13 Science Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student who wants to explore the field of science beyond the classroom, or you’re thinking about pursuing a science major in college, then you should consider a science internship. These internships can give you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in various field of science, while also helping you develop your professional skills and building a strong foundation for your future endeavors.
This list includes internships offered by prestigious organizations such as NASA, the Department of Defense, Microsoft, and ACS, spanning a number of fields including aeronautical engineering, computer science, chemistry, biogenetics, marine biology, and more. An internship experience on your profile tells college admission officers that you’re passionate and driven about your field of choice. It will also enrich your academic perspective, and what’s more, many of these internships are fully funded and provide stipends!
Here’s our curated list of 13 science internships for high school students, including both in-person and virtual options, so you can choose one that suits your goals. Let’s dive in!
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary
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 (Regular Admission 1): April 14, 2024 | Summer cohort (Regular Admission 2): May 12, 2024.
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
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 STEM fields, including technology, machine learning, AI, computer science, environmental science, healthcare, medicine, biotech, 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 guided and mentored by a manager at the startup and a Ladder coach, who serves as a second mentor.
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.
2. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Subject areas: Computer science, physics, chemistry, aeronautics, mathematics
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9, and are at least 16 years old when the internship begins, can apply. Graduating seniors are eligible as well. There is room for some exceptions. Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has other requirements.
Application deadline: Applications will open on August 1, 2024, and close on November 1, 2024, for the 2025 summer internship.
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer. Exact dates vary depending on the lab you choose.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is $4,000 (new participant) | $4,500 (returning participant)
This program places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. This apprenticeship is a solid, research-focused opportunity.
SEAP is prestigious and competitive, with around 300 placements in more than 38 laboratories around the country. As an intern, you will work in areas like computer science, physics, chemistry, aeronautics, mathematics, and more with the flexibility to choose a lab that appeals to your interests and skills. Interns will be selected based on academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests.
SEAP allows academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in STEM to learn about Naval research and technology while receiving first-class mentoring by top scientists and engineers and working on actual naval research. If you’ve been thinking about pursuing science and engineering, you should consider this program.
3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Subject areas: Biology, marine biology, fisheries science, aquatic science
Location: Based on your locality (Hutton aims to match students within a 45-minute commute of your home)
Eligibility: Students who will be rising high school juniors, rising high school seniors, and rising college freshmen at the time of the summer internship. Students must be 16 years of age by January 16, 2024.
Application Deadline: January 16, 2024 (Reopens January 2025)
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer (It depends on the Scholar's schedule).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Participating students receive a $3,000 stipend.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid summer internship and mentoring program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society to help inspire students to consider pursuing careers related to fisheries and aquatic sciences, especially in underrepresented communities.
As an intern, you will participate in hands-on experimentation and research exploring marine and freshwater species both in the field and laboratory settings. You will also have the flexibility to work with a fishery closest to your home under the guidance and mentorship of expert marine biologists and fisheries professionals. Some activities include electrofishing, examining specimens, data processing, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitats, and more!
This internship also includes an all-expenses paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit, ensuring that you get an in-depth academic understanding of marine biology.
4. Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program
Subject areas: Technology and computer science
Location: Redmond, WA | Atlanta, GA
Eligibility: Rising first-year students of a bachelor’s degree program (graduating high school seniors) who live within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington, or in Atlanta, GA. Students must be at least 16 years old and have a legal right to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program and must have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program.
Application deadline: Applications for the 2024 program in Redmond are now open; Applications for the 2024 program in Atlanta will open on March 19, 2024.
Program dates: July 8, 2024 to August 2, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid is $18 per hour but varies based on the location.
The Microsoft High School Discovery Program is a highly prestigious internship that gives high school students with a keen interest in technology a chance to work with one of the world’s leading tech companies. During your four weeks as an intern, you will get a good understanding of careers in the fields of computer science and technology by learning and working with programming fundamentals.
With a strong emphasis on career readiness, the Discovery Program allows you to experience the design phase of the product development cycle and develop your community-building skills as you will be mentored by Microsoft employees who guide you through various aspects of working in engineering and tech. The Microsoft Discovery program is a great opportunity for young tech enthusiasts to learn core computer concepts as well as develop professionally!
5. QuarkNet Summer Research Program by Fermilab
Subject areas: Particle physics, energy sciences, engineering
Location: Varies depending on lab choice.
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are U.S. citizens or those who have a permanent resident status with Illinois high school enrollment. Proof of medical insurance is required.
Application deadline: January 31, 2024
Program dates: June 17, 2024 to August 2, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $17.20 per hour
Quarknet offers several research internship opportunities for high school students who are interested in the fields of physics and engineering, to contribute to Fermilab research. This prestigious program is conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, giving students access to the nation’s best laboratories and scientific mentors.
As an intern, you can expect to work on a variety of STEM research topics like particle physics, particle accelerators and detectors, and computer and quantum science to analyze data relevant to physics and engineering.
You will also cultivate and develop crucial scientific skills and technical skills by conducting surveys, writing abstracts, giving presentations, and contributing to cutting-edge research that directly contributes to modern particle physics scholarship.
6. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Subject areas: Aerospace engineering, aeronautical physics, space science, technology
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: Internships are available for full-time high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
Application deadline: January (Fall Session) | August (Spring Session) | October (Summer Session)
Program dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions. Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December) | Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) is a highly prestigious internship opportunity that invites students with a keen interest in technology to contribute to NASA’s research in the technology and space engineering fields. As an intern, you can expect to work in areas such as aerospace engineering, aeronautical physics, space science, technology, and more.
As an intern, you will also gain hands-on experience under the guidance of expert mentors, research scientists, and top engineers who will guide you through various projects and techniques related to mechanics, aeronautics, and engineering while you simultaneously work on tasks like experiment design, data analysis, and developing technology relevant to space engineering. You can explore different internship opportunities here by using the ‘Filter’ option to view the options open to high school students.
7. High School Explainers Program at Exploratorium
Subject areas: Science communication
Location: Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: Students at least 15 years old, not more than 18 years old, and have completed their first year of high school can apply.
Application deadline: Applications for the year-round and summer High School Explainer program are typically available in June and March respectively. When the application is open, you will find it on the Exploratorium's Current Openings page.
Program dates: Throughout the year (after school and on weekends) and in the summer (5 days a week)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is paid according to the San Francisco minimum wage rate.
If you are someone with an interest in science and want to do something a bit different from research, the High School Explainers Program might be a good option for you to consider. This internship invites diverse students to get an understanding of what it’s like to work in science communication.
As an intern, you will receive training that is focused on science content, exhibit facilitation, career readiness, and youth development and mentorship designed to help you demonstrate various science exhibits and concepts to the museum’s visitors. The program offers an opportunity for holistic development as you not only teach science to visitors but also develop communication and other soft skills in the process. You will also have the flexibility of working as an explainer either in the summer or through the school year!
8. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Subject Areas: Engineering, mathematics, computational biology, nanotechnology, chemical engineering
Location: While there are AEOP locations in almost every state, students in DC may select their preferred location.
Eligibility: Those applying must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here for the application dates.
Program dates: This is a summer internship program, specific dates vary from location to location.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided but varies from location to location.
If you are a high school student with an interest in mathematics and engineering, the AEOP internships offer a foundational experience that introduces you to research in STEM. As an intern, you will conduct research directly under the supervision of university and Department of Defense scientist mentors.
Some fields you can expect to work in are engineering, mathematics, computational sciences, computational biology, nanotechnology and chemical engineering. Through these projects, you will be contributing to real-world scientific development that is of national importance. Along with this, you will also attend various career guidance sessions and hone your professional skills to develop as a young engineer. You can check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here.
9. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Internship
Subject Areas: Computer science, physics, energy, cyber security
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Eligibility: High school students above the age of 16, who hold a U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status are eligible to apply. (Exceptions can be made for foreign nationals who attend an accredited U.S. college or university).
Application Deadline: Typically, applications close in April.
Program Dates: 10-16 weeks in the summer starting mid-June.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided, but information on the exact amount is not available.
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) invites high school students from all over the country to participate in research that applies STEM concepts to real-world scientific developments. Conducted under the U.S. Department of Energy, interns will work in several areas of STEM research including advanced transportation technology, clean energy, critical infrastructure protection, and cyber security.
Through these fields, you will contribute to the implementation and analysis of zero-trust architecture, the evolution of cybersecurity on critical infrastructure, and thermal constraint violations as a result of ambient adjusted transmission line ratings.
Your time with INL will be divided into working with a mentor in a lab for 80% of the time and the other 20% will be spent in career enrichment and skill-building activities, ensuring that you receive a well-rounded engagement with a career in STEM.
10. Project SEED by American Chemical Society
Subject Areas: Chemistry
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Check here.
Eligibility: Applicants must; be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates); have completed one course in high school chemistry; preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Note: Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4000 is awarded to the interns.
Project SEED is a strong foundational program for budding chemistry enthusiasts to get an in-depth understanding of what it’s like to work in a chemistry lab. As an intern, you will work on an independent project at a research lab located in the nearest Project SEED location. You get to choose the type of project you’re interested in—from a wide range of choices. Depending on your project site, you might have the chance to go on field trips and campus tours, attend career panels, and more!
The main aim of Project SEED is to enable students from underrepresented communities to build a foundation in STEM subjects by giving them a chance to work in real laboratories. This is an intensive 8-10 week internship where you will be a part of different types of projects writing reports, conducting experiments, preparing reports, and a poster presentation at the end of your internship.
Additionally, your coordinator can also choose to register you for the American Chemical Society National Meeting - where you will present your work to thousands of attendees!
11. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship
Subject Areas: Plasma physics, fusion energy, chemistry, advanced math, engineering
Location: Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: Students who are aged at least 16 and are graduating high school seniors at the start of the internship can apply. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024
Program dates: 8-10 weeks (40 hours/week) in the summer, with the exact dates and duration depending on the student’s school schedule
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will be paid (the exact amount is not specified)
PPPL's Science Education department offers a select number of students to work in Plasma physics research. During the summer interns spend about 8 to 10 weeks working on projects alongside Princeton’s engineering and research staff.
As an intern, you can expect to work on computational projects in plasma physics, fusion energy, chemistry, advanced math, engineering, and several other STEM-related areas. Since this is an intense and immersive internship, taking place at one of the world’s universities for physics, interns are expected to have experience and background in coding such as Python or Java, and/or computer-aided design (CAD), such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
12. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace
Subject areas: Biotechnology, genetic engineering
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Eligibility: Students 16 years or older who live in NYC or attend a NYC Public or Charter School within 45 minutes of Genspace
Application deadline: Applications typically close in January
Program dates: Summer Session (July 1 - August 16, 2024) | Spring Session (February 28 - May 23, 2024)
Stipend: $2,000
Genspace is a highly renowned biotech organization that invites students interested in engineering, mathematics, and biology to participate in genetic engineering research projects. If selected, you will have the opportunity to gain a strong foundation in various genetic engineering techniques under the guidance of expert biologists and scientists. Some areas of research you can expect to work in are DNA sequencing, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics. These projects are also done in fully-equipped biotech laboratories and you will be contributing to cutting-edge research!
In addition to research and deepening your academic knowledge in STEM, you will also meet and network with engineering and scientific mentors who are at the top of their fields, enabling you to get an understanding of how the world of biotechnology works.
13. Veritas AI Internship
Subject areas: AI, ML, computer science
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: October 20, 2024
Program dates: The start date for the upcoming cohort is November 11, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Cost: $2,490 (some financial aid is available)
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students 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. Students 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.
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. 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.