Top 12 Medical Research Internships for High School Students
Research internships provide you with unique hands-on experience. You’ll get to work under the guidance of professionals and develop a more in-depth understanding of medical science. For aspiring medicine, research, or biomedical field students, medical research internships for high school students prove to be insightful and provide practical skills beyond the classroom.
Participating in medical research internships for high school students is a great way to explore a future healthcare or medical research career. Putting the experience down on your resume will also help your applications to universities stand out more. In this article, we’ve highlighted 12 top medical research internships for high school students for you to check out.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Stipend: All students receive a minimum of $500; students from underrepresented groups will receive at least $1,500
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: June 10 - August 1 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: Applications generally open in December and close in February
SIMR, a highly prestigious research internship program, allows students to collaborate one-on-one with a mentor, a Stanford graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow, and engage in hands-on research. You will have to select one of eight study fields – Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics and Genetics and Genomics. Once selected, you will be assigned a particular field of study (branch) based on your preference, and spend two months as a mentee. This is a fairly competitive program with a cohort size of about 50 students – at an acceptance rate of less than 3% (approximately).
You will spend a majority of the program in full-time lab work, and a portion of your time attending lectures. During the last 2 weeks of the program, you will work on your research poster of your project, which you present at the end of the program.
2. Child Health Research Internship – Children's Hospital Colorado
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: December 2 – February 1
Eligibility: Colorado high school seniors over 18
Acceptance Rate: Selective
The Child Health Research Internship Program at Children's Hospital Colorado offers medical internships to high school and college students in pediatric healthcare. During the program, you will shadow medical professionals, assist with patient care, conduct research, and perform administrative tasks.
The program offers comprehensive learning experiences with mentorship from experienced healthcare providers, exposing you to various medical specialties and developing essential skills like communication, empathy, and problem-solving. Real projects will ensure that students involved in medicine, nursing, or medical research are up-to-date with research and actual practices in the clinics.
At the end of the program, you’ll have to provide a written summary of your research experience and an oral or poster/PowerPoint summary of your research. You’re also encouraged to submit an abstract of your research to local, regional, and national scientific meetings. If your research is accepted at any of the meetings, the program will provide funding so you can attend as well.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting from $2,490 (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year; the summer cohort starts on June 2
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. March 9 for the priority admission to the 2025 Summer Cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective; 2023 saw over 700 applicants for 70 spots
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program for ambitious high school students! During the program, you will get to work with high-growth start-ups on internships that range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies that, on average, raise over a million dollars. As an intern, you will get to work closely with your start-up managers as well as a Ladder Coach on real-world projects for around 8 weeks. At the end of the internship, you’ll have to present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
4. Denver Health Medical Career Collaborative
Location: Denver Health and other Children’s Hospital Colorado locations; see here for more
Stipend: $14.4/hour (minimum of Colorado Minimum Wage)
Dates: Must complete 100 – 120 hours
- Summer: 6 weeks (usually June – July) during junior year
- Winter: 12 weeks (usually November – February) during junior year
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores while applying; attending school in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs areas
Acceptance Rate: Selective; around 75 students are accepted into the program out of 525 applicants
Denver Health offers high school students hands-on experience in the healthcare field. During the program, you will shadow health professionals, participate in monthly field trips, and work on community health projects. You’ll also benefit from comprehensive learning experiences, mentoring from experienced healthcare providers, and an opportunity to build professional and personal qualities such as good communication, empathy, and critical problem-solving skills.
This program is especially helpful for students who would like to pursue a career in medicine, nursing, or public health. By the end of the internship, you will gain valuable knowledge and practical experience, enhancing your academic and professional trajectories.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year. The spring cohort starts on March 3
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. February 23 for the spring cohort
Eligibility: High school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
Acceptance Rate: Selective
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. For over 8 weeks, you will have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. You will work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. You will get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
6. Magee-Womens Research Institute: High School Summer Internship Program
Location: MWRI or Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Stipend: $1,800
Dates: 6 weeks; starts on June 16
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors; over 16 years old by program start; have primary residence in the local southwest Pennsylvania region (Counties: Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Cambria)
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive; less than 8%
The Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) is one of the biggest institutes in the country that focuses on reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health. Their High School Summer Internship Program is one of those medical research internships for high school students that allows you to participate in basic, translational, or clinical scientific research and develop an interest in a career in biomedical research.
For over six weeks, you’ll get the chance to work on your own research project while under the mentorship of an investigator and the MWRI staff. You’ll also get to attend informal Lunch & Learn sessions where you’ll learn about biomedical science as a career from the investigators’ personal experiences. Finally, at the end of the program, you’ll have to share and present your research findings via a PowerPoint presentation to your fellow peers and staff.
7. KP LAUNCH High School Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business offices across various locations
Stipend: $24/hour
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-19 by June 1. Must have permanent residency in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area. Priority is given to juniors and seniors. See more here
Cohort Size: 40-50 students across both high school and college-level applicants
KP LAUNCH offers high school and college students internships in a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and administrative offices. As a participant, you will gain work experience in administrative and supporting careers in healthcare environments.
The program offers structured learning experiences and mentorship. You will have the opportunity to observe various aspects of non-medical careers, gain insights into daily operations, and develop essential skills such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving. These internships assist students aiming to pursue a supportive, non-medical career in the medical field. For more information, check out this blog!
8. MD Anderson High School Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 (12 weeks) or $6,120 (9 weeks)
Dates: June 2 – August 8 (tentative)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors; must be 18+ by program start; more info here
Cohort Size: 12 students
The MD Anderson High School Summer Program provides high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to experience the world of cancer research and treatment at a world-renowned cancer center. As a participant, you will work with researchers who act as mentors in state-of-the-art laboratories to learn more about the basic principles that form the foundation for scientific investigation and what it means to be a biomedical researcher. The hands-on research involves data analysis, research seminars, and participation in current studies. You will also get to present your experiences during the internship at a presentation and a celebration luncheon.
9. University of Chicago Medicine ResearcHStart Program
Location: Chicago, IL. These are the participating institutions:
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Northwestern University
- Rush University
Stipend: $3,000 (taxable)
Dates: Second full week of June to the first week of August
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school junior or senior during application period; at least 16 years old by program start; strong interest in scientific research or medicine career; should be able to commit to the internship hours
Cohort Size: No more than 30 students
The ResearcHStart Program is a selective program that selects around 30 high school students from the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign areas. During the program, you’ll get the chance to explore a potential career in cancer research. As a participant, you’ll be able to work in labs with established cancer researchers and gain hands-on experience in cancer research. Some of the research-focused areas you can participate in include bioengineering, cancer immunology, experimental cancer therapeutics, and more. Aside from rigorous research training, you’ll also get to attend skill-building workshops and a cancer-based faculty lecture series.
10. American Psychological Association (APA)
Location: Online (Not open to applicants from states where APA is not registered as an employer; see here)
Stipend: Paid (amount varies) and unpaid (academic credit)
Dates: Year-round internships available (spring, summer, fall, winter)
Application Deadline: Varies based on the internship
Eligibility: Students below 18 should have a work permit; be enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution; should be from states where APA is registered as an employer
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
The American Psychological Association (APA) offers internships in policy, research, communications, and financial services to students interested in psychology and its practical applications. These summer internships will provide you with a better understanding of professional psychology within a nationally recognized organization. As an intern, you’ll be able to do tasks tailored to your interests and skills, including research, writing reports, working on web-based projects, and administrative duties. The program emphasizes flexibility and accessibility, offering remote and paid internships to students worldwide.
Read here for more information on the APA internships!
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: April (tentative)
Eligibility: Massachusetts High school or rising college freshman; 16 or older. There are no prerequisites or research experience required.
Acceptance Rate: Low to medium selectivity
Camp ZON is a virtual research program designed to introduce you to cancer biology and blood development using zebrafish. As a participant, you will get to join a team and work on a research project that studies anemia using zebrafish as a model organism. Throughout these two weeks, you will get to generate a hypothesis, design experiments, and analyze the data. You’ll even get to see the zebrafish experiments you designed to be carried out in the lab! Aside from lab work, you’ll also attend lectures from world-class scientists and learn more about the clinical translation of research, biology, and more.
12. Nicklaus Children's Hospital Teen Academic Year Program
Location: In-person in Nicklaus Children's Hospital, FL. Virtual and hybrid options are also available.
Stipend: There is no information regarding a stipend; however, you’ll receive academic credit
Dates: August to May (tentative)
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: M-DCPS High School junior or senior with an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or more and excellent school attendance
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Nicklaus Children's Hospital’s Teen Academic Year Program gives high school juniors and seniors the chance to experience a healthcare career firsthand. As a participant, you will be rotated through departments where you will observe and assist healthcare professionals with their day-to-day tasks. This provides an opportunity to gain exposure to various medical fields, from pediatrics to surgery. The program fosters professional skills, including communication, teamwork, and empathy. Additionally, every student is assigned a mentor to provide support and guidance throughout the program.