13 Chemical Engineering Internships for High School Students
Chemical engineering internships can offer high school students the opportunity to explore the fields of applied chemistry and process engineering. Chemical engineering applies chemistry, physics, math, and economics to design and operate processes that convert raw materials into useful products.
As a chemical engineering intern, you can choose to work across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, food and beverage, environmental protection, energy production, and materials manufacturing. You'll also have the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals, develop new skills, and gain insights into the latest trends in the industry. Additionally, an internship showcases your dedication to the subject and proves to admission officers that you can apply theoretical concepts in practical situations. It can also help you network with researchers at the top of their field. You can later use these connections for job opportunities or even letters of recommendation!
Here are 13 chemical engineering internships tailored for high school students:
1. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Internships
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be U.S. citizens
- Be juniors or seniors in high school during the application period
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No participation cost (but students must cover housing and transportation costs); Unpaid.
The Summer High School Intern Program by NIST is a program for students who have finished their junior or senior year of high school (by the start of the program) and demonstrate an interest in scientific research. In this program, students will get the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research at NIST and work closely with NIST staff scientists and engineers on a specific research topic. Students can choose to intern at one of their 6 NIST laboratories.
Students interested in chemical engineering are encouraged to apply to the Material Measurements Lab. Your focus areas will include new vaccines and biological drugs, characterizing the performance of alternative fuels and refrigerants with less greenhouse gas potential, assessing pollutants, including ocean plastics, and helping develop new materials for lightweight, fuel-efficient transportation, and much more!
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines are available throughout the year. The upcoming summer cohort deadline is May 12, 2024.
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter. The summer cohort begins on June 3, 2024.
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Ladder Internships, a fairly selective program founded by Harvard alumni, pairs high school students with startups and nonprofits around the world for virtual internships. You can choose the field you wish to work in, from a wide range of industries, including chemistry, technology, engineering, environmental science and sustainability, biotechnology, healthcare and medicine, and more. As an intern, you will work on meaningful projects that contribute to the startup or nonprofit’s larger mission, and present your work at the end of the program. This internship program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns. You will be paired with a manager at the startup and with a Ladder coach, who serves as a second mentor.
Interns usually require 5-10 hours a week to work on assigned tasks and to meet the company management. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. The internship opportunities in this program span the globe, with a concentration in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the UK. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
3. Project SEED by American Chemical Society
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Check here.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates).
- Have completed one course in high school chemistry.
Preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Note: Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4000 is awarded to the interns.
Project SEED is a paid, summer fellowship program for high school students. Once accepted, students commute daily to a research lab (typically about 8 hours per weekday, Monday through Friday) for anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks. This program offers an opportunity for students keen on working in laboratories and conducting work in the field of chemistry. Students will get to work in real laboratories at universities and other sites, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture lab.
In particular, Project SEED focuses on supporting over 350 students from underrepresented communities, providing both internships and summer camps to help students with university applications. As an intern, you will work on an independent project at a research lab located in the nearest Project SEED location. You get to choose the type of project you’re interested in – from a wide range of choices. Depending on your project site, you might have the chance to go on field trips and campus tours, attend career panels, and more!
A bonus is that your coordinator can choose to register you for the American Chemical Society National Meeting – where you can present your work.
4. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Note: Internships will be offered in fully remote, fully in-person, or hybrid (some days remote and some days in-person) formats.
Eligibility:
- Interns for remote internships must be 15 years or older by June 18th, 2024.
- Internships for in-person or hybrid internships in computer labs - must be 15 years or older by June 18th, 2024.
- Interns for wet-lab in-person or hybrid internships - must be 16 or older by June 18, 2024.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 18, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (transport and housing are not covered); Unpaid.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program allows high school students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University to develop their research projects. In this 8-week internship, you will gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge, sophisticated equipment and technologies, develop and exercise scientific writing and communication skills, explore STEM career choices through discussion forums and meetings with role models, and develop and exercise creative skills, which are crucial to performing innovative research.
Previous projects in chemical engineering include research in antibiotic development, measuring Volatile Organic Carbon (VOC), and Developing Atomically Layered Heterostructures as Electrochemical Dopamine Sensors. You can look at the previous research projects of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry here!
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country.
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- High school students who have completed at least Grade 9
- Currently enrolled in high school (but maybe taking college-level classes for college credit)
- Graduating seniors are eligible to apply
- Must be 16 years of age or older by the internship start date to participate
- Solely U.S. Citizens
(Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has any other particular requirements or exceptions)
Application Deadline: Summer internship applications open on August 1st and close on November 1st every year.
Dates: The internship lasts eight weeks during the summer (with the possibility of extending up to two additional weeks).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided (New participant: $4,000 | Returning participant: $4,500)
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. SEAP is competitive, with around 300 placements in more than 38 laboratories around the country and because of its association with the US government, it’s regarded as highly prestigious too. Interns will be selected based on academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests.
Your lab choice is based on your subject of interest. You can select a maximum of three labs. If your subject of interest is chemical engineering, you can choose to work at the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE), where the Jacksonville Materials Engineering Laboratory is actively involved in the technologies and processes utilized to perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) on multiple types of Navy aircraft.
6. St. Louis’s Young Scientist Summer Focus Program
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Eligibility: Students from any high school in the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois) may apply to Summer Focus when they are in the 11th grade (i.e. their junior year).
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 3, 2024 - July 26, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Scholars receive a $4,000 stipend for the summer.
Conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, the YSP Summer Focus Program provides high school students in the Greater St.Louis area with funded, 8-week summer research internships. In the program, you will be paired with a mentor and a tutor. The mentor works one-on-one with you on your project, while your tutor will support you through your research experience. The mentors and tutors are Washington University graduate students, postdoctoral associates, laboratory staff, and principal investigators.
Research is conducted in chemistry, ecology, earth and planetary sciences, developmental biology, and more. Moreover, in addition to your research work, you will also take 2 courses on strengthening your science communication skills and preparing to apply to college.
7. ASE Internships by Saturday Academy
Location: Varies depending on the internship.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader (or equivalent).
- Be the minimum age by June 17th, but for the VA Healthcare System, they must be 16 by May 15.
Application Deadline: March 8, 2024
Dates: 8-10 weeks between June and August (Most start dates will be the week of June 17. All internship hours will be completed by August 23, 2024).
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee; A learning stipend of $1,100, or $650 for part-time positions is provided to the interns.
Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering (ASE) Internships typically offer about 75 internships each year. Mentor partners vary but usually fall under one of the following general disciplines: Biology, Health or Medicine, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics. As an intern, you will contribute to the projects conducted at the mentor’s organization throughout the summer. Your role as an intern will vary depending on your organization. A few roles this summer include:
Conducting experiments to better understand water quality and to improve contamination clean-up efforts.
Learning about synthetic chemistry and discovering how to use fluorescent chemical compounds for medical imaging.
Learning and assisting with the operations of a nuclear research reactor and more.
Your primary responsibilities can include working alongside leading scientists on a research project, receiving training and mentorship from scientists, and even conducting your experiments in some cases!
8. Idaho National Laboratory Internships
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be high school students who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Be rising juniors, rising seniors, and recently graduated students.
- Possess a minimum overall 3.0 GPA.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: The program typically begins in mid-June and lasts for 6 weeks.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; The exact amount is not mentioned, but the INL pays a competitive wage while also offering a housing stipend and transportation reimbursements.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory offers very few internship opportunities to high school students, making this a highly selective program. Throughout the six-week paid summer internship, you’ll actively contribute to solving authentic real-world challenges under the mentorship of top INL researchers and professionals. You get to work alongside top-tier scientists and researchers on real-world projects as well as explore diverse projects spanning nuclear energy, cybersecurity, environmental science, and more.
If you’re interested in chemical engineering, you can opt for research in Nuclear Fuels and Materials or Nuclear Fuel Management, Recycling, and Disposal. You can check out all the internship categories here. Interns spend 80% of their time in labs with their mentors and the remaining 20% in enrichment activities. You can take a look at the various job postings here.
9. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, NY
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade in June 2024.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024
Dates: June 3 - August 9, 2024 (10-week summer program)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a Stipend of $750 is provided to the students.
NYU's ARISE program is an opportunity-based initiative designed to immerse students in the world of STEM. ARISE has expanded to a comprehensive 10-week format wherein student participation in all stages of the application process, orientation, and program dates is mandatory.
4 weeks: Remote after-school workshops.
6 weeks: In-person labs starting July 1, 2024 (Monday – Friday, 9 am - 4 pm).
This program covers interdisciplinary topics and STEM disciplines such as Bio-and Molecular Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, AI, and Machine Learning via hands-on work in research labs. You can check out the various research opportunities available in chemical engineering here.
10. QuarkNet Summer Research Program by Fermilab
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), IL
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are U.S. citizens or those who have a permanent resident status with Illinois high school enrollment. Proof of medical insurance is required.
Application deadline: January 31, 2024
Dates: June 17 - August 2, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend of $17.20 per hour is provided to the interns.
Fermilab offers several research internship opportunities for high school students who are interested in the fields of physics and chemical engineering, to contribute to Fermilab research. QuarkNet Summer Research Program is a prestigious program conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, giving students access to the nation’s best laboratories and scientific mentors.
As an intern, you can expect to work on a variety of STEM research topics like particle physics, particle accelerators and detectors, and computer and quantum science to analyze data relevant to physics and engineering. You will also get to cultivate and develop crucial scientific and technical skills by conducting surveys, writing abstracts, giving presentations, and contributing to cutting-edge research.
Note: You can state your preferences for areas of research in which you have a particular interest, although research projects vary yearly, based on the availability of projects ongoing at the lab.
11. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: While there are AEOP locations in almost every state, students in DC may select their preferred location.
Eligibility: Those applying must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here for the application dates.
Dates: This is a summer internship program, specific dates vary from location to location.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided but varies from location to location.
If you are a high school student with an interest in chemical engineering, the AEOP internships are a great foundational experience that introduces you to research in STEM. As an intern, you will conduct research directly under the supervision of university and Department of Defense scientist mentors.
If you’re interested in chemical engineering you can choose the materials science project offered by the University of California or the nano-engineering project offered by the Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. Through these projects, you will be contributing to real-world scientific development that is of national importance. Along with this, you will also attend various career guidance sessions and hone your professional skills to develop as a young engineer.
You can check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here.
12. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Location: Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: Students who are aged at least 16 and are graduating high school seniors at the start of the internship can apply. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: 8-10 weeks (40 hours/week) in the summer, with the exact dates and duration depending on the student’s school schedule
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will be paid (the exact amount is not specified)
PPPL's Science Education department offers a select number of students to work in Plasma physics research. During the summer interns spend about 8 to 10 weeks working on projects alongside Princeton’s engineering and research staff.
As an intern, you can expect to work on computational projects in plasma physics, fusion energy, chemistry, advanced math, engineering, and several other STEM-related areas. Since this is an intense and immersive internship, taking place at one of the world’s universities for physics, interns are expected to have experience and background in coding such as Python or Java, and/or computer-aided design (CAD), such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
13. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Eligibility: Students 16 years or older who live in NYC or attend a NYC Public or Charter School within 45 minutes of Genspace
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Dates: Summer Session (July 1 - August 16, 2024) | Spring Session (February 28 - May 23, 2024)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend of $2,000 is provided to the interns.
Genspace is a highly renowned biotech organization that invites students interested in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology to participate in genetic engineering research projects. If selected, you will have the opportunity to gain a strong foundation in various genetic engineering techniques under the guidance of expert biologists and scientists. Some areas of research you can expect to work in are DNA sequencing, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics.
These projects are also done in fully-equipped biotech laboratories and you will be contributing to cutting-edge research! In addition to research and deepening your academic knowledge in STEM, you will also be meeting and networking with engineering and scientific mentors who are the best in their fields enabling you to get an understanding of how the world of biotechnology works.
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, 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.