12 Science Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student planning your future academic pursuits and career options, doing an internship at this stage can be a good idea – and there’s a wide range of internships available to high schoolers, across a number of disciplines.
Why pursue an internship in high school?
Internships can be an opportunity to supplement your academic learning, while being exposed to the practical applications of concepts you learn in school, exploring a subject of interest, and gaining some insight into a field you wish to work in.
If you are interested in the possibilities the sciences have to offer, undertaking an internship can be a solid way to explore real-life projects under the guidance of scientists and industry professionals. While internships help in gaining real-world experience, they also look great on college applications! Interning at a prestigious institute in a field that aligns with your future goals is sure to catch the attention of admission officers.
Additionally, pursuing an internship allows you to network with peers and mentors, which will be valuable for future opportunities and even letters of recommendation! We’ve curated a list of the top 12 science internships for high school students that you can consider.
Ladder Internship is a selective program for high school students that allows you to work with nonprofits and startups across the world, with an acceptance rate of 15-20%. There is also a research internship program for students interested in lab work. For students interested in a more rigorous experience, there is a combination program where you can do both the Startup and the Research Internship programs.
Ladder offers students the flexibility to choose the field they wish to work in, from a wide range of industries including technology, machine learning, AI, finance, business, marketing environmental science, sustainability, media, healthcare, medicine, journalism, and more.
As an intern, you will work on a real-world project and present your work at the end of the program. In addition to working closely with your manager from the startup, you will also work with a Ladder coach throughout your internship. The Ladder coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding students through the internship and helping them navigate the startup environment.
Cost: $1990 (Financial Aid available)
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: May 12, 2024, for Summer Cohort I; June 26, 2024, for Summer Cohort II
Program Dates: 8 weeks, June to August. The program also runs fall and winter cohorts.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships to high school and college-level students every year, with an intake of about 2,000 across various projects. NASA interns collaborate on the agency’s mission to advance science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration.
These internships are a great opportunity for high school students interested in science to gain practical work experience while working side-by-side with mentors who are research scientists and engineers. The organization offers internships during three sessions: Spring, Summer, and Fall. The internships can be virtual or at one of NASA’s research centers. The projects range from studying climate change using satellite data to working on space probe prototypes.
Cost: Free, a stipend is offered for some internships
Location: Virtual or in-person (across all NASA centers in the U.S.), depending on the project
Application Deadline: January (Fall session) | August (Spring session) | October (Summer session)
Program Dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions – Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December) | Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
Eligibility: High school and college-level students who are US citizens, at least 16 years old at the time of application, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
3. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internships
The Idaho National Laboratory has an annual summer internship program for high school students interested in exploring projects in nuclear energy, cybersecurity, environmental science, and climate change. Selected interns actively contribute to solving real-world challenges under the mentorship of top INL researchers. As an intern, you will not only gain practical experience but also learn to apply STEM concepts which will come in hand for project requirements.
There are no housing or transportation provisions for high school interns. Students also need to submit a statement of interest, a copy of their high school transcripts, a copy of their current class schedule, an updated resume, and the names and email addresses of two teachers who could provide letters of recommendation to apply.
Cost: Free of charge, this is a paid internship
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Application Deadline: Typically, applications close in the spring.
Program Dates: 6-10 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students or recently graduated students who are US citizens, at least 16 years old at the time of application, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
4. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholar Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is a highly competitive summer research program. Research areas vary every year and include STEM subjects, including computer science, nutritional sciences, mechanical engineering, history, chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, cellular biology & microbiology, and neurobiology. It is a seven-week summer research program that helps students gain hands-on practical research experience under the tutelage of experienced faculty. Sophia Chen, one of the 2023 scholars, pursued the following project: Identifying Essential Annexin A2 Phosphorylation Sites to Access Potential as Treatment Target.
With an intake of just 12 students every year, it is highly selective, with an exhaustive selection process. Applicants are expected to provide three essays outlining their research interests and personal motivation to apply for the program, which should include future goals and their most fulfilling service experience. While SAT scores are not mandatory, PSAT is required to complete the application process.
Cost: Free of charge, a $750 stipend is provided after the completion of the research project report
Location: Texas Tech University Campus, Lubbock, TX
Application deadline: Applications typically close in February
Program dates: June 16, 2024 - August 1, 2024 (7 weeks)
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date. Open to U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents only
5. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Careers in Science (CiS) is a multi-year, year-round, paid internship and youth development program for students from communities that are underrepresented in STEM, including girls and students of color. If you’re keen on exploring a career in the sciences, look through the details of this immersive internship program. During this program, you will get the chance to work with scientists, researchers and educators at the California Academy of Sciences. You will also be exposed to scientific research and science communication. As an intern, you will participate in interactive training sessions, outdoor field activities and receive guidance on your college applications. You will also work on a science research or environmental action group project during the program.
Cost: There is no cost. Students will receive a stipend.
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA.
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024.
Program Dates: After school and on weekends, year-round participation for 2-3 years till graduation.
Eligibility: Students who
are currently enrolled full-time as a 9th or 10th-grade student in an SFUSD school - check if your school qualifies here;
have maintained a GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in science and math
can obtain a valid work permit (US citizens and others authorized to work in the US);
can commit to all attendance requirements for 2 or 3 years, through high school graduation;
can commute to the Academy and nearby locations after school and on Saturdays during the school year, and on weekdays in the summer (some remote work may be required);
demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for learning, teaching, and doing science can apply.
6. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an internship program for high school students held at the College of Science by George Mason University. Selected students work one-on-one with faculty researchers across various scientific areas such as astronomy, proteomics and molecular medicine, chemistry and biochemistry, drug discovery, bioengineering, STEM-related business/finance and entrepreneurship, sustainable botany, and environmental science & policy.
Summer-long research allows students to make meaningful contributions to society at a young age. Participants' names get published in scientific journals and their work is also presented at scientific conferences.
Aditya Behera, a 2023-24 intern, worked on a research paper titled: Exploring the effects of topography and land-ice coverage on Paleoproterozoic deglaciation, which was published in the Mason Journals and you can find out details about more previous year projects here. Housing and transportation costs are not provided to the interns.
Cost: $25 application fee
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (with some virtual options)
Application deadline: The deadline is not specified, but expect it to be around January or February.
Program dates: 8 weeks between June 18, 2024 and August 9, 2024
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 15 years of age for remote internships and at least 16 years for lab research internships by the program start date. Open to U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents only, with a few exceptions
The J. Craig Venter Institute Internship Program is a highly selective summer internship program for high school students. While the JCVI focuses on advancing the science of genomics through breakthrough innovations, the interns have the option to pursue projects across multiple disciplines of science.
Selected interns will get to interact with some of the world’s top scientists, and will be allotted a project to work on under the guidance of a faculty or senior scientist mentor on a one-on-one basis. You will work on research projects based on your academic experience. The internship concludes with a poster presentation after you’ve attended workshops designed to help develop scientific professional and soft skills throughout the internship.
Housing is not provided for the project, but the students who will need to work full-time (40 hours per week) are given pre-determined monetary compensation, which starts at $17.00 per hour.
Cost: Free of charge, a stipend is provided
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), Rockville, MD
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, as received once the position is posted.
Program dates: 10-15 weeks during the summer, dates to be announced
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and have an average GPA of 3.0. Open to U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents only
8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid summer internship and mentoring program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society. The program stimulates interest in fisheries and aquatic science, especially among underrepresented groups. It’s fairly competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 12%.
As a Hutton Scholar, you will be matched and mentored by a fisheries professional in your local area. You will gain hands-on fisheries science experience in marine or freshwater, conducting laboratory and field research. You will participate in resource conservation and management projects as a Hutton Scholar. Moreover, you will learn about career opportunities while receiving resources on potential course students. Some possible activities include electrofishing, examining specimens, data processing, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitats, and more. An added benefit is an all-expense paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit conducted at the University of Arkansas!
Cost: Free of charge; stipend provided ($3,000 for 8 weeks)
Location: Based on your locality (Hutton aims to match students within a 45-minute commute of your home)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, typically starting in July
Eligibility: Open to high school students, at least 16 years of age, who live and have residency in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
9. High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
The High School Summer Internship Program, offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), allows high school students to spend a summer working in the Intramural Research Program (IRP). Research opportunities are offered in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, with opportunities to explore basic, translational, and clinical research.
With an acceptance rate of around 7%, the full-funded program is highly selective and competitive. The selection process is pretty straightforward, and apart from all the academic documentation, students are expected to submit a cover letter broadly describing their prior research experiences, their current interests, and their career goals.
Cost: Free of charge. Stipends for summer interns are adjusted annually and are based on educational level; you can find more details here.
Location: Across all six NIH research campuses in the USA
Application deadline: Applications close in February every year
Program dates: Summer interns will undergo training for six to eight weeks and can start on any of the following dates: May 14, May 21, or June 5, 2024
Eligibility: Applicants must be 17 years of age or older on June 15, 2024. Applicants must reside within 40 miles of the NIH campus they have applied to. Open to U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents only
10. Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI)
The Student Research Internship Program spans over 10 weeks during the summer and is tailored for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students alike. In line with SRTI’s main research, the internship aims to prepare individuals interested in health sciences, statistics, and computational/computer science to assume leadership roles in translational medical research. SRTI stands out for its pioneering work in translational research, focusing on personalized healthcare through the exploration of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic markers of health and disease.
Throughout the internship, participants collaborate with and learn from a diverse team of scientists, including globally recognized experts in genomics, bioinformatics, digital medicine, and community engagement. The program is specifically designed to provide ambitious high school students with the training and insights necessary to excel as future trailblazers in translational medical research. This hands-on experience not only deepens understanding of research methodologies but also lays a foundation for emerging as leaders in the field.
There's also a Medical Student Research Internship Program that welcomes medical student research interns to immerse themselves in an 8-week summer program in which students work under the mentorship of a physician-scientist.
Cost: Free of charge
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Application deadline: March 30, 2024 (I) and February 29, 2024 (II)
Program dates: Multiple sessions are available:
Session One: June 3 - August 9, 2024
Session Two: June 17 - August 23, 2024
Eligibility: High School students, who are at least 16 years old.
11. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Program - Internship track
In the Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Program, conducted by Boston University, selected students spend six weeks conducting university laboratory research. In the internship track students research projects under the mentorship of distinguished faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students.
Interns get to choose research opportunities in areas such as astronomy, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, medical laboratory research, neuroscience, physics, psychology, and public health. They are required to present the results of their research at the Poster Symposium that concludes the program.
Cost: $50 Application fee, $5,350 tuition fee, and $470 service fee. Financial aid is available
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Application deadline: Applications closed for 2024
Program dates: June 30, 2024 - August 9, 2024.
Eligibility: High School students entering senior year after the summer
12. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
The Laboratory Learning Program is a full-time, free research experience offered as a summer internship for high school students. Selected students get to work on ongoing research projects at the university labs, where they will be supervised and mentored by Princeton University faculty and research staff. For the 2024 program, students will conduct research in the fields of natural sciences and engineering.
This internship is designed to be a purely educational experience and no academic credit is provided, which interested students should keep in mind before applying. Students will get to work with Princeton faculty and will have the opportunity to build valuable connections.
Note: Students are not provided transportation or housing facilities, and are not allowed to stay on the Princeton University campus.
Cost: Free of charge
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March
Program dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer, dates will be provided based on project needs
Eligibility: High School students, including international students enrolled in a US High School. They should be at least 16 years old
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
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