Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the country for high school students who want to get involved in real research. With UCLA, USC, Caltech, and dozens of hospitals and research institutes within driving distance, the opportunities are genuinely impressive.
But here is the reality: most of these programs accept fewer than 10% of applicants, and many require you to already live near campus. If you are a high school student in LA—or willing to commute—this guide breaks down every major option, what it actually takes to get in, and what you will get out of it.
UCLA is the largest research university in Los Angeles and offers several pathways for high school students to get involved.
Focus: Genomics and computational biology Duration: 8 weeks (summer) Cost: Free (stipend provided) Acceptance Rate: ~5-8%
B.I.G. places students in UCLA genomics labs working alongside graduate students and postdocs. You will learn computational tools, analyze real datasets, and present your findings at a symposium at the end of the summer.
Pros:
- Fully funded with stipend
- Hands-on computational biology experience
- Access to UCLA's world-class genomics facilities
- Strong for college applications in STEM
Cons:
- Extremely competitive
- Focused narrowly on genomics
- Requires LA residency or relocation for the summer
- Primarily targets undergraduates (limited high school spots)
Focus: Various STEM disciplines Duration: 6-8 weeks Cost: Free for accepted students Acceptance Rate: ~8-12%
UCLA's broader summer research initiative places high school students in labs across engineering, life sciences, and physical sciences. Students work on faculty-directed projects and gain exposure to the research process.
Pros:
- Wide range of research areas
- UCLA campus and lab access
- Faculty mentorship
- Good stepping stone for college research
Cons:
- Competitive admissions
- Projects are often faculty-directed rather than student-driven
- Limited flexibility in topic choice
- No guaranteed publication
While not a full research program, UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) occasionally hosts workshops and lab experiences for high school students. These are shorter engagements (1-2 days) but provide valuable exposure to cutting-edge nanotechnology research.
Best for: Students exploring interests before committing to a full program.
Focus: Engineering research Duration: 4-5 weeks (summer) Cost: Free Acceptance Rate: ~10-15%
SHINE is one of the better-known high school research programs in LA. Students are matched with USC Viterbi School of Engineering faculty and work on real engineering research projects. Past projects have included robotics, biomedical devices, environmental engineering, and AI.
Pros:
- Structured mentorship from USC faculty
- Presentation at end-of-program symposium
- Strong engineering focus
- Free to attend
Cons:
- Limited to engineering topics
- Competitive (though less extreme than UCLA/Caltech)
- In-person requirement (must be in LA)
- Short duration may limit research depth
USC's community engagement program occasionally offers research-adjacent experiences for high schoolers in the LA area, particularly in public health and social sciences.
Best for: Students interested in social science or public health research rather than traditional STEM lab work.
Focus: All STEM disciplines Duration: 10 weeks (summer) Cost: Free (stipend provided) Acceptance Rate: Very low for high schoolers
Caltech's SURF program is legendary in the undergraduate research world. While it primarily targets college students, exceptional high school students occasionally gain access through direct faculty connections or special outreach initiatives.
Pros:
- Caltech's research environment is unmatched for its size
- Stipend provided
- Potential to work with world-leading scientists
- Publication potential in physics, biology, chemistry, CS
Cons:
- Not formally open to most high school students
- Requires existing connections or exceptional credentials
- Pasadena location (can be far for some LA students)
- Intense workload, designed for college-level students
Focus: STEM education and mentorship Duration: 1 week (summer) Cost: Free
InnoWorks is a student-run program that introduces younger students to STEM concepts through hands-on workshops. It is less of a research program and more of an educational enrichment experience, but it can be a good first step for younger high schoolers (9th-10th grade) who want exposure to the Caltech community.
Los Angeles has one of the densest concentrations of research hospitals in the country. Several offer programs for high school students.
Focus: Biomedical and clinical research Duration: 6-8 weeks (summer) Cost: Free Acceptance Rate: ~10-15%
Cedars-Sinai places high school students in research labs focused on cancer biology, neuroscience, cardiology, and other medical fields. Students work alongside research fellows and attend weekly seminars.
Pros:
- Exposure to clinical and translational research
- Strong mentorship from medical researchers
- Excellent for pre-med students
- Located in the heart of LA
Cons:
- Competitive admissions
- Limited to biomedical topics
- Must be 16+ in most cases
- No formal publication pathway
CHLA occasionally offers summer research positions for high school students in pediatric research areas including oncology, genetics, and developmental biology. Check their website in January-February for application windows.
Focus: Cancer research and biomedical sciences Duration: 6-8 weeks Cost: Free Acceptance Rate: Competitive
City of Hope in Duarte offers internships where high schoolers shadow and assist researchers in cancer biology, immunology, and related fields. The program includes professional development workshops and a final presentation.
Science fairs remain one of the most accessible ways for LA high school students to engage in research, regardless of whether they secure a spot in a formal program.
Open to: All LA County high school students Timeline: Regional fairs in February-March, county fair in March-April Cost: Free to enter
The LA County Science Fair feeds into the California State Science Fair and ultimately into ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair). Winning at the county level can be a significant credential for college applications.
Tips for success:
- Start your project in September or October, not January
- Choose a topic with genuine novelty, not a well-known experiment
- Find a mentor (teacher, professor, or online) to guide your methodology
- Focus on clear data analysis and honest conclusions
Students who advance from LA County compete at the state level, typically held in April. California's state fair is one of the most competitive in the country, which means placing well here carries real weight.
These national competitions are open to LA students and represent the top tier of high school research recognition. If your research is strong enough, these are worth pursuing—they can be transformative for college admissions. Check out our guide to ISEF qualification for more details.
Not every strong research opportunity requires you to physically be on a campus. Several options are available remotely.
UCLA Extension offers online courses in data science, biology, and other STEM fields that can supplement independent research. While not research programs per se, they can provide the foundational knowledge you need to pursue your own projects.
Both UCLA and Caltech offer free online courses through Coursera and edX. These can help you build skills before applying to competitive in-person programs.
Focus: All STEM disciplines (biology, CS, engineering, environmental science, psychology, and more) Duration: Flexible (typically 3-6 months) Cost: Paid program Format: Fully remote, 1-on-1 mentorship
The YRI Fellowship is one of the strongest remote research programs available to high school students in Los Angeles or anywhere else. Unlike most LA-based programs that require you to commute to campus and limit you to pre-selected topics, YRI pairs you with a PhD-level mentor who guides you through original research in your area of interest.
What makes it different:
- You choose your research topic, not the other way around
- 1-on-1 mentorship (not group supervision with 20 other students)
- Aim for peer-reviewed publication, not just a poster presentation
- Flexible schedule that works around school
- No geographic restrictions
YRI students have published in IEEE, presented at national conferences, and won major science fairs. You can see real results from YRI students to understand what is possible.
Best for: LA students who want to do serious, publishable research but cannot get into (or do not want to be limited by) the narrow focus of local programs.
With so many options, here is a practical framework for deciding:
- Start with science fairs or shorter workshops (Caltech InnoWorks, CNSI tours)
- Build foundational skills through online courses
- Consider YRI to start original research early—getting a head start matters more than most students realize
- Apply to competitive programs (UCLA, USC SHINE, Cedars-Sinai) but have backup plans
- If you want guaranteed mentorship and publication potential, remote programs like YRI are more reliable than lottery-style admissions
- Start science fair projects in the fall for spring competitions
- Most summer programs target rising juniors and seniors, so apply early
- Focus on programs that produce tangible outcomes (publications, conference presentations) rather than just "experience"
- Consider how your research ties into your college application narrative
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Start early. Most programs open applications in January-February for summer placements. Set calendar reminders in December.
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Cold-email professors. Many UCLA and USC faculty take on high school students informally. A well-written email expressing genuine interest in their specific research can open doors. Read our guide to emailing professors for templates that actually work.
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Have a research question ready. Applications that say "I want to learn about biology" get rejected. Applications that say "I want to investigate the role of microRNA-21 in triple-negative breast cancer resistance" get noticed.
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Get strong recommendations. A science teacher who can speak to your intellectual curiosity and work ethic is more valuable than a generic counselor letter.
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Apply to multiple programs. Acceptance rates are low. Apply to at least 3-5 programs and have a remote option as a backup.
There is no single best program—it depends on your interests, grade level, and goals. UCLA and USC SHINE are strong for students who can attend in person. For flexibility, topic choice, and publication potential, remote programs like the YRI Fellowship are hard to beat.
Yes. Many high school students in LA do independent research with guidance from a teacher or mentor they find on their own. Science fairs do not require you to be in a formal program. That said, structured mentorship significantly improves the quality of your work and your chances of publication.
Not necessarily. Free programs (UCLA, Caltech SURF) are prestigious but extremely competitive and may not result in a publication. Paid programs often provide more personalized mentorship and focus on outcomes. Evaluate based on what you will actually produce, not just the price tag.
Most applications open in January and close by February or March. Start preparing your materials (resume, personal statement, research interests) in November-December. Learn more about how to start a research project to get ahead.
Absolutely—but only if you do meaningful work. Admissions officers at schools like Stanford, MIT, and the Ivies can tell the difference between a student who passively attended a program and one who produced original research. Focus on depth, not just the name on your resume. See how research impacts college applications for more insight.
Most in-person programs require you to be in the LA area for the duration. If you live outside LA, remote programs like the YRI Fellowship offer the same quality of mentorship and research output without the geographic constraint. Learn about how it works to see if it is a good fit.