14 Biomedical Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high schooler keen to learn about the biology of human health and disease, a biomedical science internship might be worth considering.
Biomedical science is a broad discipline supported by a wide range of disciplines—cell biology, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, genetics and molecular biology, immunology, and more, providing valuable information to aid healthcare professionals diagnose and treat diseases and manage overall health.
An internship in this field can help you decide if biomedical science is something you want to pursue in college, giving you a glimpse into professional life in the field. Internships that offer knowledge and skill-building, along with real-world exposure can also boost your college applications. Several reputed institutes and independent organizations offer high school students the opportunity to engage with and get hands-on experience in cutting-edge biomedical research. So, we’ve curated this list of 14 biomedical internships for high school students!
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10–20 hours per week, for 8–12 weeks. The internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. The summer cohort deadline is April 14, 2024.
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Ladder Internships is a fairly selective program, founded by Harvard alumni. It provides high school students with virtual internship experiences at startups and nonprofits across the world. Students can choose the field and industry they wish to work in, based on their interests! Those interested in biomedical internships can choose Medicine/Healthcare as their area of interest while applying.
As an intern, you will to work on a real-world project that is relevant to your organization, and present your work at the end of the internship. What sets Ladder Internships apart is its emphasis on mentorship, giving students the chance to work alongside experienced professionals, engage with cutting-edge research, and contribute to meaningful projects. You will work closely with your startup manager, and will be paired with a Ladder Coach, who acts as a second mentor. The program also offers one-on-one skills training and group training sessions with fellow interns.
2. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Stipend: Students earn a minimum stipend of $500. A stipend of $2,500 or above is offered on a needs-based system. Housing and transportation costs are not covered.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age can apply.
Application deadline: February 24, 2024
Program dates: June 10, 2024–August 1, 2024
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is a prestigious 8-week internship in which students get to collaborate one-on-one with a mentor, who will either be a Stanford graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow, and engage in research. The goal of the program is to help students develop an interest in biological sciences and medicine. Students can choose from 8 areas of research: immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics. The program begins with orientation on the first day, followed by two weeks of morning lectures and lab work. The rest of the program will consist of special joint lectures, lab work, and poster preparation. Students are expected to be on campus about 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday. The program ends with a poster presentation where students share their research experiences with family, teachers, and Stanford community members.
This is a fairly selective program with an acceptance rate of approximately 3% and a cohort size of about 50 students each year. Do check the program instructions here before applying!
3. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, east Baltimore Campus, Baltimore, MD
Stipend: The in-person program provides an hourly stipend and covers transportation, but not housing. The virtual program offers a $500 scholarship to interns to support their education.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (living in the US for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD for the in-person program) from underrepresented backgrounds are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Program dates: June–August. The in-person program will last 8 weeks, while the virtual program will run for 5 weeks.
This is a summer research internship offered by Johns Hopkins’ Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. The program aims to provide high schoolers with an immersive experience in brain medicine and research. It also seeks to offer students the chance to learn from biomedical research professionals and learn about the scientific method and how to conduct research responsibly. Students can choose between an 8-week in-person internship and a 5-week virtual program. Applications for the in-person program are more competitive than the virtual one, so those who aren’t selected for the former may be offered a chance to participate in the virtual program instead. The in-person program involves a research project, one-on-one mentorship, scientific seminars, educational resources, and career guidance sessions in neurological sciences. The virtual program offers activities related to science and the opportunity to learn basic laboratory techniques. Students of both formats get access to professional development workshops, college preparatory classes, mentorship training, scientific presentations, and networking activities. In-person participants will also work on a final oral or poster presentation describing their work.
You can check the past JHIBS research topics here.
4. National Institute of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Location: NIH research campuses in the USA including the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. No housing is offered to interns, but they get free parking.
Stipend: A monthly stipend of $2,300 is provided.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and seniors living within 40 miles of the NIH Campus on which they will intern can apply.
Application deadline: February 16, 2024
Program dates: June to August (tentative, based on previous years)
If you’re looking to gain real-world research experience in the field of biomedicine, this internship opportunity is worth considering. The HS-SIP is an 8-week program conducted at National Institute of Health (NIH) facilities. In this program, you will carry out cutting-edge research under the guidance and mentorship of world-renowned researchers. You can expect to find research opportunities in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences and explore basic, translational, and clinical research. It is important to note that the HS-SIP is extremely competitive, with a ~7% acceptance rate. Interns are selected by a central committee at each institute/center and then placed in a research group to work under the supervision of a Principal Investigator. At the end of the program, the Summer Poster Day, scheduled for August 1–2, 2024 this year, is organized for interns to share their research with the NIH community. You can either apply to HS-SIP or one of its student cohorts: HiSTEP and HiSTEP 2.0.
5. Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research Translational Institute
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA. The institute provides a few resources to help students find housing.
Stipend: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply.
Application deadline: March 30, 2024
Program dates: You can choose from 2 sessions:
June 3, 2024–August 9, 2024, or June 17, 2024–August 23, 2024
Note: If these dates do not work for you, the institute recommends you mention specific available dates in the application, granted you complete 10 weeks
The Scripps Research Translational Institute offers internship programs to encourage participation in health sciences. Its Student Research Internship Program is a 10-week program offering translational medical research experience. The goal is to introduce students to current topics in translational science, including the genetic basis for traits and diseases, and the use of mobile technologies to monitor and improve health care. You will also get to understand the process of clinical trials, especially those evaluating genomics and mobile monitoring of patients with diseases. Further, you will present scientific concepts, like study design, research findings, data analysis, and interpretation of results during the program. Based on your preferred area of interest, you will be assigned a primary mentor who will offer guidance relevant to the program as well as your career prospects. Students will also attend weekly seminars, develop an independent research project, and then present the research findings at the end-of-the-program poster symposium.
6. City of Hope Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA
Stipend: $4,000
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have completed chemistry and biology courses can apply.
Application deadline: March 13, 2024
Program dates: June 3, 2024–August 9, 2024.
This 10-week program selects 100 students each year from over 2,000 applicants. The cohort is a mix of high school and undergraduate students. The program offers students the chance to work on their own biomedical research projects in their areas of interest under the mentorship of the City of Hope faculty. As an intern, you will work closely with post-doctorates, graduate students, and lab personnel of the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences. Additionally, you will learn about various scientific topics such as neural stem cells, plant signaling pathways, and DNA repair. You are expected to attend weekly laboratory meetings, weekly program meetings, and seminars. The program also offers discussions on pursuing careers as scientists and doctors. The program ends with the completion of the research paper and written report and presentation of a research poster.
7. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
Stipend: A stipend is provided, details for which will be provided during the interview. You are required to arrange for your own transportation and accommodation. However, a free ORCA card will be offered to interns for commuting in the greater Seattle area.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: June 24, 2024–August 16, 2024
Fred Hutch is an independent, nonprofit organization and a cancer research institute. Its Summer High School Internship is an 8-week long, full-time program for rising high school seniors. The program is specifically designed for students from underrepresented communities, who are interested in learning about biomedical science and research. The internship begins with training sessions covering basic lab skills like using a pipet, making solutions and dilutions, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and more. Following this, students, in pairs, join a mentor in their ongoing work in the lab/research group. Interns are expected to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. You will also participate in research seminars and professional development workshops. The program ends with a presentation, where interns summarize their internship experience with their families, the Fred Hutch community, and teachers.
8. Project Success by Harvard Medical School
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend, but information on the amount is not available.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Boston and Cambridge who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 2.70 can apply. Students should have also completed biology, algebra, and chemistry.
Application deadline: February 2, 2024
Program dates: July 8, 2024–August 16, 2024
This is a 6-week in-person paid internship program offered by the Harvard Medical School to high school students in Boston and Cambridge interested in pursuing careers in biomedicine. During the program, students will be placed and mentored in a Harvard Medical School lab or another facility of an affiliated institution. You will attend seminars with researchers and physicians, visit hospitals and biotechnology organizations, get some computer training, hone writing and speaking skills, and attend academic seminars and special programs. You will also get to engage in hands-on research. The goal is to connect students with scientists and help them assess their interest in building a career in biomedical science. So the program also offers career guidance to students.
Note: Students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine and/or from a disadvantaged background are encouraged to apply.
9. High School Summer Internship at Magee-Womens Research Institute
Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA.
Stipend: Students will be eligible for a $1,800 stipend if their household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania. Check the eligibility guidelines for the program here. Housing is not provided.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 years old and have a permanent/primary residence in the local southwest Pennsylvania region can apply.
Application deadline: January 31, 2024
Program dates: 6-week summer internship beginning on June 17, 2024
Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) focuses on reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health. Its High School Summer Internship Program is a 6-week ,240-hour opportunity for students to participate in basic, translational, or clinical biomedical research. The program is fairly competitive, and less than 8% of the students who apply are selected. It aims to encourage high school students’ interest in biomedical research as a potential career. During the program, you will work on your own research projects under the guidance of an investigator at MWRI or Magee-Womens Hospital. You will also get to attend informal “Lunch & Learn” sessions, where mentors will discuss their journeys in pursuing biomedical science as a career. The program ends with a presentation, where interns share their research findings with other interns and MWRI staff. You can check past research projects here.
10. The Wistar Institute's High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $1,000
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have completed at least one high school science course can apply.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: July 15, 2024–August 8, 2024
The Wistar Insitute is a nonprofit institution that conducts research in the field of biomedical science. Its High School Program is a 4-week research internship offered to 15 students each year. Those from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. During the program, you will learn biomedical lab techniques and best practices in the Wistar Institute training lab. You will also explore scientific literature and learn about careers in biomedical science. You are expected to work from Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 4 pm. At the end of the internship, students will present their work.
Note: The program may give preference to students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia
11. Washington University Young Scientist Program Summer Focus
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $4,000 stipend for the summer
Eligibility: Rising high school senior students from the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois) can apply. Students from under-resourced public school districts and/or groups that are historically underrepresented in science are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: February 12, 2024
Program dates: June 3, 2024–July 26, 2024
Washington University’s Young Scientist Program (YSP) aims to increase the participation of students from historically excluded groups in science. The program offers diversity-focused paid summer research internships, among other resources. Its Summer Focus is an 8-week summer research program for rising high school students in the Greater St. Louis area, accepting 16–18 students every year. Each Summer Focus Scholar is paired with a mentor and a tutor, who are usually Washington University graduate students, post-doctoral associates, and/or laboratory staff. The mentor works one-on-one with the student on a specific biomedical research project in the laboratory, while the tutor offers support to the scholar in their research experience. You will also get to take two courses, one for strengthening their science communication skills, and the other for enhancing college readiness. Overall, you are expected to work 40 hours a week. The program ends with a symposium where you will present your research findings with your mentors, tutors, labmates, and others at the event. Previously, students have worked on research topics like genetics and genomics, developmental biology, cancer biology, neuroscience, microbiology, ecology, and biomedical engineering. You can check out past Summer Focus student profiles and projects here.
Location: Most Helios scholars work at TGen headquarters in downtown Phoenix, AZ. Some may work at the Translational Drug Development (TD2) in the Mayo Clinic campus in Scottsdale, AZ, or the Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff, AZ.
Stipend: High school students will be paid $14.35/hour.
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and graduates of an Arizona high school by June 10, 2024, can apply. Check all the eligibility requirements here.
Application deadline: February 7, 2024
Program dates: June 10, 2024–August 2, 2024
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a non-profit genomics research institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Its Helios Scholars program is a paid internship opportunity for students interested in biomedical research, specifically genetic components of diabetes, neurological disease, and cancer as well as public health and pathogens. The program provides you with hands-on laboratory experience as you work on a research project under the mentorship of TGen scientists. The program will cover areas like laboratory research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration. Interns will also attend educational seminars, learn about bioscience career options, work on scientific writing, present research, participate in social networking events, and work on a scientific poster. You are expected to put in 32–40 hours of work per week (Monday to Friday).
High school sophomores and juniors in Arizona can consider the Bioscience Leadership Academy at TGen. This is a two-week bioscience program wherein TGen scientists and staff share their research expertise and expose students to technical skill basics. Interns also get to shadow lab professionals and engage with clinical trials, bioethics, experimental design, clinical application of genomic medicine, and the translational process. Each participant receives a $1,000 scholarship at the end of the program.
13. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 (($6,120 if participating for 9 weeks instead of 10)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Texas who are at least 18 years old at the start of the program can apply.
Application deadline: January 17, 2024
Program dates: June 3, 2024–August 9, 2024
The 10-week program, formally called Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences, is held at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. It accepts up to 10 Texas students and offers them hands-on research experience in biomedical disciplines. The program aims to provide students with a sneak peek into the life of a biomedical researcher. You will work at the MD Anderson labs five days a week, from 8 am to 5 pm, gaining a better understanding of scientific investigation. You will also attend seminars, where faculty discuss a wide variety of research topics. Activities like abstract, poster, and elevator speech competitions are also part of the program. The internship concludes with a presentation wherein participants share their experiences.
14. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13 per hour
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Cincinnati can apply.
Application deadline: February 1, 2024
Program dates: 8 weeks following orientation day on June 4, 2024.
The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s High School Internship Program is an 8-week paid opportunity for graduating high school seniors interested in learning about biomedical careers. Every intern is expected to work 20 hours a week with a mentor in one of many pediatric specialties. You will shadow your mentor in the clinic and get to participate in clinical or research projects. You can mention your preferred mentor and specialty in the internship application. The program also involves weekly group lunches, group community service opportunities, hands-on training sessions, and seminars to connect with speakers from various specialties as well as network with peers.
Alternatively, you can explore the Biomedical Research Internship for Underrepresented Students (BRIUS) offered by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. This is a nine-week paid research opportunity for graduating high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds interested in pursuing a career in biomedical sciences.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs!
This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper in a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
You can find the application link here!
Looking for an immersive internship experience in biomedical sciene?
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, with a large number of them in tech. 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!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.