15 Summer Research Programs for High School Students
We’re about 2 months away from kicking off our summer 2024 group research programs and we’re brimming with excitement about all we have to offer.
We know every student has different strengths and interests. Some are fascinated by biomedical research or the future of AI engineering. Other students prefer to immerse themselves in advanced lectures about ancient civilizations and art history.
This range of interests is why we work with over 300 academic mentors–like professors, teaching assistants, Ph.D. candidates, and industry experts–from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to ensure our scholars have the opportunity to study even the most esoteric of topics.
To highlight what our esteemed professors have made possible for our students, we pulled together this sampling of group research programs we’re offering this summer. From STEM subjects, to the humanities and social sciences, to business and finance, we’ve got a research program for everyone.
5 STEM Research Programs
Fundamentals of Cancer Biology
Through the lens of breast cancer, students will learn about the fundamentals of cancer biology, including the basics of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis.
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis
Brains and Machines: The Neuroscience of AI
This program explores how the biological and computational aspects of neuroscience influence the construction of artificial intelligence, and how, in turn, studying AI can teach us more about human brains.
Faculty Advisor: Postdoctoral Fellow, Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, Brown University
Music as Medicine: the Connections between Musical Sound and Science
Students will develop special interests, likely centered around the instrument of their choice, by exploring the nature and properties of sound, and/or how it impacts on human beings.
Faculty Advisor: Former Associate Professor, Yale University School of Medicine; Fellow of the Royal Society of Music; Fellow of Royal Society of Medicine
Quantum Mechanics and Programming: Theory and Applications
After learning about the mathematical principles of quantum mechanics and its implementation in physics, students will develop a programming project and technical report – the content of which will be closely linked to modern research in quantum technologies.
Faculty Advisor: Ph.D. Researcher, University of Cambridge
Algorithms, Data Structures and Python
This is a deep dive into the data structures that serve as the building blocks for algorithms. Students will learn about basic and greedy algorithms, dynamic programming, probability, arrays, trees, Python programming language and more
Faculty Advisor: Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology
5 Business, Marketing and Finance Research Programs
Marketing and Product Management: The Secrets Behind Highly Successful Products
Students will explore the pillars of marketing and project management and discuss how firms like Google, Amazon, Nike, McDonalds, Porsche, BMW, Marvel/Disney, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft practice these principles today.
Faculty Advisor: Lecturer in Management, Yale University
Angel Investing and Venture Capital
Students will be introduced to the early stages of investing, including the risks, rewards and timing involved in making an investment. They’ll also dive into the different types of investors, as well as general and subject-specific research and academic writing methods.
Faculty Advisor: Former Professor of Dartmouth’s Tuck Business School; Former Director of Dartmouth’s MD-MBA program
A Deep Dive Into the Stock Market
This program introduces students to the fundamentals of the stock market. From learning about the function of the Federal Reserve and bull and bear markets to trading strategies and job possibilities, students will become comfortable with the stock market and all its nuances.
Faculty Advisor: Research economist, Central Bank of Mexico; Ph.D. in Economics, Washington University in St. Louis
The Business of US Healthcare: New Technological Advances and Policies to Solve Challenges of Access
By diving into the intricacies of the U.S. healthcare system, this program explores the business of healthcare and the industry’s groundbreaking innovations, including AI, telemedicine, 3D printing, and genetics, with a focus on their business applications
Faculty Advisor: Former Professor of Dartmouth Tuck Business School; Former Director of MD-MBA program, Dartmouth
Crypto Assets: Fundamentals, Price History and Investing Strategies
Students will learn about the history of crypto, as well as fundamentals, price history, and investing strategies for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Students will also learn how to construct trading and investing strategies on crypto assets from the ground up.
Faculty Advisor: Research economist, Central Bank of Mexico
5 Arts, Humanities and Social Science Research Programs
The Psychology of Happiness During Global Crises
By studying the impact of natural disasters, like Hurricane Katrina, students will explore questions about individual and community resilience throughout crises, as well as the effectiveness of mindfulness practices as tools for dealing with individual and community stress.
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Cleveland State University
Music Production in Film and Television: The Art and Technology of Creating Emotional Impact
An Emmy-winning faculty advisor will introduce students to filmatic music composition and production. They’ll learn how different melodies, harmonies, rhythms and sound textures can be used in synchrony with film, using segments from existing films as focus points.
Faculty Advisor: Emmy Award Winner; New York based composer and producer
Fashion: the Political and Cultural Representations behind Styles
Through the lens of media theory, cultural studies, psychology, and sociology, students will take an interdisciplinary approach of examining how fashion functions and has been valued through history, popular culture, and media institutions.
Faculty Advisor: Professor of Global Liberal Studies, New York University in Paris
Demonology and Magic in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Students will explore the spiritual norms of how religious dogmas and tribalism transformed ancient Mediterranean demons from positive helpers into evil tricksters and alienated magic from ordinary life.
Faculty Advisor: Instructor on Advanced Greek, Harvard University
Legal Dilemmas and Philosophical Quandaries: How To Think About Life’s Most Challenging Questions
Students will consider different legal or philosophical quandaries in an effort to think through challenging philosophical and legal questions that impact how we live our lives and how we interact with the world around us.
Faculty Advisor: Associate at a top law firm; Juris Doctor, Yale Law School
Summer is a great time to reap the benefits of participating in high school research. Students don’t have to balance demanding class and extracurricular schedules, nor are they inundated with hours of nightly homework. So make the most of your summer and sign up for a Scholar Launch research program.
