14 Cancer Research Internships For High School Students
As a high school student, participating in an internship can be helpful in more than one way. These opportunities give you early exposure to real-world work experience and can give you a chance to apply knowledge in practical settings while helping you develop new skills.
If you’re keen on pursuing a career in medicine or healthcare domains like cancer research, participating in a research internship will help you explore the disciplines in depth. Additionally, an internship can bolster your college applications, as admissions committees seek applicants who show they’ve gone the extra mile to explore their academic interests.
If you’re interested in cancer research, we’ve curated a list of 14 of the best cancer research internships for high school students that you can consider.
1. National Cancer Institute (NCI) High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Location: Bethesda, MD.
Dates: Typically starts in May and ends in September.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend will be paid to interns based on their academic level.
Application deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Applicants must be US citizens/permanent residents and at least 17 years old by the start of the program
NCI’s High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) lasts for 8 weeks. It is designed for students keen on exploring careers in cancer research, like epidemiology, biostatics, genetics/genomics, etc. It’s a part of the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research.
To be considered, you must apply either to the Cancer Research Interns Program or the Werner H. Kirsten Student Intern Program. If selected, you will get the opportunity to engage in hands-on research under the guidance of a certified NCI researcher. Along with that, you will also attend lectures, and seminars, and engage in other activities. Stipends will also be paid to all interns based on their academic level.
2. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Seattle, WA.
Dates: June 24, 2024 - August 16, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will receive a stipend upon the successful completion of their internship.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: US high school students with strong scientific interest and academic background entering senior year/final term after the summer
SHIP is a competitive, 8-week-long cancer research program for high school students, especially students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical sciences. During the first two weeks of the internship, you will engage in hands-on lab training sessions, lectures, discussions, and more. From weeks 3-8, you will be paired with a mentor to contribute to research activities in a Fred Hutch research group in Seattle.
At the end of the program, you will get the opportunity to present your research findings to the Fred Hutch community. The program demands you devote up to 40 hours per week to it. It’s also fully paid and a great experience to add to your college SOPs.
3. Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
Location: Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, NY.
Dates: June-end to August-end (tentatively, based on previous years).
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend will be provided after the successful completion of the program.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: Students must be in their sophomore year or higher, and must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The program also encourages students from disadvantaged and underprivileged backgrounds to apply.
This is a competitive, 8-week summer program for high school students. As a participant, you will work on independent STEM research projects under the mentorship of a postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, or research technician. This is a great option for you if you’re looking for research mentorship experience in an internship, especially at a well-established cancer research institution like MSKCC.
You will be introduced to laboratory techniques required to conduct research in STEM fields — skills that may be essential in the future. At the end of the program, you will get the chance to present your research in a poster presentation session, making sure you also deepen your understanding of how to consolidate and present scientific research. You will also attend tours and training sessions conducted by experts in the field.
Note: You can check out HOPP alumni talk about the program and their takeaways and learnings from it here.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Palo Alto, CA.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - August 1, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: $40 for application fees (can be waived). Students will receive a stipend based on their supporting grants.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- Current high school juniors/seniors.
- 16 years or older by June 10, 2024.
- Living and attending school in the US.
- US citizens/permanent residents with a green card
Offered by Stanford University, SIMR is a strong, competitive, paid research internship for high school students. This year, it will only accept 50 students for the program. As an intern, participating in this program will allow you to engage in hands-on research in any area of study of your choice. Currently, there are 8 distinct tracks to choose from, including cancer biology, immunology, neurobiology, bioengineering, and more. You will receive one-on-one mentorship from an SU faculty and work in a top-class lab. You can choose your preferred institute and have to invest at least 40 hours every week to successfully finish your internship.
Location: Most scholars will work in TGen headquarters in Phoenix; some will intern at Translational Drug Development (TD2) on the Mayo Clinic campus in Scottsdale or in the Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - August 2, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will be paid $14.35 per hour.
Application Deadline: February 7, 2024.
Eligibility: To apply, students must be at least 16 years of age by June 10, 2024; be eligible to work in the United States; be a graduate of an Arizona high school by June 10, 2024. Check all the eligibility requirements.
This immersive research internship opportunity is ideal for students interested in biomedical research. It’s hosted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in partnership with the Helios Education Foundation. TGen is a non-profit biomedical research institute based in Arizona. As an intern, you will receive hands-on laboratory training and mentorship from leading scientists. You will work on research projects in areas such as genomics, cancer biology, neurogenomics, and infectious diseases. Through this program, you get a chance to enhance your inquiry, data analysis, and laboratory technique skills.
High school sophomores and juniors with similar interests can consider the Bioscience Leadership Academy at TGen.
5. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at the City Of Hope Cancer Center
Location: City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA.
Dates: The 2024 dates for the program are yet to be announced.
Stipend: $4,000.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close mid-March.
Eligibility: Students must be 16 years old before their first day on campus and have completed chemistry and biology classes in high school before applying.
This 10-week program selects 100 students every year from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants. If selected after an intensive application process, you will work as a biomedical intern. Apart from attending seminars and laboratory sessions with the staff, you will also work on independent research projects under the recognized mentoring of the City of Hope facilitators. The program ends when you complete a research paper, which you will then present to your peers and the faculty.
6. Summer Research Program (SRP) at Indiana University’s Cancer Center
Location: Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, located in the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indiana
Dates: The program is typically held from the beginning of June to the end of July (tentatively, based on previous years), with compulsory 40 hours of work per week.
Stipend: Amount not specified, but all participants will receive a stipend (previous students have received $2,400).
Application deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: High school students from populations underrepresented in biomedical and clinical research, who:
- are currently in grade 12;
- have completed their senior year by the program’s start date;
- display an aptitude for science and math;
- have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible.
Note: Take a look at the NIH definitions of populations underrepresented in biomedical and clinical research.
This program is designed for students keen on getting practical research experience in the field of biomedicine. SRP is one of the more renowned programs in the country. During, the program, you will be paired with a research mentor and assigned a project that could include lab, database or clinical research. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about basic clinical activities, network with professional researchers, use high-tech facilities, and interact with one of the center’s research programs.
7. MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Research Program
Location: Houston, TX.
Dates: June 3, 2024 - August 9, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns will receive a stipend of $6,800 ($6,120 if participating for 9 weeks instead of 10).
Application deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors age 18+ by the start of the program.
The MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Research Program is a 10-week, paid internship opportunity. If you’re interested in establishing or exploring allied health careers, participating in this competitive internship is a good place to start. This year, only up to 10 students will be selected to participate. If selected, you will engage in a hands-on research project in any biomedical discipline under the guidance of an MD Anderson faculty. The program also has informative seminars, competitions, and other activities included in its curriculum. At the end of the program, you will showcase your research findings in a presentation.
This is a very comprehensive internship opportunity that will help you explore the day-to-day responsibilities of a biomedical researcher while also giving deeper insights into the discipline itself.
8. American Cancer Society (ACS) Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations across the US.
Dates: June - May.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns will receive a stipend of $5,000 along with an allowance of up to $500 for housing and travel.
Application deadline: October 15, 2024.
Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be rising college sophomores/juniors/seniors who are a part of the URM population.
- Have a strong interest in STEM disciplines.
- Have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA.
- Be full-time students and not enrolled in any other summer course.
Along with that, the internship eligibility is also guided by the NIH definition of underrepresented minorities in science based on race and ethnicity.
The DICR Internship Program is a part of the well-known ACS Center for Diversity in Cancer Research Training. It is particularly aimed at under-represented minorities in science and strives to create awareness and opportunities for the same. Each year, this program selects 4-10 students from DICR-funded universities for the internship. This makes it highly competitive in nature.
As a DICR intern, you will spend 10 weeks engaging in multiple hands-on research projects under constant professional mentorship in a cancer research lab or clinical/community setting. You will also be entitled to various enriching career development workshops and networking activities throughout the year. This is a paid opportunity with great scope for learning.
9. Brown Cancer Center High School Summer Research Internship Program (BCC HSSRIP)
Location: Louisville, KY.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - August 2, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipends may be provided.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors who will be 16+ by June 10, 2024. For more details, check this brochure.
This program is ideal for high school students looking to gain experience in translational cancer research. In this 8-week program, you will be working in a wet lab to gain practical, hands-on skills under the tutelage of a BCC research faculty. You will also get the chance to attend seminars hosted by BCC’s research faculty. At the end of the program, you will prepare a poster of your research results for presentation.
This is a fairly competitive internship opportunity. This year, only 15 students will be chosen for participation. To get selected, you must demonstrate a strong interest in exploring cancer research. After the completion of your internship tenure, you can continue to work with your mentor and return for participation in the next edition of the program. Some of BCC HSSRIP’s past interns have obtained degrees at some of the top graduate and undergraduate schools and universities.
10. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s High School Immersion Program
Location: Memphis, TN.
Dates: June 3, 2024 - July 27, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns will receive a stipend of $4,800.
Application deadline: NA.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current high school juniors in the Memphis-Shelby County area.
- Be 16 years or older.
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
This internship opportunity for high school students offers a variety of mentored research projects to participate in. This includes laboratory, psychology, epidemiology, clinical, or data science research programs. If selected, you will be expected to work in pairs with an expert research mentor to conduct research. You will also be working with a science educator to create a personal statement for your college applications.
At the end of the program, you will present your research project in a community exhibition. The program spans 8 weeks from June to July and requires you to devote up to 40 hours a week.
11. UW Carbone Cancer Center ARISE Summer Research Internship
Location: Multiple locations.
Dates: June 24, 2024 - August 9, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. All interns will be paid a stipend of $15/hour for 25 hours a week for 7 weeks.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores/juniors/seniors and at least 16 years old by June 24, 2024.
The UW Carbone Cancer Center High School Research Internship collaborates with the prestigious UW Madison for the 7-week ARISE Summer Research Internship. The program is designed for grade 6-12 students from underrepresented communities in biomedical fields and aims to expose them to careers in cancer health and research. This internship program consists of two parts—hands-on cancer lab experience and enrichment activities.
As an intern, you will learn about ethics and pathology, engage in workshops, and conduct cutting-edge cancer research in a mentor lab. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings and receive a UW Carbone Cancer Center Science Research Certificate. It’s a fully paid internship opportunity.
12. Cleveland Clinic’s CYCE High School Summer Internship Programs
Location: Cleveland, OH.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - July 26, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: Details about costs/stipends are not available.
Application deadline: NA.
Eligibility: Applicants must;
- Be US citizens/non-citizen nationals/legal permanent residents.
- Be in grades 9-12.
- Be 15 years or older by June 1, 2024.
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5/4.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in a clinical, nonclinical, or advanced technology-focused healthcare career.
- For the all eligibility criteria, check here.
Centre for Youth and College Education (CYCE) offers paid internship opportunities that focus on exposing high schoolers to different healthcare fields and careers. It offers a number of different tracks. In their Science Summer Internship program pathway, the program primarily includes clinical-focused healthcare areas like medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and more. As an intern, you will work alongside expert caregivers at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, hospitals, health centers, and more. This will help you gain practical, real-world skills to enhance your academic knowledge.
13. The Ohio State University’s CREATES High School Summer Program
Location: Columbus, OH.
Internship dates: June 3, 2024 - July 26, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: Cost details are unavailable. Interns will receive a stipend of $11.84/hour if they meet certain criteria.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising high school seniors defined as “URM” by the NIH.
The Cancer Research Experience for the Advancement and Training of Emerging Scientists (CREATES) is a competitive, 8-week cancer research internship program. Every year, CREATES selects 10 students to allow them to work in a cutting-edge research facility and study cancer. If selected, you will be assigned a Principal Investigator and other members to conduct hands-on research on the topic. In addition, there will also be weekly events, campus tours, meetings, presentations, and networking opportunities. It’s a paid opportunity that will require you to dedicate 38 hours a week to successfully finish your internship.
14. Emory Winship Cancer Institute’s Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Atlanta, GA.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - July 19, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: No costs are involved. Interns will receive a stipend of $2,400.
Application deadline: NA.
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising/graduating high school seniors and 17 years old by June 10, 2024.
The Summer Scholars Research Program at Winship is another strong and competitive internship for high schoolers. In this 6-week program, you will get the opportunity to conduct cancer research with a Winship physician/lab-based researcher on a one-on-one basis. Apart from this, you will also attend lectures by Winship oncologists and go on field trips to places like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention David J. Sencer Museum to enrich your learning experience. On the last day of your internship, you will present a symposium of your research findings.
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!
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Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.