TL;DR
This article covers research internships, crime-lab shadowing, forensic camps, medicolegal programs, and policing work experience for high school students. Across the list, students may conduct scientific research, analyze mock evidence, practice fingerprinting, observe blood or trace-evidence work, document staged scenes, and present findings. Formats range from short shadow experiences to multiweek summer research, with virtual and mixed-format options represented. Ladder Internships offers a fully online, project-based startup internship that includes health tech among its available fields.
Forensic science brings together biology, chemistry, technology, and investigative methods to examine evidence, with disciplines ranging from DNA and fingerprints to trace and digital evidence, as outlined by NIST.
If you are interested in forensic science and want related material for reference, you can explore Ladder’s guides to science internships for high school students, biology internships for high school students, and summer science internships. These can be super helpful and give you a holistic perspective about the field!
Why should you do a forensic science internship?
A forensic science internship can show you how scientific ideas work in practice when evidence, documentation, and investigative questions have real consequences. It can also expose you to laboratory standards, professional communication, and the difference between classroom exercises and structured forensic work. If a remote, project-based route suits you, explore Ladder Internships, which offers fully online startup internships, including in health tech.
What skills can you pick up in forensic science internships?
Forensic science experiences can strengthen careful observation, evidence documentation, analytical reasoning, data interpretation, and scientific communication. You may also become more comfortable following procedures, recording results clearly, separating observation from inference, and explaining technical work to other people. These skills matter because forensic work depends on accuracy, traceable reasoning, and communication that others can understand and review.
How do you choose the right option?
Before you apply, think about what actually fits your situation: your grade, where you live, what you've studied so far, how much time you can commit, and what you can afford. Eligibility rules differ a lot from one program to the next. Some are open only to certain citizens or residents, and others expect specific coursework or a minimum GPA, so read the fine print before you invest time in an application.
Not sure where to start? This guide walks you through choosing an internship that suits you!
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost |
Best for |
|
Virtual Programs |
Ladder Internship Program; George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program ASSIP |
Cost: Free to $1,299
|
Students seeking remote project work or remote and hybrid research |
|
Laboratory research and casework |
NIST Summer High School Internship Program; CFSRE Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute; Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab Internships |
Cost: Free
|
Students interested in scientific research, laboratory methods, and extended casework |
|
Crime lab and medicolegal shadowing |
Westchester County Forensic Laboratory Shadow Opportunity; Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office Student Shadow Program; Sacramento County Crime Lab Youth Shadow Day; Boulder County Coroner’s Forensic Science Academy |
Cost: Free
|
Students exploring evidence handling, death investigation, and professional forensic settings |
|
Forensic camps and policing experience |
Indiana University Northwest Forensic Investigations Camp; Fullerton College Forensic Science Camp; Staffordshire Police Work Experience Insights Programme |
Cost: Free
|
Students seeking structured hands-on introductions to forensic methods and policing careers |
1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce – Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland; Boulder, Colorado
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; ~35 students
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: U.S. citizens only; high school juniors or seniors at the time of application, or recent graduates not yet in college; minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA; permanent residence within 50 miles of the Gaithersburg or Boulder campus
You work with NIST staff scientists and engineers on your own research problem, then present your findings at a judged poster session before the closing ceremony. For forensic science, you will engage in computer forensics, biometrics, and image analysis, or the Materials Measurement Laboratory, which covers chemical forensics. You rank first, second, and third laboratory choices in your personal statement, and mentors review applications and make offers.
Who is it best for: Local STEM-focused students who are eager to commit to a rigorous, unpaid summer of hands-on laboratory research alongside top federal scientists.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
As a high school student interested in forensic science, you can use the virtual Ladder Internship Program to match with global startups specializing in the biotech and biomedical fields. During this eight-week remote experience, you will dedicate 5 to 10 hours a week to completing real-world projects under the direct mentorship of startup founders or managers. You also receive a formal letter of completion to strengthen your college applications.
Who is it best for: Ambitious high school students with baseline skills who want applied, hands-on exposure through a remote start-up internship that yields tangible project deliverables.
3. The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) – The Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute
Location: Horsham, PA
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 17 – July 31
Application Deadline: Typically, between March and April
Eligibility: U.S. resident currently enrolled in high school; at least 16 years old by the start date; have passing grades in (or currently be taking) algebra, biology, and chemistry.
You will learn through interactive, hands-on experiences using state-of-the-art techniques in three forensic science disciplines: Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Toxicology. After examining evidence and analyzing the data, you will get to serve as an expert witness and present your case in front of a judge in a trial setting. You will also receive assistance in preparing for college.
Who is it best for: Students (particularly rising seniors) with a strong passion for STEM who want to gain immersive, professional-level laboratory experience investigating and solving mock criminal cases.
4. Johnson County Sheriff’s Office – Crime Lab Internships
Location: Olathe, KS
Stipend: Non
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically limited to 1-2 open positions per cycle
Dates: Flexible; the time commitment is set directly between the intern and their laboratory mentor
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications and project proposals are reviewed as laboratory needs arise
Eligibility: High school students (preference for upper-level students) who can pass stringent security screenings; candidates can also apply by pitching original research/project proposals
You can explore forensic science through this internship, which covers disciplines like biology, toxicology, digital evidence, and latent prints. During your term, you will complete general laboratory tasks, conduct original scientific experiments, and execute secondary research projects. It uniquely allows you to submit your own original project proposal to work alongside a dedicated laboratory mentor.
Who is it best for: Responsible, self-directed upper-level high school students with a strong interest in forensic science or law enforcement who are comfortable undergoing rigorous security screenings.
5. Westchester County Forensic Laboratory – Shadow Opportunity for High School Students
Location: White Plains, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1 student per session
Dates: One day, occurring once per month during the academic school year
Application Deadline: Rolling (First-come, first-served throughout the academic year)
Eligibility: Local high school students (Westchester County); participants must provide a buccal (cheek swab) sample and sign a confidentiality/conflict of interest agreement
The goal of the program is to provide you with an introduction to forensic cases in a working laboratory. You will observe the analysis of physical evidence in the Forensic Biology (DNA), Trace Evidence, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Imaging sections of the Division of Forensic Science Services.
Who is it best for: Students with a strong interest in pursuing a career in forensic science who want a realistic, short-term observational experience in an active crime laboratory.
6. George Mason University, College of Science – Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Fairfax, Manassas, or Woodbridge, Virginia; remote options
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee and $1,299 tuition for 3 credits; both waivable with demonstrated financial need / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; official cohort size not stated
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Age 15 or older by June 18 for remote and computer-lab internships; 16 or older by June 18 for wet-lab in-person or hybrid internships; no maximum age provided the applicant has not graduated from university
On the forensic science track, mentor Steven Burmeister offers a hybrid internship centered on drones and 3D modeling and mapping of crime scenes and incidents, with in-person work at the Fairfax Campus. You would build practical skills in unmanned aerial data capture, spatial reconstruction, and digital scene documentation while keeping standard 9-to-5 research hours. Completion earns three George Mason credits through COS120.
Who is it best for: Academically strong, highly motivated high school students who are eager to commit to an intensive, full-time summer of authentic laboratory research alongside university faculty.
7. Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office, Ohio – Student Shadow Program
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 high school slots per session
Dates: Spring: May 8; Fall: TBD
Application Deadline: Spring: April 24; Fall: TBD
Eligibility: High school students; parental permission required if under 18
You tour the facility and laboratory, join breakout sessions, hear investigators explain basic death-scene investigation principles, and complete a hands-on mock-scene exercise. The mock-scene component places you in a dedicated training area with four changeable interactive scenes representing cases under the office’s jurisdiction. You apply investigative principles while seeing how forensic science supports medicolegal death investigations.
Who is it best for: Students exploring future educational and career paths in forensic science and who desire a practical, day-long introduction to how a real medical examiner's office operates.
8. Sacramento County District Attorney's Office – Crime Lab Youth Shadow Day
Location: Sacramento, California
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; ~60 students per session
Dates: July 31
Application Deadline: July 17; first-come, first-served until places are filled
Eligibility: High school students in Sacramento County attending high school in Fall; priority given to seniors
You learn why evidence preservation and chain of custody matter by following how physical evidence moves from the crime scene to the courtroom. You observe bullet trajectory analysis and presumptive blood testing, two techniques criminalists use to reconstruct events and screen biological evidence. You also review crime scene investigation work, examine a real drug chemistry display, and see how trace evidence cases are examined.
Who is it best for: Sacramento County high school students, especially rising seniors, who are curious about forensic science and want a short, low-commitment look inside a real crime lab before choosing a college major or career path.
9. Boulder County Coroner's Office – Coroner's Forensic Science Academy
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact cohort size not stated
Dates: March 17; July 28
Application Deadline: Not specified; students are encouraged to apply online via the county portal before the event dates
Eligibility: Age 16 or older for high school students with a career interest in the field; background check, confidentiality agreement, and state or federal photo identification
You work through a staged death scene built around a mannequin, documenting observations and reasoning out investigative next steps the way a deputy coroner would. You also observe a simulated virtual autopsy that demonstrates advanced postmortem imaging techniques used in modern forensic casework. You review the Colorado statutes that define a coroner's legal authority and speak with role players in simulated interview and family-support scenarios.
Who is it best for: Mature high school students aged 16 or older who are seriously considering forensic science, pathology, or death investigation and can handle realistic morgue and death-scene content.
10. Indiana University Northwest – Forensic Investigations Camp
Location: Gary, Indiana
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; 20 participants
Dates: June 22–26
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served; 20 places available
Eligibility: Local students entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall
You practice fingerprint analysis and digital fingerprinting, examine cold cases, and learn forensic photography and evidence-documentation techniques. You also study forensic psychology, anthropology, and soil and geoscience analysis at the STEM Center. A distinctive feature is the opportunity to visit the Indiana State Police Crime Lab in Lowell and the Franciscan Hope Center for real-world forensic exposure.
Who is it best for: Local rising high school juniors and seniors interested in hands-on forensic science, crime-scene investigation, laboratory methods, and related careers.
11. Fullerton College – Forensic Science Camp
Location: Fullerton, California
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: June 1–4
Application Deadline: Typically, in April
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12; graduating seniors apply through the separate college application
The camp is free, and you collect evidence from a mock crime scene, then use hands-on techniques to process trace evidence including hair, fibers, and DNA. Past sessions have included lifting fingerprints, performing microscopy, and analyzing DNA, building practical lab and evidence-handling skills. Earlier campers explored the college's crime lab and saw a demonstration of its forensics van, a vehicle equipped with crime scene investigation tools.
Who is it best for: High school students who can attend in person in Fullerton and want a free, short, hands-on introduction to crime scene investigation and forensic lab work.
12. Staffordshire Police, United Kingdom – Work Experience Insights Programme
Location: Stafford, Staffordshire, England
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; places limited to a small number
Dates: Year 12 and Year 13: June 14–18; Year 10: June 28 – July 2
Application Deadline: November 6
Eligibility: Year 10 students attending school in Staffordshire or living in Staffordshire; Year 12 and Year 13 students attending school or college in Staffordshire or living in Staffordshire
You take part in interactive sessions delivered by operational teams covering forensics, investigations, police dogs, roads policing, firearms, and 999 call taking. You see how forensic and scene-based evidence feeds into wider investigations and justice services, and how specialist units support frontline officers. You speak with staff across different departments about the challenges and complexities of policing today and the range of career routes available.
Who is it best for: It suits a Staffordshire-based Year 10, 12, or 13 student seriously considering a policing or forensic investigation career who can commit to a full week on site.
Can a forensic science internship help with your college applications?
A forensic science internship might have you process mock evidence, observe DNA or trace analysis in a lab, or present a case as an expert witness. These experiences give you specific material for essays and interviews, such as how you documented evidence or reasoned toward a conclusion. Reflecting on them can show informed scientific interest and careful, responsible thinking.
How do you apply for a forensic science internship?
Application processes vary, so start by identifying programs that match your grade level, location, schedule, and forensic interests. Applications may ask for a resume, statement, recommendation, transcript, or interview, but these requirements aren't universal. Follow each program’s published instructions for its current dates, eligibility rules, application materials, and submission process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will I actually handle evidence, or will I mostly watch professionals work?
You will do both, depending on the opportunity. Several camps and research programs let you collect mock evidence, lift fingerprints, process trace evidence, or run your own experiments. At the same time, some one-day lab visits focus on watching analysts examine DNA, trace, and chemical evidence. A few of the medicolegal programs combine the two, pairing a hands-on mock death scene with observed demonstrations.
2. Is the work all crime scene investigation, or can I explore other areas of forensic science?
You can explore much more than crime scenes. Across the list, the opportunities cover forensic biology, chemistry, toxicology, digital evidence, latent prints, image analysis, drone-based 3D scene mapping, and death investigation. Some of the camps also introduce forensic psychology, anthropology, and soil and geoscience analysis.
3. Can freshmen and sophomores join, or are these mostly for older students?
Younger students have some options, but many of these programs are geared toward older high schoolers. Several set minimums such as age 15 or 16 or entry into 11th or 12th grade, and a few of the local lab opportunities give priority to seniors or upper-level students. A summer camp for students entering grades 9 through 12 and a policing program with Year 10 places are open to earlier grades.
4. Will I have to pay for these programs, and do any of them offer a stipend?
Most of these opportunities are free, but none pay a stipend. The one university research program that charges tuition for academic credit waives those fees for students with demonstrated financial need. If you want remote startup projects guided by a manager, Ladder Internships offers financial aid to help keep the cost manageable.