12 Marine Biology Internships for High School Students

If you’re a high schooler considering a career in marine biology, or you’re just curious about the subject, an internship is definitely worth considering. Especially because marine biology has a strong ‘learning on the field’ component to it. 

Internships will give you the chance to dive into the field hands-on, in a real-world setting. Not only will you be able to work on lab skills, field research skills and more, but you will also be able to figure out whether this subject is a good fit for you. Moreover, an internship will put you in direct contact with professionals in the field, thus expanding your network and knowledge base.

With internships, you can demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical concepts in practical situations, a skill greatly valued by college admissions officers. We have curated a list of 12 marine biology internships that you can consider as a high school student! Every program is an opportunity to network with industry laborers, gain exposure to different careers in marine biology and conduct field research. 

1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

Location: Depends on where you live. Thanks to its network of mentors, Hutton can place students within a 45-minute commute of the intern’s home.
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 16 and live and are residents of the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 closed on January 16, 2024. Applications for 2025 will open in November 2024.
Dates: June-August (8 weeks)
Stipend: $3,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit conducted at the University of Arkansas.

The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid summer internship and mentoring program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society. The program stimulates interest in fisheries and aquatic science, especially among underrepresented groups. 

As a Hutton Scholar, you will be matched and mentored by a fisheries professional in your local area. You will gain hands-on fisheries science experience in marine or freshwater, conducting laboratory and field research. 

You will participate in resource conservation and management projects as a Hutton Scholar. Moreover, you will learn about career opportunities while receiving resources on potential course students. Some possible activities include electrofishing, examining specimens, data procession, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitats, and more.

2. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station (BFS) Internship

Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Oneonta, NY and BFS (45 minutes from the campus), Cooperstown, NY
Eligibility: High school students residing in New York State and are at least 16 years old with an academic background in environmental or natural sciences
Application Deadline: April 12, 2024
Dates: Late May-August (9 weeks)
Stipend: $3,000. Note that housing is not available for high school students.

These internships are extremely selective, taking only 1-3 high school students. In the internship, you will aid faculty and staff at the BFS central lab with their research projects or work on your research projects. Through the summer, your work may include fieldwork (fisheries and plant surveys and water sampling), laboratory analyses (water chemistry, identifications, and dissections), writing, and data analysis. Interns will also attend weekly seminars with presentations from faculty as well as students. Previous fieldwork and laboratory analyses experiences include: Fisheries and plant surveys, Water sampling, Water chemistry, Zooplankton ID, Fish dissection

The program concludes with you producing a poster to display your research findings to your mentor, BSF faculty, and other interns. You can view previous publications here.

3. Marine Teens Internship at the National History Museum

Location: Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from the Boyle Heights neighborhood in L.A.
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 16, 2024 and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Unpaid training in April and May; June 18, 2024 - July 26, 2024 (24 paid work hours per week)
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified) for the summer internship

The prestigious Marine Teens Internship at the Natural History Museum recruits only 10 students each year. They will begin their training period in the spring and become paid interns in the summer, as part of which they will work on a marine science-related project.

Interns will get access to the museum’s collections and research along with mentorship from industry professionals. Students will further become proficient in conservation, outreach, and interpretation by the end and will get a chance to present their projects.

Excursions and field trips are also part of the internship.

4. Geosciences Bridge Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)

Location: University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD
Eligibility: High school seniors entering their first year of an undergraduate degree program in geosciences can apply (preference will be given to students entering the institutions listed here). Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a minimum 2.7 GPA.
Application Deadline: The exact deadline is currently unavailable, but applications are usually due in spring.
Dates: June-August (6 weeks)
Stipend: $500 per week, with free housing, meals, and transportation all provided.

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), the Geosciences Bridge Program at UMES provides a hands-on experience to selected students in marine biology, marine biochemistry, marine geology, physical oceanography, atmospheric sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing techniques.

This internship is meant to serve as a bridge program between high school and university and sees hundreds of applicants from across the country. This program is quite competitive, with a 2-3% acceptance rate. Only 7-8 students are selected every year.

The internship program includes lectures from experienced faculty, field trips, two for-credit college courses, and hands-on activities. Extracurricular activities and social gatherings are included in the programming as well. Before starting your undergraduate degree, you will also be required to take two college-level courses to help prepare you for college academics. 

5. SoundWaters Spring Senior Internship

Location: Cove Island, Stamford, CT
Eligibility: Current high school students with an interest in a field associated with environmental science, communications, or public relations can apply. Experience with social media best practices, video editing, and web design is a bonus.
Application Deadline: The deadline is not mentioned, but students should complete their applications at least a month before the program start date.
Dates: May-June (5 weeks)
Stipend: Not specified

The SoundWaters Spring Senior Internship is an opportunity that allows you to experience field research in the field of marine biology. During this program, interns will partner with SoundWaters team members to learn about Long Island Sound ecology, identify live animals, test water chemistry, work within groups, and study the ecology of an estuary.

Additionally, interns will help the staff and educators maintain the aquarium, prepare programs, and teach field study programs. They will also be able to run a learning station themselves. Through this internship, you can learn to use the local environment as a tool to learn career and life skills. 

6. Dolphin Research Center Internships

Location: Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key, FL
Eligibility: All high school students from around the world who can read, speak, and understand English and are also physically fit
Application Deadline: October 1 (winter term) | February 1 (summer term) | June 15 (fall term)
Dates: 16-18 weeks for the following options: January-April (winter term) | May-August (summer term) | September-December (fall term)
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship. Interns are responsible for their housing, food, and transportation.

The Dolphin Research Center has been in operation for over 35 years now, providing marine mammal education and research resources to its visitors. This non-profit runs several internships that high school students can apply to. Selected interns will work 40 hours a week, with 4 days in their assigned department and 1 day providing assistance in other areas.

Departments where interns can work include:

  • Animal care and training

  • Research

  • Education

  • Information technologies

  • Visual communications

  • Medical department

Interns will also be able to conduct their independent research projects.

7. Long Island Aquarium (LIA) High School Internship

Location: Long Island Aquarium, Riverhead, NY
Eligibility: All high school students who can commute to and from the aquarium
Application Deadline: August 15 (fall semester) | December 15 (spring semester) | May 15 (summer semester)
Dates: Interns can choose any semester. Exact dates may vary, but students should intern for at least 120 hours with LIA.
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

Students selected for the LIA High School Internship will get an opportunity to work with the aquarium’s education department. Each intern is paired with a mentor who teaches them about the aquarium’s operations while also offering career advice. Interns will also work on the floor with the public at interactive touch tanks and give lectures at some habitats during the aquarium’s operating hours.

This internship ultimately aims at equipping students to become strong marine environmental communicators who can collate and impart relevant education to others.

8. Teen Internships at New England Aquarium

Location: New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
Eligibility: High school students at least 14 years old and residing in Boston and Cambridge
Application Deadline: Not specified. Applications for 2024 will open soon.
Dates: June-August (7 weeks: 1 week of training + 6 weeks of work)
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

The New England Aquarium allows high school students to pick up useful skills and build a network of professionals and like-minded peers, while working at an aquarium and learning about prospective careers in marine conservation. Interns will receive abundant training in marine science, climate science, public speaking, and customer service and will attend weekly courses on professional development and ocean advocacy.

Teen interns will work either as a Visitor Services Assistant or Conservation Learning Aquarium Guide, with both roles involving interaction with visitors. They will also be able to attend optional workshops and social events. During the internship, students will participate in a required professional development course and an ocean advocacy course, and in optional behind-the-scenes workshops and weekly social meetings.

9. Kwiáht Apprenticeships

Location: Kwiáht Center, San Juan Islands, WA
Eligibility: Current high school students, with preference given to local public and private schools and tribal schools
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Dates: Apprenticeships are offered year-round for a duration of the student's choice
Stipend: Apprentices may be offered a modest scholarship if funds are available.

Kwiáht is a non-profit conservation center and biology laboratory where high school students can apply for apprenticeships. Apprentices will conduct relevant research and work in the center’s natural environment and receive access to state-of-the-art tools and facilities. They will receive daily mentoring and will get a chance to publish their work.

Students will get to network with associates conducting marine biology research and gain hands-on experience with research in this field. Kwiáht may also offer you a one-on-one internship with an associate in an area of your interest and a modest scholarship (which is subject to funds being available)!

Kwiáht accepts proposals year-round from students where you can detail your research question, mentors, and analysis to be used. 

Note: While this program is open to all high school students, Kwiáht prefers students from local public and private high schools in the San Juan Islands. 

10. Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Internships

Location: Varies based on position
Eligibility: Open to all high school students. Note that some positions might have specific eligibility requirements.
Application Deadline: Varies; the standard deadline is April.
Dates: Varies based on position
Cost: No cost

The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center was established with funding from the National Science Foundation, with a goal to use marine technology to inspire and challenge students to apply STEM concepts to current, actual problems in the world of marine science.

MATE offers a number of internships for high school students, with positions ranging  from working on turtle conservation to working at the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies. These internships can give you real-world experience when it comes to careers in marine science, and you will get the valuable opportunity to network with industry experts. 

Note. MATE has a database for internships that include external opportunities!

11. Keller BLOOM Program by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Location: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME
Eligibility: High school juniors in Maine
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024
Dates: May 19, 2024 - May 24, 2024 (1 week)
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship. The program provides housing on Bigelow’s campus as well as meals and snacks.

The Keller BLOOM (Bigelow Laboratory Orders of Magnitude) Program aims to offer students direct and active real-world experience in the field of ocean science. Selected students will work with professional researchers to study the biological, geological, and chemical features of the local marine environment using both field and laboratory work.

Interns will conduct activities like field sampling, data collection, and synthesis and analysis. On the first day, students will use oceanographic equipment for data collection and sampling and spend the next 3 days working in the lab. They will present their research and findings on the final day.

12. REEF High School Internship by UC Santa Barbara

Location: Research Experience & Education Facility (REEF), Campus Point Beach, Isla Vista, CA
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12 residing and studying in Southern California
Application Deadline: There is no mentioned deadline. Students should email the REEF Program Coordinator at outreach@msi.ucsb.edu.
Dates: No fixed dates; students can figure out dates by speaking to the Program Coordinator.
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

The REEF is UC Santa Barbara’s teaching aquarium, with its internship program giving high school students the chance to prepare for college by receiving practical experience in marine biology, science communication, and education aquarium facilities.

Interns will get to work with the REEF’s cutting-edge touch tanks and aquaria and contribute to ongoing research while receiving mentorship from faculty and professional marine biologists.

Selected interns may use this program to receive community service hours.


Bonus!

13. Marine Science Investigations at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology

Location: Mānoa, Hawai’i
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible.
Application Deadline: Dates for the 2024 session are yet to be confirmed. Check here for updates! 
Dates: The program is typically held over one week in July.
Fee: $1,000.
Financial Assistance: Students from Hawai’i may be eligible for $500 subsidies.

Although not a traditional internship, this program is worth consideration (if you’re up to traveling the distance!). The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology offers a great marine biology program for high school students. A week-long immersive experience, the program takes advantage of its location, allowing students to explore the subject while on an island in the heart of the Pacific ocean. Under the guidance of experienced researchers, faculty and marine biologists, you will engage in field studies, lab experiments, hands-on data collection and other projects. You will get the chance to study coral reefs, marine ecosystems, and the diverse marine life found in the Pacific. You will also have access to the University of Hawaii's top-notch research facilities. This program offers students a comprehensive understanding of marine biology, going beyond the classroom.

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. 

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