Neuroscience is one of the most competitive fields in medicine specialization when it comes to applying for undergraduate and graduate school, so it’s important to start off with a good base of research and internships in high school to make your applications stronger. Finding these opportunities is hard and almost as competitive as college admissions themselves, so we’ve done the work for you with a comprehensive list:

1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
   Field: Neuroscience, STEM Research
   Cost: Free
   Website: CEE RSI
   One of the most prestigious research programs for high school students in which participants conduct research under top scientists over a six-week summer program, RSI is the perfect opportunity for academically passionate students looking for a highly technical program in which they can explore neuroscience-related projects in cognition, neurobiology, and computational neuroscience. The program leads up to a symposium in which students are given an opportunity to present their findings over their six-week term. CEE’s program is very common amongst portfolios on extracurriculars.com that have been accepted to top universities!

1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
   Field: Neuroscience, Biomedical Research
   Cost: Free (Stipend provided)
   Website: Stanford SIMR

   Allowing students to participate in research labs at Stanford University and giving them opportunities to focus on neuroscience, brain imaging, and neurodegenerative diseases, SIMR attendees engage in lab work, data analysis and professional scientific presentations. Overall, this program ranks amongst the most prestigious and is a great opportunity to participate in existing neuroscience research for students who are looking into biomedical applications of neuroscience.

1. University of Pennsylvania Summer Neuroscience Research Academy
   Field: Neuroscience
   Cost: $9,699 (Financial aid available)
   Website: UPenn NRA

   This program isn’t a research-based curriculum, but with many opportunities to learn about the fundamentals of neuroscience, Upenn’s SNRA consists of a rigorous 3 week program centered around cognitive neuroscience, experimental techniques, and brain anatomy. Participants are allowed to work on hands-on experiments and explore the cutting-edge research in neurobiology that UPenn offers in its School of Neuroscience.

1. Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program at Ohio State University
   Field: Biomedical sciences, neuroscience
   Cost: Free (stipend provided)
   Website: OSU NRIP

   Funded by the NIH for students to get hands-on research experiences in the field of neurological injury, neuroscience, and neurodegeneration, the seven-week program offered by OSU is a program that is specifically tailored to help students explore neuroscience in the context of a college major as well as a career path for them to follow. Throughout the program, students interact directly with lab technicians and graduate school students with a similar passion in neuroscience. Overall, the program is great for continuing research under mentorship in the field of neurological injury.

1. Rockefeller University Summer Neuroscience Program
   Field: STEM, Engineering
   Cost: Free
   Website: RU SNP

   Allowing students to immerse themselves in neuroscience research that's currently ongoing at Rockefeller University, RU’s SNP covers topics like neurodevelopment, brain plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re a student who looking for opportunities to apply a gracious amount of neuroscience and biomedical knowledge to an internship that covers the above topics, this might be the opportunity for you.

1. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
   Field: STEM, Aerospace, Engineering
   Cost: Free (stipend provided)
   Website: JHIBS

   An opportunity for high schoolers interested in medicine, neuroscience, and research, JHIBS is a program that allows participants to learn from research professionals in the biomedical field to explore the ins and outs of researching responsibly. Students have the option of choosing between an 8-week in-person and a 5-week virtual program, with the in-person program being extremely selective - accepting just 8 students a year. The opportunity is great for those who are looking for one-on-one mentorship, access to scientific seminars and guidance in the career pathway of neuroscience.

1. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
   Field: Neurology and Neuroscience
   Cost: Free (stipend provided)
   Website: MassGeneral HYNERP
   As one of the largest teaching hospitals as part of Harvard's Medical School, its Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is created to aid students in learning about neurology from a widely varying group of industry leaders. The program starts with a boot camp with research and clinical training, with interactive sessions for the skills that are typically required in a lab setting. After this, participants move on to lab work to interact with ongoing research for the span of over 6 weeks, working full-time. The program is very selective and is a great option for those truly passionate about neuroscience. Additionally, the program is a great networking opportunity for those who are interested in attending Harvard’s School of Medicine, and successful college applications such as those on extracurriculars.com exemplify this theme of networking to boost their applications.

1. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
   Field: Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences
   Cost: Free (stipend provided)
   Website: DUNE

   An eight-week opportunity to participate in cutting-edge summer research in the field of neuroscience, DUNE is a great opportunity for those looking to conduct research under a mentor. The program is highly personalized - with each participant being matched to work under a specific neuroscience lab and work on a research project under the guidance of Duke Neuroscience faculty. In addition, the program allows for attendance to developmental workshops that are great for guidance on how to frame your college applications whilst also allowing for those who are interested to explore different careers across medicine and academics.

1. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
   Field: Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Psychology
   Cost: Paid ($2,795)
   Website: Stanford CNI-X

   A 10-day program that offers exposure to topics in neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry mixed with opportunities to work on a collaborative team project, CNI-X is great for researching at the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Students also get the opportunity to work interactively with Stanford University faculty and researchers to learn about a vast array of topics such as behavioral neuroscience. Guided by staff, students will work in groups of 8-10 people to think of innovative solutions to real-world problems, making the event great for anybody looking to work with realistic applications of neuroscience.

1. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship Program
   Field: Neuroscience
   Cost: Free (stipend provided)
   Website: MPFI

   Featuring a neuroscience track as a part of its larger program, MPFI is a six-week research internship in which participants work in an immersive lab among MPFI researchers and is meant for those with an interest in the brain’s structure and function with advanced imaging techniques that are commonly used in the field of neuroscience. The program is unique in that it allows individuals to learn specific techniques in genetic engineering, microscopy, microbiology prep, and histological staining. Participants are expected to work a full 40 hours across the week under the expert guidance that they will receive while in the program.

   
   

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