Research opportunities for High school students - Do they exist?

Onco Dev
May 27
3 min read

Updated: May 28

Where and How to find research opportunities for high school students?

Research at local universities

The United States is home to nearly 4,000 universities, and approximately 350 cities and towns have populations exceeding 100,000. On average, that’s about 10 institutions of higher education in every sizable city—each potentially housing departments, labs, and faculty engaged in cutting-edge research across diverse fields. This significantly increases your chances of finding multiple professors or research groups aligned with your area of interest.

Start by identifying these institutions and locating faculty members whose research resonates with your goals. Create an Excel spreadsheet to organize this information. Include each professor’s name, email address, institution, and department. Add a few keywords summarizing their research focus to help categorize and sort them later. Over time, this list becomes a valuable personal database for networking, collaboration, or mentorship opportunities. Being proactive in this way not only helps you stay organized but also gives you a head start in building meaningful connections within the research community. In general, scientists and professors appreciate a well crafted email inquiry about research opportunities from a high school student.

Scientists working in a research lab. Instruments, working space, chairs are all placed ergonomically. These instruments are highly specialized and costly, typically purchased from grant money. — A typical STEM lab

Local companies

Most cities in the U.S. have nonprofit organizations that serve as professional or economic development hubs, representing various industries within the region. In larger metropolitan areas, you'll often find multiple such organizations, each focusing on specific sectors. For instance, in Houston, groups like the Greater Houston Partnership, BioHouston, and innovation-driven entities such as Fannin play key roles in advancing regional industries. Additionally, events like the Texas Life Science Forum —whether hosted by national partners or organized locally—bring together thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.

To tap into these networks, begin by compiling a list of companies, speakers, and organizers associated with these organizations and events. Most of this information is publicly available through event programs, speaker bios, press releases, or websites. Pay particular attention to individuals in leadership, scientific, or business development roles. While admission and membership fees can sometimes be high, making these spaces feel exclusive, they also tend to spotlight companies and people who are highly visible and active within the industry. Tracking this information helps you identify key players in your field, build a map of the ecosystem, and eventually reach out with informed, meaningful connections. Most of the companies might have summer internship programs or research programs for high school students. Check out their career section. Reach out to scientists at these organizations through LinkedIn.

Local startups

Finding startups often requires a mix of creativity and persistent searching, as straightforward information can be scarce. Many professors do not list their startup activities on university websites, even when those pages are regularly updated. Additionally, startups themselves may have limited incentive to participate in professional organizations or events that often involve costly membership fees, making them less visible in those circles.

One of the most effective ways to uncover startups is through LinkedIn. Use filters and broad keywords like “biosciences,” “medical,” or other relevant terms to search for individuals in your city who are actively involved in startup ventures. By reviewing their LinkedIn profiles and visiting their company websites, you can gain valuable insight into the topics they are working on and their areas of interest. In general, startups might not have proper student training programs for high school research. However, if you pitch them in the right way, they might be open to let you join their lab.

Record all this information—names, roles, company details, research or product focus—into your Excel sheet (workbook with individual sheets). This approach not only helps you track emerging players in your field but also builds a rich database for potential collaboration, mentorship, or partnership opportunities.