19 Computer Science Research Opportunities for High School Students

Back in the early days of the iPhone, advertisements touted convenience. Have a problem? “There’s an app for that!” Today, whether discussing virtual reality to virtual banking, there truly is an app for almost everything. As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, the field of computer science remains at the forefront of innovation and discovery. 

For high school students with a passion for technology, coding, and cybersecurity, 2024 offers an array of exciting research opportunities that can set the stage for future academic and career success. From immersive programs led by industry experts to internships at leading tech companies, these opportunities provide invaluable hands-on experience and mentorship, enabling students to delve deeply into the world of computer science.

In this blog post, we will explore a variety of computer science research programs and internships available to high school students in 2024. These opportunities range from building and showcasing personal projects to learning about cutting-edge cybersecurity measures. Whether you are interested in AI, game design, or data science, there is a program that can help you develop your skills and fuel your passion for technology. Let’s dive in.

https://bluestampengineering.com/

This program is brought to you by AI experts from Stanford University. BlueStamp’s program is an immersive program in which students take the lead by choosing both a starter and a main project to design and build. At the end of the six weeks students will be able to take their projects home and showcase them on college and job interviews. Students will also develop their own personal webpage, complete with videos and documentation detailing their journey.

• Location: Palo Alto, CA, online
• Program Length: 2 or 6 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Current 9-12th graders

Here, you can hear from the founder of the project and why he cares about students:

Video: Learning By Doing, One Engineer at a Time Robin Mansukhani at TEDxPresidio

https://www.cisa.gov/careers/work-rolescyber-and-it-interns

Are you curious and passionate about learning how America protects against cybersecurity threats? CISA is hiring current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level for paid cyber/IT internships. If you are a student interested in the world of cybersecurity, then CISA is THE place where you want to work. CISA works with industry and government partners to defend against today’s threats and collaborate to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

• Location: Oakland, CA
• Program Length: Varies
• Age Eligibility: 9-12th grade

https://georgetown.precollegeprograms.org/cyber

Have you or anyone you know ever experienced a cyberattack? Do you love solving complex issues? Cybersecurity is a fast-paced, exciting field that shows no signs of slowing. This course unveils how cyberspace evolved, how it opened the door for cyberattacks, and how the world of the dark web came to exist. Learn from industry experts from the FBI, CISA, and more about the vulnerabilities that exist on the web, how they’re being exploited, and how cybersecurity experts are unraveling them. See how innovations in AI are affecting cybersecurity and find out what the future entails for this field.

• Location: Online
• Program Length: 1 week, 2 weeks, or 4 weeks
• Age Eligibility: 9-12th grade

https://girlswhocode.com/programs/summer-immersion-program

Students gain the computer science skills they need to make an impact and prepare for tech careers in our free, virtual summer programs. Summer program participants get exposure to tech jobs, meet leaders in tech careers, and find community in our supportive sisterhood; all while investing in their future self.

• Location: Online
• Program Length: 2 weeks for virtual immersion; 6 weeks for self-paced
• Age Eligibility: Current 9-11th for virtual immersion, Current 9-12th for self-paced

https://www.idtech.com/

Welcome to the original tech camp, built around your child. Students can code mobile apps. Design their own video games. Produce viral videos. Discover the secrets of cryptography. Our flagship program features 50+ innovative courses, blending world-class instruction with fun camp activities. In each week-long session, your child will explore an inspiring campus, make new friends, and build skills that last long after summer.

• Location: Various locations, online
• Program Length: 1 week
• Age Eligibility: Current 8-12th graders

Video: iD Tech Camps | Summer Courses for Kids & Teens | Coding, Robotics, Game Dev | 75+ Destinations

https://junilearning.com/coding-for-kids/

Juni offers online STEAM courses in topics we all wish we could have learned in school like Coding, Storytelling, Investing, and more. Our personalized approach and student-paced curriculum isn’t your one-size-fits-all class. Instead, our instructors learn your child’s passions, work on hands-on projects, and move at a pace that keeps them engaged. Our curriculum was designed in-house by educators to cover the most important topics while engaging learners through exciting projects.

• Location: San Francisco, CA or online
• Program Length: Rolling
• Age Eligibility: All ages

https://metasummeracademy.com/

Meta (formerly Facebook) Summer Academy Externs will have the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s leading social media networks by being part of a dynamic workforce. Externs will work closely with Facebook Mentors in their respective capacities to gain real-world work experience and on-the-job skills that will help propel them into successful careers. 

• Location: Bay Area, CA
• Program Length: 6 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Current 10th graders; must be full-year residents of the CA Bay Area.

https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/discoveryprogram

In Microsoft’s high school internship program, students will learn a lot about the world of computer science and programming. Microsoft internships are geared toward STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students, so if you were thinking of pursuing a degree in one of those fields, Microsoft is the place for you!

• Location: Redmond, WA
• Program Length: 4 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Current 9-12th graders; must reside in the Pudget Sound Area, WA.

Video: Microsoft Intern Experience 2023

Are you a high school student who wants to expand your knowledge in the STEM fields? Our expert staff members are looking for skilled, open-minded innovators to learn from and collaborate in cutting edge research, development, engineering, and analysis projects to help make the world a safer place. As a student researcher, you will join and collaborate with our team of expert mentors who are motivated to help you realize your maximum potential.

• Location: Varies
• Program Length: 8 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Current high school students

https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/high-school-students-ship

The Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is a NIST-wide summer intern program for students who will have finished their junior or senior year of high school by the start of the program and are interested in scientific research only. Students selected for this competitive volunteer program will participate in cutting-edge research at NIST, and will work closely with NIST staff scientists and engineers on a specific research problem.

• Location: Colorado or Maryland campuses
• Program Length: 8 weeks, contiguous
• Age Eligibility: 11th-12th graders

https://www.polygence.org/projects?tags=computer-science

Polygence is an online research academy founded by Harvard, MIT and Stanford researchers dedicated to democratizing access to research opportunities for high school students. Connect with an expert mentor online. Develop a research project. Showcase your work and passion through a publication, conference presentation or creative piece. Polygence Pods are a focused, organized exploration on popular career and research topics. You will build a foundation in your research and career goals through a structured research experience with thoughtfully designed lessons and customizable projects. You will be guided by our world-class mentors and meet like-minded peers who share your passion.

• Location: Online
• Program Length: Varies
• Age Eligibility: 9-12th graders

https://www.cpet.ufl.edu/students/uf-cpet-summer-programs/student-science-training-program/

This is a blended (online and residential) research program for selected students entering senior year and at least 16 years old by the program start date who are considering science, medicine, math, computer science, or engineering careers. The program emphasis is research participation with a UF faculty research scientist and his or her research team. Students interested in attending the UF SSTP must possess a high level of maturity, an ability to live and learn independently, a desire to work collaboratively, and a sincere interest in research.

• Location: Gainsville, FL
• Program Length: 6 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Open to rising seniors (apply junior year)

https://summer.ucla.edu/program/game-lab-summer-institute/

The UCLA Game Lab Summer Institute introduces high school students to game-making as a form of artistic practice, teaching them the techniques and tools that will help them develop analog and digital games that reflect their own creative voice and vision. We now offer two versions of our institute–an in-person, residential experience, as well as a virtual/online program. Students in the program develop a solid aesthetic and technical foundation in various aspects of game design–but just as importantly, they begin learning how to express their own, personal ideas through game-making and game art.

• Location: Los Angeles, CA, Online
• Program Length: 2 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Current 9-12th graders

https://datascience.uchicago.edu/education/summerlab/

In the program, undergraduate students (and Chicago-area high school students) are paired with a data science mentor in various domains, including: computer science, data science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, materials science, and biomedical research. Through this pairing the research assistant will engage with and hone their skills in research methodologies, practices, and teamwork. We encourage participation from a broad range of students, and require no prior research experience to apply.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Program Length: 10 weeks
• Age Eligibility: Current 9-12th graders and undergraduate students

Video: UChicago Summer Undergraduate Programs

https://rochesteronline.precollegeprograms.org/game-design

Ever wondered what it takes to customize your own video game? In this course, you’ll do just that. Discover how digital games are built and the skills game designers and developers use. Learn the art of storytelling and the techniques used to embed puzzles, action-adventure, and drama. See interviews with top game designers and explore careers in the field. If you are a committed gamer, a tech wiz, or someone who is intrigued with design, this course is a must.

• Location: Online
• Program Length: Multiple 2- and 4-week sessions
• Age Eligibility: For students ages 13+

https://empowerly.com/ai-scholars-program

AI is already present everywhere: in our voice-activated devices, smartphone face recognition systems, and autonomous vehicles. The potential to apply this technology for good is limitless. Our program, developed and taught by a team of alumni and graduate students from Stanford and MIT, provides guidance on initiating AI projects, pursuing AI ventures and preparing for college.You can even read a student’s firsthand experience on our blog, here!

• Location: Online
• Program Length: 25 hours, 10 sessions
• Age Eligibility: 7-12th grade

https://empowerly.com/passion-project-program

The Empowerly Passion Project Program helps students discover and build out their passions through a meaningful project while gaining a competitive edge in their college applications. Our student-centered curriculum approach empowers participants to identify their passions and develop a project or initiative to showcase them, such as an app, podcast, blog, Youtube channel, business, or non-profit.

• Location: Online
• Program Length: Rolling
• Age Eligibility: All ages

We offer a diverse range of research programs, designed to suit a range of ages and experience levels. Each Program has a Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter session. Create an independent research paper in a pre-designed area of a mentor’s expertise. 

• Location: Online
• Program Length: All year
• Age Eligibility: 8-12th graders

https://empowerly.com/startup-internship-program

Designed to give high school & college students the opportunity to explore careers, develop professional skills, work with globally-minded companies and strengthen their resume. Choose the session that fits with your schedule; we offer fall, spring and summer startup internships. From tech startup internships to non-technical roles, there are over 40 startups to apply to.

• Location: Online
• Program Length: 3 months
• Age Eligibility: 9th grade+

If you’re a high school student curious about the future of technology, there’s no reason not to get involved in some capacity. After all, as we’ve seen here—there are plenty of options! 

What’s more, participating in computer science research opportunities during high school not only strengthens students' technical skills, but also fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Regardless of whether you ultimately pursue a career in computer science, the skills will serve you well. The programs highlighted in this article offer diverse experiences, from hands-on project development and internships at top tech companies to specialized courses in cybersecurity and game design. These opportunities empower students to explore their interests, gain practical experience, and build a solid foundation for their future academic and professional endeavors.

As you consider the various programs available in 2024, remember that each experience is a stepping stone toward a promising career in technology. Embrace the chance to learn from experts, collaborate with like-minded peers, and contribute to groundbreaking projects—and most of all, don’t be afraid to ask for help. By seizing these opportunities, high school students can become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow's tech-driven world. With the right support, you can accomplish your dreams! Empowerly is here to help you thrive.