15 Paid STEM Internships for High School Students
As a motivated high school student keen on pursuing a career in STEM, an internship can bring you closer to your goals. It’s a good idea to pursue multiple internships in fields that you are interested in during high school, as they can be valuable additions to your college applications.
Internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience while also building a network with expert scientists and peers. You will typically get to work on real-life projects and in research labs, which will help you develop the skills required for a successful career in science and technology.
Several STEM internships for high school students offer generous stipends as well! In this blog, we’ve listed 15 paid internship opportunities in STEM fields for high school students.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school and college students each year, with around 2,000 spots available. Interns at NASA work on projects that push forward science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration.
This is a solid opportunity for high school students who are interested in science to get real-world experience working with research scientists and engineers. The internships are available in Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions, and you can choose to work virtually or at a NASA research center.
Projects involve tasks like analyzing climate change data from satellites and helping design space probe prototypes.
Cost/Stipend: Free, a stipend is offered for some internships.
Location: Virtual or in-person (across all NASA centers in the U.S.), based on the project.
Application Deadline (2025 Program): Spring 2025: August 23, 2024 | Summer 2025—Early Decision: October 25, 2024; Final: February 28, 2025 | Fall 2025: May 16, 2025.
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 U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old at the time of application, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
2. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a summer internship and mentoring program for high school students interested in fisheries and aquatic science. This is an 8-week paid opportunity sponsored by the American Fisheries Society. Opportunities are available for students across all 50 states of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. You will be placed with a mentor within a 45-minute commute of your home.
Thanks to the wide network of Hutton mentors, you will have multiple options to pursue the internship, and you can work outdoors in the field, on a boat, in a laboratory, or in an office. Your tasks during the internship can vary from taking fish population surveys and water quality testing to establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitat and more.
While there are no prerequisites to apply, courses such as Ecology, Conservation, Biology, and Geology have been helpful to past Hutton Scholars. The internship requires a full-time commitment, and you will work between 32-40 hours per week. If you are assigned fieldwork, you might have to work as long as 12 hours a day. An added benefit is an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit!
Cost/Stipend: 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 their home).
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 program will open in November 2024 and close in January 2025.
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.
3. High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
The High School Summer Internship Program is a great opportunity for students interested in healthcare research. The selected interns will work in the Intramural Research Program at the NIH (National Institutes of Health). IRP is the largest biomedical research institution in the world, so a certain prestige comes with participating in this program.
This is a very competitive internship as just 7% of applicants are selected for the summer internship annually. Internships are available in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, and you will get to explore basic, translational, and clinical research.
To apply for the internship, you will need to register online at the NIH Application Center when the application portal opens in November. You will be asked to provide a list of coursework and grades, a resume, two references, and a cover letter describing your relevant research experiences, interests, and future goals.
Cost/Stipend: 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 country.
Application deadline: Applications typically open in November every year and close in February.
Program dates: Summer interns will undergo training for 6-8 weeks and can start on any of the following dates: May 14, May 21, or June 5, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program).
Eligibility: Applicants must be 17 years of age or older on June 15, 2025. Applicants must reside within 40 miles of the NIH campus they have applied to. Open to U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents only.
4. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP high school internships are part of the U.S. Army’s STEM outreach program. You will be working with scientists and engineers from prestigious universities and U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers on real-life projects concerning military research and innovations. This document is a helpful resource to learn more about the internship programs.
This is a rigorous program, and you will be working full-time, up to 40 hours per week. This is a commuter program, so housing and meals are not provided to participants. You should keep that in mind while applying and consider a lab near your location. You are required to submit an abstract of your research at the end of the program. Abstracts are published in the online AEOP Research Journal.
One of the many opportunities that you can apply for through the program is an internship at the GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Past participants at the GRASP Lab have conducted research in the field of robotics.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided (amount not specified)
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 program open in December 2024.
Program Dates: 6-10 weeks between May and August 2025
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents. A GPA of 3.0 is recommended due to the high competition.
5. Lockheed Martin Space High School Internship
The Lockheed Martin Space High School Internship program is a great opportunity for students interested in learning the basics of the aerospace business from an industry leader. You will work 30-40 hours per week with aerospace scientists and engineers on ongoing Lockheed Martin projects.
The program is part of Lockheed Martin’s STEM outreach, and the main objective of the internship is to help high school students develop an interest in the aerospace industry. You will spend significant time (9-10 weeks) with the mentors and your peers, so this is also a great opportunity for you to enhance your network and seek career advice.
Applications are invited between October and January every year. Once you have successfully submitted the application online, shortlisted applicants are invited for one-on-one interviews with hiring leaders to have further conversations about the opportunities at Lockheed Martin Space.
Cost/Stipend: Free. Hourly wage provided (amount not specified).
Location: At one of Lockheed Martin’s nine facilities—Sunnyvale, CA; Boulder, Littleton, Colorado Springs, CO; Huntsville, Courtland, AL; King of Prussia, Valley Forge, PA; Cape Canaveral, FL. Some virtual opportunities might be available.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Program Dates: 9-10 weeks during the summer.
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old and residing within a commutable distance of a participating Lockheed Martin facility.
6. Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
The Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE) is an internship program for high school and undergraduate students interested in medical research, especially immunology and related fields. The program is designed to inspire students from underrepresented communities in the Greater Boston area to pursue a career in medical research.
While you will gain first-hand research experience through this internship, there are other aspects to this program as well. You will attend two lectures on 'Introduction to Immunology' every week, participate in college application and career planning sessions, and also enjoy field trips to medical institutes and facilities to enhance your learning experience.
High school students work up to 25 hours per week and earn an hourly wage of $17. To apply you need a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate curiosity about immunology and related fields, and submit recommendations from teachers and a statement of interest. After initial screening, applicants need to clear an interview before they are assigned a research lab for the internship.
Cost/Stipend: Free. High school students will be paid $17 per hour.
Location: Ragon Institute, Cambridge, MA.
Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: June - August.
Eligibility: The program is open to rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and interested in STEM, and undergraduate students from underrepresented communities in the Greater Boston area. Students need to have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
7. Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM)
iCLEM (Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology) is a summer-intensive research program for economically disadvantaged high school sophomores and juniors from the Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco Counties. You will be assigned a research project in either biotechnology, microbiology, or biofuel and complete the internship at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI).
Apart from enhancing your academic knowledge and research skills, you will also get to participate in college admissions preparatory classes, receiving help with personal statements and information about financial aid. There will be sessions with STEM professionals and visits to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. This is a highly selective program, with less than 10 students making the final list.
Cost/Stipend: There is no application fee. Students will receive a stipend of $3,000 upon successful completion of the program.
Location: Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Emeryville, CA.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program dates: June - July.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 15 years old by December 31, 2024 and enrolled in high school in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County. A GPA of at least 2.5 is required, and the student must have passed Algebra 1 and Biology. The program is exclusively for economically disadvantaged high school sophomores and juniors, and there are annual household income limitations, which can be found here.
8. Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Careers in Science (CiS) is one of the few programs offering multi-year and year-round research opportunities for high school students. The program is designed to help students from communities underrepresented in STEM, including girls and students of color, inculcate an interest in STEM. If you’re keen on exploring a career in the sciences, look through the details of this immersive internship program here.
During this program, you will get the chance to work with scientists, researchers, and educators at the California Academy of Sciences. You will enter the program in June as a rising sophomore or junior and continue through high school graduation. You are expected to participate throughout the week during the summer and attend sessions every Saturday during the school year.
All students will take part in group projects. As you will participate in the program for at least two years, successful completion of the program will demonstrate your commitment and consistency towards STEM to admissions officers.
Cost/Stipend: Free. A stipend above the minimum wage is provided
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April every year
Program Dates: Interns join in June as rising sophomores or juniors and continue through high school graduation
Eligibility: Open to 9th or 10th-grade students currently enrolled in a San Francisco Unified School District high school. You need to maintain a GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of C or higher in science and math.
9. Boyce Thompson Institute Internships
The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) is located on the Cornell University campus and offers a 7-week summer internship for high school students residing within a 1-hour driving distance from Ithaca, NY. You will take part in plant and life sciences research at the BTI, with a focus on food security, improving environmental sustainability in agriculture, and more.
As an intern, you will be paired with a research mentor (typically a graduate student or a postdoctoral researcher) and a faculty mentor. You will work alongside your mentors on a predetermined project. Apart from conducting research, you can join undergraduate researchers for professional development lectures and discussions. Moreover, Boyce Institute organizes local field trips and training sessions as well!
You can expect to work on projects in bioinformatics and genomics. Bioinformatics projects for high school students in the past have involved the creation of software to analyze data sets containing traits of wild watermelons to understand genes that might be important to plant breeders.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided ($4,200 for 7 weeks).
Location: Cornell University campus, Ithaca, NY.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: June - August.
Eligibility:
Students must be 16 years or older by the end of June
Students must currently reside in the Ithaca region
10. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a summer internship program for high school students where they get to participate in ongoing Naval research for eight weeks at the Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories. Interns will learn about naval research and technology while receiving one-on-one mentorship from Navy scientists and engineers.
Based on your profile and selection during the application, you will be placed in one of the 38 research labs across the country. This is a highly competitive program, with just 300 students selected from an application pool of over 5000 students. You will need to commit full-time over eight weeks in the summer, and while a stipend is provided, you are expected to make your own travel and housing provisions.
Cost/Stipend: Free. Stipend is $4,000 (new participant) and $4,500 (returning participant).
Location: At one of the 38 Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories around the country.
Application deadline: Applications for the 2025 program open in August 2024.
Program Dates: The program duration is eight weeks during the summer, and selected students will be notified of the dates by their respective labs
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old. The program is open only to U.S. citizens.
11. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internships
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) offers an annual summer internship to high school students interested in STEM. The projects cover topics like nuclear energy, cybersecurity, environmental science, and climate change. You will participate in the internship for six weeks to gain practical experience in cutting-edge research and innovation under the guidance of accomplished scientists.
There are no housing or transportation provisions for high school interns. Students 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/Stipend: Free of charge, this is a paid internship, and the amount will be shared upon your selection.
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in the spring.
Program Dates: 6-10 weeks in the summer.
Eligibility: High school students or recently graduated students who are U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old at the time of application, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The J. Craig Venter Institute Internship Program is a highly selective summer internship program for high school and undergraduate students. There are multiple projects available every year across STEM fields, and you will be assigned a project and a mentor based on your profile and academic interests.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You will need to submit a resume and a 500-word statement of interest explaining: your specific scientific interests; how your skills and coursework are relevant to the position; and how this internship will prepare you to meet your professional goals.
Housing is not available for interns, who will need to work full-time (40 hours per week). They are given pre-determined monetary compensation, which starts at $17.00 per hour. Semester internships are also offered sometimes, and they run for 10-15 weeks. Current openings, including internships, are posted here.
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge, a stipend is provided at $17 per hour.
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), Rockville, MD.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications are typically invited in January every year.
Program dates: 10-15 weeks during the summer, dates change every year
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.
13. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship
The Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship is an 8-week-long, full-time internship for rising high school seniors. The program aims to help students from underrepresented communities develop an interest in and pursue career options in biomedical sciences. The definition of underrepresented communities for this program can be found here.
The program takes place in two phases. In the first two weeks, you receive hands-on training on laboratory safety techniques and skills in the Fred Hutch Training Labs. From week 3 onward you begin your research while also attending education seminars and professional development workshops. This is a rigorous internship and requires a commitment of 40 hours per week.
As part of the application process, you are expected to submit an updated resume and answer four different essay prompts. You will also provide two recommenders, who need to submit their forms before your application is considered complete.
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge, a stipend (amount not specified) is provided upon successful completion of the internship.
Location: Fred Hutch campus, Seattle, WA.
Application deadline: Applications close in March every year.
Program dates: June - August.
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors with a strong interest in biomedical science and who can arrange for their own housing and transportation during the internship, as the stipend is paid after the internship.
14. Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is a prestigious institute for medical research and has an extensive summer research program for high school students. The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care’s Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program offers an internship to high school students interested in pursuing biological sciences in the future.
Selected interns are matched with a Northwestern faculty member and given a clinical research project. Each intern’s project will make a meaningful contribution to their laboratory’s research, which explores the mechanisms behind lung diseases.
You will also receive college application process tips during the internship. This is a paid internship and a full-time commitment (40 hours per week, typically 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday through Friday). Your research will be presented at the annual Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium.
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge, a stipend (amount not specified) is provided upon successful completion of the internship.
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Application deadline: Applications close in February every year.
Program dates: June - July.
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors who will be at least 16 years old in May 2025. A strong interest in biomedical science is expected from students, who need to arrange for their own housing and transportation during their internship, as the stipend is paid after completion.
15. Genesys Works
Genesys Works places high school seniors in paid, year-long internship positions at partner companies. Students from underrepresented categories are invited to apply for the opportunity to intern with a partner company for 12 months after completion of an 8-week training program.
During the fall of students’ senior year, Genesys Works matches participants with a partner company such as Accenture, Target, 3M, Best Buy, and JPMorgan Chase. Students need to work 15-20 hours a week, so a commitment is required from your end to work after school hours.
Genesys Works chooses the company you’ll work for depending on your application and academic interests. For example, if you have a keen interest in coding which you can demonstrate in the application process, your odds of landing an internship at a software development company will increase.
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge and a stipend of $10,000 - $15,000 is awarded upon successful completion of the internship.
Location: Will depend on the company you intern at. Currently, only seven cities are included in the program—San Francisco (Bay Area only), New York, Chicago, Twin Cities, Washington D.C. (Capital Region), Houston, and Tulsa.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: This is a 12-month program and training starts in May.
Eligibility: High school juniors who can guarantee at least 15 hours per week of work after school hours.
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