If you're looking for online research opportunities, the best approach is to take initiative—reach out to local colleges, professors, and research programs. Cold emailing and online research can open doors to incredible experiences. Here’s a great video explaining how to do this in more detail:

That said, here are some great online research programs to consider:

1. Independent Research

   • Field: Various (STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences)

   • Cost: Free

   Independent research doesn’t require a professor—you can take initiative and form a team, self-study, and conduct research on your own. You can use online resources, academic papers, and open-source datasets to explore your interests deeply. Once you’ve conducted a thorough literature review, gained in-depth knowledge of your topic, and drafted a research paper, you can aim to publish your findings in high school-level journals. Additionally, reaching out to industry experts can be a great way to get feedback, verify information, and gain guidance. In rare cases, this could even lead to research at a PhD level and publication in top scientific journals—but don’t expect it. Either way, taking initiative like this builds critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and real-world experience. You can find more tips, guidance, and even plan your independent research at extracurriculars.com.

   
   

2. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)

   • Field: Aerospace, Engineering

   • Cost: Free

   • Website: NASA HAS

   This NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program is a competitive program where you can engage in online lessons, interactive projects, and NASA-led research activities related to space exploration. The program is structured in multiple phases, starting with a self-paced online curriculum covering NASA’s missions, space technology, and aerodynamics. Those who perform well in the online portion may be invited to a summer experience at NASA, where they collaborate on advanced aerospace research projects with NASA engineers and scientists. The program is best suited for those of you passionate about space exploration and engineering. This is also a great program for networking opportunities with NASA professionals and a glimpse into careers in STEM.

   
   

3. Polygence

   • Field: Various (Bio, CS, AI, ML, Social Sciences)

   • Cost: Paid ($6,650)

   • Website: Polygence

   Polygence is a personalized, online research mentorship program that pairs students with industry experts and researchers to develop independent research projects. Over 10-12 weeks, you’ll work one-on-one with a mentor to explore a topic of their choice, refine their research methodology, and create a final product, such as a research paper, podcast, or website. Polygence also provides opportunities to present research at conferences and publish findings in student-friendly journals. This program is an excellent way for you to gain structured research experience while tailoring your work to your academic interests.

   
   

4. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)

   • Field: STEM, AI, Robotics

   • Cost: Free

   • Website: MIT BWSI

   MIT BWSI is an intensive summer program where you’ll engage in hands-on projects in AI, robotics, and engineering. First, the program starts with an online prerequisite course, followed by an advanced summer curriculum where you work in teams to design autonomous vehicles, drones, or AI-powered systems. This is not directly a research program, but BWSI provides students with the technical and analytical skills needed for future research opportunities. So, many participants leverage their experience & connections at BWSI to pursue independent research projects or gain research internships in STEM fields.

   
   

5. CrowdMath

   • Field: Mathematics

   • Cost: Free

   • Website: CrowdMath

   CrowdMath is sponsored by MIT PRIMES and the Art of Problem Solving and is a collaborative research program where high school students like you work together on open mathematical problems. You will engage in discussions, formulate conjectures, develop proofs, and contribute to research publications. The program is designed for students who love math and want to tackle unsolved problems alongside peers and expert mathematicians. CrowdMath allows for exposure to real-world mathematical research and a chance to publish findings in professional mathematical journals.

   
   

6. Research Science Institute (RSI) – Online

   • Field: STEM

   • Cost: Free

   • Website: RSI

   RSI is one of the most prestigious research programs for high school students. This six-week summer program, hosted by MIT, provides students with hands-on experience conducting independent research under the guidance of top scientists. If you get in, you are assigned a research mentor and work with them to build projects in fields such as physics, chemistry, and biomedical engineering. RSI includes an intensive research phase, a paper-writing component, and a final research symposium where students present their findings. Many RSI alumni go on to publish their work in academic journals and pursue careers in STEM research at top universities. In fact, many successful college applications on extracurriculars.com have included RSI—you can check them out there!

   
   

7. Indigo Research

   • Field: Various (STEM, Humanities, Business)

   • Cost: Paid (Starts at $3,800)

   • Website: Indigo Research

   Indigo Research is an online research mentorship program where you’ll work with professors from top universities on independent research projects. Over a semester, you’ll engage in research planning, data collection, analysis, and writing, culminating in a research paper. Indigo offers the opportunity to publish in student-friendly journals and present findings at academic conferences. The program is highly flexible, so it is ideal for those of you with busy schedules who want structured research experience.

8. Simons Summer Research Program

   
   

   • Field: STEM

   • Cost: Free

   • Website: Simons Research

   The Simons Summer Research Program is a highly competitive and prestigious opportunity that will pair you with Stony Brook University faculty mentors for cutting-edge scientific research. Students participate in laboratory experiments (both wet-lab and dry-lab), data analysis, and manuscript preparation, often contributing to publications in peer-reviewed journals. The program provides an immersive research experience and exposure to professional research environments.

   
   

9. EnergyMag Internship

   • Field: Renewable Energy Research

   • Cost: Free

   • Website: EnergyMag

   EnergyMag offers a virtual internship where students conduct research and analysis in renewable energy policy, sustainability, and technology. If you get in, interns will gain experience in data analysis, report writing, and energy forecasting. This program is an excellent opportunity for those of you interested in environmental science and green energy.

   
   

10. PRIMES-USA

• Field: Mathematics

• Cost: Free

• Website: PRIMES-USA

PRIMES-USA is an elite, year-long math research program where students work on original theoretical mathematics problems under the mentorship of MIT researchers. Participants often publish in top mathematical journals and gain early exposure to advanced research methodologies.

For more extracurricular opportunities, visit Extracurriculars.com, where you can easily swipe through a diverse range of activities that are tailored to your interests and goals. This platform not only connects you with structured programs but also encourages you to take the initiative by reaching out to professors and research programs! Additionally, it offers a wide database of extracurriculars of successful college applicants. Don’t miss out on the chance to enrich your educational journey and use Extracurriculars.com today!