UT Dallas Research Program for High School Students

# UT Dallas Research Program for High School Students The Computer Science K-12 Outreach office at The University of Texas at Dallas runs an eight-week summer research program in which high school students join faculty- and graduate-student-directed labs and workshops in computing topics such as artificial intelligence and software development. The 2026 program ran June 8-July 31, with workshops offered in a virtual mode so students outside the Dallas area can participate fully online, and in-person attendees may switch to virtual mode on any day. ## What You'll Do - Join a small lab or workshop directed by UTD CS faculty with support from graduate students - Learn research methods and build a summer-long project in areas like AI and computer science - Attend sessions across the eight-week program, with labs expecting roughly 20-40 hours per week of engagement - Present your work at the conclusion of the program ## Who Should Apply The program is aimed ideally at students finishing 10th and 11th grade; in-person attendance requires being age 15+ by the start date, while virtual workshops accept younger students. Applications open in early winter with a priority deadline around March 1 - the 2026 window is closed and reopens in early 2027. ## Outcomes Students get sustained, university-run research experience without the cost of residential programs: virtual workshops are $900 and lab internships $1,500, and UTD offers a 50% discount for low-income families. Alumni leave with a substantive project and faculty mentorship contacts in computing.