy effectiveness. Students can survey peers or analyze health service usage data to explore this relationship.

23. Investigate the economic barriers to accessing mental health services among adolescents in a particular community or region.

This research identifies financial obstacles to mental health care. By conducting interviews or surveys, students can highlight affordability and availability issues.

24. Assess the cost-benefit of implementing telemedicine services for a rural community to improve healthcare access.

This study explores telemedicine’s potential to bridge healthcare gaps. By comparing healthcare usage and costs before and after telemedicine implementation, students can evaluate its effectiveness.

25. Analyze the effects of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on healthcare outcomes and hospital finances in a specific state.

Examining Medicaid expansion allows students to see policy impacts on a large scale. They can review public health data and hospital financial statements to understand the consequences of this policy change.

Economic Research Area #6: Income Inequality and Poverty

Income inequality and poverty are crucial topics for high school students interested in exploring economics research ideas. These issues affect millions worldwide, influencing overall economic stability and individual well-being.

Students aiming for careers in social sciences, public policy , or economics will find researching this area enriches their understanding of socioeconomic dynamics and potential interventions to mitigate inequality.

26. Investigate the relationship between educational attainment and intergenerational income mobility among families in a local community.

This study can reveal how education impacts economic opportunities across generations. By analyzing local data, students can explore paths to breaking the cycle of poverty.

27. Analyze the impact of affordable housing policies on homelessness rates and income inequality in a specific city or region.

Understanding these policies’ effects can show how housing influences economic disparities. Students can compare homelessness and income data before and after policy implementations.

28. Assess the economic benefits of providing subsidized childcare services for low-income families in a particular neighborhood.

This research examines childcare’s role in enabling employment and reducing poverty. By evaluating employment rates and economic outcomes of families receiving subsidies, students can gauge the program’s effectiveness.

29. Investigate the role of access to financial services (e.g., microloans, financial education programs) in reducing poverty levels among women in a developing country.

This topic focuses on financial inclusion as a tool for economic empowerment. Through case studies or data analysis, students can assess how these services contribute to women’s economic independence.

30. Analyze the effectiveness of targeted cash transfer programs (e.g., Earned Income Tax Credit) in alleviating poverty among single-parent households in a specific area.

This study allows students to evaluate direct financial interventions’ impact on poverty reduction. By reviewing program data and household economic conditions, the effectiveness of cash transfers can be assessed.

What makes a good high school economics research topic?

A good economics research topic for high school students strikes a balance between being challenging and manageable. It should pique your interest while offering scope for inquiry and analysis. Topics that address current economic issues or explore the economic dimensions of societal trends are particularly valuable, as they allow you to engage with relevant and impactful questions.

Choosing a topic that connects to your personal interests or future academic goals can also be incredibly rewarding. Such a topic not only keeps you motivated throughout the research process but also provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter, laying a solid foundation for future studies in economics or related fields.

What research methods can I use for my high school economics research?

Quantitative methods, including surveys and statistical analysis, are highly suitable for high school economics research projects. These methods allow you to collect numerical data on your chosen topic, facilitating objective analysis and the ability to draw evidence-based conclusions. Learning to use statistical software or online tools can enhance your ability to handle and interpret data effectively.

However, qualitative methods should not be overlooked. Interviews, case studies, and content analysis can provide deep insights into economic behaviors and attitudes. These methods enable you to explore the nuances of economic phenomena, enriching your research with perspectives that numbers alone cannot provide.

What resources are available to high school students for economics research?

High school students have access to a variety of resources for economics research. Academic databases such as JSTOR or Google Scholar offer a wealth of scholarly articles, while government websites provide reliable statistics and reports. These sources can be invaluable for gathering accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of economic topics, from global trade patterns to local economic policies.

Beyond digital resources, your school’s library and teachers are also key assets. Libraries often subscribe to economic journals and have books that are not available online. Teachers can guide you on research methodologies, source credibility, and topic refinement, ensuring your project is both rigorous and informative. Utilizing these resources effectively can elevate the quality of your economics research, making it a meaningful academic endeavor.

How do high school economics research prepare students for college?

High school economics projects are an excellent way for students to develop skills essential for college-level research. Through these projects, you learn how to formulate research questions , conduct systematic analysis, and present findings coherently. These skills are not only crucial for academic success in college but also valuable in any career that involves problem-solving and critical thinking.

Moreover, by engaging in economics research, you gain an understanding of economic concepts and their real-world applications. This experience provides a solid foundation for further studies in economics, finance, or business, making the transition to college coursework smoother and more manageable.

What are the common mistakes in conducting economics research and how can I avoid them?

One common mistake in conducting economics research is choosing a topic that is too broad or too narrow. A topic that is too broad can be overwhelming and difficult to manage within the constraints of a high school project, while a topic that is too narrow might not have enough available information. To avoid this, refine your topic by focusing on specific aspects of a broader issue, ensuring that there is enough research material available to support your investigation.

Another frequent error is failing to properly cite sources, which can lead to accusations of plagiarism . To avoid this, make sure to keep track of all the resources you consult during your research and to follow the appropriate citation guidelines for your project. This not only upholds academic integrity but also strengthens the credibility of your research.

Engaging in economics research as a high school student lays the groundwork for academic and professional success. It sharpens your analytical skills, deepens your understanding of economic principles, and prepares you for the rigors of college-level study.

Remember, the journey through economics research is not just about the findings you present. It’s about fostering a curious mind and a critical eye towards the economic issues that shape our world. Let this exploration be the start of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and impact.

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UPEI leads $6.93 million precision agriculture research project to mitigate climate change

A team of researchers from across Canada, led by Dr. Aitazaz Farooque, professor and interim associate dean of the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation, has received $6.93 million in federal funding to develop precision agriculture techniques to ensure food security and mitigate climate change.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of $87.5 million over four years to support 16 Canadian research projects , including the UPEI-led project, to accelerate the development of solutions to support a sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector in a net-zero economy. Minister MacAulay and Professor Alejandro Adem, president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), announced the funding on August 29 at the UPEI Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peter’s Bay, PEI.

“As we continue to tackle climate change, it’s vitally important that we support our farmers and work to maintain a resilient food system for future generations,” said Minister MacAulay. “Our investment in these projects reiterates our commitment to keep our agriculture sector on the cutting edge.”

The research teams and projects are supported by grants awarded through the NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative (SARI), a joint initiative between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

“We are grateful to the Government of Canada, NSERC, and SSHRC for their investments in this vital research across the country,” said UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Wendy Rodgers. “The collaborations supporting the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI demonstrate the profound benefits of working together for greater impact. UPEI is proud to support researchers working on exciting and innovative adaptations to climate change. We are especially proud of Dr. Aitazaz Farooque and his team’s work on precision agriculture, which is yielding sustainable practices with minimal environmental impact and inspiring the next generation of sustainability scholars.”

“I am incredibly delighted and honoured to be one of the recipients of the sustainable agriculture research initiative,” said Dr. Farooque. “This is a great accomplishment for my team and me, the CCCCA, and UPEI.”

Canada’s agriculture sector is vital for food security and contributes $143 billion to the gross domestic product, he said. However, farmers face significant uncertainties due to climate change, declining soil health, and current economic conditions. Agriculture generates approximately 10 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reducing these emissions is crucial to mitigate climate change and achieve our net zero commitments.

The project will advance the use of in-field best management practices to improve soil health, lower GHG emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, and develop innovative precision agriculture systems, technologies, and practices to increase farm profitability and lower environmental risks by implementing climate-smart agriculture practices. Highly qualified personnel and growers will receive hands-on training in sustainable agriculture best management practices through scientific design and investigation in the lab and field.

Working on the project will be a team of Indigenous researchers and precision agriculture experts, including soil scientists, engineers, modelers, social scientists, data scientists, agronomists, and economists. Also involved are agriculture industry partners, collaborators at other Canadian and international universities, and the governments of the four Atlantic Canadian provinces.

“This research will advance the adoption of sustainable agriculture best management practices and bridge modern science with Indigenous knowledge to strengthen rural life in Canada with environmental, social, and economic benefits,” said Dr. Farooque. “The application of novel technologies developed through this project will make Canada a world leader in sustainable agriculture, which will ultimately help to achieve net zero targets.”

UPEI acknowledges the assistance of Canada’s tri-council of federal granting agencies—Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)—through its Research Support Fund, which helps fund services and infrastructure that support research activities at the University. In 2024–2025, UPEI’s RSF allocation is $1,041,691.

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100 Interesting Research Paper Topics for High Schoolers
For example, last year over 4000 students applied for 500 spots in the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a rigorous research program founded by Harvard researchers. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. The program actually does not require you to have a research topic in ...
100 Research Topics for High School Students
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Interesting Research Project Ideas for High School In Education. Examine the advantages of having diverse students in schools. Evaluate the effectiveness of charter schools within the national education system. Explore the impact of modern technology on the teaching methods used in schools.
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It should provide ample opportunities for critical thinking and analysis. 4. Feasibility. A great research essay topic is one that is feasible to research and write about within the given time and resource constraints. It should have accessible sources and available data for investigation. 5. Controversy or Debate.
Biology Research Projects for High School Students: 20 Ideas To Try
In this project, we will perform and systematic review and meta-analysis of fasting or diet-induced autophagy and its benefits on the body. You will gain skills in 1) searching and reviewing primary literature, 2) computational skills for performing data analysis (R language), and 3) writing your scientific findings.
58 Good Research Paper Topics for High School Students
Good Research Paper Topics (Continued) 5) Analyze the themes, symbolic representations, and societal critiques of the American Dream as depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. 6) Provide a comprehensive explication of a renowned Shakespearean sonnet or soliloquy, such as this one from Hamlet. 7) Choose a poem such as Robert Frost ...
151 Good Research Topics For High School Students
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Duration: 10 weeks (June 3 - August 9) Open to New York City high school students who will complete 10th or 11th grade in June 2024, the ARISE program provides access to college-level workshops and lab research across fields like bio, molecular, and chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, and AI.
11 STEM Research Topics for High School Students
Topic 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI stands at the forefront of technological innovation. Students can engage in research on AI applications in various sectors and the ethical implications of AI. This field is suitable for students with interests in computer science, AI, data analytics, and related areas. Topic 2: Applied Math and AI.
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Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ who live within 60 miles of the lab; Research Opportunities for High School Students—Continued 60) Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Summer Research Program. Location: Roanoke, VA; Focus: Health behaviors research; Timeframe: Summer; Length: 8 weeks; Cost: Free; all students receive ...
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The primary goal is to equip students interested in health sciences, statistics, and computational/computer science to become future leaders in the realm of translational medical research. Apply to: Scripps Research Institute. Age Eligibility: All high school students (9th-12th) Location: San Diego, California. 6.
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Set goals for completing the introduction, various sections of the body, and your conclusion. 6. Edit Your Paper. There will be multiple stages of editing that need to happen. First, you will self-edit your first draft. Then, you will likely turn a draft of your paper in to your mentor for another round of editing.
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Some ideas of environmentally related physics research topics are: 23. New materials for the production of hydrogen fuel. 24. Analysis of emissions involved in the production, use, and disposal of products. 25. Nuclear fission or nuclear fusion energy as possible solutions to mitigate climate change.
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High School Science Projects. (648 results) Science Buddies' high school science projects are the perfect way for high school students to have fun exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Our high school projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the high school grades.
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Onsite: June 23 - July 5, 2024. July 14 - July 26, 2024. Pre-College Program - Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College programs offer rising high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to see for themselves how undergraduate students experience college both academically and personally.
30 Innovative Research Ideas in Psychology for High School Students
Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at Duke University. 2. Human learning and memory. This is a fascinating area of research in psychology, and its importance has only grown with things like tech innovations, awareness around neurodivergence and instances of dementia, Alzheimer's.
30 Chemistry Research Ideas for High School Students
Chemistry Research Area #3: Materials Science and Nanotechnology. Materials science and nanotechnology are fields that hold the key to groundbreaking innovations in various industries. For high school students looking for chemistry research ideas, these areas offer a unique blend of chemistry, physics, and engineering, providing a glimpse into ...
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26. Film Canister Explosions. Prepare for a blast of excitement and chemistry with the high school science experiment - "Film Canister Explosions!". This project teaches students about chemical reactions and pressure build-up. Learn more: Steve Spangler.
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Feb 6, 2024. The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals ...
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The purpose of this quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group study was to determine if a statistically significant difference existed in the engagement and presence of high school foreign language learners who used virtual reality in their language learning and those who used traditional methods. This study seeks to add to the existing literature by bridging the gap of understanding ...
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Economic Research Area #1: Technology and Labor Markets. The impact of technology on labor markets is crucial for high school students exploring economics research ideas. Understanding how automation and artificial intelligence reshape jobs prepares students for future challenges. This knowledge is vital for those planning to major in economics ...
UPEI leads $6.93 million precision agriculture research project to
A team of researchers from across Canada, led by Dr. Aitazaz Farooque, professor and interim associate dean of the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation, has received $6.93 million in federal funding to develop precision agriculture techniques to ensure food security and mitigate climate change.

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129 Most Insightful Research Topics For High School

Table of Contents

1. Relevance

2. Originality

3. Depth and Complexity

4. Feasibility

5. Controversy or Debate

6. Interest and Engagement

Otio: Revolutionizing Research Workflows with AI-Native Workspace and Content Management

2. Extract key takeaways

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1. Development of Critical Thinking Skills

2. Enhanced Understanding of Subject Matter

3. Acquisition of Research Skills

4. Exposure to the Scientific Method

5. Development of Presentation and Communication Skills

6. Exploration of Personal Interests and Passions

7. Preparation for Higher Education

1. Finding a Suitable Research Topic

2. Limited Access to Resources

3. Developing Effective Research Skills

4. Time Management and Procrastination

5. Dealing with Information Overload

6. Writing and Citations

Otio: Revolutionizing Research and Writing with AI-Powered Workspaces

1. Set Clear Goals and Prioritize Tasks

2. Create a Schedule

3. Utilize Technology and Research Tools

4. Stay Organized

5. Avoid Procrastination

6. Seek Help and Collaboration

Otio: Simplifying Research Workflows with an AI-Powered Workspace

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151 Good Research Topics For High School Students

Importance of Research Topics For High School Students

Develop Research And Critical Thinking Skills

Explore Passions and Interests

Learn Time Management and Responsibility

Build Knowledge

Practice Academic Writing

Develop Presentation Skills

Gain Credibility and Recognition

Elements of a Strong Research Paper

151 Research Topics For High School Students

Science and Technology

Environmental Science