12 University Internships for High School Students
Doing an internship in high school is a great way for you to explore areas of interest and potential career paths while picking up professional skills at the same time.
One way to go about this is to take up internships offered by universities. Many universities offer structured internship programs conducted in well-equipped facilities. These programs are designed to aid academic development through hands-on work experience and/or research opportunities in various disciplines.
Most university internships are prestigious and competitive — with only a few students accepted every year. Securing a spot in these programs ensures you stand out, demonstrating your skill and abilities. A well-recognized internship can also give your college applications a significant boost, reflecting your achievements. These opportunities also come with a high quality of mentorship from experts and professionals in the field, exposure to industry leaders, cutting-edge research and a network that can shape your future endeavors.
To get you started, here’s a list of 12 university internships for high school students.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Fields: Medicine, biology, biomedical sciences
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old can apply.
Application deadline: February 24, 2024
Program dates: June 10, 2024–August 1, 2024
Stipend: Students can earn a stipend of $500–$2,500. Housing and transportation are not provided.
Note: The program has a $40 application fee, which can be waived. Stipends of $2,500 and above are given on a needs-based system through special grants.
SIMR is an 8-week internship program offering high school students a hands-on research experience. You can choose from 8 fields of study: immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics. You will work under the guidance of a mentor—typically a Stanford graduate or post-doctoral fellow.
The internship mainly focuses on lab work. In the last two weeks of the internship, you will work on your research poster. You will then present this poster at a session, which will be attended by other interns and the Stanford community. The experience aims to help students explore aspects of scientific research from lab work to research presentation.
2. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Fields: Neuroscience, neurobiology
Location: Virtual and in-person options. The in-person program will be held at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology on the East Baltimore campus, Baltimore, MD.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from around the country are eligible to apply to the 5-week virtual program. High school juniors and seniors in Baltimore, MD can apply to the in-person program. Applicants should be from underrepresented backgrounds.
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Program dates: 8 weeks from June 2024–August 2024 (in-person) | 5 weeks from July 2024—August 2024 (virtual)
Stipend: In-person participants receive an hourly stipend. Transportation is covered, but housing is not provided. Virtual interns will receive a $500 scholarship.
The John Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS) is a fully-funded 8-week summer research internship meant for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds. Students can choose between the virtual and in-person programs. While both programs involve research training, only in-person students will get to work on a research project in the field of brain science under the expert guidance of John Hopkins researchers. To get a better understanding of the kind of research you will engage in, you can check out JHIBS’s past projects, which include topics like HIV effects on bone structure, electrophysiological mechanisms of juvenile epilepsy, and more. Additionally, both in-person and virtual formats offer seminars, discussions, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities with leading neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins.
3. High School Research Internships at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), Cornell University, and the USDA
Fields: Plant science, computation biology, environmental science, ecology
Location: Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, NY
Eligibility: High school students in Ithaca, NY who are at least 16 years old when the program starts can apply.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: June 25, 2024–August 9, 2024
Stipend: $4,200
The Boyce Thompson Institute is a life sciences research institute located on the Cornell University campus. Its 7-week internship offers high school students in Ithaca, NY a chance to engage in ongoing research in plant science and computational biology. Interns will work under the guidance of a research mentor and a faculty member in BTI laboratories alongside scientists and conduct research that contributes to the institute’s goal of increasing food security, improving environmental sustainability in agriculture, and making other discoveries that have a real-world impact on policy and food systems. Additionally, interns will learn about scientific careers and undergraduate and graduate studies, write research proposals, and explore science communication. Interns will also get to present their research findings at the annual George and Helen Kohut Symposium.
4. Geosciences Bridge Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Fields: Geoscience, ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences
Location: University of Maryland, Princess Anne, Maryland
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a geoscience discipline can apply.
Application deadline: You can expect the deadline for the 2024 cohort to be around April-end.
Program dates: 6 weeks in the summer, from June–August (tentatively, based on previous years)
Stipend: $500 per week, along with travel reimbursement
The Geosciences Bridge Program offered by the University of Maryland is a 6-week residential internship for high school seniors interested in geosciences. If selected, you will engage in hands-on research in fields like ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing techniques. A unique aspect of the program is that interns get to live in a dorm on the university campus and get to take two college-level courses in geoscience. This will give you a glimpse into the life of a university student, preparing you for your future studies. The program also covers meals and provides a stipend, making this a summer internship experience worth considering.
5. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship
Fields: Plasma physics, fusion energy, chemistry, advanced math, computer science, engineering
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University's Forrestal Campus, Princeton NJ
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the internship can apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Those with some experience in Python or Java, and/or computer-aided design, such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD, are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: The applications typically open in November and close in early March.
Program dates: 8–10 weeks (40 hours/week) in the summer. The exact dates and duration depend on the student’s school schedule
Stipend: Paid, but the exact amount is not specified
The PPPL offers a small cohort of high school seniors the chance to get hands-on research experience. Students will work alongside research staff and engineers for 8 weeks in the summer on research projects related to plasma physics, fusion energy, chemistry, advanced math, engineering, and more. The experience can help enhance your understanding of these disciplines. Interns will be expected to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The program does offer remote opportunities at times, so students are expected to indicate their preference for a remote project while applying.
6. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Fields: Earth science, aerospace engineering, physics, climate science
Location: Hybrid (on-site experience at the University of Austin, Texas campus)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who hold U.S. citizenship can apply.
Application deadline: February 24, 2024
Program dates: The program runs from May to August. However, the on-site experience for high school juniors will run from July 7–July 20, 2024, and for sophomores, it will run from July 27, 2024–August 4, 2024
Stipend: Unpaid
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) is a prestigious summer internship program conducted by the University of Austin, Texas in collaboration with NASA. The program is meant for high school students interested in participating in Earth and space science research. The internship has two components — virtual training course modules and on-site research. Interns will begin with distance learning modules covering Earth science and Python (programming language). In July, interns get to work on-site at the University of Austin, Texas campus and engage in research and interpretation of NASA satellite data. Internship tasks involve analyzing and visualizing NASA remote sensing data, mission design, analysis of ice sheets, Earth’s gravity field, and other observations under the guidance of NASA engineers and university faculty throughout the program. At the end of the program, interns will get to present their research at the SEES Science Symposium.
7. USC Dornsife’s Young Researchers Programme
Fields: STEM, environmental science
Location: University of Southern California campus, Los Angeles, CA
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: June 17, 2024–July 26, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the Los Angeles, Lynwood, Compton, or Inglewood Unified School Districts can apply.
Stipend: Unpaid
The Young Researchers Program is a unique 6-week summer initiative offered by the University of South Carolina Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. It provides teens underrepresented in STEM a research opportunity. Interns will work on a research project under the guidance of a graduate research mentor. At the end of the program, students will share their findings with the USC community at a poster symposium.
In addition to research, you will attend weekly lunch seminars that will help you explore various career paths in STEM, apply to college, find scholarships, and be better prepared for college. The experience can help you develop the skills to conduct independent research in the future or pursue a career in science. During the internship, you will spend a day at Catalina Island learning about Earth and environmental sciences and engaging in recreational activities like hiking, and snorkeling. Students are expected to work at least 15 hours per week on their research projects at USC.
8. University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Child Health Research Internship
Fields: Child health, medicine
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Eligibility: High school seniors over the age of 18 who live in Colorado can apply.
Application deadline: February 1, 2024
Program dates: June 3, 2024–August 2, 2024.
Stipend: $3,500
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital Colorado offer high school seniors a 9-week research internship in the fields of child health and medicine. During the program, you will work on research projects in the laboratory under the guidance of members of the hospital and university. At the end of the internship, you will present you research findings, in written and oral formats. You will also be encouraged to come up with research abstracts to be submitted to local, regional, and national meetings. If your research is accepted for presentation at a scientific meeting, the program will cover travel and registration for you! Also part of the program is a weekly research lecture series conducted by the program faculty.
9. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at TexasTech University
Fields: Multidisciplinary—nutritional sciences, biology/cellular and microbiology, computer science, neurobiology, engineering, history, and chemistry
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX. This is a residential program!
Eligibility: High school students in the US who will be at least 17 years old at the start of the program can apply.
Application deadline: February 15, 2024
Dates: June 16, 2024–August 1, 2024
Stipend: $750 (on completion of the program). The program also covers on-campus housing, meals, and weekend activities.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program offered by Texas Tech University is a highly selective program that invites high school students to work on research projects in the field of STEM. You can choose from various research areas. For instance, the 2024 research areas are nutritional sciences, biology/cellular and microbiology, computer science, neurobiology, mechanical engineering, history, chemistry, and electrical and computer engineering. During the program, you will conduct research under the expert guidance of a university mentor. Additionally, you will also participate in weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. You will stay on campus for the duration of the program, getting a glimpse of university life.
10. UCSC Science Internship Program
Fields: Multidisciplinary. Engineering, social sciences, humanities, art, STEM, environmental sciences, media, and more.
Location: University of California Santa Cruz, CA
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old when the program starts can apply.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: June 23, 2024–August 10, 2024
Cost: $4,250. Financial aid is available.
The UCSC Science Internship Program (SIP) is an immersive 9-week internship opportunity that enables students to conduct research in various fields such as engineering, social sciences, humanities, or art. As an intern, you will participate in 2 weeks of online research prep and then spend 7 weeks at the university campus working on a project of your choice. You can check out past projects here. Students have worked on topics like Tragic Technology Layoff and the Non-Immigrant Indian Diaspora, Artificial Intelligence in Self-Driving Cars, Reading Works in Sound and Moving Image, Perceptual Strategies and Emotion Recognition in Individuals With Different Levels of Autistic Traits, and Monitoring in the Santa Cruz Mountains. So, there is something for everyone. You will work on the projects under the guidance of mentors—UCSC faculty, graduate students, Ph.D. students, and post-doctoral researchers. The program concludes with a symposium where interns present their research to the UCSC science community.
11. Project Success by Harvard Medical School
Fields: Biomedical sciences, medicine, other health-related fields
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend, but information on the amount is not available.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Boston and Cambridge who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 2.70 can apply. Applicants should have also completed biology, algebra, and chemistry.
Application deadline: February 2, 2024
Program dates: July 8, 2024–August 16, 2024
Project Success is a 6-week in-person paid internship program offered by the Harvard Medical School to high school students in Boston and Cambridge interested in pursuing biomedical careers. During the program, you will be placed and mentored in a Harvard Medical School lab or another facility of an affiliated institution. You will attend seminars with researchers and physicians, visit hospitals and biotechnology organizations, get some computer training, develop writing and speaking skills, and attend academic seminars and special programs. You will also get to engage in hands-on research. The goal is to connect students with scientists and help them assess their interest in building a career in biomedical science. The program also offers career guidance to students.
Note: Students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine and/or from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
12. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program
Fields: Biomedicine and related disciplines
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Texas who are at least 18 years old at the start of the program can apply.
Application deadline: January 17, 2024 ( Reopens November 2024)
Program Dates: June 3, 2024 - August 9, 2024.
Stipend: $6,800 ($6,120 if participating for 9 weeks instead of 10)
Through this summer program, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers graduating high school students a 10-week research opportunity. Here, you will get to work on a research project in a biomedical field under the guidance of university faculty. The experience can also help you get a first-hand look at what it means to be a biomedical researcher and pursue scientific investigation. The hands-on research in the laboratories will also be supported by seminars and workshops hosted by experts in the allied health field as well as a chance to participate in various abstract, poster, and elevator speech competitions. At the end of the program, you will share your research findings and your overall experience with other interns and program faculty.
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.