12 Online STEM Internships for High School Students
Considering a STEM major in college? Well, then a STEM internship in high school miht be a good idea. It can help you get first-hand work experience in the field of your choice. Further, it can help you know for certain if you want to study that particular subject in college and build your career in it.
Many STEM internships meant for high school students follow a work-learn structure, i.e., they offer hands-on work and/or research experience combined with seminars, workshops, and skill-building opportunities. The experience could boost your college application by showing the admission team that you are keen to get a jumpstart on university studies as well as a career in STEM.
What’s more? Many renowned institutes and organizations offer virtual STEM internships, so you can access these opportunities wherever you are.
So, here’s a list of 12 online STEM internships for high school students:
Fields: Multidisciplinary—machine learning, engineering, biotech, AI, healthcare and medicine, environmental science, and more
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10–20 hours per week, for 8–12 weeks. The internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students! Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year. The summer cohort deadline is April 14, 2024.
This is a fairly selective program providing students with virtual internship experiences. It matches high school students with start-ups and nonprofits across the world to work on a real-world project that is relevant to the organization. Students interested in STEM internships can choose from fields like machine learning, engineering, biotech, healthcare and medicine, and more. You can explore all the options on their application form here. What sets Ladder Internships apart is their emphasis on mentorship, giving students the chance to work alongside experienced STEM professionals, engage with cutting-edge research, and contribute to meaningful projects. In addition to working closely with the startup, each intern will also be paired with a Ladder Coach, who can be considered a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding students in navigating the startup environment. The program includes one-on-one skills training and group training sessions with fellow interns. Overall, interns are expected to work 10–15 hours per week.
2. Stanford University’s SHTEM Summer Internships
Fields: Multidisciplinary—engineering, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, and more
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old can apply.
Application deadline: February 23, 2024
Program dates: June 17, 2024–August 9, 2024
Stanford’s SHTEM (science, humanities, technology, engineering, and math) Summer Research Internships Program is a fully virtual internship opportunity for high school and community college students. It aims to provide students with early exposure to cutting-edge research in an academic environment. Further, the program introduces students to diverse research topics in engineering and the link between humanities and STEM research. Interns are placed in project groups and each group is assigned one or more mentors—usually students or faculty and staff of the Stanford Compression Forum and its affiliated organizations. Throughout the program, students are expected to work on their assigned group research projects virtually while maintaining regular communication with the mentor and group members. For hardware projects, materials will be sent to students. Overall, students are expected to work 30–40 hours a week. The program ends with the presentation of projects. You can check past projects here.
Fields: Multidisciplinary—space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, ecology, and more
Stipend: Most interns receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are eligible.
Application deadline: Varies from internship to internship. Spring programs typically have an August deadline, summer internships have an October deadline, and fall internships come with a January deadline.
Program dates:
- Spring internships run 16 weeks from mid-January to early May
- Summer internships run 10 weeks from late May/early June to August
- Fall internships last 16 weeks starting in late August/early September to mid-December/January
NASA internships are worth considering for the wide variety of practical opportunities open for high school students interested in STEM. NASA provides internships at all its locations around the USA along with virtual opportunities. Look up available opportunities here. With a NASA internship, you get hands-on work experience by working with mentors like research scientists and engineers. Internships are offered in three internship sessions throughout the year. Each internship involves short-term work on a specific project. For instance, you may be involved in designing experiments, analyzing data from space missions, or developing new technologies. This can help you gain valuable experience and insight into NASA's work in the process. You can select a different project in the next session. Keep an eye out for NASA OSTEM’s updates and guidelines here.
4. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging Summer Research Internship
Fields: Machine learning/AI, programming, healthcare and medicine, biology, math
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students in the US who are over the age of 14 can apply. Students with strong math or computer programming skills or experience with a healthcare project are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: June 17–28, 2024
Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship is meant for students interested in exploring the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The program typically has a cohort of around 20 high school interns. In the course of two weeks, the virtual program will offer students a combination of introductory and technical lectures on the fundamentals of AI in healthcare, mentoring activities with Stanford student leads and researchers, and hands-on group work sessions on research projects. Students are also expected to virtually participate in social activities, and career sessions with guest speakers from academia, industry, non-profit, and government. The internship is conducted Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm. An extended independent research internship opportunity could be offered to interested participants. Students will be given a certificate of completion once the program ends.
Fields: Biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, information technology and cybersecurity, mathematics and data analysis, physics, and planetary science; students can choose just one area of placement from these fields.
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 15 years old and have a minimum 2.8 GPA can apply. The applicants should have a permanent residency in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area.
Application deadline: February 15, 2024
Program dates: June 25, 2024–August 22, 2024. Some students and mentors may decide to continue their internship through the academic year, in which case the internship can run from September this year to May next year.
The ASPIRE program is offered by Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in both in-person and virtual formats. It is intended for high schoolers interested in exploring STEM careers before committing to a field of study in college. In their application, students can choose any one out of 8 areas of placement—biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, information technology and cybersecurity, mathematics and data analysis, physics, and planetary science. While the placements in biology and chemistry are extremely limited (only 5% of applicants get in), generally, the program’s acceptance rate is 15–20%. After their selection, interns are paired with APL staff mentors to work on projects, solve problems, and hone their technical and interpersonal skills in a professional environment. Students are expected to work on ASPIRE tasks for 40 hours per week. The summer session ends with the submission of digital posters of the ASPIRE projects. Those who will continue to intern through the academic year will need to follow the guidelines discussed here.
6. SPARK Summer Internship Program
Fields: Projects are offered in various fields, like computer science, biology, engineering,
Stipend: Up to $500 offered
Eligibility: High school students in the US can apply. Those in the Greater Seattle area are encouraged to apply, but program providers might allow students outside the state to apply as well.
Application deadline: TBA. Applications will open in March–April 2024
Program dates: June–August, 2024
The SPARK Summer Internship Program (SPARK SIP) is an 8- to 10-week paid opportunity designed to connect high school students with industry experts, university professors, and mentors and work on cutting-edge STEM projects. The goal is to enable students to experience a professional work environment. It is an extremely selective program. Each project under the program comes with its own requirements. For instance, for a previous internship based on “DNA Sequence Classification based on Electrical Signatures,” interns applying for the project were supposed to have some background in scientific computation and machine learning and be familiar with Python. Overall, interns are typically expected to work 20–40 hours per week.
To get updates regarding the program, you can sign up for the SPARK SIP newsletter here.
7. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Fields: Neurological sciences
Stipend: The virtual program offers a $500 scholarship to interns to support their education.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the US from underrepresented backgrounds are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Program dates: June–August. The virtual program will run for 5 weeks.
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a summer research internship meant for high school students interested in a career in STEM, especially in behavioral health-related sciences like neuroscience or psychology. The goal is to familiarize students with behavioral and neurological sciences and research in the field. High school juniors and seniors can choose between an 8-week in-person internship and a 5-week virtual program. While the virtual program does not involve a research project like the in-person JHIBS program does, it does offer activities related to science and the opportunity to learn basic laboratory techniques. Students also get to attend professional development workshops, college preparatory classes, mentorship training, scientific presentations, and networking activities.
8. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Fields: Multiple STEM fields, like computer science, engineering, atmospheric sciences, mathematics, bioengineering, and more. Check the detailed list of topics and prospective mentors here.
Stipend: None, but the application costs $25 (which may be waived based on financial needs)
Eligibility: Anyone who is at least 15 years old at the start of the program can apply.
Application deadline: The application period typically ends in February.
Program dates: June 18, 2024–August 9, 2024
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an 8-week internship where participants work with faculty researchers and gain hands-on research experience. Applicants can browse through the prospective mentor list to choose their area of interest and check which mentors offer remote internship opportunities. During the program, interns get to use cutting-edge equipment and technologies, hone their scientific writing and communication skills, and explore STEM careers. The internship hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Students are expected to work for 30 hours per week. The program ends with the annual ASSIP Research Symposium and Celebration. A key advantage of this program is that the participants’ names could be published in scientific journals and their work can be presented at scientific conferences. You can check previous ASSIP research here.
Fields: Renewable energy and energy storage
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, can apply.
Application deadline: None
Program dates: Runs all year round. Half-time (2–8 weeks in summer) and quarter-time (1–9 months) virtual internships are offered.
EnergyMag offers virtual internships to high schoolers interested in learning about energy storage. The half-time interns are expected to work 20 hours per week while quarter-time interns must work 8 hours per week. During the internship, you will research and analyze a specific company, technology, (narrow) market, or similar activities with the help of a mentor who will guide you and supervise your work. You will research the topic, find sources who will share relevant information, compile and analyze the information you collect, and produce an analysis report, which will be published on the EnergyMag site. The goal is to teach students on-the-job skills like research and professional communication. Following the submission of the report, you will get an Internship Letter of Accomplishment.
Fields: Biology and various branches of medicine
Stipend: None
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Program dates: Runs throughout the year
Medicine Encompassed is a student-run not-for-profit organization that aims to spread awareness and enhance accessibility for those interested in careers in medicine. At the moment, high school students can apply for general positions in the organization, and become writers, editors, or resource creators for the organization’s 18 committees. Each committee corresponds to a medical branch, like anatomy, surgery, neurology, and more. Upon becoming members, students are supposed to contribute toward the Medicine Encompassed medical curriculum, so they will either write, edit, and develop content on various branches of medicine. Each position has its unique requirements. You can even opt for positions in sponsorships and partnerships, graphic design, and marketing and social media to contribute toward promoting the mission of Medicine Encompassed.
11. Internships at the American Psychological Association (APA)
Fields: Psychology
Stipend: Both paid and unpaid internships are available. Information on the exact stipend amount is not available.
Eligibility: Exact requirements vary as per the position. However, students residing in the regions mentioned here cannot apply.
Application deadline: Varies based on the internship
Program dates: Internships are offered throughout the year on a rolling basis.
APA is a professional association of psychologists in the USA. It offers both remote and in-person opportunities to high school students. The specific requirements and duties can vary based on the position. Interns can work in departments like policy, research, communications, operations, ITS, and financial services. However, internships at APA typically do offer students the opportunity to participate in research, writing, and web-based projects. Interns may also assist APA staff with administrative tasks and special projects. The goal is to help students have a better understanding of the workplace environment in professional psychology. Interns will report directly to their supervisor and also attend workshops and discussions and participate in group projects during the program. Additionally, students get the chance to interact with senior psychologists. You can find internship opportunities here.
12. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Fields: Plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields.
Stipend: Stipend is offered, but information on the exact amount is not available.
Eligibility: Graduating seniors in the US who are at least 16 years old at the time of application can apply.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program dates: 8 to 10 weeks in the summer (Monday–Friday) after graduation. The exact dates of the internship depend on the student’s school schedule. Some internship options run during school semesters
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is the US Department of Energy’s national laboratory. Its internship program offers graduating high schoolers an opportunity to work on a project with a member of the laboratory’s research or engineering staff. The program may offer remote projects, so you must indicate your preference for a remote internship in your application. If selected, you will get to work on an experimental or computational plasma physics project. You get to explore various aspects of plasma physics, fusion energy, and other related fields, broadening your understanding of these complex subjects. You would be expected to work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
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.