13 Data Science Internships for High Schoolers
If you’re intrigued by patterns, eager to decipher insights from data, passionate about problem-solving through statistical analysis, programming, and machine learning techniques, then you could consider a career in data science, or at least dabble in an internship.
Data science is the field of study that combines statistics, computer science, and critical thinking to extract insights, trends, and patterns from data. Data Analysts use skills and knowledge across so many different areas like statistics and probability, programming, and computer science.
So, if you're an ambitious high school student considering a future in data science or its related fields, you may want to consider data science internships before applying to college. Participating in a data science internship will give you exposure to the subject and allow you to explore potential career paths or research opportunities that you can pursue in the future. An internship can also help you to network with researchers who are at the top of their field. You can later use these connections either for job opportunities or even letters of recommendation!
Given that data science is an evolving field with continuous advancements, high school is the perfect time to pick up new skills and hone existing ones. In this blog, we have curated a comprehensive list of 13 data science internships for high school students. While some of these programs are not traditional internships, they offer the opportunity to gain real-world experience in data science and data science research.
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students.|
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year:
- Spring cohort: February 18, 2024
- Summer cohort: February 18, 2024 (Early Admission) | April 14, 2024 (Regular Admission 1)
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Cost: $1,990 (Financial Aid Available)
Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, is a selective program that allows high school students to work with start-ups and nonprofits across the world in a range of different industries. Some of the organizations you can choose to intern offer projects that cover concepts in machine learning, data science, AI technology, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, and more.
During your internship, you will work on a real-world project and present your work at the end of the program. Throughout the program, you will receive guidance and support from your manager and a Ladder coach. You will have both, 1-on-1 and group sessions with them. They’ll help you navigate the ins and outs of your internship! As a Ladder Intern, you will engage in a coaching and work-based model, which will include training in communication, time management and other skills. Some of the work past interns have done in the field of data science includes product development – building mini AR models, setting up automated systems, chatbot development and more.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility:
- Summer Research interns must be high school students over the age of 14 by the start of the program (entering 9th grade through 12th grade in Fall 2024).
- Student leads must be California residents. Student interns must reside in the U.S.
- Student leads must also be students over the age of 14 and may also be undergraduate students with a computer science background.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Program Dates: June 17, 2024 - June 28, 2024
Cost: No cost
This 2-week virtual internship by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging is a solid opportunity if you’re interested in exploring the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare. The program combines lectures on AI in healthcare fundamentals, hands-on research projects, and mentoring activities with Stanford researchers. If you’re interested, you can even opt for an extended independent research internship opportunity. While you can apply as a regular intern, you can additionally apply for the ’Student Lead’ role where you can also assist with project leadership along with an AIMI mentor.
3. National Institute of Standards and Technology 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: February 9, 2024
Program 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, you gain 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 these 6 NIST laboratories:
Communications Technology Lab
Engineering Lab
Information Technology Lab
Material Measurement Lab
NIST Center for Neutron Research
Physical Measurement Lab
If you are interested in data science, we recommend opting for the Information Technology Laboratory where you will help research to support the development and advancement of measurement science, standards infrastructure, and computer technology. For instance, your research activities will include digital data retrieval and preservation, bioinformatics, data mining, machine learning, information visualization, and image analysis.
4. The University of Chicago - DSI Summer Lab
Location: John Crerar Library (University of Chicago Campus, IL)
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current high school seniors who will be starting college in fall 2024.
- Be located in the Chicago area.
Note: International students are welcome to apply but are responsible for gaining authorization to work in the U.S. and providing all the necessary documentation to earn their stipend.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in January.
Program Dates: June 10, 2024 - August 2, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; The stipend rate for the 8-week 2024 program will be $4,800.
The Data Science Institute Summer Lab program is an immersive 8-week paid summer research program at the University of Chicago. In the program, you will be paired with a data science mentor in various domains, including computer science, data science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, materials science, and biomedical research. Through this pairing, the research assistant will hone your skills in research methodologies, practices, and teamwork.
You will be expected to work roughly a full-time schedule each week (>37.5 hrs/wk) — e.g. 8 am - 4 pm; 9 am - 5 pm; or 10 am - 6 pm. You will be immersed in a research lab and given first-hand access to applied data science research. You will gain not only an understanding of fundamental data science methodologies but also specialized training within the application areas specific to their lab’s research thrust.
5. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be at least 17 years of age by June 15, 2024.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited U.S. college (including community college), university, or professional school (e.g., medical, dental, pharmacy)
OR
- Be accepted into an accredited college, university, or professional program for fall 2024.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Starts in June and runs for 8-12 weeks. Start dates and internship durations are flexible.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; DSI Scholars are paid according to the NIH Intramural Research Training Award stipends, which are updated annually and based on education and experience.
The NLM DSI Scholars Program is an 8- to 12-week summer internship where as an intern you will get to contribute your skills and perspectives to computational research projects in the biological sciences. You will gain valuable experience in a collaborative research environment while training one-on-one with a research mentor.
Apart from your training, you will also have the chance to participate in seminars and professional development workshops that will allow you to develop scientific communication skills. The program culminates with your presentation at NLM’s Summer Poster Day, and you might have an opportunity to present your poster at the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day as well.
6. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, NY
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of applying
- Be US citizens and/or permanent residents.
- Be at least 16 years of age by the start of the program.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: July 1, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost: No participation cost, however, you are expected to cover transportation/dining costs if you commute and residential costs if you choose to dorm on campus.
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program is a chance to engage in hands-on research in STEM alongside faculty mentors. In this program, you will be matched with a faculty mentor, join a research group or team, and be responsible for a project. By the end of the program, you would have had to produce a written research abstract and a research poster. All participants in the Simons program should expect to commit a minimum of 4 hours per day working on their own and/or with their mentor/research group. Hours may vary and should be agreed upon by consultation with the assigned faculty mentor.
If you’re looking at conducting research in data science, you can opt to work alongside Dr.Yuefan Deng in the Applied Mathematics & Statistics Department. In this project, you will develop algorithms in high-performance computing, machine learning, and multiscale modeling for simulations of biological and medical processes. You can view the other projects for Summer 2024 here!
7. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: AFRL Scholar internship opportunities are offered at several locations across the United States depending on the program.
Eligibility: Applicants:
- Must be a US citizen
- Must be enrolled or accepted at an educational institution taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate for the semester immediately preceding the internship session.
- Must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Must be at least 16 years of age (by session application deadline) and have a valid Government ID
- Must be available full-time (40 hours a week) and work in their physical offices over the summer.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in January.
Program Dates: The dates vary for different programs.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; weekly stipends are provided based on the education level of the students and the GS pay scale.
The AFRL Scholars Program is a paid internship opportunity for upper-level high school students who are interested in aerospace engineering. Post-selection, you will receive guidance from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers, touring AFRL laboratories and working on cutting-edge research and technology. Each mentor in the program is highly knowledgeable and you can find a list of mentors here.
While AFRL research topics are mainly centered around aerospace engineering, research projects such as the ‘Electrical Engineer’ offer an element of data analysis where you will have to process and control data to design, develop, and operate a system that uses electrical waveforms.
8. George Mason University - NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing
Location: Hybrid (primarily virtual, with in-person options at the GMU Fairfax Campus)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Application Deadline: Available seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. (For the first 50 students)
Program Dates: June 15, 2024 - August 16, 2024
Cost: The fees have not been mentioned (students have been asked to reach out to execed@gmu.edu for the free structure), however, the website does mention that need-based scholarships are available.
The Young Scholars NASA Data Science Analysis and Research Paper Program offers you an engaging and authentic professional, cutting-edge research experience in NASA space data science and statistical analysis. You will engage in a comprehensive program delving into astronomy and space sciences through a combination of research projects and lectures. Working collaboratively on current NASA mission research, you will receive guidance on crafting professional-quality scholarly papers to enhance your research and communication skills.
During this program, you will be participating in a guided astronomy-based research project applying some of the following methods, including but not limited to:
Astronomy data analysis on NASA missions
Observational astronomy and statistical analysis.
Quantitative Research
Scientific methods of inference
Observational data collection and management
Statistical science inference
The private space revolution and its impact on astronomy and space policy
You can check the different software and data used for research - here.
You will have the benefit of having your research paper posted on the official George Mason University webpage see Schar School Young Scholars Journals page.
9. SPARK Summer Internship Program
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Eligibility: Applicants:
- Must be a high school student.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or have permanent resident status.
- Must be willing to work for 40 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in May.
(Note: The applications will open in March-April 2024).
Program Dates: 6-8 weeks, June to August
Cost/Stipend: No Cost, Stipend provided ($500)
The mission of SparkSIP is to act as a liaison and bring to interested high school students in the USA, specifically, the Greater Seattle area, appropriate opportunities to interact with industry experts, professors in well-established institutions, and community leaders, and to experience working in a professional environment.
SparkSIP allows applicants to select 1-5 projects that they’d like to work on, and then assign sponsors to selected students (only 5-6 students are selected to receive mentorship). SPARK also provides opportunities and resources that can be used during and after college applications.
The program not only allows you to work on real-world applications of concepts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization but also lets you interact and learn from industry leaders, university professors, and mentors. Topics that involved data science for the 2024 cohort include ‘understanding spike-timing and spike-rate impact on spiking neural network’ and ‘interfacing and visualizing data’.
10. NASA Internships
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- Be a full-time student (high school through graduate level) or a part-time college-level student enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours.
- Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the time of application (no exceptions).
Application Deadline: Varies from internship to internship
Program Dates: Varies from internship to internship, but should be in one of these three cohorts:
- Fall - from late August/early September to mid-December (16 weeks)
-Spring - from mid-January to early May (16 weeks)
- Summer - from late May/early June to August (10 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided to the interns based on academic level and session duration.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagements provides internship opportunities at all their locations around America. If you’re located near a NASA facility, you can opt for an internship in a research facility near you. However, if you live away from one, NASA now conducts virtual internships as well! You can filter through their database for opportunities open to high school students.
One internship we recommend if you’re interested in data science is the Digital Transformation for Org/Business Improvement. You would capture and analyze management and project data to improve efficiency in areas such as succession planning, assignments, prioritizing work, forecasting resource shortfalls and surpluses, etc. Familiarity with or passion for improving processes and/or data analytics is a plus.
11. Honors College - The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be at least 17 years of age by the program start date, and should graduate in 2024 or 2025. (This means they will participate the summer before senior year or the summer after senior graduation from high school.)
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
Program Dates: June 16, 2024 - August 1, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; the student will receive a $750 stipend upon the completion of a successful research project report.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a 7-week comprehensive research program. It allows you to gain hands-on research experience under the mentorship of Texas Tech faculty. While not a traditional internship, this program does allow you to explore independent research. While Anson Clark Scholars does not have a specific sub-section for data science, you have the flexibility to involve data science and its core concepts with any of the main topics, such as computer science, business, economics, humanities, biology, and more.
Tip: The Dean of Texas Tech has given advice on how to get into this prestigious program which you can find here!
12. ASPIRE by The Johns Hopkins University
Location: In-person (90% or more at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus, Laurel, Maryland) | Virtual (100% remote)
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be high school juniors or seniors during program participation (Applicants can be rising juniors or seniors)
- Be at least 15 years of age by June 1, 2024
- Have a U.S. citizenship (green card holders are not eligible)
- Have a minimum 2.8 GPA
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
Program Dates: June 25, 2024 - August 22, 2024 (Summer session) | September - May (Academic year session) (Dates TBA)
Cost/Stipend: None
The ASPIRE program by Johns Hopkins is an internship that allows high school juniors and seniors to experience STEM Careers in a supportive and holistic environment. Each intern is paired with APL staff and participates in workshops, problem-solving in groups, mentorship sessions with top faculty, and hands-on projects.
Interns will be asked to choose their area of interest while applying, but are not allowed to select their mentor or the project they want to work on. This program is designed to give you a chance to dive into a subject in depth before choosing an area of study in college. We recommend that data science enthusiasts apply for the Mathematics & Data Analysis area of placement. Do note that you will have to choose one area of interest and can either choose to participate in person, hybrid, or complete their program virtually.
13. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Varies depending on the project.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Have a U.S. citizenship
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Have a full-time enrollment status at a high school
- Year-round/co-op intern – Must be a full-time student during the academic school year (spring, fall, and winter)
- Summer intern – Must be a full-time student during the spring term immediately preceding the internship
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0 (for high school students applying for Research and Development (R&D), Technical, or Business positions).
Application Deadline: Varies from project to project.
Program Dates: Varies from project to project.
- Summer Internships typically run 10-12 weeks, generally from May to the last Thursday in August.
- Co-op internships typically run 3–8 months during the academic term and may include an adjacent summer term.
- Year-round internships run during the academic terms, and students can work up to 25 hours a week.
Stipend: Stipend is provided. You can check the intern pay rate here.
Each year, Sandia welcomes students from around the country to work in a variety of technical and business positions. As an intern, you get to work on real-world, challenging projects to contribute to critical national goals.
Many of their research internships can be experienced through technical institutes that encompass a range of disciplines, including cyber security, energy surety, engineering design, and software development. Each institute provides a team to guide and mentor interns in projects aligned with their major or area of particular technical interest.
If you are interested in data science, there are many internship opportunities offered by Sandia like the Comp Materials & Data Science Internship for high school students wherein you will get to work in collaborative team environments on multidisciplinary, technically challenging projects as part of a dynamic research organization. You will learn to solve complex problems involving the integration of a wide variety of technologies including servers, storage, networking, software, middleware, and all systems supporting the virtual environments.
You can search all the internship opportunities for high school students offered by Sandia National Laboratories here.
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?
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.