15 Health Science Internships for High School Students
If you're a curious high school student with a passion for medicine, biology, or scientific discovery, now's the perfect time to explore hands-on opportunities that can help with your college applications and resume! Health science internships for high school students offer a great opportunity to step into labs, clinics, and research institutes, working side by side with professionals and making an impact. These programs are designed to give you early exposure to health-related careers, help you build technical and professional skills, and see how science connects to real human outcomes.
Whether you're drawn to patient care, genetics, bioengineering, or data analysis, there's something here for you. From prestigious university labs to cutting-edge startups, these 15 health science internships for high school students can help you gain valuable experience, explore your interests, and stand out on future college and scholarship applications.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee (can be waived). All students receive a $500 stipend; stipends of $2,500 and above are provided on a needs-based system. Updated information will be available in December
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students are accepted each year
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students from the Bay Area are encouraged to apply
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an 8-week biomedical research internship for high school students interested in medicine, biology, or engineering. You’ll work in Stanford labs under the direct mentorship of faculty, postdocs, or researchers on medically oriented projects in one of eight fields, from immunology and cancer biology to bioinformatics and cardiovascular research. The program kicks off with safety training and foundational lectures before shifting into full-time lab immersion. The experience culminates in a research poster session where you’ll present your work to faculty, peers, and your own community.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 5 -10hours/week, for 8 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program offers ambitious high school students a chance to work directly with high-growth startups, and sometimes even alongside FAANG-level founders or top-tier CEOs. You can choose between a startup internship, a CEO mentorship, or a combination that includes a 15-week guided research experience. You’ll contribute to real-world projects and gain firsthand experience across a range of industries. You’ll meet weekly with mentors and your own Ladder Coach, deliver key milestones, and at the end of the internship, present your final project to company leaders.
3. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Financial awards are given upon completing the internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~4–8%
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in good academic standing with a demonstrated scientific interest. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply
This health science internship for high school students begins with 2 weeks of intensive lab training where you’ll gain hands-on experience with core lab techniques like PCR, tissue culture, and DNA isolation. After that, you’ll be paired with a mentor in a research lab and get involved in tasks ranging from solution prep and data entry to attending lab meetings and observing advanced experiments. Alongside lab work, you’ll take part in weekly seminars covering everything from research ethics and health disparities to data visualization and biostatistics. SHIP also includes professional development support, like college essay writing workshops and "meet the scientist" talks. You’ll wrap up your summer by presenting your research experience to the Fred Hutch community and your peers.
4. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <10%
Dates: 6 weeks starting in June
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old, attend high school in Palm Beach or Martin County, and are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
At MPFI, you’ll be assigned to one of three tracks: neuroscience, scientific programming, or mechanical engineering, based on your background and interests. Each track involves hands-on, mentor-guided work using tools like microscopy, CAD software, or coding languages such as Python and MATLAB to solve real research problems. You’ll work directly with MPFI researchers and have access to advanced tools and techniques not typically available in a high school setting. You’ll also prepare a formal abstract and present your findings to scientists and peers at the end of the program.
5. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students are selected each summer
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school juniors in Northern California. Low-income, first-generation applicants are prioritized
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a 5week health science internship for high school students that blends hospital exposure, research, and academic mentorship. You’ll spend your days rotating through internship placements at Stanford Hospital, where you’ll shadow medical professionals, observe patient care, and participate in lab-based and clinical activities. At the same time, you’ll work on a collaborative public health disparities research project, producing a college-level paper and presentation focused on real-world issues like racial inequities or access to care. The program also includes faculty lectures, career development workshops, and peer-led community-building sessions aimed at helping you navigate future academic and professional paths.
6. Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) Student Research Internship Program
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 40 students are accepted
Dates: June 2 – August 8 or June 16 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Highly motivated students with a strong interest in genomics or mHealth translational research, and who are at least 16 years old
At the Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI), you’ll explore topics like genomics, mobile health monitoring, and personalized care models through hands-on project work and weekly seminars. You’ll be matched with a mentor based on your interests. The program guides you through the full research process, from developing a proposal to presenting your findings at both an internal research meeting and a final poster symposium. Along the way, you’ll build practical skills in study design, statistical analysis, and scientific communication. Interns are also expected to engage with journal articles and contribute to scientific discussions with peers and faculty.
7. University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) Summer Student Research Program
Location: Research sites across the San Francisco Bay Area
Stipend: $3000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 50 students each year
Dates: June 2 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old and have completed at least one year in math and biology with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Applicants must have a background considered underrepresented in the sciences
The Summer Student Research Program is a health science internship for high school students that places you in a basic science lab, clinical setting, or community health project. You’ll work one-on-one with a mentor who guides you through the research process from proposal to presentation. Your weeks will include seminars led by MDs and PhDs, journal club discussions, structured writing assignments, and networking events with other students and scientists. Throughout the summer, you’ll draft a personal statement, abstract, and research proposal, culminating in a formal symposium where you present your findings.
8. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Senior Summer Internship Program
Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers are unavailable, but there is a competitive admissions process
Dates: 8 weeks starting in June
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Cincinnati-area graduating high school seniors
This health science internship for high school students pairs each intern with a specialist mentor in fields like genetics, endocrinology, critical care, or neonatology. You’ll spend 20 hours per week on clinical shadowing or research tasks (sometimes both) based on your mentor's focus and your interests. The program includes weekly networking lunches, hands-on training sessions using pediatric simulation equipment, and seminars from healthcare professionals. You’ll also get the option to observe in additional specialties, broadening your exposure beyond your primary placement. At the end of the program, you’ll present a summary of your experience to the group.
9. Medical College of Wisconsin Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM)
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact information is not available
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old with a minimum 3.0 GPA in math and science, and attend a Milwaukee Public School (MPS), a Milwaukee charter school, a Milwaukee area private school, or a surrounding suburban school district
The Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM) at the Medical College of Wisconsin is a 6-week health science internship for high school students interested in medicine and allied health fields. You’ll spend part of each week shadowing professionals in clinical settings and participating in hands-on simulations that replicate real medical scenarios. A key part of the program involves developing an abstract and giving an oral presentation on a condition of your choice. Current medical students will serve as your mentors, helping you navigate both the technical and academic aspects of healthcare. You’ll also attend sessions that explore prevalent health conditions in your community and the broader healthcare system.
10. Children’s Hospital Colorado Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers aren’t available, but there is a competitive admissions process
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school seniors above the age of 18 by the start of the internship who live in Colorado
The Summer Child Health Research Internship, hosted by the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado, centers on research in pediatric medicine. It places you in a working lab alongside faculty researchers investigating child health topics, with writing summaries and sharing your findings being key parts of the experience. You'll attend weekly seminars with the broader research cohort and contribute to a formal presentation or poster session at the program's end. Students also have the opportunity to submit abstracts to professional conferences, with travel support offered if their work is accepted.
11. J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Internship Program
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: $17.50/hour and/or school credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and eligible to work in the U.S., have a 3.0/B average, and a strong interest in science
The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) offers a health science internship for high school students that blends independent research with exposure to real-world lab settings. As an intern, you’ll be paired with a dedicated mentor and join an active research team working on current scientific projects, typically in genomics and synthetic biology. You’ll use lab equipment, analyze data, and contribute to ongoing work. Weekly seminars and workshops give you insight into scientific methods, professional development, and the broader research process. The program also includes journal clubs and a judged poster session where you’ll present your findings to peers and scientists.
12. Harvard Medical School Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, or an affiliated research lab
Stipend: Stipend varies by placement
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers aren’t available, but the program has a competitive admissions process
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Boston and Cambridge who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program, have a minimum 2.7 GPA, and have completed biology, algebra, and chemistry courses. Students from underrepresented and/or disadvantaged communities are highly encouraged to apply
Project Success offers a health science internship for high school students based in Boston and Cambridge who want firsthand experience in biomedical research. For seven weeks, you’ll be placed in a Harvard Medical School lab or affiliated institution alongside mentors and research advisors, working alongside scientists and physicians on real research projects. The program balances lab work with seminars, site visits, and workshops that focus on writing, speaking, and technical skills. By the end of the summer, you’ll present your work to peers and mentors, gaining experience in scientific communication.
13. Rady Children’s Hospital Summer Medical Academy
Location: Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
Cost: Payment information will be included in the acceptance letters (conditional scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – 27 and July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Students who have completed the 9th grade, are 15–19 years old, and are interested in pursuing a healthcare career
Rady Children’s Summer Medical Academy is designed for high school students curious about the wide range of careers within healthcare, not just medicine, but also nursing, pharmacy, and social work. It prioritizes hands-on exploration through skills labs, group projects, and interactive sessions with professionals across disciplines. Instead of focusing on a single research project, you’ll rotate through lectures and activities that introduce you to different areas of patient care and clinical practice. Career panels and open discussions offer space to ask questions and learn how various roles function within real-world healthcare settings.
14. Washington University Young Scientist Program (YSP): Summer Focus
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15–18 students are accepted
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: Students completing their junior year and attending a high school in the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois)
Washington University’s Young Scientist Program offers a health science internship for high school students that emphasizes both research depth and academic development. Over 8 weeks, you’ll collaborate with a Mentor and a Tutor to complete a focused biomedical research project. This one-on-one lab experience is reinforced by structured support sessions, where you’ll analyze scientific literature, refine your writing, and learn to communicate complex findings to varied audiences. Two core courses are built into the experience: one targets science communication and the other guides you through college prep and career exploration. By the end of the summer, you’ll have completed your own research and presented it at a formal symposium.
15. Magee-Womens Research Institute High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Stipend: $1,800 (if your household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <8%
Dates: 6 weeks starting June 16
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors who are at least 16 years old and have an interest in biomedical research. Students must reside in one of the following counties: Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Cambria
This health science internship for high school students centers around independent research in reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health. You'll be matched with a mentor and work on a project rooted in either basic, translational, or clinical science while gaining firsthand experience in designing and conducting experiments, collecting data, and communicating findings. Throughout the program, you’ll take part in weekly Lunch & Learn sessions to learn more about the personal and professional stories of biomedical researchers. The internship culminates with a formal research presentation to your peers and the institute faculty.
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