10 Biology Internships for High School Students in Orange County, California
Internships can be a great way for high school students to gain work experience, develop practical skills, and build valuable connections in their fields of interest–all without the high costs often associated with educational programs. For students interested in biology and related sciences, internships offer exposure to research and professional environments.
In and around Orange County, California, there are numerous opportunities provided by colleges, research institutes, and organizations that make biology internships an accessible option for high schoolers. Whether you want to deepen your understanding of the subject or explore different career paths within the life sciences, an internship can help you clarify your future.
To make the search easier, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 biology internships for high school students in Orange County, including those within easy commuting distance or accessible virtually.
1. BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship at UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, California
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 6–August 1
Application deadline: April
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors intending to mentor interns in the next year
At the UCLA BrainSPORT Summer High School Research Internship, you’ll be part of a research team focused on understanding traumatic brain injuries in youth. As an intern, you’ll work alongside clinicians, researchers, and medical students on active studies, including the CARE4Kids project. This project investigates persistent post-concussion symptoms through neuroimaging, cognitive testing, blood samples, and autonomic system assessments. Your responsibilities will include recruiting participants, managing data entry, and assisting with study protocols. Weekly lab meetings offer exposure to current challenges and developments in brain injury science. By the end of this biology internship for high school students, you’ll complete and present a research project based on a topic of personal interest within the field.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a competitive program designed for motivated high school students eager to gain hands-on experience with dynamic start-up companies. Participants collaborate directly with high-growth start-ups across a broad range of fields, including cutting-edge areas like biotechnology, health tech, AI, deep tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Interns engage in meaningful projects under the guidance of both company managers and dedicated Ladder Coaches, culminating in presentations that showcase their contributions to the business.
The program usually runs virtually for about eight weeks, providing flexibility while delivering an immersive experience. Here is the application form.
3. Scripps Student Research Internship
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, California
Cost: Free; a stipend of $4,830 is awarded to interns on completion of the internship.
Program dates: June 2–August 8 or June 16–August 22
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 16 years old by the internship start date
The Scripps Research Translational Institute’s Student Research Internship allows you to spend 10 weeks exploring how genomics, mobile health technology, and data science are shaping personalized medicine. You’ll be paired with a mentor who aligns with your interests, ranging from genetic association studies to mobile health trials, and will help design and analyze clinical research studies. This biology internship for high school students focuses primarily on dry lab work involving data analysis and computational research, but a few wet lab opportunities are also available. You’ll examine how genetic and molecular data relate to human health and disease, and learn how mobile technologies are being used to track and improve health outcomes.
4. UCSD’s Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)
Location: UC San Diego campus, San Diego, California
Cost: Free, $1,500 for Research Project option
Program dates: June 16–August 8
Application deadline: February 15–March 15
Eligibility: Southern California residents who are at least 16 years old, in grades 10-12 at a public or private high school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply.
As a participant in UC San Diego’s Research Experience for High School Students (REHS), you’ll work alongside researchers at the San Diego Supercomputer Center on projects that apply computational science to problems. This volunteer-based program pairs you with a mentor and a team of peers to support active research projects. You’ll learn to form hypotheses, run computational experiments, and analyze results. Projects span data science, bioinformatics, and modeling biological systems. You’ll participate in lab meetings, skill-building sessions, and scientific discussions to develop your understanding of research methods and professional communication. By the end of the summer, you’ll present a scientific poster summarizing your work.
5. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of Navy laboratories across the country
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants); $4,500 (returning participants)
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer (varies depending on the lab)
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who will be 16 years old by the program's start and are U.S. citizens are eligible.
If you're interested in interning with a government agency that conducts research in science and technology, the Department of Navy offers a great opportunity. Over eight weeks in the summer, you'll be placed in a Navy laboratory where you’ll contribute to ongoing research in fields like biology, bioengineering, and environmental science. You’ll be guided by a professional mentor and will assist with tasks such as data analysis, scientific documentation, and experimental procedures. In addition to lab work, you’ll develop scientific communication skills through regular meetings. Admission is competitive and based on academic performance, a personal statement, recommendations, and your interest in science or engineering careers.
6. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, California
Cost: Free; interns are awarded a stipend.
Program dates: June 16–August 8
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who have completed their most recent semester of high school at a public or private high school within San Diego County, will be at least 16 years of age by the program start date, have successfully completed at least one year of high school level chemistry and biology, and have a minimum GPA of 2.75.
For those looking to spend their summer conducting biological research, the Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program allows you to work in an active research lab. In this eight-week paid biology internship for high school students, you’ll learn lab techniques like pipetting, gel electrophoresis, microscopy, and bioinformatics tools for data analysis. You’ll participate in seminars on topics ranging from genetics to neuroscience. The program includes workshops and site visits that expose you to biotechnology applications beyond the lab. Toward the end of the internship, you'll present your research through a scientific poster or an oral presentation at a symposium attended by peers, mentors, and families.
7. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Various medical centers across California
Cost: Free; a $500 scholarship is awarded upon completion.
Program dates: Online Program 1: July 7–17 | Online Program 2: July 21–31 | In-person Program: Varies by facility
Application deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors.
Designed to introduce you to healthcare careers, the Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program focuses on clinical exposure through structured sessions with professionals in pediatrics and related specialties. You'll work alongside physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and therapists through presentations, Q&A sessions, and demonstrations. This program introduces you to the day-to-day experiences of healthcare workers across disciplines. You may observe clinical practices, learn about patient care techniques, and explore the roles of child life specialists and radiologists.
Location: Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, California
Cost: Free; a stipend is awarded to all participants.
Program dates: June 16–August 8
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 10 and 11 who reside in San Diego and attend Lincoln, Hoover, Crawford, Morse, Madison, Garfield, Mark Twain, or Preuss High Schools.
The OPTIMUS program at UC San Diego might be a good fit if you're looking for a practical introduction to cancer research and clinical medicine. For eight weeks, you'll work with peers to conduct cancer-related research in labs at the Moores Cancer Center and shadow physicians in clinical settings. This biology internship for high school students is led by medical and graduate students who guide you through the fundamentals of oncology, experimental methods, and the broader impact of research in patient care. You'll explore topics like tumor biology, treatment strategies, and translational medicine while learning to document findings, analyze data, and communicate results. Shadowing experiences in the clinic will give you a closer view of how scientific discoveries translate into patient outcomes.
9. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $840 + $40 application fee (financial aid is available)
Program dates: June 16-27
Application deadline: December 9–February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 14 years or older by the program's start are eligible.
For high school students curious about the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, the Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship provides an opportunity to explore this emerging field. In this virtual internship, you’ll engage in sessions that cover foundational concepts in AI, machine learning, and medical imaging as well as collaborative research projects. The program includes daily lectures and chances to interact with experts from academia, industry, and government through career panels and networking events. You’ll explore data analysis, algorithm development, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI’s impact on health equity. Completing this biology internship for high school students earns you a certificate, and there may even be options to extend your internship through independent research.
10. COSMOS | California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science
Location: One of the five University of California COSMOS campuses–UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz.
Cost: $5,256 + $44 application fee
Program dates: July 6–August 1 or 2
Application deadline: January 8–February 7
Eligibility: Open to California high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
COSMOS is not strictly an internship, but it offers a highly competitive four-week residential experience for high school students interested in STEM. During this program, you’ll have the chance to work with university faculty, researchers, and scientists across five UC campuses. The curriculum goes beyond typical high school classes, focusing on advanced topics through labs, research projects, and collaborative learning. You will explore subjects like biology, chemistry, engineering, and computer science while developing skills in experimentation and scientific inquiry. The program emphasizes exploring educational and career pathways in STEM.