Minnesota high school students interested in research don’t have to choose between waiting for a summer program near Boston or Palo Alto or taking a general STEM camp closer to home. The University of Minnesota’s medical and biomedical research complex, one of the largest in the Midwest, opens a genuine number of paid internship seats to local high schoolers every year.
It’s a level of access that students in most states simply don’t have. At the same time, virtual programs run through MIT and Pioneer Academics put a national-caliber research experience within reach of any Minnesota high school student, regardless of school district.
For families comparing research programs for high school students in Minnesota, the challenge isn’t a shortage of options — it’s telling apart genuine research experiences from programs that only sound like one.
The highest quality research programs for high school students fall into two categories:
The strongest programs in any category tend to share two qualities: a high degree of student agency in shaping the research direction, and meaningful institutional oversight that ensures academic rigor. Programs with oversight from universities, government bodies and established non-profits typically possess these qualities, giving students the closest approximation to what college-level research actually looks like, making the experience valuable college preparation.
To read more about the different types of research programs for high school students available, and how they differ from popular “independent mentor-matching” services, read our comprehensive guide on choosing the best research opportunities.
The programs below were selected based on:
At the Pioneer Research Institute, students develop, design and complete original, one-on-one research with a university faculty mentor over a single term, in fields ranging from stem programs, to the humanities, culminating in a formal research paper rather than a fixed curriculum.
Because the research institute is itself accredited through Oberlin College, students leave not only with hands on research experience, but also with with a transcript and credits. For a full breakdown of costs, acceptance rates, and how the program works, read our comprehensive guide to Pioneer Academics.
MIT PRIMES-USA is a full academic year of mentor-guided mathematics research for students outside Boston commuting range, working on open problems well beyond the standard high school curriculum.
Projects can span pure and applied mathematics, including areas such as mathematical models, number theory, combinatorics, theoretical computer science and computational biology, with students learning how mathematicians develop conjectures, test ideas, collaborate and communicate their findings. The experience can culminate in original research results, giving participants the opportunity to develop skills while engaging with the process of mathematical discovery rather than simply studying advanced material.
Because it runs January through December rather than a single summer, this free program asks for a substantially longer commitment than most programs on this list. For students weighing it against Pioneer’s term-length research institute, read our MIT PRIMES-USA participation guide.
At the Hormel Institute, a University of Minnesota biomedical research center, Summer Research Scholars spend eight weeks immersed in the world of biomedical research, learning everyday lab techniques while participating in research observation, technology demonstrations, data analysis of real world problems and literature review.
Students also receive lab safety training, build a comprehensive research portfolio documenting their progress and participate in professional development sessions covering topics such as research ethics and STEM career pathways.
The experience culminates in opportunities to present their work at research symposiums and potentially develop a research poster, giving students exposure to both the technical and communicative sides of scientific research.
The $3,000 stipend and the small three-to-four-student cohort make this one of the more selective, best-compensated options on this list for students without a way to commute far from home.
The LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program places students in cardiovascular disease research labs at the University of Minnesota Medical School, combining intensive basic or clinical research with direct faculty mentorship.
Beyond their lab assignments, scholars explore clinical, industrial and academic medicine through hands-on activities, field trips and weekly seminars led by faculty and industry professionals, giving them a broader view of potential careers in cardiovascular science.
The program also provides an hourly wage, although participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing and meals.
ASSIP lets students design and carry out an original research project with a faculty mentor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. ASSIP has virtual, in-person, and hybrid tracks, so Minnesota students looking to participate should consult the mentor list for virtual opportunities.
Students work through the research process in a supportive environment, from developing a research question and reviewing existing literature to collecting and analyzing data and communicating their findings. Projects span disciplines including biology, chemistry, environmental science, computational science and physics, giving students the chance to pursue research aligned with their academic interests rather than follow a fixed curriculum.
Read our full guide to ASSIP’s cost, acceptance rate, and research opportunities for more detail.
The BME High School Internship Program pairs rising seniors with a graduate-student mentor for a six- week hands on introduction to lab work in the university’s Visible Heart Lab, where students investigate biological sciences and biomedical engineering questions using human heart specimens, medical imaging and other research tools.
In addition to their lab project, students participate in reading and interpreting scientific literature, developing research questions, analyzing data and communicating their findings through scientific writing and a final poster presentation. The experience gives students a close look at how engineering, anatomy and medicine intersect in a working research environment.
The paid stipend and provided transportation make it accessible to students who couldn’t otherwise afford an unpaid summer internship.
Minnetonka Research is a year-long, credit-bearing course in which students design their own science research project from scratch, with the option to compete at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair.
Because enrollment is limited to students already attending Minnetonka High School, it’s worth knowing about as a benchmark for a rigorous school-based research program — but it isn’t an open application for students elsewhere in the state.
At Carleton’s Summer Liberal Arts Institute, students take a single seminar-style, discussion-based course taught by Carleton faculty while living on campus. Because SLAI centers on seminar coursework rather than an independent research project, it offers a different kind of rigor — a genuine taste of college-level classroom work, best suited to students weighing it alongside a separate research program.
For more detail, read our full guide to the Summer Liberal Arts Institute.
The Raptor Center’s Ecosystems of STEM Careers internship has students investigate local ecosystems alongside conservation professionals, combining fieldwork, hands on activities and career exploration throughout the program.
Students learn how scientists and conservationists pursue careers to study and protect ecosystems, solve real world problems, build practical skills through outdoor investigations and hear from professionals working across environmental STEM fields. They then apply what they’ve learned to develop and present their own conservation-focused project, giving them experience turning scientific observations into a real-world environmental solution.
Because eligibility is limited to public and charter school students within Minneapolis or Saint Paul proper, this is one of the more geographically restrictive programs on this list.
M-ASCEND introduces students to cancer biology and healthcare career pathways through University of Minnesota faculty, with a summer internship track available to students who complete the introductory Scholars Program. Because access runs through a defined list of Minneapolis Public Schools partner high schools, students should confirm with their counselor whether their school currently participates.
The BioDiscovery Internship gives students hands-on time in an active cancer-biology lab at the Hormel Institute, including equipment maintenance, lab documentation, data science and professional development alongside university researchers. Because it opens to a slightly younger cohort — as early as 10th grade — than the Institute’s Summer Research Scholars program, it’s a reasonable entry point for underclassmen building toward that more selective program later in high school.
Through the Minnesota Youth Institute, students research a global food-security or agriculture issue, write an original paper and present it to experts and peers in a roundtable format as part of the World Food Prize Youth Institutes network.
The program develops critical thinking as students evaluate complex global challenges and consider potential solutions, while the research paper gives them an opportunity to strengthen their creative writing and scientific communication skills. Because there’s no selective admissions process, MNYI is one of the most accessible ways for a Minnesota student to complete and present real research, even without a strong existing academic record.
HERO is a two-week virtual program where students learn directly from Hormel Institute researchers and industry leaders about cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient care through presentations, case studies and career panels.
Because it’s built around lectures and career panels rather than hands on experience and lab work, it’s best understood as a research-adjacent introduction to oncology careers — still a genuine, paid way to explore the field before committing to a longer lab internship.
The right program depends less on prestige and more on what a student actually wants out of the summer, or the school year. Students who want the freedom to define their own research question — rather than contribute a narrow piece of someone else’s — should prioritize programs where the student, not the lab, drives the topic. Pioneer Research Institute, MIT PRIMES-USA, Minnetonka Research (for eligible students) and George Mason ASSIP all put the student in that seat.
Students who live in or near the Twin Cities and want in-person lab time or a residential program have a genuinely strong local bench. The University of Minnesota alone runs Lillehei Heart Institute, BME, M-ASCEND, Raptor Center, and Minnesota Youth Institute programs, while the Hormel Institute in Austin runs three more. Most of these carry real geographic or school-based eligibility restrictions, so Minnesota students comparing research programs for high schoolers in Minnesota should confirm eligibility before building a summer around any single option.
For students without a car, a flexible schedule or proximity to a research university, virtual programs remove the geography problem entirely. Pioneer Research Institute is fully online and open to any high schooler in the state, regardless of school district or zip code. It gives students a full term to conceive and complete original, accredited research on global challenges under the guidance of a faculty mentor — closer to an undergraduate independent study than a summer camp.
Whichever route a student takes, the strongest indicator of a worthwhile program isn’t the name on the building. It’s whether the student walks away having driven real, original work, with a faculty member or professional there to hold that work to a real standard.
The strongest options combine real faculty or professional mentorship with genuine student ownership of the research question, not just lab observation. Among the programs accessible to Minnesota students, Pioneer Research Institute, MIT PRIMES-USA, the University of Minnesota’s Lillehei Heart Institute and BME programs, and the Hormel Institute’s Summer Research Scholars program stand out. Each combines rigorous academic oversight with a research deliverable.
The right choice depends on a student’s subject interest, potential career paths, whether they want an in-person lab or a virtual program, and how much independence they want over the research question itself.
Yes. The Twin Cities host several university-run options directly accessible to local students: the University of Minnesota’s Lillehei Heart Institute Summer Research Scholars, Biomedical Engineering High School Internship, M-ASCEND Cancer Research Program, Raptor Center’s Ecosystems of STEM Careers internship, and the Minnesota Youth Institute. Several of these pay a stipend and don’t require living on campus.
Cost varies widely by program type. Several University of Minnesota and Hormel Institute programs are free and pay students a stipend, typically between $500 and $3,000. For fee-based options, like the Pioneer Research Institute and George Mason’s ASSIP, financial aid is readily available to offset the cost of attendance.
It depends on the program. Several University of Minnesota and Hormel Institute programs, including HERO and the Minnesota Youth Institute, are restricted to Minnesota residents, and some, like the Raptor Center internship and M-ASCEND, are further limited to specific school districts or partner schools.
Fully virtual summer research programs for high school students in Minnesota, such as Pioneer Research Institute and MIT PRIMES-USA, carry no state residency requirement and are open to any eligible U.S. or, for Pioneer, international student.
Minnesota’s research landscape contains many stalwart institutions: a major public research university, an independent nonprofit cancer research institute, and multiple genuinely accessible virtual national programs. All of them offer a real chance at original work rather than a summer spent observing someone else’s. The programs that matter aren’t necessarily the most famous ones for higher education. They’re the ones that hand a student real ownership over a real question, under mentorship serious enough to hold that work to a real standard.
If you’re interested in conducting the highest level of research for high school students, consider joining a Pioneer information session to learn more about the Pioneer Research Institute.
Based on a recent survey, 71 percent of Pioneer Research scholars’ acceptances were to the top 20 US colleges and universities. Additionally, our alumni report acceptances to highly-selective institutions at a rate five times higher than the school’s published acceptance rate.
If you are a 9th or 10th grader, we encourage you to also check out the Global Problem-Solving Institute. You’ll have the rare opportunity to take an interdisciplinary approach to complex world programs, while earning college credits from UNC-Chapel Hill.
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