12 Forensic Science Internships for High School Students
If you're a high schooler interested in crime scene investigations and forensic analysis, this blog is for you! Forensic science internships can give you hands-on experience in evidence collection, laboratory analysis, crime scene reconstruction, and more. This field encompasses a wide range of subjects, such as biology, toxicology and psychology, each playing a crucial role in investigating and analyzing evidence related to criminal cases.
A high school internship in forensic science will allow you to learn from seasoned professionals, collaborate on real projects, and build a network that can propel your career forward. You’ll build on your practical skills and knowledge, while also understanding how scientific principles are applied to solve crimes in a real-life setting.
Participating in an internship also tells college admissions officers that you’re driven, motivated and passionate about your field of choice, as you’ve gone out of your way to look for an experience that would fuel your curiosity.
To help you get started on exploring the world of forensic science, we’ve curated this list of 12 internships in the field! While some programs listed here are not structured as traditional internships, they do offer valuable practical experience and are worth considering.
1. Internships at the Department of Forensic Sciences - STEM Track
Location: Washington, D.C. Note that housing is not provided.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be junior or senior high school students enrolled in a District of Columbia dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) program.
- Have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
- Be in good academic standing with their educational institution.
- Submit and pass a Criminal Background Check and Drug/Alcohol Testing.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024 (Summer Session) | July 1, 2024 (Fall Session) | November 1, 2024 (Spring Session)
Dates: June 3 – August 2, 2024 (Summer Session) | September 9 – December 6, 2024 (Fall Session) | January 13 – May 3, 2025 (Spring Session)
Cost/Stipend: None
The Department of Forensic Sciences provides opportunities to interns, fellows, and volunteers with a variety of programs, including Forensic Science, Public Health, Quality Assurance, Information Technology, Social Sciences, Business and Economics.
The High School STEM Internship is for high schooelrs enrolled in a District of Columbia dedicated STEM program. During the program, you’ll have an option to work in the field of your choice. There are several subject areas to choose from such as Crime Scene Sciences, Forensic Science Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, and more. You must be able to commit to working a minimum of 12 hours per week.
Location: Horsham, PA
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in high school.
- Be sixteen years of age or older by June 24th, 2024 (no exceptions – this is required for insurance compliance).
- Have completed or be enrolled in algebra and either biology or chemistry with passing grades.
- Be available throughout the program (weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024
Dates: June 24 - August 9, 2024 (Program starts each day at 9 am and runs until 4 pm, Monday-Friday).
Cost/Stipend: None
At the Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute (FMI) students spend seven weeks investigating and solving a crime using actual forensic techniques and instrumentation. During the FMI Summer Science Program, you will get an opportunity to learn through interactive, hands-on experiences using state-of-the-art techniques in three different forensic science disciplines - Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Toxicology.
After examining evidence and analyzing data, you will get to serve as an expert witness and present your case in front of a judge in a trial setting. You will also receive college prep as part of the program!
3. Johnson County Sheriff’s Office - Crime Lab Internships
Location: Olathe, KS
Eligibility: Open to all high school students. The selected candidates must agree to a background investigation, a drug screen, and a polygraph exam.
Application Deadline: July 1, 2024 (Fall Session) | November 1, 2024 (Spring Session) | March 1, 2024 (Summer Session)
Dates: Multiple sessions are available in 2024. October - December (Fall Session) | February - April (Spring Session) | June - August (Summer Session)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office - Criminalistics Laboratory provides unpaid internship opportunities to high school, college, or postgraduate students seeking to build their skill sets that will be come in career. The goal of the internship program is to benefit both the student interns and the lab through original experiments, secondary research projects, and general laboratory tasks. The weekly time commitment to the internship is flexible and will be decided between the intern and their laboratory mentor.
Internships at the laboratory are awarded per the needs of the lab and are based on the fall, summer, and spring cycles.
4. Westchester County Forensic Laboratory - Shadow Opportunity for High School Students
Location: White Plains, NY
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis per the needs of the lab.
Dates: The dates and timings are flexible and can be tailored according to the schedules of the laboratory mentor and the student.
Cost/Stipend: None
Westchester County Forensic Laboratory’s Shadow Opportunity is a short-term experience designed for students at the high school level or higher to spend time observing the analysis of physical evidence in the Forensic Biology (DNA), Trace Evidence, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Imaging sections of the Division of Forensic Science Services. The goal of the program is to provide you with an introduction to forensic cases in a working laboratory.
You will be required to submit an elimination buccal sample if you are accepted for a shadow experience. This is required for you to be able to observe analysts during the examination process and the DNA analysis of evidence.
5. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office Internship Program
Location: Greensburg, PA
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be high school students.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Agree to mandatory drug testing.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Summer Session) | June 15, 2024 (Fall Session) | October 1, 2024 (Spring Session)
Dates: May 15 - August 14, 2024 (Summer Session) | August 15 - December 31, 2024 (Fall Session) | January 1 - May 14, 2025 (Spring Session)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; information about a stipend is not available at the moment.
The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office offers internships to interested high school students in three sessions every year.
During the internship, your duties would include:
General office duties (answering phones, logging information, data entry and filing)
Scene investigation (general investigations under the supervision of a deputy coroner)
Autopsy observation and more.
As an intern, you will also be required to maintain a log or journal of your experience throughout your internship and submit it to the coroner after your internship. Internships are conducted each semester and the summer during the daylight shift only.
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 throughout the year. Summer cohort (Priority Admission): March 17, 2024. Summer cohort: April 14, 2024 (Regular Admission 1) | May 12, 2024 (Regular Admission 2)
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter. The next cohort starts 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 technology, machine learning, AI, computer science, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, healthcare, medicine, biotech, media, journalism, and more. 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.
If you’re interested in pursuing a forensic science degree, then you can choose to work at startups that specialize in biotech and biomedical fields. Interns usually require 5-10 hours a week to work on assigned tasks and to meet 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.
7. NSLC - High School Summer Programs (Forensic Science)
Location: American University, Washington, D.C. | Columbia University, New York, NY
Eligibility: Students must be between the ages of 14-18 and have completed at least one year of high school (students may attend NSLC through the summer following high school graduation).
Application Deadline: NSLC will continue to accept applications if space is available in a program or on a program’s waitlist. The online enrollment application will display all current availability.
Dates: Multiple sessions available at American University and Columbia University for summer 2024.
Cost: $4,095 (residential program)
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Forensic Science High School Summer Program is an opportunity for students to process evidence as they conduct an investigation of a crime scene with their team.
During the program, you’ll not only have an opportunity to conduct crime scene investigations but will also get a chance to analyze and interpret the evidence that you have collected; serve as an expert witness; gain knowledge that’s essential for a career in forensic science, including blood spatter analysis, fingerprinting, DNA analysis, and forensic anthropology. You’ll also get to discover the process and procedures medical examiners use when performing a clinical autopsy. You can check the sample schedule for the program here.
8. National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Eligibility: Open to all high school students during the 2023-2024 academic year. High school students are required to have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Application Deadline: Most of the students are either nominated by educators or selected through the forum’s academic partnerships. However, they also accept students through their application process. You can find the application here.
Dates: Multiple sessions are available in 2024. June 16 - June 23 | June 26 - July 3 | July 6 - July 13 | July 16 - July 23
Cost: $4,195
NYLF: Law & CSI provides opportunities for high school students to experience hands-on evidence analysis and courtroom or forensic simulations. During the program, you will get to choose to participate in either a legal or CSI track during the program where you will cover the entire judicial process in-depth; from the discovery of a crime, through collecting and analyzing all of the evidence, to preparing for the courtroom process, and taking part in the criminal trial.
If you choose the law track, you will visit a local courthouse to observe proceedings and perform a mock trial. If you choose the CSI track, you will attend an interactive panel with university professors and forensic scientists, who will discuss the latest high-tech applications used during criminal investigations. You can check the 2024 sample schedule here.
9. The Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Academy Summer Program
Location: Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Eligibility: The program is open to students entering grades 10–12 and recent high school graduates (ages 15-18).
Application Deadline: No deadline. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dates: July 8 - July 19, 2024 (Residential Program).
Cost: $4,500. Financial assistance is available.
The Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Academy offers high school students an in-depth learning experience in the field of cybersecurity and digital forensics. You will get a chance to gain hands-on learning experience from veterans in the cybersecurity industry.
You will solve real digital forensics problems faced by law enforcement agencies all over America in this program. The curriculum covers a range of digital forensics and cybersecurity topics, from constructing and safeguarding networks to investigating digital crimes and presenting their findings in small teams. You’ll also get a chance to visit a local cybersecurity firm and observe their field operations. A sample of the sessions you will take include: Introduction to Cybersecurity, Introduction to Digital Forensics, Steganography, Cyber Threats, Social Engineering, Acquiring Digital Evidence and Malware Analysis.
10. AU High School Summer Scholars
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Varies depending on the course selected. Forensic Science course dates: June 17 - July 12, 2024
Cost: $965
American University (AU) offers high school students the opportunity to pursue their interests in greater depth by enrolling in an online one-credit college course covering a range of topics, from international diplomacy and law to biotechnology, psychology, forensic science, and neuroscience. By enrolling in an AU High School Summer Scholars course, you will get a chance to experience rigorous and personalized college-level learning. Classes are accessible via AU's Canvas platform and allow students the flexibility to engage with coursework at hours that suit their schedules.
With the Forensic Science course, you will learn about the identification, documentation, and collection of physical evidence, including fingerprints, shoe impressions, hair and fibers, firearms evidence, and questioned documents. You will also have an opportunity to discuss the impact of television and other media on the field of forensic science.
11. Georgetown's Forensic Science Academy
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current or rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors during the academic year before the summer program.
- Show evidence of good academic standing, with at least a 2.0 GPA.
Application Deadline: No deadline. Applications will be accepted until all available seats are filled.
Dates: July 28 - August 9, 2024 (for both residential and commuter student sessions).
Cost: $5,775 (Price includes tuition, housing, and meals). Commuter Student tuition: $4,025.
The Georgetown's Forensic Science Academy gives students a firsthand look at the world of forensic science from professionals in the field—including investigators, detectives, crime scene technicians, and pathologists.
Topics covered will include crime scene diagramming, evidence collection, criminal investigative process, and video forensic analysis, to the ethical dimensions of issues faced by today’s criminal investigative professionals. You’ll also undergo various exercises, class interactions, case studies, lectures, discussions, mock crime scene creation, and examinations that have been developed to provide exposure to criminal forensic investigation.
12. Boston Leadership Institute: 3-week Summer Program (Forensic Science)
Location: Boston, MA
Eligibility: Residential students must be rising tenth graders or above. Rising ninth graders may be considered for the residential or day program on a case-by-case basis.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: June 24 - July 12, 2024
Cost: $4297 (tuition $2200 + residential fee $2097)
Boston Leadership Institute’s 3-week Forensic Science Summer Program provides high school students access to hands-on activities including fingerprint casting, footprint molding and analysis, blood spatter examination using projectile physics, and more. You’ll have the opportunity to investigate mock crime scenes, conduct mock autopsies, and even analyze insect activity on specimens that have been left outside.
During the program, you will get to explore how the latest DNA and genetic testing and technologies can be used by law enforcement and medical examiners to identify the perpetrator of a crime, how dentists can use dental records to identify unknown murder victims, and how bite marks can be used to identify the perpetrator. You’ll also get to perform a mock autopsy using fetal pig specimens and create facial reconstructions by hand, using oil-based clay and in-depth tissue measurements provided by forensic anthropologists.
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.